Peace and Social Concerns Committee, 7/2/18

Present: Dan G, Beth A, Roger C, Ka R, Dave G, Patty L, George M

We began with a time of silence.

1.Ka spoke of our letter-writing routine and asked whether we should modify it. This led to a good conversation about the sense of community in physical letter writing, the efficiency of taking “talking points” home and sending an email later, the advantage of phone calling, and so on. We will try Ka’s model, which was providing paper and pens for writing on Sunday, plus providing the instructions for emailing an opinion at home or filling in the legislator’s website form. We will try this model for several months, and review it later, providing options for on-site letter writing, emails from home, and computers on-site for emails and web forms. Roger will check the page of contact information. He will also put links on the website letter-writing page to make it easy to get to legislators’ websites and legislators’ emails.

2.Beth, with George’s help, will handle letter writing this month.

3.Ka mentioned a Friends meeting in McAlister Texas which is involved in the current border issues and problems. They may feel alone and perhaps somewhat burned out. We want to write to them to ask if there is some support we could offer. Dan offered to write them to ask. Airlie R has some history with the meeting and Dan will confer with her about this.

4.Dave proposed that we arrange some sort of a public vigil or worship space on the Amherst common, based on our concern about problems in our country such as opposition to immigrants, separating families, etc. The vigil would also show solidarity and invite conversation. To see if this public witness is something that would draw participation from Friends, a gathering will be arranged, perhaps a table at Fellowship Lunch. Dave will arrange the gathering on Sunday July 15 and will see what interest there is for it. He will make an announcement in Nancy’s “what’s happening this Sunday” email, and inafter-meeting announcements on July 15.

5.Beth proposed having a “focus group,” perhaps weekly and perhaps at 9am Sundays, to let Friends talk about their concerns, particularly on peace and social concerns issues. She will contact Andy G about this.

6.Beth said that the Peace Pagoda is having a shorter walk this year, on August 5th. There may be a walk to MtToby to join us for worship and perhaps other doings, for example a sheet cake with some appropriate lettering. Beth will check with the Big Y and Stop and Shop about the cost of a sheet cake; we might decorate it ourselves.

7.We are considering again our support for the Resistance Center for Peace and Justice, on which we understand Adele may have a view. George will call her and talk with her about her current opinion of the Center, and may suggest to her that the next time she plans to come to meeting she contact George, who will contact us for a brief gathering to hear from Adele directly.

We ended with a time of silence.