PAA Meeting Minutes June 9, 2005

Submitted by Sarah Gonzales on November 14, 2005 - 5:23pm. ::

Call to order 7:00 p.m.; Leisure Learning Unlimited, Room 6

Attending: Anjellea Gabriel, Anne del Prado, Bill Crosier, Brenda Fackler, C. Lee Taylor, Carlos Sachitano, Carondelet Dember, Cheryl Crosier Darek Brzesk (sp?), David Courtney, Don Cook, Heather Smith, Kip Humphrey, Kris Graham, Matt Malone, Pokey Anderson, Randy Scott, Rochelle Brackman, Ron Graham, Sarah Gonzales, Shelly Glover, Stan Merriman, Tami Halpern, Willie Simmons

Introductions/Sharing

May 12, 2005 Minutes approved subject to revision below.
Correct date for Communications Workshop is Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m.-Noon.

at 7445 Santa Fe (must collect $50 for facilitator’s gas – $5 pp donation) Bring sack lunch. RSVP Cheryl Crosier at (713)641-4941 or c h e r y l @crosierbiomed.com

Treasurer’s Report and New Treasurer: Rochelle Brackman reported on finances since May: received donations of $70.90; incurred expenses of $85; leaving balance of $392.35. Jo Ann Wolf advised PAA of her need to step down as treasurer. Brenda Fackler was nominated as new treasurer and elected by acclamation. Discussion about expenses attendant to documentation of police misconduct at Halliburton protest. Kip Humphrey donated $100 ($50 each) to Madeleine and Rochelle for expenses incurred making DVD and information booklets for police misconduct forum.

Halliburton Shareholders Meeting Protest follow-up: Rochelle Brackman and Madeleine Crozat-Williams reported on the protest. Police misconduct prompted appearances before City Council. PAA ‘s Rochelle Brackman and Keith Koski among others testified. On Tuesday June 21 at 7:30 p.m. local Houston anti-war organizers and concerned citizens will meet with Mayor White, City Council members, and other public officials for a public forum on police actions at the Halliburton protest. The forum will be held at the Architecture Theatre in the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at the University of Houston central campus.  The architecture building faces Elgin Street between Cullen and Calhoun Streets.  Metered public parking is available in the lot in front of the building at entrance 18. Contact Madeleine or Rochelle for details. All who participated in protest are encouraged to file police complaints ASAP.

Houston Social Forum Update: Heather Smith recommends checking out www.wsfindia.org. Site has 2004 schedule identifying participating organizations, workshops, seminars and information about the function of the forum. “The World Social Forum was conceived as an international forum against neo-liberal policies and capitalist led globalization built around the slogan: ‘Another World Is Possible.’It seeks to provide a space for discussing alternatives, for exchanging experiences and for strengthening alliances between social movements, unions of the working people and NGOs.” The social forum is “…an open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and inter-linking for effective action, by groups and movements of civil society that are opposed to neo- liberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism, and are committed to building a society centered on the human person.” (From the WSF Charter of Principles). Sign-up sheet circulated for assistance with contacts, footwork and organization, flyer distribution. Note the breakdown of volunteer groups at http://www.wsfindia.org/getinvolved.php for ideas about how to manage all the various tasks.
Houston Social Forum Goals: increase participation in progressive causes/issues; activate activists; and promote more interaction amongst activists

Tentative date: October 2005

Verifiable Voting: Kip Humphrey with www.electionassessment.org spoke about the Carter Baker Federal Election Commission hearing scheduled for Thursday, June 30 at Rice University. The commission is charged with examining the state of the electoral process in the United States and offering recommendations on improving it. While the commission is taking testimony from voting equipment vendors, the Houston hearing is not open to the public. Election Assessment has scheduled its own hearing in Houston on Wednesday, June 29. David Cobb (Green Party presidential candidate 2004) is a panelist; other potential panelists include John Conyers (who investigated and held hearings on the Ohio voting fiasco) and Bev Harris of BlackBoxVoting.org, Kip needs assistance with set up, logistics, transportation, hosts/hostesses for traveling participants, food etc. If you can help, Kip can be reached at: k i p h u m p h r e y [at] e l e c t i o n a s s e s s m e n t­ . o r g
Bill Crosier proposed we push City Council to take a stand: insist on independent oversight and require papertrails on all voting equipment it either leases or buys.

Don Cook announced a Verifiable Voting meeting at W. Gray Café, Tuesday, June 14.

Schools and the Military– Sherry Glover, Carondelet Dember and Carlos S. reported on military recruitment tactics and counter-tactics. Discussion on the provision in the “No Child Left Behind” Act giving the military access to high school students’ contact information and the need to repeal the clause that effectively allows the military to stalk our youth. Further discussion about alliance to be forged with group (Houston Area Committee for Non-Military Youth [?]) that places pamphlets discussing non-military options for youth in racks around town. Pokey Andersonnoted the sobering statistic that 1 of 3 Gulf War I vets is on disability.

Peak Oil Mini Conference 1-5 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at 1st Unitarian Universalist, 5200 Fannin at Southmore: He and others will distribute Peak Oil leaflets at the RF Kennedy, Jr. speech Monday, June 12. All are encouraged to assist with promotion by downloading and distributing flyers far and wide:

http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org/Downloads/peak_oil_b&W2.pdf

http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org/Downloads/peakoil_colors.pdf

http://www.progressiveactionalliance.org/Downloads/peak_oil_4ups.pdf

Iraqi Notebook/Cuaderno de Irak: Discussion about reprinting. Decided to take remaining issues to Democracy Fest in Austin and enlisting groups attending to contribute to reprinting costs.

Website: Training on civicspace is scheduled from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, July 10 at Lee’s. Contact Lee for directions c . l e e . t a y l o Note: Steering committee met via Instant Messaging on AOL prior to Thursday’s PAA monthly meeting (June 9)

Upcoming activities:

  • Fundraising: $1000 fundraising to print 10,000 INCI
    Go to PAYPAL link on PAA website www.paa-tx.org
  • Democracy Fest Friday-Sunday June 17-19 in Austin For more information visit:
    http://tinyurl.com/7v3m9
  • Juneteenth celebrations - Check out Miller Outdoor Theater’s free Juneteenth Freedom Festival in Hermann Park with music and free food from 1:30-11 p.m., Sunday, June 19th Call 713.284.8352.
  • Public Forum with Mayor White, City Council members and other public officials on police conduct at Halliburton protest. 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, at the Architecture Theatre in the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture at University of Houston central campus.  Architecture building faces Elgin Street between Cullen and Calhoun Streets.  Metered public parking is available in the lot in front of the building at entrance 18. 
  • Department of Peace Potluck Picnic: 4:30-6:30 p.m., Sunday, June 26, 2005. Part of 7 month DOP campaign. Contact Anjelléa or www.dopcampaign.org for details.
  • Sunday, July 3rd Potluck Picnic Party at the Crosiers: 5:30 p.m., 7445 Santa Fe (Thank you B&C!)
  • Peak Oil Mini Conference 1-5 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at 1st Unitarian Universalist, 5200 Fannin at Southmore
  • Communications Skills Training: 10 a.m.-Noon, Sunday, July 16 at 7445 Santa Fe (Crosier’s home – please send RSVP to Cheryl Crosier at c h e r y escramble('l','crosierbiomed.com');">) Bring sack lunch and $5 pp to reimburse trainer’s gas expenses (No one turned away for lack of funds)
  • “How to Lobby for Department of Peace” training in Spicewood, Texas (just outside of Austin) Noon Saturday-Noon Sunday August 13-14 with Lynne McMullen, DOP national campaign coordinator. For more info: call Kathy Kidd at (713) 443-9938 or visit http://tinyurl.com/85ddy
  • Yoga for Peace: Noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23 at Houston Garden Center Auditorium, Hermann Park Call 281.435.0563 for details

Adjourned: 9:10 p.m.