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25 Jun 2007

Meeting Minutes of UUFP Social Concerns Committee

Attendees

Pam, Nick, Jerry, Donna, Mason, Chris, and Patricia

Review Minutes

Previous minutes accepted despite shoddy English.

Discussion.

Nick opened discussion regarding Lost Boys funding and how other efforts have been handled in the past.

Donna noted that other focus groups will be conducted by the planning committee.

Social Concerns Sunday Night

4 attendees plus Sheryl and Jacquie discussed foods risks of Aspertame and other potentially toxic substances in our food supply.

Promotion

We should do colorful flyer inside the order of service for the two Sundays leading up to to SCSN - Chris will prepare.

Patricia will print a poster to go in the fellowship.

Lost Boys

Was discussed significantly in emails. Donna reports that one passing of the basket raised $720/800 and that David Walsh will pay the $80 balance. Nick will write thank you letters to be reviewed and printed by Pam. Pam, Patricia, Jacquie, and Mason will help Donna call and request name releases from contributors.

Fellowship Circles

YA is doing CROP. Others haven't repoted back yet.

PORT

Dawn Hutchinson was a volunteer last year and her circle possibly might be interested in doing PORT. Pam will contact her. The next PORT weeks are Jan 9-16th at First Baptist and Mar 12-19th at Wawick UM.

Peacemaking

Workshops are well sperated. What else should we do?

Chris will take Donna's notes and put them on the wiki. It was agreed that we should work towards a service on peacemaking. Some would like a book reading group. Stewing to continue.

CROP

Chris is to contact Bob Smith regarding CROP.

Prison Ministries

Paperback books were received from Mason and Patricia. Judy Remsberg contributed 3 boxes of books that haven't sold on Amazon.

Public Relations

Chris will schedule a PR focus meeting on some Saturday afternoon. Nick will write up and Donna will edit.

TJD

Sandra is at GA.

LINK

Marj Gate's fellowship circle is on it.

Out in the Park

Pam will check on it.

50th Anniversary

Patricia is planning monthly programs to commemorate the fellowship's 50th annivesary.

Virginia Social Justice Forum

Was held in Nelson County near Charlottesville at Shannon Farms, a collective. Pam and Jerry attended. US Social Forum is upcoming in Atlanta and Virginia's was modeled on it. 60 total attendees from through the state. UU workship on racism was unimpressive. Antiwar workship highlighted Blackwater and the use of mercenaries to fight for us.

Immigration workshop highlighted the difficulties of undocumented workers. Many immigrants are farmers hurt by NAFTA. Attending illegal immigrants want to treturn home but need money they can earn here. Senta compromise is better than recent House bills and there seems to be plenty of bipartisan support.

Prison reform was a also a workship. Prison and police expanded their presense at the end of reconstruction. Virginia's parole system has led to 91% of terms being served. Prisoners are moved away from their support groups by placing them in prison on the other side of the state.

Smithfield Foods is a large employer of latinos, mexicans, and other minorities and there are systematic efforts to pit them against each other. Virginia organizing project sounds very UU. They have a good statewide organization.

"We Make Changes" book on community organization found there.

rihd.org is a prison reform group.

Maybe there should be a can with the UUFP logo on it for driving folks to prison visits.

UU netowkring

Pam met folks from the RIchmond UU recently.

Justice Sunday

The next Justice Sunday is 30 March 2008.

Next Meeting: Monday, 23 July @ 7:00pm

  • Posted by: ChristopherHicks - 23 Jul 2007

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