|
Meeting Notes
Iran-Iraq Work Group Meeting, March
8,
2007
The group met at the First United Methodist Church. Oneonta, NY.
Present: Cynthia Benjamin, Chris Brunner, Jonathan Collett,
Kenneth Fogarty, Dave Grodsky, Paddy Lane, Lyle Linder, Suzanne Miller, Heriberto
Rodriguez, Stef Seifried, Kristina Turechek, and Walter vom Saal.
Letter to Editor of Daily Star
A guest editorial prepared by Jonathan Collett with input from others will
be published in the Daily Star this Saturday, March 11th. Since it was sent
in the name of the Coalition for Democracy, Ed and Paddy were asked to sign.
A copy of the letter was given out. Others are encouraged to write. The word
limit for the guest editorial is 700 words on Saturdays and 500 during the
week; the limit on a letter to the editor is 300 words.
Petitions to Arcuri
Some petitions have been turned in, others have not. After discussion of
whether petitions could be hand delivered to Arcuri’s office in Utica
next week or if we should mail or fax them, it was decided that each person
should mail the petitions to Utica or FAX them to the Washington office along
with a cover letter. Petitions should also be sent to Kirsten Gillibrand
by those in her district. A suggested cover letter was discussed and will
be put up on our website: www.democracycoalition.org.
Make a copy of any petitions you mail for the Iraq/Iran group before sending
for use by us in the future. The name of the church should be removed from
the bottom of the petition. On future petitions it was suggested that there
be space for both the signature and printed name. [Post-meeting update--Those
petitions which were ready were faxed to Arcuri & Gillibrand's Washington
offices on or around March 13 by those who had them.]
All those present agreed to call Arcuri’s Office by the beginning of
next week to voice our support of the Woolsey Amendment to end the war. [Post-meeting
note: There was no Woolsey Amendment, but a Lee Amendment that we asked people
to support.]
Demonstration in Norwich every Saturday at noon
Members of the Chenango County peace group encouraged us to join their weekly
demonstration.
Bus to Washington, D.C. for March 17th demonstration
The bus is not filled — 27 more people are needed by noon Monday to
fund the bus to DC. An email will be sent telling people this.
March 17th Chenango Valley Peace Alliance will have a vigil at noon in Hamilton.
March 18th Cooperstown Town Meeting on Iraq War and Impeachment
at 2:00 pm.
March 18th Oneonta: Silent walk on Main Street's sidewalk – noon
to 1 pm.
This will mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
Cynthia will make banner that says “Too many years, too many lives,
too many $billions. Stop the war now!”
Handouts shared at the meeting
Washington Post: “As Iraq Exit Plan Arrives, Democrats’ Rift
Remains”
War Resisters League: “Help WRL Stop the Corporatization & Militarization
of Iraq"
Notes taken by Suzanne Miller
|
