Minutes for SNOW Annual Meeting – February 14, 2005

Facilitators: Brenda Collier and John Repp Timekeeper: Kiwi Bob Note taker: Diana Forman

16 organizations and neighborhood groups were represented. 28+ people in attendance

SNOW's annual meeting opened with introductions around the circle of attendees, accompanied by brief up-dates on recent activities that were particularly successful or encouraging in neighborhood and other groups.

RECAP OF SNOW'S ACTIVITIES FOR 2004 – Brenda Collier began an oral recap of the past year in SNOW, and others offered events and activities to create a picture that included the decision to forego having a paid organizer, hiring of a webmaster who has redone the SNOW website, initiation of working groups to move projects ahead, sponsoring of an ambitious March 20 event in opposition to the invasion of Iraq, involvement in the Haiti campaign, presentation of the Ellsberg/Benjamin/Solomon event, and the continuation of vigils and bannering activities throughout the year.

REPORTS FROM WORKING GROUPS AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES – Simply for Peace – Bert Sachs reported that this group is focusing on the link between the decisions we make in everyday life regarding the planet's resources and our government's drive to go to war. The group met recently with FOR's committee tackling similar questions of sustainability and individual decision making in the context of peak oil, and the combined group – now called "Beyond Oil, with Joy" - is planning a major event later this spring.

Nonviolence Study Group – John Repp explained that the group continues to study nonviolence in order to inform themselves and spread their knowledge.

Peace Education Lobbying – Karen Moore and her group go to Olympia to try to help lobbyists make the connection between war and cuts in the budget here at home. They also support lobbyists who are urging no more cuts in services.

Iraq Working Group – Gunnel Clark displayed her Faces of War posters and described the group's efforts to get them into churches and other public places where individuals might be moved by the photographs and text to take the actions suggested on the sheets in the envelope attached to each poster. She passed a list around inviting everyone to list organizations they are involved with that might be approached to display a poster.

Falluja Campaign - Steve Ludwig up-dated the group on the press conference he organized for that morning at Seattle Central Community College. Member of Congress Jim McDermott was joined by representatives from county and city government, a school board member, and the President of the Board of Directors of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. Channel 4 was present as the group emphasized the cost of the war at home, and Dr. Aggarwal of WPSR described the violations of international law during the destruction of Falluja.

Bill of Rights Resolution – Diana Forman gave a brief up-date on the progress of House Joint Memorial 4006, a Bill of Rights Resolution for Washington State, under consideration by the Washington State Legislature. She also announced that we will have the opportunity to ask specific legislators to press for a hearing on the bill because support for the Bill of Rights Resolution will become SNOW's action of the week in the next few days.

MARCH 19 EVENT – TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVASION OF IRAQ – Howard Gale unveiled a copy of the arresting bus sign that will be used to advertise the second anniversary of the attack on Iraq and alert the public to events planned for March 19. He hopes to have 30 of the signs with their powerful photo, each of which costs $300. Ellen Finkelstein announced that SNOW is a co-sponsor of the event, that it will begin at 12:00 noon at the Seattle Center and will feature feeder marches from various areas of the city. SNOW is asking neighborhood groups to become endorsers and contribute to funding the event. Contributions will also be needed to help with the costs of Eyes Wide Open in April. Jobs with Justice will host a day-long mailing for the event on February 28, but need to see equal or greater participation by the peace community in this activity and also on March 13, when a phone bank will operate. Marcia Mullins reminded us to serve as neighborhood group contacts and get individuals in our groups to distribute flyers. A list was passed to gather names of volunteers.

NUCLEAR ARMS AND IRAN – Dick Blakney reviewed the current situation in Iran with regard to our government's refusal to join the negotiations underway between the European Union and Iran, increased sanctions in effect, the use of drones from the U.S. to detect radar installations in Iran, the bunker buster weapons we have sold to Israel, and the possible results of American bombing of manufacturing sites in Iran. Dick wants the US to encourage the IAEA to continue their work and hopes for a re-establishment of an office of peaceful negotiations in the State Department. The question remains: "How do we get this information out to the people of Seattle?"

FUTURE DIRECTION FOR SNOW – John Repp posed the question, "Where are we going?" to start the main conversation of the evening. The following are suggestions as to what could become SNOW's focus:

• -counter recruiting and preparation of conscientious objectors
• -media literacy for the schools, grades 5-12, to make students aware of how badly the press presents information
• -Citizens Committee for Responsible Journalism – plus individuals who could "tie" themselves to certain journalists at the PI and elsewhere to educate and immerse them in peace activities
• -increased civil disobedience and direct action in response to an invasion of Iran as a "flash point"
• -encouraging people currently in the military to resist
• -determining whether SNOW will focus more narrowly on Iraq or more broadly
• -continuing to straddle the narrow/broad question
• -contending for political power by forming an anti-war movement in the city to become a major force
• -targeting the "doubting" Republicans out there
• -helping people overcome their fear and tendency to shut down in the face of challenges posed by the economy and the existence of fewer resources and options
• -thinking about issues in a bigger way – having a bigger vision - rather than simply adopting more things to do
• -election reform

ANNOUNCEMENTS - A number of announcements were made:

• Tune in to "Radio of the Open Mind" on 1150AM Sunday evenings.
• Carol Moseley Braun’s lecture at Benaroya Hall will be on February 25 – SNOW offers a $5 discount on $20 tickets.
• Visit irv.-wa.org to sign in and receive lobbying information about instant run-off voting as part of the electoral reform effort.
• Attend a Capitol Hill NPJ-sponsored evening with Dr. Janan Hassan, a pediatrician from Iraq, at 7:00PM on February 23 at Seattle University.
• A letter about Falluja will be presented to Senators Cantwell and Murray. Steve Ludwig asked for volunteers to make the presentation.
• Charlotte Thistle, political folk singer, will appear with Susan Harper at Verite Coffee in Ballard on February 19, 8-10:30PM.
• On March 6 there will be a memorial service for Bob Reed, a long-time activist and friend, at Hugo House.
• John Judge will appear at Kane Hall on Monday night, February 21.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15. The next general meeting will be held on March 14; the coordinating committee will meet next on February 28.

REPORTS - Steve Ludwig, in cooperation with Garfield High School faculty and staff, is starting a new working group on military recruitment efforts in high schools.

Jody Haug encouraged participation in Progressive Change for Washington as a way to assist the poor in progressive urban areas.

John Bito announced that the Phinney neighborhood group has been bannering for two years on Aurora and that they had their first counter demonstrator last week. Marcia Mullins followed up on John’s report by thanking the neighborhood groups for the many vigils they sponsor that have also been going on for years.

Shannon Turner-Covell reported that SNOW has received a check for $500 from the Wallingford group and $100 from the University Friends Meeting.

Announcements related to bumper stickers, holiday cards, peace shirts, and an up-coming benefit followed.

WORKING GROUPS – While meeting time for individual groups was not available prior to adjournment, the five working groups briefly called interested participants together afterward. The current working committees are focusing on nonviolence, consumption and its role in war, Iraq, military recruitment, and outreach.

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM. The next SNOW General Meeting will be on December 13th.

Minutes by Diana Forman