Minutes for Sunday, November 15, 2009                  Peace and Social Action Committee

Present:  Jon Thomas, Susan Walsh, Margery Forbes, Mary Alice Horrigan, Stephanie       Alley, and Martha Dickinson, chair.

 

The meeting was convened around 9 AM.  We covered all items on our agenda.

 

1.  Jon reported on the book, Don't Think of an Elephant, and recommended it for others to read.  We will all try to get it read by our next meeting so that we can discuss it in the context of some of our issues.  It explains how oneÕs worldview affects oneÕs opinion on various particular issues, irregardless of the facts. 

 

2.  Guest at Your Table   (see uusc.org/guest) , a program for raising awareness and money for the UUSC, will be kicked off next Sunday, November 22.  Leela will mention it in her service.  Martha and Margery will visit childrenÕs RE classes to tell them about UUSC work relevant to youth and hopefully spark some interest and discussion.  Margery and Martha will think about how to involve the members of the congregation more in UUSC work.  They prepared the boxes for distribution next Sunday. 

 

3.   How do we help our veterans?  The VeteranÕs Day service last Sunday featured Mary AliceÕs excellent sermon.  The plate was split between the church and a VeteranÕs fund, and around $200 was designated for Veterans.  Mary Alice plans to give the check to the VeteranÕs Center in Bangor.  She will be attending a function of the Trenton VFW this afternoon.  We will continue to discuss how to help veterans at our next meetings.

 

4.   Plans for a congregational meeting for UUA Congregational Poll on a Statement of    Conscience on Peacemaking  (see http://www.uua.org/csw) and other items.

                  Vote in the Congregational Poll (closes February 1, 2010)

                  Approve placing the Draft Statement of Conscience (SOC) ÒPeacemakingÓ on the      Final Agenda for General Assembly (GA) 2010

                   Select five proposed Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs) (view all proposed CSAIs)  Six CSAIs have been proposed.  They are:

                   Ending Slavery

                   Energy, Peace, and Justice

                   Immigration as a Moral Issue

                   National Economic Reform: A Moral Imperative

                   Nuclear Disarmament

                   Revitalizing American Democracy

                    

                   Submit comments on the Draft SOC "Peacemaking" (preview comment form) (closes February 1, 2010)

                   Submit comments on the Draft CSAI "Ethical Eating" (preview comment form) (closes March 1, 2010)

 

     We should each read through the proposals and be prepared to discuss them at our December meeting so that we are ready for a congregational meeting in January.  Ruth, our Board president, has asked us to do this.  Martha will write an article for the December NUUS about this.

 

5.   We will undertake a letter writing campaign on Afghanistan, in particular, urging President Obama to draw down the U. S. military forces there.  We will each write a letter to Obama and, if we can, a letter to the editor.  We will encourage members of the congregation to do the same.  Martha will draft a letter to ask individuals in the congregation to sign next Sunday.  She will circulate to committee members via email for input of all.  To email President Obama, go to www.whitehouse.gov and click on ÒContact usÓ to find a form to send.  You can also call or write to:

President Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW


Washington, DC 20500
 

Phone Numbers  Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414


 

6.  Martha reported on a meeting she and Rob Shetterly had with Congressman Michaud in Bangor yesterday to ask him to support the Clean Water Protection Act HR1310.  This bill is simple and would prohibit the dumping of waste from Mountain Top Removal Mining into stream beds.  More on this later, when there is more time.

 

7.   A small group of high school students from Bangor High, met Wednesday at the P & J Center in Bangor to talk about forming an organization at Bangor High.  They decided to call it something like Students for Peace and Justice.  Ilze, Peter, a Veteran for Peace, and Martha were there and are eager to help.  Ilze gave them a copy of the book ÒItÕs Your LifeÓ, that we have been using in local high schools.  This AFSC publication contains a wealth of material about alternatives to the military for students leaving high school.  Martha will follow up on this and has offered to help.

 

We adjourned shortly after 10 AM until our next meeting, Sunday, December 13, 2009.

 

Yours truly, Martha Dickinson