The Interfaith Resource Center for Peace and Justice
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Annual Business Meeting and Potluck, June 29, 2010 Firwood United Methodist Church, 399 Old River Rd, Wilkes-Barre, PA Gathering: 6:00 PM Potluck: 6:30 PM Meeting: 7:00 PM Reflection: Laurie Lisman Financial Report: Pat McCormick David Walline voiced approval with agreement from David Doty. Jim Spak disapproved in order to provide balance without complete “rubber stamping.”
Continuing: David Doty, Kathy Jenkins, Terri Nowak, Jeremy Stoshick (not present), Laurie Lisman
New members: Victor Baker (not present), Shannon Doyne, Frank Sindaco, Dr Murali Panen, Diane Smith, Jim Spak, Manisha Nahar. Declined membership: Cindy Postma (not present) Expressed Interest: Andita Lloyd (not present) Approval voiced by Kathy Jenkins and supported by Frances McCormick Facilitator: Rod Gereda Discussions: bonus for Facilitator approval voiced by David Doty and Frances McCormick provided agreement.
Announcements: Wilkes Radio, Democracy Now, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM and Making Contact, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM, Saturdays, by Jim Spak.
Next Meeting: Tuesday August 10, 7 PM, Peace and Justice Center Office, W-B
Meeting closed by David Doty and agreement voiced by David Walline Respectfully submitted: Rita Skechus
Hi Rod,
On behalf of PennFuture, thank you for speaking at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Global Warming Conference on Sunday! We were very pleased that you could participate. Our day’s headcount totaled 57 people – this does not include staff of the Anthracite Heritage Museum or guests of the Anthracite Heritage Museum that day who may have heard the presentations or seen the exhibits but didn’t sign in, so perhaps the message reached even more people.
Those who did attend gave you the highest reviews, including “wow!great!!!!”. What an inspirational talk and take home message!
Many thanks to you again! Joy
Joy Tetlak-Adelstein Northeastern Pennsylvania Outreach Coordinator Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) 15 Public Square, Suite 101 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 570-208-1757 tetlak-adelstein@pennfuture.org www.pennfuture.org
Juvenile Law Center
Hello, Rod,
I would like to introduce myself. My name is Linda Swan, and I am a member of PeaceWay in Lewisburg, PA.
PeaceWay was launched in January, 2005, by a small group of clergy and laity active in diverse Christian congregations in the Central Susquehanna Valley.
I had the thought of reaching out to you because I am feeling that one small group is only that, one small group. But together at least in spirit, we are stronger. My feeling is that the knowing that there are others who are dedicating their lives to the way of peace will be a sign of hope to you as your organization is to us.
Thank you for all you do.
Linda Swan
Love letters from Arlen
Monday, September 21, 2009 at 7:32pm
Dear Mr. Browne:
Thank you for your recent letter regarding the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S.909) Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (S.1390). I appreciate learning your views on this important issue.
On Thursday, July 16, 2009, I voted in favor of cloture to add S.909 to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010 (S.1390). In fact, over the most recent decade of my time in the Senate, I have continually supported the passage of strong legislation to combat hate crimes in the United States. To that end, I joined Senator Kennedy as an original cosponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998, and have continued to cosponsor and vote in favor of hate crime prevention legislation from the 105th Congress to the current 111th Congress. In the days after the attacks of September 11th, I voted in favor of the Harkin Amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State-Judiciary Appropriations Act (HR.2500). The amendment expressed that in the quest to bring the 9/11 terrorists to justice, the civil rights and liberties of all Americans, including Arab-Americans and American Muslims, should be protected. The amendment also went on to condemn any acts of violence or discrimination against Americans, including the Arab American and Muslim American communities, and passed 98-0. In 2004, I voted in favor of the Smith-Kennedy Amendment to the Defense Authorization Act for FY2005 (HR.4200), which permitted cases of hate crimes based on the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin to be prosecuted in Federal court, and passed 65-33.
More recently, in 2007 I voted in favor of the Kennedy-Smith Amendment to the Defense Authorization Act for FY2008. The Amendment passed 60-39, and authorized the Department of Justice to assist State and local jurisdictions in prosecuting violent hate crimes, and expanded the groups protected under then-current law to include disability, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
I believe it is well-past time for Congress to pass hate crimes legislation. As Attorney General Holder testified in a June 25, 2009 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, over 77,000 hate crimes have been reported to the FBI since 1998. That figure roughly equates to one hate crime being committed every hour of every day. As you may be aware, the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act would add four new categories of hate crimes to the federal code: crimes committed on the basis of someone's disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. However, to ensure that the bill does not infringe on First Amendment rights, I have worked to make sure that the bill does not apply to acts of speech. Nothing in the Act impedes the lawful expression of one's political or religious beliefs.
All Americans are entitled to harbor and express their own beliefs, as doing so is one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. At the same time, no person has the right to engage in violent acts of hate. Protecting Americans against such hate crimes does not inhibit free speech but rather serves us all by halting and penalizing those who carry out those acts of cruelty. Thank you again for sharing your concerns with me. If you have any further thoughts on this issue or any related matter, please do not hesitate to contact me or visit my website, at http://specter.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
Arlen Specter
Dear Council Members,
I received the below from Luis' fiance (widow) and thought you would like to hear...
Hello Rabbi our family would like to thank you for the beautiful vigil you'se did in memory of Luis I was unable to attend because i no longer have a vehicle and i had to go look at a new house but i seen the pictures in the newspaper and read the article. We are truly blessed that there are more people out there that support our family with Luis's death so that thank you all very much and god bless you all.. Sincerely Crystal Dillman & Ramirez Family
Dear Rod:
You are quite welcome. Many thanks for all the Peace & Justice Center has done to assist us in our efforts. I think this is a unique and wonderful community organization....which we need desperately working in our communities to promote cooperation and communication, resulting in a more peacful society for all. This is such important work....
Peace to you,
Nancy
Dear Rod ,
I am exploring your site , and I am impressed.
I am so touched by this honor as I always feel there is more deserving person. Sometimes guilt overtakes me when I can't do it all after giving all.
Others in our group are just as deserving as they are here early and stay late, they take short or NO lunch break so that people are not evicted and the lights and heat stay on.
We don't look at ourselves as heroes but merely as our brother's keeper.
Thank You,
Bob
Thank you so much for selecting Bob for this honor. It is not often that my staff receive the recognition they deserve.
While we all feel that way sometimes, I can attest to the fact that all of NPLS’ advocates work tirelessly and effectively for low-income individuals to have a place in our system of justice.
It is very gratifying when they are singled out for an award that so closely ties in with our mission and principles.
Thank you again, and best wishes for success as your organization moves forward to achieve its goals.
Hopefully, people like Bob help you get there, as they do us.
