[lavplist] LAVP meets Jan. 14 + Dec. meeting notes

[Kevin & Barbara O'Reilly]

Next LAVP meeting will be held on Monday, January 14th from 7-9pm

Foothills Congregational Church 

461 Orange Ave. Los Altos, Learning Center  

 

LAVP Minutes

12-10-07 meeting

 

Guest speaker: Paul George, Executive Director or Peninsula Peace and
Justice Center

on How PPJC thinks about Organizing

 

Paul has been a grass roots activist for 40 years, since age 16.  In
1968 he was concerned about the Vietnam War, began volunteering and
became the youth organizer for New Jersey.

PPJC formed in 1982 and is 25 years old now.  It began as a Peace House
in the Vietnam War era. At first it was a resource center for several
groups.

 

In 1987 Paul left his job as a computer programmer and started working
at the Peace Center as a part-time bookkeeper.  In '88 he went
full-time.  He spent lots of time in Nicaragua and El Salvador.

 

The Peace Center began doing educational, informational, & action
programs and PPJC is now the leader offering programs in this area.
They believe this kind of one-on-one outreach is the most effective.
Education programming is first and foremost, with emphasis on speakers,
films. PPJC had 40 speakers last year to educate and inspire through a
deeper analysis of the issues.  

They have been doing a monthly forum since 1991.  It is televised
locally in Palo Alto.

 

The Peace Center closed down in '96, in debt and with no office.  The
Community Media Center offered them office space and space on their
website and were up and running again.  Visit the current website at
http://peaceandjustice.org/ or the office 457 Kingsley (at Cowper). They
have many DVD's on a braod range of issues which are made available for
use by groups around the country. 

 

The action element of their work includes mass demonstrations when
called for. Before the Gulf War 5000 people gathered in downtown Palo
Alto.

Paul mentioned that Anna Eshoo doesn't believe in pre-emptive war.  Her
local chief of staff is Karen Chapman.  He encouraged constituents to be
willing to accept a meeting with Anna's aides which is not as diffucult
to arrange as a meeting with Anna. He also mentioned her foreign policy
aid, Dennis Agate isreally sharp and his report will get to Anna.

 

PPJC also works behind the scenes, helping groups to find and make
connections with potential speakers. They have sound equipment to loan
(it needs to be plugged in, is not battery operated).

 

Paul mentioned some of the problems in the Peace movement, one being
split opinions on whether to focus just on the Iraq War or on multiple
issues at large group events.

A recent national rally had terrible turnout, 60,000 an amount we used
to get in SF alone.  The movement has cycles and we're in a down cycle
for street action.

 

Paul feels the only worthwhile social change has all come from demand by
the grass roots. Decision makers do look at the "social ledger" and our
elected officials do notice.

He remains committed to grass roots organizing. 

 

Reports

The Strategy Committee met on Dec. 7 to discuss LAVP's purpose and goals
moving forward and presented a written summary of their conclusions.
One of these reads

*        The purpose of LAVP is to stand for, and give voice to, those
who seek peaceful solutions to local and global violence. LAVP seeks to
educate, inform and persuade people to find peaceful solutions to
conflict. 

That led to discussion of last month's  presentation by Emad Yahya
which LAVP co-sponsored with the Library.  At least 5 members had
suggestions for future speakers.  They will check on availability and
topics and report back at the next meeting. There was also discussion of
honorariums for speakers.

 

Treasurer's report:

We have $1041. 

            $500 of that is reserved for the 2009 Scholarship Fund, and
we have already

            paid Foothill College $1000. for the 2008 scholarship.



Announcements:

Iraq Moratorium's "3rd Friday" action will take place Dec. 21 walking
through Stanford Shopping Center wearing Troops Home Now T-shirts

 

Notes submitted by Barbara O'Reilly




 

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