Idaho Peace Coalition News January Meetings The Idaho Peace Coalition will meet Jan. 10 at 7 pm in the basement of the Log Cabin Literary Center (next to the Boise Library). The agenda will include action planning for coming months, an orientation to the consensus decision making process the Coalition will use, and letter writing in support of the anti-ballistic missile treaty. Newcomers are welcome! The Coalition will meet Jan. 17 and 24 at the Hyde Park Mennonite Church, 1520 N. 12th, 7 pm. Special Presentation The Coalition is proud to present Geov Parrish on Thursday, Jan, 31, 6:30 at the Boise Library Auditorium. Geov Parrish is a long-time peace and social justice activist and commentator. He is presently in his 16th year on the national board of War Resisters League, as well as being co-convenor of its disarmament task force, director of the Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia, and active in several other local groups. In his media work, he is founder and co-editor of the local volunteer newspaper Eat the State!; weekly political columnist for the Seattle Weekly; daily columnist and contributing editor for Working Assets' www.workingforchange.com; contributing editor at In These Times; and syndicated nationally through AlterNet. This free program will include time for questions and discussion. Mission Statement Proposed The Idaho Peace Coalition is a brand new group, just formed after the September 11 attacks. Group members are working to define and articulate our mission and goals and develop an action plan. A small group, called the Spokes Council, has been meeting to address organizational issues and they propose the following mission statement: The Idaho Peace Coalition is dedicated to compassionate and non-violent action. We choose to promote peace and justice through education and individual responsibility. Discussion and adoption of our mission statement is on the agenda for the Jan. 17 meeting. Consensus Decision Making The Spokes Council has developed a decision making process for the Coalition based on consensus. The process will be introduced at the Jan. 10 meeting and there will be a short workshop on consensus. If you don't have email and can't make the meeting but want the Decision Making Process paper, contact Liz at 853-4435. Volunteers Needed The Peace Coalition has a number of actions and events ongoing or coming up that need help. You can volunteer at the meetings or by calling the contact person. 1. Geov Parrish talk - Jan 31, 6:30. Liz, 853-4435 2. Co-sponsoring Long Nights Journey Into Day, a film about South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, March 15, 7-11pm at the Presbyterian Church. Dallas, 344-4650 3. Protest day against toys that promote war and violence. Workshop on Jan 30 and inspection and press conference on Feb. 2. Kathy, 672-1441 4. Friday Vigls - Just show up at noon at the Bannock St. Post Office. The Coalition also needs a bookkeeper (very basic), desktop publishing help, and database maintenance. Liz, 853-4435. Action Planning It's time to plan actions for the coming months. Here is a list of things that have been suggested. 1. Bring peace and justice message to Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities - leadership and details needed 2. Host speaker with extensive experience in promoting peaceful resolution of Israel/Palestine conflict - Liz has a friend at the Resource Center for Non-Violence who will come 3. Invite candidates to our meetings to discuss the issues starting with Betty Richardson 4. Weekly banner vigil - idea from action committee and Paul has perfected banner creation with his airbrush 5. Meetings with elected officials - many folks have suggested this 6. Letter-to-the-editor campaign (organized and sustained) - suggestion from media committee 7. Meeting with Statesman editorial board - suggestion from media committee 8. Benefit showing of remake of Apocalypse Now at the Flicks - Tom's starting to work on this 9. Address local peace and justice needs by learning about and taking action to help one local group per month - Nino's starting to work on this 11. Workshop on war tax resistance - Kathy and Liz's idea 13. Host ACLU speaker to talk about current threats to civil liberties - Liz talked with Jack at ACLU and he's up for this 14. Anti-ballistic missile treaty action alert - Liz is working on this 15. Group training on meeting facilitation - Roger Sherman is available to do this 16. Workshop on message development - suggestion from media committee What do you think about these ideas and what would you like to do?? Come on Jan. 10 prepared to plan for action. If you can't come, but want to contribute, contact us. Idaho Peace Coalition January Calendar - Make Peace A Part of Your Life ˇ Idaho Peace Coalition general meetings: Jan. 10, 7 pm, Log Cabin Literary Center; Jan. 17 and 24, 7 pm, Hyde Park Mennonite Church 1520 N 12th ˇ Idaho Peace Coalition presents activist and journalist Geov Parrish, Jan. 31, 6:30, Boise Library Auditorium ˇ Vigil for Peace every Friday at the Bannock St. Post Office during the noon hour ˇ Study Group meets every Thursday at 12:00 at the Boise Café, 10th and Bannock. This month's book is Noam Chomsky's Fateful Triangle: The United States., Israel and the Palestinians ˇ The Good War and Those Who Refused To Fight It - The Peace Coalition is underwriting this excellent documentary on conscientious objectors during WWII on Idaho Public TV, Jan. 15, 10:00 pm ˇ Martin Luther King Jr. Day March to the Capitol, Monday, Jan. 21, 5:30 pm, BSU Student Union. Join the Peace Coalition marchers. ˇ "Violence Is Not Child's Play," A workshop on war toys, Jan. 30 7-8 pm, Hyde Park Mennonite Church followed by a toy store inspection on Feb. 2 For more information about any of our events, please contact us at idahopeacecoalition-owner@yahoogroups.com or 853-4435. Create Global Peace/Idaho Peace Coalition Yard Signs Are Still Available!! Order yours from Brent at marchbanks@execu.net, 344-5896 The Idaho Peace Coalition is a brand new group operating on a tiny budget raised from folks like you. Thank you so much if you have contributed. Mailings are expensive and we don't do very many, but not all of our supporters have email. Please send a contribution to pay for mailings, copying, room rental, Geov Parrish's plane ticket, and supplies. Make your check out to the Idaho Peace Coalition and send to 6152 Plantation Lane, Boise, ID 83703. Idaho Peace Coalition, idahopeacecoalition-owner@yahoogroups.com, http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/idahopeacecoalition, 6152 Plantation Lane, Boise, ID 83703, 853-4435