Meeting Notes Sunday, May 1

In brief this is what we discussed on Sunday, May 1:

Jim Spicer led the meeting tonight and the first item on the agenda
was the plan to place our information in 35 local (Gary) church
bulletins. Jim had the list and there was much discussion about the
info that should be sent to each pastor. We decided there should be a
brief statement about the Council passage of the anti-war resolution,
a mention of our meeting times, a listing of the groups which support
our efforts, and a way to respond to us (email and snail mail
addresses) Also, we would ask each pastor to refer our letter to a
social justice/peace committee of his/her parish, if one exists. Steve
Johnson is going to write such a letter and Judi Tallackson will
address the envelopes.

A committee of four members volunteered to do follow-up calls to the
churches: Carolyn McReady, Judi Tallackson, Steve Johnson and Julie
Chary.

Next in the order of business was the leafletting at various South
Shore stations. Sy is to make a condensed version of our leaflet, not
to exceed one page/two sides. Carolyn said that it would be good if
we could urge action on House Resolution 35--a funding resolution on
the Iraq war.

We then discussed the lack of money for leaflet production and other
endeavors. Several people made contributions to help fund the
leaflet, and many volunteered to staff stations.

Yard signs and window signs were discussed. Meg brought samples from
Accu-Craft (?) which we considered too costly, at $20 to $30 each.
Carolyn will call Garco Graphics for another estimate. Geri Solomon
from Progressive Democrats stated that the sign, or possibly a bumper
sticker, should include our web address.

Next we tried to think of venues and events happening in the area
within the next few months. Julie mention the series of flea markets
planned by St. Mary of the Lake in the school parking lot. Bud
suggested the county fairs. Barb Hargrove said that people staffing
these tables and also the ones leafletting should really have buttons
of identification. We decided that a postcard to a member of Congress
might be ideal as a way to cause those visiting our booths to take
some action. We also want to attract some of the organizations which
supported our resolution, such as AFSCME and SEIU and the NAACP to
help us in the information table project.

We talked about having speakers on our POV to offer to speak at
public meetings. Perhaps this should be offered in the letters to
churches. Sy volunteered to be on the speakers' list. Geri Solomon
wondered if there might be a conflict of interest if she volunteered
to do so, as she also speaks on behalf of the Progressive Democrats of
America (she explained the mission of this group to the NWICAIW
members).

We decided that a meeting with Rep. Visclosky was in order,
considering his recent votes, and Julie will call his office to
arrange an appt.

Sy announced that June Long of Northwest Indiana for Social Justice
would like to have her group introduce a resolution similar to ours in
the East Chicago city council.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:10. Steve Johnson is taking on the
responsibility of writing the letter to churches; Judi Tallackson is
going to address the envelopes.