Minutes – May 2008 Meeting
Sunday, May 11, 12:30 pm – Volunteer Lounge
Present: Jennifer Smith, Israel Makindipe, Jeffrey Ince, Walter Ridley (Chair), Arnold Tirzits, Merv Ross , Dave Carley (minutes) Joyce Callender. Regrets: Jean Lee
1. Walter opened the meeting with a prayer.
2. Walter then read the minutes from last meeting, as a guide to our agenda for this one.
3. We discussed the two information table events we are hosting in the weeks to come:
a) After the service on Sunday the 18th
- Jeff suggested we include Outreach flyers, Kairos information, United for Peace flyers, Let’s Make a Difference flyers.
- Walter and Jeff agreed to round up the material for the table.
- Dave and Jeff will sit at the table and try to both look and sound intelligent, possibly even at the same time.
- Dave will ask John Joseph about the table – i.e. where is it and can we put it right in the back of the sanctuary so people at coffee hour might see it. (The theory being that tables in the Narthex tend to get ignored in the general stampede for the doors post-coffee hour.)
- Joyce will make a sign for the table identifying ‘Peace and Social Justice’
- Jeff will announce the existence of the table during service on the 18th
b) Doors Open – Saturday and Sunday the 24 and 25th of May.
- we will have a table at this well-attended event and have it staffed for a fair bit of the time that Doors Open runs.
- Saturday 12-2 – Dave and Walter will sit at the table
- Saturday 2-4 – Arnold will sit at the table. Note: if someone else is free then, Arnold will no doubt enjoy the company. In fact everyone would appreciate company, at any time!
- Sunday 1-3 – Joyce and Israel will sit at the table.
- The exact location of the table is TBA, but it will feature the same information and pamphlets as on the 18th
4. Peace and Social Justice Service
- it’s set for Oct 19.
- our next priority is to get a speaker and Walter suggested Ernie Regehr, of Project Ploughshares. Jeff Ince moved that Walter go forth and ask Ernie, and Dave seconded the motion. Consensus was quickly reached that Walter should do this.
- the service’s theme will be ‘Peace’ and we will have a Lunch and Learn following the service, which will educate Metfolk on the United Church’s United For Peace initiative.
5. September Lunch and Learn
- Continuing upon our desire to have an educational session on First Nations issues in the wake of the recent demonstrations, we are also hosting a Lunch and Learn on September 21.
- Jean Lee has done some great legwork on this and has tentatively devised a program whereby we’d have three speakers talk for about ten minutes each, followed by Q and A.
The speakers would include: A rep from United Church to talk about the status of the residential schools issue; hopefully Liz Pike who can talk about the First Nations community in Toronto; and hopefully Margaret Sumadh, who can talk about a current issue, the mining on Sharbot Lake lands claimed by First Nations (and the pollution potential of that mining.)
- Jean is away right now, apparently floating down a famous Russian river and belting out hymns from Voices United with Volga boatmen. However, in her absence, Jeff Ince moved that we/she continue with the Lunch and Learn in this direction, and Joyce Callender seconded. Consensus was in favour.
6. Some discussion then ensued about the need for a focus for our group, Israel feeling very strongly that we need to isolate one area and really work on that. Everyone agrees that the number of possible peace and social justice-related issues is overwhelming; the question we must address is, are we diffusing our focus too much and thus becoming ineffectual?
7. Another upcoming event: the Outreach Dinner on Wednesday, June 4 at 6 pm. This is a great opportunity for P and SJ folk to meet with the other people doing Outreach work at Met, and to share stories etc.
8. Walter mentioned that he is going on the May 31st Walking for Street to Trail event, and various folks sponsored him.
9. After a prayer, the meeting was adjourned at 2 pm.
Some Dates to remember:
May 18 – Info table post-service.
May 24 and 25 – Info table at Doors Open
June 4 – Outreach dinner
June 8 – Next meeting of the Peace and Social Justice Committee – the usual time and place, 12:30 pm in the Volunteer Lounge.
- Dave will ensure that a notice is in the bulletin, honest.
Sept 21 – Lunch and Learn on First Nations issues, post-church
Oct 19 – Peace and Social Justice service, on Peace issues, with a Lunch and Learn following.
Dec 10 – A reading of A Christmas Carol to raise money for Outreach. Mark this on your calendars now!!!
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