Last night's West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Parade was interesting to say the least! Visit the chapter web page for the story.
The evening was interesting and noteworthy for other, more personal, reasons as well. Throughout the parade route, I saw familiar faces...former students, current students, old friends, familiar faces with no names attached...but the most profoundly moving were those of adoptive families that I have had the immense pleasure to help complete adoptions--most of them cross cultural. I saw happy kids from Russia, Vietnam, China, Guatemala and their families. I was surprised to see how much the children have grown--although as a relatively new (6 months) grandpa, I'm acutely aware of how fast tiny "buggers" become less tiny "buggers"!
As I reflect on the evening, I'm in awe of the people who have allowed their lives to touch and enrich mine! I'm a VERY LUCKY man, indeed!!!
Peace.
1 Comment - Read Comment | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Sunday, October 11, 2009
The chapter participated in Funk in the City again this year. Wily Loper again carved a bear and made it available for our raffle. He also had other pieces available for sale. An added feature this year was caricature sketches with proceeds shared with the chapter. The weather cooperated and the turnout was good. The chapter gained two new members and had requests for additional information. The raffle winner was Emily Jahn. Click on the link above for a photo of her mother, Abby Jahn accepting the sculpture for her.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Thursday, October 01, 2009
The current issue of the City County Observer has an article on the Eyes Wide Open display. Click on the link above to access the Observer. Don's article is on page 4.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, September 25, 2009
The VA Clinic stand down was awash in liquid sunshine today! A steady rain kept the dust and crowd down at the annual event. Vets who attended were treated to presentations by service providers, sea bag loads of military surplus, haircuts, first aid kits, clothing and MOST IMPORTANTLY, VFP cooked ginormous hot dogs!
VFP overcame a snafu regarding grill acquisition and began cooking the 1/5 pound all beef super dogs at about 11:50 AM. We were kept busy as our small grill struggled to heat the behemoths. We were well represented by Ron Greenfield, Dave Helfrich, volunteer USI MSW student Callie Sanders and Gary May. Dave and Callie deserve special thanks--Callie for volunteering and responding to this opportunity on short notice and delaying her drive home to help from beginning to end and Dave for dropping his plans to bring the grill to the Clinic and staying to help cook and serve.
The many "Thank Yous" we received made the day in the rain well worth while. The Tammy Lindner-headed employee group from the Marion VAMC that provided the "weenies" donated 25 pounds of them to VFP for our next Clinic Cookout!
For me, take aways from today's event include the quintessential VFP sentiment express by one of the barbers, "Combat vets are the best peacemakers" and the more mundane, yet profound reality of military life, "If you're wet, you're a vet". A good day indeed!!
Click on the link above to view photos through raindrops.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, September 25, 2009
After being snubbed by the media prior to the Eyes Wide Open display, the local television stations showed up on Sunday. Here's what aired on Fox Sunday night. (You'll have to endure a 30 commercial first--sorry, I couldn't work around it.) Click on the link above to play the video.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Eyes Wide Open left town with rave reviews, emotional responses, thanks and heartfelt appreciation--and that's just from VFP members!! Visitors voiced appreciation for the display, sadness about the losses depicted and resolve to end war.
I had the high honor to lead a group of 10 trauma counselors at the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington in November, 1982. We were stationed adjacent to the Wall in a motor home provided by the Military Order of the Purple Heart. My team provided 24/7 crisis counseling during the week of the dedication. It was an awesomely intense and humbling experience. It seemed that everyone who visited had a personal story about the impact of the Vietnam War in their life.
My work at the Eyes Wide Open display this weekend activated many of those memories from so many years ago. Many visitors were noticeably moved. Many had personal stories about cousins, sons, in laws, friends, former students, and casual acquaintances. It was powerful!
As was the case in 1982 in Washington, I was exhausted from the weekend's work at the Four Freedoms Monument. VFP was nobly represented by Ron Greenfield, Rodney Wilson, Karen Lipinczyk, Dave Helfrich, Ken Back and Gary May today. The chapter distinguished itself this weekend and elevated its profile in the community. We were all honored to work with Erin Polley, the State Coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee--SHE WAS AWESOME!!
We look forward to bringing the display back to Evansville--after we catch our breaths!! We also explored the possibility of bringing Erin back to do a Community Education Event on the Costs of War. Stay tuned for details about this.
Please click on the article title above to view photos from today.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, September 21, 2009
We dodged raindrops, squall lines and bad jokes to complete the setup in two stages. The media finally responded to our phone calls and showed up with cameras and reporters. All our local networks made it out and were impressed with the display.
VFP was represented today by Dave Helfrich, Ron Greenfield, Ken Back, and Gary May.
We were not deluged with visitors--no one knew we were here again today--so, we had a lot of time for visiting and wide ranging conversation. We learned that Erin is quite the enigma--she espouses a respect for life and earth's creatures--but her behavior betrays a dark side. She is a good sport and we all enjoyed the give and take banter and good natured kidding, right Erin?
The weather forecast is ominous for tomorrow morning. Ken Back and Erin will monitor developments and make the deployment call. We expect to attract some downtown office workers tomorrow and we may have some additional traffic from the media exposure tonight.
Click on the link above for photos from today.
1 Comment - Read Comment | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Sunday, September 20, 2009
In spite of getting shut out by the media, we had a smattering of visitors to the impressive Eyes Wide Open display today. It seems that the local media bought in to the Chamber of Commerce's community boosterism highlighting an impressive Komen Race turnout, the jazz and wine fest, outlying community events and other superficial "happy village" activities. They apparently didn't have time for our message about the human costs of war as evidenced by the 11 southwestern Indiana KIA and countless civilian casualties from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan!
The set up went smoothly due to the American Friends Service Committee's Erin Polley's early arrival and layout completion. VFP was well represented by Ken Back, Bob Wessel, Rodney Wilson, Dave Helfrich, Karen Lipinczyk, Clark Field, and Gary May.
If the weather cooperates, we'll set up again tomorrow and Monday at 9:00 AM and take down at 7:00 PM. With any luck, the local media gods will smile on us and we'll get some ink/air time to let people know we're here.
Click on the link above to see today's photos.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Saturday, September 19, 2009
VFP 104 won the Veterans Trophy as the best Veterans Group entry in the 2009 Labor Day Parade held in Princeton, IN. 104 was selected as the Veterans group that conveyed the best message, engaged viewers and contributed to the overall success of the parade. Click on the headline to see Gary Fritz, past President of the Gibson County Labor Day Committee, present the trophy to VFP 104 members Rodney Wilson and Gary May.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, September 14, 2009
The weekend's torrential rains ended in plenty of time for the 123 Annual Labor Day Celebration in Princeton, IN. VFP 104 was well represented by Dave Helfrich, Ken Back, Rose Back, Ron Greenfield, Karen Lipinczyk, Rick Underhill (& his trusty truck), Rodney Wilson, Scott Myerly, Bob Wessel, Tony Schmitt & Gary May. It was an honor to participate in this, the oldest Labor Day observance in the nation! Click on the entry name to view the photos.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, September 07, 2009
VFPer's Dave Helfrich, Larry Miller, Rodney Wilson, Bob Wessel and Gary May met at Lorenzo's for coffee and conversation before heading to the VA Clinic, where we were joined by VFPer Ron Greenfield. We cooked and served 100+ dogs and dispensed all our cold drinks on this hot day. Sadly, this is the last cookout that VA staffer--and our "go to" person at the Clinic--Carolyn Millender will be able to assist us. She's retiring to Georgia at the end of September. We prepared a VERY well done dog for her--just as she likes 'em! She'll be missed. Click on entry for photos.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Photos from our night at the ball yard. Thanks to Ken Back for making the arrangements!
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, June 26, 2009
National Peace Academy
June 9, 2009
Dear Jerry (Steele, VFP MO)
It is a joy to reconnect and bring you up to date as we continue our journey to establish a National Peace Academy in the United States of America. In April 2008, over 30 individuals gathered in Cleveland for a visioning meeting, with the dream of building a Peace Academy in the United States. They emerged from their meeting with a vision of and process for designing the National Peace Academy. The vision and design process included weekly planning meetings, research, and a search for funding-all leading up to a multi-stakeholder design summit. Nearly a year later, in March of 2009, over 170 scholars, academicians, business representatives, government officials, researchers, and community leaders from around the nation and from 10 other countries to design the National Peace Academy. We emerged from the summit with 15 Action Teams, a core planning team, and dozens of ideas for prototypes and strategies. The National Peace Academy core team has just returned from a very intensive and joyful planning retreat in Maine. With the help of the summit reports, suggestions and prototype ideas from summit participants, we are now making great strides in the development of the National Peace Academy.
What emerged from the core planning team retreat was a clear direction for moving forward in the development phase of the National Peace Academy, based on the key foundational elements that emerged from the Design Summit.
One of those elements, presented at the summit, is the definition of peace contained in the Earth Charter. This definition articulates well the understanding of peace that motivates and guides the development of the National Peace Academy: "peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part."
Also, certain programmatic themes, suggestions, and ideas were repeated throughout the summit-and they now make up the four CORNERSTONES of the National Peace Academy:
• Peace Education • Peace Policy and Advocacy • Peace Research • Peace Practice
These cornerstones are interdependent and will inform all of the work that we do.
We have also clarified the National Peace Academy purpose statement:
The purpose of the National Peace Academy is to support, advance and nurture cultures of peace by conducting research and facilitating learning toward the development of peace systems - local to global - and the full spectrum of the peacebuilder - inner and outer, personal and professional.
In fulfilling this purpose the NPA embodies and reflects the principles and processes of peace.
At the summit in March, dozens of prototypes were suggested. And from these ideas, we have several initial programs and projects that will be launched and for which we are seeking funding. Each of these programs will lead through one of the 4 NPA cornerstones:
• Peace Education - Peace Learning in and with Communities • Peace Research - Living Library and Clearinghouse • Peace Policy and Advocacy: Conflict Resolution Education and Peace Education K-12 and higher
In addition to these programs, there are also several other ideas that were suggested at the summit that we are currently exploring for NPA programs. These include an AmeriCorps training that would incorporate peace practice into the volunteer orientation, a summer short course-which would model the principles and processes of peace-educating towards the full spectrum of the peacebuilder; and we are exploring the idea of developing a model for colleges and universities to use to incorporate peace curricula into their existing programs. Continue to watch the NPA website for details and progress on each of these projects.
The work of the Design Summit Action Teams has been invaluable in shaping the development of the National Peace Academy, and as these programs and next steps are transforming and developing, new needs are also starting to emerge. Thus, as we close the Design Phase, we are working to reconfigure our stakeholder structure, letting go of the stakeholder Action Teams and opening and expanding the opportunity for volunteer involvement to meet the needs of the development phase. We encourage you to sign on to the NPA Ning site, which we continue to use as a method for communicating with the broad base of volunteers and stakeholders. We will also continue to research the best methods for opening the space for dialogue and sharing.
On Thursday, June 18th a National Peace Academy all-call is scheduled to share new developments with the NPA stakeholders. That call will start at 8pm Eastern and will last approximately one hour. The call-in number is: (605) 475-4825 access code: 905044#
Thanks again for your continued support and active contributions to the development of the National Peace Academy. National Peace Academy Core Team www.nationalpeaceacademy.us P.O. Box 382 San Mateo, CA 94401-0382 USA[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, June 09, 2009
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Memorial Day 2009
More than a dozen VFP 104 members and 60+ guests gathered at Evansville's Four Freedoms Monument for the Chapter's first-ever Memorial Day Observance. The program inlcuded music by Bobby Clark, a moving invocation read by Karen Lipinczyk, a tribute to fallen soldiers by Hardin Rathgeber and the keynote address by yours truly. Texts follow. GEM
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, May 29, 2009
Memorial Day 2009 Invocation
MEMORIAL DAY PRAYER by William Sloane Coffin, Jr.
Gracious God, whose own Son's term of service to humanity was so full that its brevity was no distress, we call to mind on this Memorial Sunday those who will not grow old as we are left to grow old, those whose lives were too brief for us but long enough, perhaps, for thee. Forgive us that they died so young because we were too unimaginative, too imperious, too indifferent, or just too late to think of better ways than warfare to conduct the business of the world. Gratefully, we remember the generosity that prompted them to share the last of their rations, the last pair of dry socks, to share in the course of one hour in the foxhole more than most of us care to share with one another in a lifetime. And we recall the courage that made more than one of them fall on the grenade there was no time to throw back.
Grant, O God, that they may not have died in vain. May we draw new vigor from past tragedy. Buttress our instincts for peace, sorely beleaguered. Save us from justifications invented to make us look noble, grand and righteous and from blanket solutions to messy, detailed problems. Give us the vision to see that those nations that gave the most to their generals and least to their poor were, throughout all history, the first to fall. Most of all, give us the vision to see that the world is now too dangerous for anything but truth, too small for anything but love. Through Jesus Christ our Savior, who became what we are to make us what he is. Amen.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, May 29, 2009
Memorial Day 2009 Keynote, Part 1
Planting the Seeds for a World Free of War* Gary E. May Memorial Day 2009 Veterans For Peace Chapter 104
A letter from Charlie Johnson, retired sports reporter and main character in Terror Nation, to a small Iowa newspaper:
Dear Editor:
I have a neighbor across the street.
We have watched each other out our front windows for forty years.
Their son played ball in our yard.
Last week that son's boy came home in a body bag in a box in the belly of a big Boeing, back from Baghdad.
That is nothing to "b" joking about.
I am not.
But I will not "b" quiet, either.
I have talked to my neighbors since then, on the sidewalk in front of the house, and again on the side steps of St. Mark's after Mass.
They say Timothy died because he loved freedom.
That's nonsense. He loved basketball.
They say he had his head blown off his shoulders, his legs cut off at the knees, lost his hands, to make us free.
Of course, that's not true. But what else do a heart-broken grandmother and grandfather have to hold on to?
Someone needs to speak for Timothy, perhaps speak to him, to tell him the truth, because we lied to him his whole life.
Timothy died because of us.
Me. You.
We told him it was good to go.
Fr. Cyril, either by his legendary silence, or the flag next to the altar, said it was good to go kill children and call that fighting for freedom.
She never met Timothy, but Cindy Sampson, our new editor from Iowa State, told him the same by the stories she ran, and the headlines and the photos and editorials, so patriotic, so deceptive, so self-serving.
We all told him, go, go, it's a good thing to do.
We whispered, go kill, go shoot, go murder and steal, and we'll all call it "fighting for freedom."
And when we hear in the big city newspapers and TV after thousands and thousands have died that there was no reason to die — we'll dig our heels in the front lawn grass and still call it fighting for freedom.
And when our grandchildren hit the ball into the graveyard and come back and ask us about the headstone with the flag on it and the same last name as theirs — who was that?
We'll bite our tongues and clench our fists and look anywhere but into their trusting eyes, and we'll tell them Timothy died fighting for our freedom.
(Mike Palecek Terror Nation, Mainstay Press, 2006)
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead".
Carrying forward the sentiments of Southern women, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead.
In 1915, inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Fields”, Moina Michael conceived the idea of wearing a red poppy to honor soldiers who died in the nation’s wars. The idea was picked up the Veterans of Foreign Wars shortly after Memorial Day in 1922. Today this tradition of the red poppy is still very much alive as is the practice of placing small American flags at the gravesites of all U.S. veterans. Additionally, many veterans’ organizations gather to offer rifle salutes, host remembrance assemblies and community programs to call attention to the sacrifices of veterans.
Contrary to the endurance of these historic practices, observance of Memorial Day has waned. Some blame the National Holiday Act of 1971 (3 day weekends), and have sought to correct this by introducing bills (Inouye and Gibbons) in the late 90’s to restore the original date for Memorial Day. These proposals did not pass and there has been no significant recent action to correct this alleged cause of the decline of Memorial Day observances (Wikipedia).
Additionally, leaders of traditional veterans’ organizations have decried the reduced enthusiasm and participation in Memorial Day activities. The nature of the criticism is generally under the rubrics of eroding patriotism and the poor understanding of the proffered inextricable link between the service of citizen soldiers and our “freedoms”. A subtext is that our overly permissive society and relativist perspective foreclose teaching and understanding the distinctions between right and wrong. The general upshot of this line of reasoning is to blame the victim; the conclusion is that folks don’t show up because they just don’t care.[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, May 29, 2009
Memorial Day 2009 Keynote, Part 2
But could it be that participation has declined as a consequence of a precipitous shift from a fundamental trust in the reluctance of our country to engage in wars—the “war as a last resort” perspective--toward a cynical belief that wars are servants of policy elites and capitalist interests? What explains the history of a war approximately every 20 years since the founding of our nation? Especially in the post Vietnam era, the honorable service of citizen soldiers has been used as a shield against criticisms of the particular war or war in general. Thus honorable service and sacrifice is reduced to and sanitized by euphemisms such as “the ultimate sacrifice”, “fighting to preserve freedom”, “serving the country”, etc. This human shield, polished and tempered with such euphemisms diverts attention and especially criticism of war itself and promotes a transparent paradigm of collective benefit from war.
What we have is what Kurt Vonnegut referred to in Cat’s Cradle, his1963 satirizing of science, technology, religion, the arms race and other targets, as the paradoxical practice of opposing Bokononism as the official religion while at the same time supporting it as official policy on the fictional island of San Lorenzo. In the novel, the dictator supports and practices Bokononism while officially banning it and punishing its practitioners.
The duplicitous declarations of erstwhile peace loving political leaders are also reminiscent of the Orwellian practice of renaming contentious issues to make them more palatable. This perspective lays bare the motives for our political leaders’ declarations of “war as a last resort” and nurturing a robust and very expensive military industrial complex, armed and ready to maintain the peace. This arrangement, stated with familiar simple-mindedness by George W. Bush, “No, I know all the war rhetoric, but it's all aimed at achieving peace” promotes the ironic practice of killing for peace. Let’s examine what others have said about this conundrum of the apparent necessary evil—war—and the elusive dividend of war—peace: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means. True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice. Jimi Hendrix: When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. John Lennon: Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one. Eugene V. Debs, Canton Ohio, WWI “Wars throughout history have been waged for conquest and plunder. In the Middle Ages when the feudal lords who inhabited the castles whose towers may still be seen along the Rhine concluded to enlarge their domains, to increase their power, their prestige and their wealth, they declared war upon one another. “But they themselves did not go to war any more than the modern feudal lords, the barons of Wall Street go to war. The feudal barons of the Middle Ages, the economic predecessors of the capitalists of our day, declared all wars. And their miserable serfs fought all the battles. “The poor, ignorant serfs had been taught to revere their masters; to believe that when their masters declared war upon one another, it was their patriotic duty to fall upon one another and to cut one another's throats for the profit and glory of the lords and barons who held them in contempt.” Marine Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, one of only 19 Americans to have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice, in “War is a Racket” wrote: "War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."
I find it interesting that none of these men identify war as the path to peace.[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, May 29, 2009
Memorial Day 2009 Keynote, Part 3
So, as we ponder planting the seeds for a world free of war, what are our challenges? One obvious challenge is money. Years ago, economist John Kenneth Galbraith said that big business needs big government. In 1960, President Eisenhower warned against allegiance to the military industrial complex. War is big business. Witness the windfall profits to private contractors during our current wars. A related barrier is the control of the message exercised by policy elites and business interests. The “news” is filtered through strong corporate screens. Dissent is muted or not acknowledged. The “unipresidency” is another barrier. As time passes, the war policies of President Obama are increasingly disappointing. Some are knock offs of his predecessor’s failed policies. His designation of Afghanistan as the “Right War” and the packaging of Afghanistan and Pakistan as the new, preferred front on the war on terror are particularly disappointing. There’s even a catchy moniker for this newly repackaged war—AFPAK. The country’s commitment to war is institutionalized in the Department of Defense, whose budget is so large as to be incomprehensible and whose ubiquitous presence in everyday life ranges from coaching elementary soccer teams to sponsoring racecars. Despite policy elites’ declarations that war is a necessary precursor to the more envied goal of peace, we actually spend nothing on peace. We do have a United States Institute of Peace, though, officially committed to: 1) Prevent and resolve violent international conflicts; 2) Promote post-conflict stability and development; and 3) Increase conflict management capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide. The Institute's origins date to the earliest days of the Republic. The idea for the establishment of an official U.S. government institution dedicated to the cause of international peace can be traced back to debates by the framers of the U.S. Constitution. The first formal proposal for the establishment of an official U.S. government peace institution dates to 1792. The product of efforts by architect and publisher Benjamin Banneker and physician and educator Dr. Benjamin Rush, the proposal called for establishing a "Peace Office" on equal footing with the War Department—noting the importance to the welfare of the United States of "an office for promoting and preserving perpetual peace in our country." (emphasis added) Over the years, the idea of an official U.S. peace institute continued to be advocated by a wide array of prominent Americans, including Woodrow Wilson, Jennings Randolph, and Everett Dirksen. In fact, from 1935 to 1976 over 140 bills were introduced in Congress to establish various peace-related departments, agencies, bureaus, and committees of Congress. In 1976, the first cornerstone for the campaign that led to the creation of the U.S. Institute of Peace was laid when Senator Vance Hartke of Indiana and Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon introduced a bill to create the George Washington Peace Academy (United States Institute of Peace). The Institute pursues its goals by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by directly engaging in peace building efforts around the globe and is led by such marquee peace advocates as Robert Gates (U.S. Secretary of Defense) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (Secretary of State). It has no tangible budget and a small staff, reflecting the true commitment to peace. Prior to the U.S. involvement in WW I, W.E.B. Du Bois, in “The African Roots of War” (Atlantic Monthly, May 1915), perceptively described the unfolding war as a war of empire between Germany and the Allies over the riches of Africa. He went on to elaborate on the duplicity that supports war and the faux “prosperity” it brings to all involved, not just the captains of industry—although their interests are most handsomely rewarded (Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present, 2003 ). Few can believe that suffering, especially by others, is in vain. Anything that is disagreeable must surely have beneficial economic effects (John Kenneth Galbraith). A similar perspective is powerfully presented by black U.S. Vietnam combatants in Wallace Terry’s book, Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History (1985). A Google search using the search terms “blacks in Iraq” yields 3.7 million news accounts and personal stories recounting misgivings about the alleged collective “benefits” of war and war related expenditures in .42 seconds. In Cat’s Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut coined the term “granfalloon” to designate “… a group of people who imagine they have a connection that doesn’t really exist”. Such imagined connections exist in the U.S. American capitalism needs international rivalry—and periodic war—to create an artificial community of interest between rich and poor, supplanting the genuine community of interest among the poor that shows itself in sporadic movements toward class justice and equality. The suppression of dissent and explicit and tacit acceptance of war as an instrument of national policy makes us all part of the “benefits of war” granfalloon. So, back to planting seeds for a world free of war… We have the seeds. They have been given to us by the likes of Dr. King, Gandhi, His Highness Dali Lama, Nelson Mandela, Jane Addams, and many others. And we know how to grow things. We learned this from the agrarians, gatherers and earth stewards who preceded us. We also know about the difference between hospitable and harsh environments, having learned this from experience. Peace advocates are disabused of the notion that the logic and sensibility of our views will prevail in an environment that foments war and quashes peace though.[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, May 29, 2009
Memorial Day 2009 Keynote, Part 4
So, what do we do? Long ago, when I worked for the Veterans Administration as an idealistic social worker in their Vet Center program, I was told by respected friends and community activists that it’s easier to change the direction of a speeding locomotive than it was to stop it. In this vein, “planting the seeds for a world free of war” is the wrong goal—at least in the near term. Seeds of this type sown in today’s harsh environment will surely rot. Let’s think about diverting the war train and planting the seeds of peace. Veterans For Peace is a 7,000 member national organization with 120 chapters comprised of patriots—mostly veterans--committed to peace. We do not amuse ourselves with the fantasy that we will be able to end war anytime soon. We are committed to promoting peace however. We think of peace as more than the absence of war. It includes basic justice and equality. The current paradigm is that war promotes peace. Therefore, war is a necessary premium for peace. Our view is that peace suppresses war. Peace, in this view is not contingent upon the existence of war. Veterans For Peace uses our primary strength—the fact that most of us are veterans—as a powerful perspective to comment on the futility of war and the appeal of peace. Our mission statement begins with the following sentence: “We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace.” To achieve these goals, members of Veterans For Peace pledge to use non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger purpose of world peace. The mission statement continues, “We know the consequences of American foreign policy because at one time in our lives, so many of us carried it out. We find it sad that war seems so delightful, so often, to those that have no knowledge of it. We will proudly, and patriotically, continue to denounce war despite whatever misguided sense of euphoria supports it.” Finally our statement of purpose invites other like-minded indiduals to join us in our peace efforts. I would like to personally invite you to join Veterans For Peace. You don’t have to be a veteran to join, but we will ensure that veterans comprise a clear majority. Also, please persuade at least one other person to join a progressive, pro peace organization and attend at least one meeting or action with them. Join with other progressive pro peace groups and support their activities. Write a letter to the editor. Join us in a parade. Demand truth in military recruiting in schools. Oppose the militarization of everyday life. Challenge at least one assumption per day. Even when together we are no match to the resources of the military industrial complex, but in unity we are far more formidable in meeting the challenge. Our work must be at the individual and community level—even one person at a time. We must challenge the status quo. We must provide the other perspective on the feel good bromides of the day. We must use our experience to enlighten others who are unaware. We must live and promote peace. Remember the words of John Kenneth Galbraith: “There is something wonderful in seeing a wrong-headed majority assailed by truth.”[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, May 29, 2009
Update on Iraq Water Project
As you know, we contribued the proceeds from last year's John Lennon Night to the Iraq Water Project. Our donation supported the purchase of much needed water filtration systems for installation in Iraq. What follows is an update on Water Project activities by Art Dorland, project manager for VFP. GEM
Web update May 2009
Veterans for Peace has recently delivered its fortieth water treatment unit to an Iraqi institution since this phase of the project commenced in 2006. Three Sterilights sent at the end of April were installed at girls’ elementary schools in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad, and Tharthar village near Samarra, and the third unit went to the alAlskari shrine in Samarra.
This last site should jog the memory of readers who are able to retain a long list of atrocities that followed like vicious unleashed dogs the bootsteps of our country’s 2003 invasion of Iraq. The criminal destruction of this shrine in February 2006, by alQaeda (?), touched off a critical mass explosion of sectarian violence that has not spent itself yet. Shias throughout the world revere this site as the burial place of Hasan alAskari, eleventh Imam and father of the long awaited Mahdi, who will one day reappear on earth and establish everlasting peace and justice. It is precisely this circumstance that set the mouths of the attackers adrool. The beautiful building together with its minarets and gleaming golden dome was nearly demolished.
That was then. Today the resurrected building, still under scaffolding, is once more welcoming pilgrims. Our Sterilight water unit, installed the first week of May, will supply these pilgrims and other visitors with safe drinking water, and we are most grateful for the opportunity to be part of this renewal. God grant that atrocities like this monstrous bombing disappear into the past, that Iraq itself be resurrected, independent, in possession of its own soil and resources, and free of occupation. We insist the United States do its part to make this happen. Let the pilgrims of alAskari have good water, let all Iraqis have their country back.
A few weeks prior to this installation, we delivered three Sterilight units to a village of Misan Province in the south of Iraq. Within this province are the remains of what were once extensive marshlands, an area especially rich in history and inhabited by the Ma’dan people, or Marsh Arabs. Their way of life, and particularly their interesting bundled reed architecture, is as old and unchanged as anything in all Mesopotamia, indeed on earth. Pictured here is a traditional tribal guesthouse, or mudhif, which---excepting the ceiling fans and the IWP water sterilizer---is identical to similar buildings portrayed in the earliest Sumerian artworks, dating to 3000 BC and before. For 50 centuries the Ma’dan people maintained a way of life based on fishing and cattle breeding, until Saddam’s regime drove them out and destroyed their livelihoods by draining the swamps. Marsh Arabs are Shia and the swamps provided cover for Saddam’s Shia enemies. Only a small remnant of the swamplands remains, the rest is now desert and probably irretrievably lost. As with the alAskari shrine, we were glad to give a little help to people of such historical significance.
There is a small downside: the Baghdad technician installing this unit and two others in a nearby school and clinic, fell out of the boat, banged up his head and lost his camera in the water. City people of Iraq are not notable sailors. We have replaced the camera.
Additional work accomplished since last report includes Sterilights installed at village clinics near Karbala and Falluja, and in a girls’ school in the Yezidi city of Sinjar. Two units were set up at an abandoned Iraqi military base at Kirkuk, which now serves as an impoverished, almost functionless refugee encampment. The desolate scene of this last site is a perfect metaphor for the folly and waste of military overreach. Americans take note: this could be one day our desperate citizens in one of our abandoned installations when we have reduced ourselves to this condition. Perpetual all-spectrum dominance is melting the credit card.
To top off the above, IWP is also cooperating with Muslim Peacemaker Teams, Iraq. One co-op filtration unit has been installed by MPT at an elementary school in Najaf, and another is on the horizon. Funding for this work is the product of Dr Marcus Erickson’s speaking engagements and bicycle tour of the west coast, Vancouver to San Diego. Marcus, who holds a doctor’s degree in ocean science, recently sailed to Hawaii and back aboard a wind driven junk created from plastic refuse, his purpose to document and report the contamination of the entire North Pacific Gyre with imperishable plastic detritus. Talk about a water project. And now, accompanied by his fiancee, he is speaking to all who will listen about what is happening to our oceans as a consequence of our squalid abundance. A related topic of his talks is the dire water situation in Iraq. Money raised through these events are conduited through our vfp project to Muslim Peacemaker Teams and schools in the vicinity of Najaf, Iraq. Take a look at www.algalita.org or www.junkraft.com if you would like to learn more about Marcus and his interesting organization.
One last thing: Faiza alAraji, our indispensable Iraqi water engineer friend and accomplice, has put off her anticipated return to Baghdad. This is, for us at least, good news. Also through Faiza’s contacts, we now have a way to purchase the Sterilight units in Iraq itself, instead of Amman, as previously. The new way represent considerable savings in transportation and border fee costs.
As always, on behalf of the project and the many Iraqis it serves, I thank all donors, supporters, and others interested in this work. And I especially want to thank the dedicated Iraqi technicians in country who often take considerable risks in carrying out the work of IWP. Iraq is still barely teetering on recovery, and as we are the invading and occupying power, our debt to its people will not go away. Ever.[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, May 12, 2009
VFP National President Mike Ferner spoke at the Bloomington/Monroe County, IN Library on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. Check this link for coverage of his speech in the Indiana Daily Student. Chapter 104 members David Helfrich, Rodney Wilson, Gary Manley & Gary May attended the event.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, May 04, 2009
John Podesta's liberal think tank the Center for American Progress strongly supports Barack Obama's escalation of the US wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is best evidenced by "Sustainable Security in Afghanistan," a CAP report by Lawrence J. Korb. Podesta served as the head of Obama's transition team, and CAP's support for Obama's wars is the latest step in a successful co-option of the US peace movement by Obama's political aides and the Democratic Party.
CAP and the five million member liberal lobby group MoveOn were behind Americans Against Escalation in Iraq (AAEI), a coalition that spent tens of millions of dollars using Iraq as a political bludgeon against Republican politicians, while refusing to pressure the Democratic Congress to actually cut off funding for the war. AAEI was operated by two of Barack Obama's top political aides, Steve Hildebrand and Paul Tewes, and by Brad Woodhouse of Americans United for Change and USAction. Today Woodhouse is Obama's Director of Communications and Research for the Democratic National Committee. He controls the massive email list called Obama for America composed of the many millions of people who gave money and love to the Democratic peace candidate and might be wondering what the heck he is up to in Afghanistan and Pakistan. MoveOn built its list by organizing vigils and ads for peace and by then supporting Obama for president; today it operates as a full-time cheerleader supporting Obama's policy agenda. Some of us saw this unfolding years ago. Others are probably shocked watching their peace candidate escalating a war and sounding so much like the previous administration in his rationale for doing so.
Correction--Our friends included staff from Southwestern Behavioral Health, not Mulberry Center. Photo Credit: Ralph Nichols
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veterans Day Events Reports (USI & 4 Freedoms)
USI
I represented VFP Chapter 104 in the first ever Veterans Day event at the University of Southern Indiana this morning. The keynote speaker was Eric Lewis, State Director of Veterans Higher Education in Indiana. He called attention to the sacrifices that service members have made and challenged the audience to remember individual sacrifices. In my brief remarks, I called attention to the costs of militarism and the importance of personalizing ones understanding and relationship with Veterans Day.
FOUR FREEDOMS
Approximately 10 Chapter 104 members assembled at the Four Freedoms Monument in Evansville at 11 AM today for the annual Veterans Day rememberance of the losses in Iraq and Afghanistan. We read the names of all US casualties from these two wars--4819 total--ending at 2:30 PM. We were joined by members of the Unitarian Universalists Church, Mulberry Center and many friends from the community. It was chilly, and damp--thankfully the predicted steady rain did not materialize--but a very meaningful event. WGBF radio and the USI Shield Student Newspaper covered the event. Alan Marty provided KFC chicken and Ken Back surprised us with coffee and hot cocoa from Starbucks. Thanks to both for their generosity. Watch this space as I expect to have photos to post soon. Peace, Gary[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veterans Day
VFP will again read the names of US casualties from the war in Iraq on Veterans Day. Everyone is welcome to join the effort and help read names. The reading will begin at 11 AM on Tuesday, November 11 at the Four Freedoms Monument on Evansville's riverfront.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, November 04, 2008
"Lioness" on WNIN November 13 9PM
I attended the shortened version of "Lioness" @ UE tonight. The full version will be shown on WNIN on November 13 @ 9 PM. It's the story of 5 Army women who served 5 month combat tours in Iraq. It exposes issues related to PTSD, ineffective leadership, and more BushCo policies--some directly and some by implication. I thought the pacing was somewhat irregular, maybe that's an artifact of the editing to squeeze it into 60 minutes. There was a panel of a UE psychology prof (non veteran moderator) an ING EM (2 Iraq tours), an ING Colonel ("combat" unspecified), a former Army paralegal(Bosnia), and the State Director of "Soldier's Angels" (apparently non veteran), a support program for "our troops". I found the discussion narrowly focused, e.g., can women "hack it" in a man's environment?, should women be drafted?, is it fair for women to be held to different physical fitness standards?, the VA does a good job with PTSD, the DAV does a good job with PTSD...you get the idea. Pauline Burgdorf, in response to an observation that we have an "all volunteer" army questioned whether young people are told of other options. (Pauline is a Zion UCC member.) The shortened version, produced by Independent Lens which is touted as "hard hitting" and "unflinching", flew over opportunities to address policy inconsistencies, the patriarchal dividend and countless feminist perspective touchstones, opting for depictions of troubled (with disproportonate time focused one veteran) reintegration, and a decidedly micro system focus. I'm hoping that the full lenght version will be more robust and comprehensive.[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Wednesday, October 29, 2008
"Lioness", an acclaimed film about 5 women who served together in Iraq, will be shown at UE's Smyth Lecture Hall (Room 170) in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at 7 PM on Wednesday, October 29. The film is free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Miscellaneous
Chaplain Yee
Chaplain Yee's visit was a smashing success!! He spoke to a group of approximately 50 at Zion UCC in Henderson and to approximately 225 in UE's Neu Chapel on Monday, October 6. He was also able to visit the Islamic Society while in the area. He was quite pleased with his visit.
Wednesday, October 22 11 - 1. Meet at Lrenzo's @ 9.
Next Chapter Meeting
Thursday, October 23 7 - 9. Central Library, Large Group Room, 2nd Floor.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, October 20, 2008
Chaplain Yee Events
Chaplain James Yee will speak at Zion United Church of Christ in Henderson, KY on Sunday, October 5 at 10:30 AM. On Monday, October 6, he'll speak at UE's Neu Chapel at 7:00 PM. He will be available to sign copies of his book, For God and Country at both events. Please make arrangements to attend.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Sunday, October 05, 2008
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, September 22, 2008
VFP National Convention--HUGE Success
Hundreds of VFP members and supporters gathered in Minneapolis for the VFP Annual Convention August 27 - 31. The Ramada Inn Mall of America was the host venue and it was teeming with VFP-ers, posters, book displays, fellowship and boundless energy!
This was my fourth National Convention, and I would rank it among the best I've attended. The moving opening ceremony on Thursday included a message of peace from Clyde Bellacourt, co-founder of AIM. The opening had a moving First Peoples leit motif--drumming, chanting, singing, sharing the peace pipe, linking with ancestors. AWESOME!!
Father Roy Bourgeois gave an update on US activities in Latin America and the ongoing opposition to the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning. Kelly Dougherty and Michael McPhearson gave brief updates on IVAW and VFP, respectively. Kelly reported on the successful 10,000 person IVAW led march at the DNC where a letter opposing the Iraq occupation and requesting meetings with Senator Obama was presented to campaign staff. This march was TOTALLY non violent.
The opening was followed by stellar workshops on topics ranging from Agent Orange to Zones of Concern. Our own Bonnie Heilman presented the findings of her research on our chapter in a Friday afternoon workshop. Her session was well attended and very well received. You all would have been proud!
In Sunday's closing ceremony, attendees were regaled by the Seattle Peace Choir who delivered the sweet sounds of peace. VFP Board Member and Native American John Varone led an incantation of thanks to our ancestors for a successful convention and for guidance and energy as we continue to press for peace.
The Minneapolis area host chapters were attentive to the needs of attendees for R&R by arranging food and entertainment at Nicolette Island in downtown Minneapolis. The organizers also arranged for socialization opportunities at the conclusion of each day's business. They did an exceptional job of staging a first class convention.
A traditional highlight for attendees was the Saturday SpeakOut in conjunction with the business meeting. Saturday night's keynoters were James Yee and Jeremy Scahill. I met with Yee very briefly and had him autograph his book for me. He said he looked forward to his Evansville visit and that "...we'll have a great program". NO DOUBT.
Scahill, a Democracy Now journalist, gave a stark and chilling account of the influence and activities of Blackwater and similar mercenary organizations. He made it hard to go to sleep Saturday night!
On a more mundane level, the Board met as scheduled all day Wednesday and Thursday morning. The most voluminous outcome from these meetings was the consideration and votes on the 26 Resolutions that had been submitted by VFP chapters/members. Additionally, the Board committed to a monitoring process that will help inoculate against tasks "falling through the cracks".
So, after 2.5 days of provocative workshops, moving opening/closing ceremonies, the renewal of many acquaintances, basking in the warm glow of kindred spirits, we all broke camp. Many attendees stayed on, hosted by Minneapolis area VFP-ers to march on the RNC on Monday. The struggle goes on. We all came away recharged and renewed.[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Thursday, September 04, 2008
Veterans For Peace Meeting Notes August 21, 2008 7:00 PM Central Library, Large Group Room
Present: Rick Underhill, Ron Greenfield, Michael Wilson (Guest), Rodney Wilson, Genell Wilson (Guest), Hardin Rathgeber (Guest), Gary Manley, Dave Helfrich, Larry Miller, Gary May.
Old Business Committee Reports Events—Gary May Still negotiating with James Yee, UE & Zion UCC Fundraising—Rodney Wilson No sales. Request chapters consolidate orders and submit to Rodney for fulfillment—announce at National Convention Merchandise Sales—Bob Wessel—no report Parade Sweitzerfest—Gary Manley—great reception and good turnout (details & photo on blog) Chapter Officers/Structure—Gary May (approved duties below) Duties for all offices (as specified below) accepted without modification Nominations Chairman—Gary May Secretary—Gary Manley Treasurer—Dave Helfrich Establish election protocol Election will be held @ September chapter meeting All present will be eligible to vote Floor will be open for additional nominations Komen Race for the Cure September 21—Rick Underhill We’ll meet @ 8:45 @ Eastland Mall (site TBD—monitor blog) Call Rick 490-6629 if you plan to participate Obama Campaign—no report
Treasurer’s Report Check Book Balance July 24, 2008 $3,637.15 Activity since July 2008 meeting: Income Merchandise Sales $ 25.00 Local Dues (P. Hoy) 10.00 Interest .69 Total Income $ 35.69 3 ,672.84
Expenses Check # 1112 $ 28.77 (War on Dem. DVD) Check # 1113 67.45 (Spaghetti expense) Check # 1114 8.12 (Spaghetti expense Check # 1115 100.00 Workshop Stipend Total Exp $204.34 3,468.50 Check Book Balance August 21, 2008 $3,468.50
New Business
VA Clinic Stand Down—August 28 11 - ? Chapter will cook hotdogs. VA to provide all food & supplies. Plan to arrive between 11 AM. VA Cookout September 17—confirmation will be posted on blog Counter Recruitment National Convention will have workshop and CD on Counter Recruiting Funk in the City—Dave Helfrich September 27 10 – 6 Haynie’s Corner, Evansville--Willie Loper will do live carving for raffle. G. Manley to acquire raffle tix. D. Helfrich to get details re: set up to share @ next chapter meeting. We’ll need volunteers to sell tix on site and assist with set up, tear down and cleanup Parades Ft. Branch Community Pride Fall Festival Parade—September 13, 10:00 AM. Arrive at Marlette Park, South Main St. (3 blocks north of Coal Mine Road) @ 9:30 AM.
West Side Nut Club Fall Festival—October 13, 6:30 PM details to follow.
For the good of the chapter Guest, Hardin Rathgeber from the UU church offered greetings from the congregation and expressed interest in collaborating with our chapter on issues of common interest.
Next Meeting September 25 7 – 9 Large Group Room, Central Library Submitted by Gary E. May (August 22, 2008) Appendix CHAPTER OFFICER DUTIES FINAL Approved August 21, 2008 Chapter 104, Veterans For Peace, Evansville, IN Chairman’s duties for VFP Chapter 104
1. Preside over Chapter meetings 2. Work with other officers to ensure the smooth functioning of the Chapter 3. Serves as ex officio member of all Chapter committees 4. When necessary, make decisions/commitments on behalf of the Chapter 5. Keep members informed, to the maximum extent practical, of Chapter actions 6. Oversee compliance with legal & standards of practice requirements 7. Serve as the executive officer of the Chapter 8. Appoints committees 9. Serves a one year term of office
Treasurer’s duties for VFP Chapter 104
1. Collect chapter dues 2. Collect misc. receipts and donations 3. Pay outstanding bills and invoices 4. Service Chapter post office box 5. Maintain Chapter checking account 6. Maintain financial ledgers 7. Issue timely treasurers reports 8. Serves as Chairman pro tempore in the absence of the Chairman and Secretary 9. Serves a one year term of office Secretary’s duties for VFP Chapter 104 Duties of the secretary shall be in keeping with the following paragraph from the bylaws of the Veterans For Peace, Inc. (VFP) and specific duties listed below. VETERANS FOR PEACE, INC. BYLAWS, NATIONAL SOCIETY ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS Section 4. Secretary.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Annual Convention and meetings of the Board of Directors in the manner provided by VFP for that purpose; he/she shall also see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or as required by law; he/she shall keep a register of the mailing addresses of all Full Members, Associate Members and Honorary Members which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such members; he/she shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be from time to time prescribed by the President.
SPECIFIC DUTIES The secretary of the Evansville Chapter serves as both the recording and the correspondence secretary, as follows, and other such duties as prescribed by the Chairperson. • Serves as the primary point of contact between this chapter and the Veterans For Peace, Inc. • At the direction of the Chairperson, handles external communications. • Keeps a register, or roll, of the chapter members; full, associate, or honorary membership. With assistance of the Treasurer, tracks paid status of members in local chapter. • Records minutes of meetings, archives same, if requested, posts draft, seeks body’s approval, archives corrected minutes • Maintains copies of organization’s bylaws, lists of standing and special committees, etc. • With assistance of Chairman, provides next meeting agenda, arrangement for meeting location, etc. • Serves as Chair pro tempore in the Chairman’s absence. • Serves a one year term of office.[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Friday, August 22, 2008
Aggressive MIlitarization of Public Education
The US Army is brazenly promoting an effort to further compromise the integrity of our public education system by recruiting State Boards of Education Members to become even more complicit in promulgating the military's inaccurate representation as a benign training and employment resource for young people. Let's call Marsha McMullin (see below) and let her know that we think this is a BAD idea. PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A VETERAN IF APPROPRIATE.
To: All State Board of Education Members
From: Brenda Welburn NASBE Executive Director
NASBE has been working with the US Army to create a conference on the opportunities and challenges of educating and training young people in today's world. This exciting conversation will come to completion September 15th through 19th in Columbia, South Carolina with a full schedule of activities and speakers designed to stimulate and sustain dialogue with one of our nation's largest employers of our public school system.
NASBE has twenty (20) slots still available for state board of education members to attend this conference at the Army's expense. All travel and lodging expenses are covered, including transportation to and from Fort Jackson.
It is critical that our membership support this effort by your national organization, and fully participate in an opportunity to meet with an organization that provides training in hundreds of areas. As discussed in the attached letter by our past-president Brad Bryant, this may serve to open the door to a long-term relationship with the nation's military to the benefit of both groups.
Please give serious consideration to attending this conference, by contacting either Michael Hill (michaelh@nasbe.org) or Kristie Jones (kristiej@nasbe.org) to register. Remember, we only have 20 slots available.
Marsha
Marsha E. McMullin Director of Special Projects National Association of State Boards of Education 277 S. Washington Street, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-4000, ext. 1116; direct line 703-740-4833 http://www.nasbe.org/
U.S. Army & American Public Education: Building Strong Futures Together 16-19 September 2008 Tentative Agenda
Tuesday, 16 September Inbrief and conference opening (approx 4:00 p.m.) Welcome by U.S. Army Accessions Command Welcome by National Association of State Boards of Education Introduction of Army approach to training and transformation Optional visit to Army in-processing center
Wednesday, 17 September Breakfast at Fort Jackson with Drill Sergeants Introduction by Commanding General of Fort Jackson training center Recruiting environment presentation Remarks by education policy leader (TBD) Discussion of Soldier transformation process Roundtable lunch discussion with Advanced Individual Training Soldiers Visits to key training and educational sites at Fort Jackson Dinner speaker: Commanding General of U.S. Army Accessions Command
Thursday, 18 September Breakfast speaker: Commanding General of U.S. Army Cadet Command Panel discussion: Fort Jackson training leaders Educator/policy presentation Lunch speaker: Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command Breakout sessions for small-group discussions Web portal presentation Optional dinner activity with Soldiers and families
Friday, 19 September Basic Combat Training graduation ceremony Discussion of key learnings Presentation of small-group action steps Closing remarks Transportation to airport (approx 1:00 p.m.)[Show More]
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Monday, August 18, 2008
Tell City Sweitzerfest Parade
Nine adults and three children (Ralph's triplet grandchildren) marched in the Tell City Sweitzerfest Sesquicentennial parade today under the VFP # 104 banner in sweltering conditions. We received a very warm reception from parade viewers. There were several episodes of applause, many expressions of "Thanks" and countless reciprocated peace signs. Parade viewers were also generous with offers of drinking water.
A highlight at the end of the parade as we were making our way back to our vehicles was the breathless greeting from an 11th grade member of the Tell City High School Marching Band. The band participated in the parade. This young girl noticed our banners as the parade started and made a commitment then to talk to us. She literally ran us down after marching and playing under the adverse weather conditions. She wore a peace sign belt and was gushy in her enthusiasm for our shared commitment to peace. The coup de grace for her was when two of our members gave her a placard with the peace sign on one side and, "Sow Justice, Reap Peace" on the other. She left the encounter with her feet barely touching the street!!! It's good to know that we have a peace ally in Tell City and even better to know that this young girl is enthused and committed to promoting peace.
0 Comments | Add Comment | Permalink | Posted by Gary May on Saturday, August 02, 2008
CEOExpress
