Anti-War Anti-Racism Effort

AWARE meeting minutes 3-28-04

Peter Rohloff facilitates

1. Introductions

2. Media Report, son et lumiere by Randall:

--Peter's presentation on tasers to the Champaign City Council; discussion
of future of taser issue; well-covered by local media; major issue is lack
of trust between community (particularly African-Americans) and police;
need for independent review board (a Green party project) -- an advisory
referendum is possible

--Randall's comment on WILL-FM, with immensely silly introductory
commentary by pusillanimous local station; ran twice on Monday 22 March
on "All Things Considered"; general approbation and congratulation by
the meeting

3. News of the Week: posted separately (because after all, you can't make
this stuff up); Al circulates a petition regarding civil liberties

4. Treasurer's Report: general economic crisis as the AWARE bank account
slips beneath 2K: as of 3/28, it stood at a mere $1,900 (in spite of the
treasurer's notable efforts at expansion)

5. Working Groups:

--Prospect for peace: meeting with Marvin Gerstein, Esq. postponed to 3/31;
demonstrations continue on the first Saturday of every month

6. Upcoming AWARE events: 

--Tabling/literature needed for two events (Peter is collecting names
of people interested in helping): Chuck D at Foellinger 4/9;  Earth Day
Festival at Illini Union 4/15

--Printed literature needed: Randall's WILL commentary should be added;
materials from the net on, e.g., Haiti; CO materials; police review board
flier from Greens; Peter will coordinate fliers

--Janet has ordered buttons and stickers

--Theme of the July 4 parade is (can you believe it?) "Be all you can be"
= an army recruiting ad...

--Darrin Drda has produced a good flier for the April 1 event; Ricky has
an interview with speaker (whose son died in Iraq) in The Paper

7. New ideas and proposals

--Bill Taylor requests funding for a radio project in Honduras with an
indigenous group, COPINH; his operation is Primary Communication Project;
Durl asks Bill for literature that we can put on our tables; Al suggests
he solicit the IMC; Lisa proposes seed money for a fund-raiser

--Randall is working on a video feed of Democracy Now! on Urbana public TV

8. Calendar

--Alison Weir of If Americans Knew, lunch talk, Tuesday 3/30, noon
at Channing-Murray, an AWARE event

--Stephen Hartnett, "The Whole of Operation of Deception:
Reconstructing President Bush's Rhetoric of Weapons of Mass Destruction,"
Wednesday 3/31, 4pm in 356 Armory Building

--"Veterans and their Families Speak Out," Thursday 4/1, 7pm at
Champaign Public Library, an AWARE event

--Oxfam banquet at Urbana Middle School, Saturday 4/3, 2-4pm,
5-7pm

--Estabrook talk, "The Myth of American Benevolence," Wednesday
4/7, 7pm Channing-Murray

--Chuck D appearance, Friday 4/9, 7-9pm, Foellinger Auditorium,
cosponsored by AWARE (tabling)

--Community input planning meeting for Liberation Education forum (April
30-May 2)  Tuesday 4/13, 5pm dinner and
meeting, 409 N. Race St. U.  (rsvp 344.1795)

--Earth Day festival, Thursday 4/15, 6:30-midnight, Illini Union Courtyard
Cafe, cosponsored by AWARE (tabling)

--Estabrook talk "The Continuities of American Policy" Wednesday 4/21,
7 pm, Channing-Murray

--Amy Goodman WEFT benefit, Friday 4/23, 6:15pm, Illinois Disciples
Foundation

--Estabrook talk, "The Coming October Surprise," Wednesday 5/5, 7pm,
Channing-Murray

--Taste of Champaign, Friday 6/25, 5-9pm; Saturday 6/26, 11am-9 pm;
Sunday 6/27, noon-5pm; Westside Park (tabling)

Respectfully submitted, subject to addition
and correction by the wisdom of the group,
SGDavis/CGEstabrook