Posted by Robert Weir, district leader

The main activity of the meeting was stuff envelopes for a mailing to all DoP members who have provided us with a physical address. This mailing included a Year-End Report, a copy of the propose bylaws, a copy of our most recent DoP fact sheet, and promotional materials for the upcoming Crawlspace Eviction FUNdraiser and awareness raiser event. All persons participated in the mailing.

The Crawlspace Eviction Team of Deb Killarney, Lynn Kinch and John Kinch brought flyers and handouts to promote the event as well as tickets for sale. Members volunteered to take some posters and put them in stores and shops around the greater Kalamazoo area.

Karen Chadwick nominated the DoP campaign for the STAR Award for volunteers hosted annually by the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Volunteer Center. Win or not, this is a good way to achieve free publicity for the campaign. There was discussion of several campaign members attending the STAR Award breakfast on May 1.

The STAR Award nomination form, drafted by Karen and Bobbi Jo Gamache, served as the foundation for the Year-End Report, submitted by Bob Weir.

Our income was greater than our expenditures for the month.

Looking forward to our first annual meeting on Thursday, April 10, we sent a copy of the proposed bylaws to all members for whom we have a physical address and the Nominating Committee submitted nominations for a slate of officers that includes Robert Weir District Leader, Carol Higgins Treasurer, Peg Bozarth Treasurer, and Trustees Bobbi Jo Gamache, Lyn Sperry and Chuck Harmon.

Bobbi Jo Gamache reported on plans for the DoP Midwest Regional Conference, Schaumburg, IL, June 19-22. Members who want to attend will pay their registration fee of $50 to $95 (sliding scale) and transportation. DoP MICH 6 will cover the cost of rooms, based on shared occupancy of three people per room. Attendance is encouraged; this is a good way to network with hundreds of other DoP people from throughout seven Midwestern states.

Our campaign will have an advertisement in the 2008-2009 Southwest Michigan Wellness Directory, an annual publication that serves all of Southwest Michigan.

I had an opportunity to speak with U.S. Senator Carl Levin about the DoP at a Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce breakfast; he continues to not support the legislation, but we keep trying. It was also decided that I would attend another Chamber breakfast on February 18 at which Fred Upton will be the speaker. (As I write this, that event has occurred. Quick report: Fred is apparently still trying to present the Institute of Peace as a substitute for the Department of Peace and Nonviolence.)