Invited by Peace Laureates Dr. Shirin Ebadi and Professor Jody Williams, McNish and a number of Iranian and U.S. organizations came together for the historic meeting in Vienna in early June.

The effort is part of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, a new project of women Nobel Peace Prize Laureates that, in addition to McNish, includes: Jody Williams (U.S. 1997), Shirin Ebadi (Iran, 2003), Wangari Maathai (Kenya, 2004), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala, 1992) and Betty Williams (Ireland, 1976).

Joining McNish in the trip were representatives from 10 civil society organizations that work on children’s rights, landmines, nuclear power, human rights, women and disarmament issues. They met with government representatives of the IAEA Board of Governors and other IAEA officials. They also promoted greater exchange between Iranian and U.S. non-governmental organizations.

The women called upon their governments to respect human rights and refrain from using the fight against terrorism or the excuse of national security as pretexts for violating human rights. Additionally, they called on governments to stop misusing religious beliefs and the pursuit of democracy to legitimize both the erosion of rights of their own people and aggression against other nations.

Organizations represented include: the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Feminist Majority Foundation, Global Fund for Women, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Greenpeace from International.

The Service Committee is a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, accepted on behalf of Quakers worldwide, in recognition of efforts to ease the suffering of war. These efforts include launching massive programs to feed starving refugees in post-war Germany.

FROM FLIGHT TO HOPE: THE COMPROMISED EXISTENCE OF REFUGEES U.S. AND WORLD COMMUNITY MUST ACT NOW

Millions have witnessed the deaths of family members, the destruction of their communities or experienced physical, mental and psychological violence, and the destruction of their homes and displacement from their homelands.

The particularly vulnerable state of girls and women reflects the pernicious violation of international codes of conduct and the lack of accountability by state leaders and their governments. Millions of girls and women have been killed, or have experienced rape, assault, abduction, and other forms of gender-based exploitation.

It is morally incumbent upon our world leaders and governments to end inhumane cycles of aggression, and ensure compliance with the rule of law.

On this World Refugee Day AFSC particularly lifts up the fragility of the people of Africa and the Middle East, and specifically in Afghanistan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, the Sudan, Zimbabwe and on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Service Committee calls on the Bush administration and other world leaders to take decisive and diplomatic steps that end a conflict which has destroyed many lives and communities and has contributed to an increase in the number of Iraqi refugees. There are now more than 500,000 Iraqi refugees in Jordan and Syria.

AFSC will continue to provide on-the-ground support, human resources, conflict mediation and funds to assist communities in the rebuilding process. Community-led and AFSCsupported programs are currently present in China, Haiti, Iraq, Indonesia, the Middle East, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other parts of the world.

Domestically, AFSC’s Project Voice works in partnership with immigrants and refugees to promote cross-community alliance building create humane and just public policies, support human rights trainings and advocacy efforts that support the integration of refugees in the nation’s social and economic landscape.

The American Friends Service Committee supports the rights and dignity of all people, regardless of their immigration status. AFSC’s Project VOICE works to uplift immigrant voices and strengthen efforts of immigrant-led organizations to set an agenda for fair and humane national public policies. Backed by an 89-year history working for peace, justice and reconciliation in troubled areas of the world, the American Friends Service Committee is a faith-based organization grounded in Quaker beliefs respecting the dignity and worth of every person.

THE AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE SUES THE U.S. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FOR UNLAWFUL SURVEILLANCE

It alleges the Pentagon has ignored national Freedom of Information requests made earlier this year in the wake of evidence that it had been secretly conducting illegal surveillance of protest activities, antiwar organizations and some individuals whose only reported “wrong-doing” was “attending a peace rally.”

“Spying on citizens for merely executing their constitutional rights of free speech and peaceful assembly is chilling and marks a troubling trend for the United States,” states Joyce Miller, assistant general secretary for justice and human rights. “If the government has avowed pacifists under surveillance, then no one is safe,” she adds.

The Service Committee, a Quaker organization, was at the forefront of combating illegal FBI surveillance tactics in the 1970s..

Late last year news reports detailed the existence of a secret DOD database related to “potential terrorist threats.” At least four of the events listed are believed to be activities coordinated or supported by the Service Committee, including handing out literature in front of military recruiting stations and holding protest rallies on the second anniversary of the Iraq war. Each was later deemed “not credible.”

June Meeting for Business

The committee recommended having introductions and a time for special announcements immediately after the rise of meeting for worship rather than Afterthoughts. There was discussion with concerns expressed and the matter was referred back to the committee.

Friends sent condolences to Lucy Herrera on the death of her father and ex-pressed relief for the minor injuries of Molly Whiting and Patrick Drennon during the month.

Bill Wilkinson, Treasurer, gave his report, noting that contributions are currently running behind expenses for the year, after taking into account one large contribution and many onetime expenses.

Ken Southwood, for Boyce Rummel, gave the Building Committee’s annual report. Power washing under the porch roof, an engineer’s inspection of the west library wall, replacement of the drinking fountain, a repair under warranty to the meetingroom thermostat, and purchase of a telescoping “multiladder” have been completed. Watering of the foundation of the library wall, as recommended, is being undertaken, the wall being structurally sound. A leak in the roof and leaks into the meetingroom west wall will be investigated further. The threshold of Storeroom #2 does not meet code and will be replaced under the warranty. An L-shaped wall for the road intersection, replacement screens, and redecoration of one bathroom are being planned.

Jim Spickard gave the report of the Furnishings Committee. As this will be taken up by Meeting later, the report is given below. Meeting agreed to hold a “discernment” session (committee work having already been done) on August 20.

Ken Southwood reported for the Outreach Committee. The Meeting website is being expanded and an extra magazine-sized rack will be sought for the lobby. No evening event will be planned until cooler weather sets in. The number of new attenders has recently been overwhelming the greeter and Friends are asked to be sensitive to the need for help when necessary. Another coffee urn is needed and Michelle DiGiacomo volunteered to donate one. Friends are also asked to donate coffee mugs as they have become too few. Meeting agreed with the proposal to buy name tags so that new attenders and Friends can know each others’ names. Friends are asked to tell Outreach Committee members what they feel about having a panel of photographs of F(f)riends on a wall.

Personal

Francesca Barre is getting help from Senator Cornyn in the return of her husband, Idriss. Her boys, particularly the eldest, Mohamed, are difficult to deal with and need a father’s presence. He ran off to the playground one day when he was supposed to be in school. Francesca called Ken Southwood and he called Sarwat Hussein to see if there was a Djiboutian or Somali man who could help as a kind of big brother. Sarwat found someone to help and has been in touch with Francesca on this. Sarwat’s organization, Council on American Islamic Relations, has asked Senator Cornyn to expedite Idriss Barre’’s visa.

Karl Frey held an exhibition of his art at Joan Grona Gallery. “ ‘Hellafortuna’ is a playful show of familiar objects made into shaped canvases. Frey uses gouache and oil and then encases his works in beeswax; the resulting surface and shape make them more objects than paintings. . . Hung on rather elegant bathroom fixtures, these objects are all about negative space. . . in a sea of First Friday artworks, this one was weird and original enough to stay with me.”

Adapted from the Current review. We were sure Karl was original but had not thought of him as being weird.

Most of you know that Jen and Mike Moran are divorcing. Jen has now moved to a smaller house and is again Jen Osborne. Faced with the need to fix a meetinghouse sprinkler, Tina Travieso produced a new Quaker testimony: “If it doesn't move and should, spray it with WD40. If it moves and shouldn't, wrap it in duct tape. Ha! Keeping things simple, a Quaker tradition...”

A message: “Hey everyone, I'm too lazy to send out individual e-mails but I just wanted to say hey. I'm back from Europe. I had a blast but I'm very tired. Still suffering from jet-lag. I know I'll talk to or see you all soon so I'll make you wait for the details but anyhow... I gotta go. Love y'all, Pam Wilkinson”

Marian Carter will soon return from Crete where she has been teaching English in a Global Volunteers program. Sharon Shen last month gave us a very good account of her observations during her recent visit to Iran.

Sebastian, Emma, Audrey, and Samuel Whitworth are spending the summer with their mother in Milwaukee.

Meetinghouse

“The Annual Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards program is co-sponsored by Faith & Form Magazine and the Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and Architecture (IFRAA), a Knowledge Community of the American Institute of Architects. The Awards program was founded in 1978 with the goal of honoring the best in architecture, liturgical design, and art for religious spaces. The program offers three primary categories for awards: Religious Architecture, Liturgical/Interior Design, Sacred Landscape, and Religious Arts.”

Chris photographed the meetingroom at 11.15, with us in it, and, later, from outside at dusk, with lights on.

The sewer line along the eastern boundary of the meetinghouse lot has been repaired, apparently by La Fiesta. We understand that SAWS expressed the opinion that it was La Fiesta’s responsibility. They may be considering billing us for it but we have heard nothing.

The thresholds of the meetingroom have been replaced and sealed. We’re up to code!

Feeling Good

David Leonhardt, NYT 6/28/06, saying, “Buildings that can be named find a sponsor more easily than medicines consumed in far-off places. . . Less than 8% of Americans’ charitable giving goes overseas. . .”

Famous Quakers

Famous Friends: Influential, Well Known Members of the Religious Society of Friends

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/fam_quaker.html

and, if you wish, lists of famous Catholics, Jains, Sikhs, Evangelicals, Zoroastrians, Latter Day Saints . . . You might rather think that some of the Friends are infamous.

Events

A special “Discernment” meeting will be held on August 20 to help the Furnishing committee recommend what furniture should be bought for the meetingroom. It might be thought that this is an easy matter to decide. But, while Meetings are often able to make drastic decisions according to Quaker principles, the kinds of seats we sit on and the colors of the cushions, and whether there should be any, present no principled guidance to principled Friends. We shall have to revert to very basic principles of Friendly discourse.

Some Church Notices

“Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.”

“The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.”

“For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.”

Not our church notices.

Walt Whitman:

Borrowed from Jude Filler’s e-mail.

AVP in Colombia

“We have been working with four Colombian facilitators who were a part of the group we trained in 2003. Although they have had less experience before we returned than I had hoped, they have worked hard and done well. We foresee easily meeting our goal of having some facilitators in Colombia who will be able to offer all three levels of AVP workshops.

We've done three workshops, two Second Level/Advanced, and one Training of Facilitators. There are three more planned in the next three weeks.

The participants in the workshops we've done so far have been extremely enthusiastic, and say things like, "These workshops will really help my community deal with violence," and "We can't wait to begin workshops in our communities." Most of them work with programs that serve poor and/or displaced people who live near big cities--the first four workshops are in the area called Montes de Maria, a very conflictive region of large landowners and ranchers and through which passes a large oil pipeline. Passing through Covenas, which would otherwise be a small beach resort, we saw a huge refinery complex, a large Army Base and a large Navy base. The pipeline which feeds this refinery is owned by (among others) Occidental Petroleum.

Violence, or the threat of violence, has caused millions of people to flee to rings of slums outside the cities here. Guerrillas, paramilitaries, narco-trafficers, armed gangs, the Army, Navy, and a variety of police forces (and private security forces) each seek to control a locality, so the unarmed civilians suffer.

Two of our facilitators are young men who are conscientious objectors, although the women with whom we work also support alternatives to military service. They have been working with groups of young people during the time when they were not doing AVP workshops with us. They are very interested in communicating active nonviolence and see AVP as an important part of their work. The women who have been working with us want women to experience the empowerment that AVP offers. Almost all are active in their faith communities-- Catholic and Evangelical– and are excited by the spiritual component of AVP (although some are puzzled by our consistent opposition to religious contact during a workshop.)

On June 22 I plan to leave Colombia for La Paz Boliva, where I'll do some followup AVP work with Bolivian Quakers. I'll return to Bogota for the last AVP workshop here, and for meetings with our partners and potential partners.”

Our Website

MEETINGROOM FURNITURE

Please read the following report, then plan to attend a Discernment Session during Forum Time on August 20th. (There is no Business Meeting in August.) We have not planned this as a time for Meeting members and attenders to communicate with the committee. Instead, we want you to hear from one another. We hope that this will produce some clarity about the way forward.

If you cannot attend that session, please do not communicate privately with members of the committee. This does not further meeting-wide discernment. Depending on how many or few attend the August meeting, we may need to schedule a second Discernment Session during the fall.

I. BACKGROUND

Meeting has been given $20,000 to spend on furnishing the meetingroom. Some of this has been spent on a Clerk's Table. A few thousand dollars will be spent on a sound system, so that all attenders can hear spoken ministry. This leaves more than 3/4 of the money for other purposes, including seating.

The decision before us at present involves seating composition -- i.e., how many benches, how many chairs, and of which styles. We have decided to consider the question of cushion color separately, (if that is possible).

II. WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW.

We have discerned the following preferences from Meeting members and attenders:

• Some people prefer chairs, and others prefer benches. We should thus have a mix of both in our Meeting Room.

• Some of the people who prefer chairs prefer cushions, while others do not. We should thus have cushions available, but not for all chairs. (All of the people who prefer benches seem to prefer cushions, though we have not polled directly. The cushions on the current benches need to be replaced, however, both because of age and because of color.)

• Most of the various new chairs that we have tried have been unacceptable, either on grounds of comfort, sturdiness, or aesthetics. (We have not reviewed chairs that we regard as outrageous in price.)

• Some people prefer a unified aesthetic (i.e., that the furnishings match each other); others are willing to make do with one that is partially unified.

• No one wants to waste money on seating, e.g., by buying expensive furniture simply because it is expensive.

We are also aware that our current seating may or may not do for now. Our current benches can fit no more than 30 people (more comfortably 25); we have about 20 chairs, in one style but two different colors, after removing those that were rarely used. As we consistently fill 2/3 of these seats at present, we will need additional seating as we grow. W e have come close to filling our current seats on some meeting-days.

III. OUR OPTIONS

The Furnishings Committee recommends that FMSA adopt one of the following options. As yet, we have not ranked these options, other than in increasing order of cost.

• Keeping the seats we presently own: bench seating for 30, at most, and chair seating for about 20. This would involve replacing the current bench cushions with new cushions of an appropriate color and purchasing individual cushions for some of the chairs, to be available in a stack by the door for those who wish to use them. It would also involve minor repair to some of the chairs.
  • Total seating: 50, at most
  • Approximate cost: $1,000

• Keeping the benches we presently own (seating at most 30), selling our current chairs and purchasing 30 "Nimble" (stackable) chairs (there is a sample at the Meetinghouse). This would also involve replacing the current bench cushions and purchasing individual cushions for some of the chairs.
  • Total seating: 60, at most
  • Approximate cost: $3,250, less whatever we can get for the chairs (probably nothing).

• Keeping the benches we presently own (30), and chair seating (20) and purchasing an additional seven 8-foot wooden benches in a similar style (with cushions), which would seat 28. These benches could have wood matching the current benches, or they could have wood that is slightly (but not significantly) lighter. This would also involve replacing existing bench cushions and buying some chair cushions, as above.
  • Total seating, 88
  • Approximate cost: $8,342

• The same as number 3, but selling our current chairs and purchasing 30 "Nimble" chairs.
  • Total seating, 98
  • Approximate cost, $10,592, less chairs ($0).

• Selling our current benches and purchasing 14 eight-foot benches in a similar style (with new cushions), with slightly lighter wood.
  • Sub-option 5A: Keeping our current chairs, buying cushions for some
    • Total seating: 76
    • Approximate cost: $9,150, less whatever we can get for the benches.

  • Sub-option 5B: Selling our current chairs, buying 30 "Nimble" chairs plus some cushions
    • Total seating: 86
    • Approximate cost: $11,250, less whatever we can get for the benches and chairs (maybe $500).

We are not yet ready to recommend cushion colors. We suggest that these be decided once we have chosen the seating.

III. WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU

We would like you to think about each of these options before the Discernment Session, and come prepared to speak both to their benefits and to their drawbacks. The question is not just one of individual preferences, but of what is best for the Meeting. That involves individual preferences, however, as we want everyone to be comfortable in our worship space.

We will use a Quaker Dialogue format to ensure that all views are heard in their full complexity.