1. Introductions - The meeting was brought to order at 10:05am at the Ypsilanti District Library with the Veterans For Peace Statement of Purpose being read.
2. Acceptance of October meeting minutes - The October meeting minutes were accepted
3. General Business
a. Membership update/outreach - Membership in the Chapter has increased to 48.
b. Chapter treasury - $1360.92 in treasury with $370 designated for the Peace Scholarship fund.
c. Chapter fundraising - Bill Shea reported on work to have Cindy Sheehan appear in Ann Arbor, in part to be a fundraiser for the Chapter's Peace Scholarship. Bill is also sending out a fundraising letter for the Peace Scholarship.
d. December Chapter Officer elections - It was agreed to change the Chapter's by-laws to include
language that Chapter officers must be Full (veteran) members and that only Full members can
vote in the annual Chapter officer elections in December of every year.
e. Chapter name change - As a measure to include counties surrounding Washtenaw County, it was agreed to simply start referring to the Chapter as Chapter 93, rather than the Washtenaw County Chapter. Bob Krzewinski will start working on making the change on the Chapter website and other appropriate areas (i.e. VFP membership brochures). It was also agreed that the Chapter's territory Include Washtenaw, Jackson, Hillsdale, and Livingston counties.
f. Other - Committees (publicity & membership) for 2006 - It was discussed that a possible addition of duties for the Chapter Secretary would be sending out publicity about Chapter events.
4. Projects
a. School Outreach Committee Report (i.e. recruiter access/VFP school visits) - Bill Shea reported of progress that Michigan Peaceworks has had in enacting changes in school policies to allow students to "opt-out" from being contacted by military recruiters. The Ann Arbor School District will be keeping a separate list, with those who have opted out deleted, that they give to recruiters under the provision of the No Child Left Behind Act. The Ann Arbor School District will also do a separate mailing with the opt out form enclosed early in the school year, as well as having a standard opt out policy at all District Schools. Progress has also been made at the Lincoln School District and Ypsilanti School District with uniform opt out forms and procedures.
b. Report on Legislation/Legislative visits - It was discussed that with the recent speech by Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania (a Democrat hawk that recently called for an exit strategy out of Iraq), our own Representative Dingell may be more open to supporting an exit out of Iraq.
c. Peace Studies Scholarship - Bill Shea will be sending out a Peace Studies Scholarship fundraising letter in the near future.
d. 2000th Death In Iraq Ceremony, Vets Day events (daytime peace ceremony, evening film festival), SOA reports - Reports were given on the three events with a note that the Gray Panthers are interested in making the Veterans Day film festival an annual event.
e. Other 2005 Events - Alternative Christmas Fair, Don't Buy War Toys campaign (November/December) - A section of the Chapter web page will have information loaded on it today about the "Don't Buy War Toys" annual campaign. Our VFP Chapter will also have a display at the Alternative Christmas Fair on 12/4/05 at the First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor from 3-7pm, selling copies of addicted to war and peace luminaries.
f. 2006 Events (Martin Luther King day, film showings) - A discussion was held on participating in Martin Luther King day activities in January, with Christina Yocum looking into possible activities at Eastern Michigan University and Bob Krzewinski looking into the annual march in Ann Arbor. Possible anti-war film showings at the University of Michigan were also discussed.
g. Other - A copy of the ad, with VFP mentioned, in the Ann Arbor News condemning the hate message of Fred Phelps in his recent Ann Arbor was passed around.
5. Announcements/"Pass the hat" donation
6. Next meeting - Saturday, December 17th, 2005
7. Adjournment - The meeting was adjourned at 11:40am