Posted by District Leader, Robert Weir

Highlights from June 14, 2007, DoP meeting

Meeting began with a 12-minute video of highlights from the 2005 DoP conference, featuring Marianne Williamson, Jan Hartke and Azim Khamisa. Key messages:

• to institute a paradigm of peace, people of peace must act with greater conviction than do people who advocate war and violence
• the DoP campaign is one that serves the ages for our children and our children's children.

If you see a letter to the editor in a local newspaper from someone who obviously favors nonviolent resolution to conflict, please pick up the phone, call that person, and compliment her/him. Mention your connection with the DoP campaign and invite that person to participate. If the person is not in your local phone book, you might find the person's phone number at http://www.whitepages.com/ or http://find.person.superpages.com.

The DoP legislation is one of only a few in the U.S. Congress that has grass root support across the country. DoP citizen lobby teams are active in every state and in 268 of the 440 U.S. Congressional districts.

Two new DoP supporters in the U.S. House of Representatives announced their support for the DoP legislation within the past week: Hank Jackson (D-GA) and Fortney Pete Sparks (CA). Sixty-seven members of the House have now pledged their support for the legislation.

Opportunities to table for the DoP campaign exist:

• At the neighborhood Block Party in Kalamazoo's Edison Neighborhood today, Sunday, June 17, 4-8 pm. Marilyn Eccles, Don DeYoung, Karen Chadwick, and Martha Dahlinger will be there.
• At the neighborhood Block Party in Kalamazoo's Westnedge Hill Neighborhood, Sunday, July 1, 4-8 pm. Tablers needed – contact Bob Weir at robtweir@aol.com
• Ethnic Diversity Celebration at Kalamazoo's Mayor Riverfront Park, Saturday, noon to 8 pm. Tablers needed – contact Bob Weir at robtweir@aol.com
• Michigan Peacefest in Lacota, MI, July 13-15. Information at http://www.michiganpeacefest.com/ Tablers needed – contact Marianne Orr through Bob Weir at robtweir@aol.com
  

We are exploring other tabling opportunities at various festivals and fairs throughout the Michigan 6th Congressional District. Tablers needed – contact Bob Weir at robtweir@aol.com

We also want to walk in parades yet this summer, fall and next year.

A new DoP banner for tabling and parades is on our shopping list. If you know of a good, economical source for a good, vinyl banner suitable for outdoor use, please contact Bob Weir at robtweir@aol.com

Later this summer and fall, we will seek to gain passage of resolutions that support the DoP from municipal governments and county political parties within the 6th District. If you want to participate in that endeavor within your community, please contact Bob Weir at robtweir@aol.com