Department of Peace Minutes from June 9, 2011 Meeting

Present: Marilyn Eccles, Carolyn Dixon, Janice Lakers, Chuck Harmon, Lowey Dickason and Luana VanDam

1. The meeting was called to order at 6:35 by Chuck Harmon.

2. Peace testimonials were shared the majority of which were about the success of Peace Pizzazz.

3. A moment of silence was held to honor peace.

4. Chuck Harmon introduced new ground rules for the way future DoP meetings will be conducted. These will be repeated at future meetings.

5. The Peace Pizzazz report was given by Lowey Dickason. She stated that over 1,500 children were affected through the implementation of classroom instruction or attendance at the event itself. As the number of children entertainment volunteers continues to grow, there may be a need to expand our venue.

It was discovered that food and drink may be sold in the park as long as the preparation occurs elsewhere.

Data from the teachers and questionnaires is being collected. There will be a pot luck luncheon at Kathy Murphy's in Paw Paw at noon on June 22nd for all those who helped with Peace Pizzazz.

6. The first yard sale committee meeting will be held at 2:30, June 13th at Water Street Coffee Joint on Oakland Drive.

7. We have $2,199 in our treasury. Marilyn Eccles also reported we have a separate balance of $639.16 in the Peace Pizzazz account.

8. There is a possibility of collaborating with the band, Sweet Maya, for their 40 year reunion which will take place at Dalton Theatre on September 30th and October 1st of this year. (sweetmayamusic.com) This will be on the agenda for the upcoming People for Peace and Justice meeting on July 14th.

9. Our next People for Peace and Justice gathering will be the evening of July 14th which would otherwise be our regularly scheduled DoP meeting. It will be an ice cream social beginning at 6:30 at Skyridge Church of the Brethren.

10. Our non-violent communication group will be involved with the Changemakers project at First United Methodist Church at 6:00 p.m. on June 21st. We need volunteers from our NVC group to help with this valuable learning experience for kids. No date has been set for our future presentation with the AWARE group.

11. We will be walking in the July 4th parade in South Haven. Everyone is invited to come join us!! Meet in the high school parking lot at 10:00 a.m. The parade begins at 11:00. We are hoping Peace Mama will join our group!!

12. The Moveable Peace picnic and fundraiser is Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00 at Milham Park Shelter on East Kilgore Road. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students. There will be lots of food and entertainment. Proceeds will benefit Moveable Peace 2011. (www.moveablepeace.org)

13. Lowey Dickason reported on future KNOW events. Hiroshima Day will be August 7th in Bronson Park. More details coming later. July 2nd the new Coalition for New Priorities will have a rally to bring our war dollars home. Be in front of Target on Westnedge at 11:00. It lasts an hour.

14. A group of dedicated people met with the Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation Advisory Board last Tuesday evening to continue to present the importance of having a peace pole in Bronson Park. The advisory board voted unanimously to embrace this proposal. Frances Jewell and Mark Polega, who run the department, were not in favor.

15. The meeting was adjourned at 7:59.

Respectfully submitted,

Luana VanDam, substitute secretary