VFP CHAPTERS
Editor: Woody Powell
woodypowell@gmail.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
In the course of processing chapter responses to two questionnaires, I have encountered a wide range of activities of varying degrees of effectiveness. At the moment, I am not sure how to present them in a way that would be useful to you and to the organization as a whole. However, as I plow through and try to collect, characterize, and assign credit, I hope patterns will emerge that will give us all some guidance.
The first questionnaire was complex and elicited a limited (14 chapters) response. Within that sampling I found the following:
Lobbying, instances where VFP members ventured into the offices of their representatives with petitions and appeals: Of twenty one efforts, six were positive experiences, where minds might have been changed, twelve negative, resisting modification, 3 neutral, having no observable effect.
Engagement, with active duty military, was a much more positive experience, Of twenty-three encounters, nineteen were positive, only two negative and two inconclusive.
Talks given at schools, churches, civic groups: Of fifty reported, only four were given a tepid reception.
Vigils: A veritable staple, 636 reported vigils, almost all of positive impact. In most cases done in conjunction with other Peace & Justice organizations, where the VFP presence was considered a strong positive in establishing credibility.
Marches: Thirteen marches were reported as having a positive impact on those witnessing. Marches are differentiated from Parades in that they are guided by a specific objective that every participant subscribes to and are often initiated by VFP.
Parades: Thirty-six parades all reported positive audience responses, mostly in the form of applause along the route.
Letter-writing campaigns: Of twenty-two campaigns, ten were considered a success in that some resulting change was observed.
Working with other groups: Twenty-one instances, most of them positive experiences.
Civil Disobedience: Only one reported civil disobedience action.
Regional Activity: Eight of the chapters responding reported working with other VFP chapters and IVAW chapters and individuals. Only one chapter reported a failed effort at putting together a regional meeting. (Alaska)
Though there are many activities held in common, many chapters show a particular genius for grabbing unique opportunities to get out the message.
Below is more detail from some of the respondent chapters:
Chapter 139, North Olympic Peninsula, WA Truth In Recruiting: got 'Opt Out' information in the form all students must sign. working with students of Amnesty International at Pt Angeles High school -- Posting an ad in a local newspaper describing VFP and objectives. Working on local radio interviews with veteran members -- Planning Veterans Day participation with local community -- Planning pot-lucks at every other membership meeting to build fellowship.
Chapter 60, Tappan Zee Brigade, NY-- Received a Peace & Justice Award from the WESPAC Foundation in recognition of its work in Westchester County -- Continued its counter recruitment program, sending veterans to speak to high school students in New York City and metro area schools (program and coordinator Jim Murphy were profiled in this summer's Muste Notes)-- co-sponsored programs featuring survivors of the attack on the USS Liberty by elements of the Israeli military on June 8, 1967 -- Sponsored or participated in several poetry readings featuring veterans from the second World War to Iraq -- members currently participate in a writing workshop.
Chapter 10, Albany, NY -- Made up 500 crosses for the SOAW vigil at Fort Benning -- John Amidon traveled to the ME representing VFP with Academics For Peace and met with representatives from Hamas and Hezbollah along with a host of other groups and individuals -- Co-Sponsored the 10 Annual Kateri Tekakwitha Peace Conference with Col. Ann Wright, Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton -- Marched in the Veterans Day Parade -- Sponsored an anger management group -- Sent money for victims of the hurricanes in Louisiana -- Elliot went down and cut up some logs , cleared roads etc. -- Helped with several PTSD groups- soldiers heart - Ed Tick -- Out reach to Fort Drum -- Ran full page newspaper ad in Waterown Times to end the war in Iraq -- Did environmental lobbying at the state capital -- civil disobedience at the Nevada aTest Site -- Many local vigils and speaking engagements.
Chapter 74 MI, Detroit Area Talks before civic groups and students Vigils with Women in Black, regular Monday peace vigil in Ferndale Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades -- Martin Luther King day vigils, Crosby, STills and Nash concert, counter recruitment, sign placement, Arlington West, monthly meetings, annual picnic Work closely with Michigan chapter 93.
Chapter 100, Juneau, AK -- Sent questionnaires to political candidates and followed up on efforts to influence them on identified issues (e.g., torture) -- Represented at the secondary schools when military recruiters show up; table and provide information on alternatives to military service Sponsor an annual $1000 scholarship for graduating high school seniors Weekly vigils interacting with tourists in Summer, State workers in Spring, and federal workers & High School students in the Winter; favorable responses.
Chapter 61, Don Connors, BI/State MO & IL Marched in local community Green Tree Days parade and tabled at festival Scheduled movie showings at restaurant/bar venue Marched with Columbian Chapter in Memorial Day parade Marched in St. Louis Veterans Day parade do regular community radio show Encounter work at Scott AFB provide speakers to local schools and other venues.
Chapter 058, Woodstock, NY -- has had a four- pronged protest at the Ulster Co. military recruiting office since March '05. The four parts are protesting the war, protesting deceitful recruiting practices, offering alternative info to potential recruits, and bringing the war home. Joan Keefe, WW2 vet, and Jay Wenk, Vietnam have been arrested seven times, because the recruiting office is in a mall. The County DA has dropped all charges and now the mall has instituted a civil suit, which we feel we're going to win, leaving the Constitutional 2nd Amendment aspect to be resolved. The chapter fields a contingent called Enlist 4 Peace that prevails upon the local H. S. to counter recruiting efforts. Memorial Day is observed by a peace rally to which the public is invited to use the open mike.
Chapter 99, NC - . has a radio program on the air every week, do tabling, vigils, had a member in on the DC action at National Archives recently. We have talked about having someone from the national office on the radio program maybe once a month to tell our listeners what is going on in the chapters around the country.
Chapter 98, Taos, NM - brought the "wall" to the dead in Iraq to the Vietnam memorial at Angel Fire this 4th of July. Very well received and will probably be there for memorial day next year -- also working with Food not Bombs. Will be doing a G.I. coffee house on Fridays there, which is where they meet every month more or less. We are also doing some tabling as before at CIDS grocery store with food not bombs, to make the rent etc.
Chapter 54, Santa Barbara, CA -- do the Arlington West memorial/demonstration, every Sunday, meet monthly, participate in parades even when we're not wanted, are involved in counter-recruitment activities, including handing out the opt-out form to high schoolers, and donate regularly to Courage to Resist, AW DVD, and other areas.
Chapter 91, San Diego, CA -- Each year, they attempt to meet with each of their 5 congressmen/women here in San Diego. In 2007, they met with them all. In 2008, they only met with 2 of the 5 to date. Attempted an engagement event with IVAW & MFSO near Camp Pendleton .... zero Marines attended. Disappointing. May try again .... different approach. Members speak about 5-10 times a year before school/church groups. Very well received. Currently do a mini-Arlington West (500 crosses) about 6-8 times/year. Very well received. Also lead or participate in weekly ENOUGH peace vigils (8 ongoing each week in San Diego, and others with other groups as they come up and participate in the Veterans Day parade here in downtown San Diego. Very well received by the spectators.
Finally, I will include a story that does not involve a chapter, but the efforts of a very few Veterans For Peace that is having very significant payoffs.
VFP AT-LARGE ACTION IN KANSAS
Eight of fifty peace activists were arrested at an A-10 Warthog "bombing and strafing" show in Salina, Kansas for demonstrating against increased U.S. militarization and the use of depleted uranium munitions. Among those detained in the local jail for eighteen hours was retired Air Force Master Sergeant and VFP member Marty Bates. As one of the organizers, he worked out the conditions of the arrests with Salina Deputy Chief Carson Mansfield to maximize public exposure to their message of non-violence.
Marty Bates related how he and others worked with the Deputy Chief to avoid clashing with the Military Police at the small Salina airfield, at the same time having opportunity to hang their protest signs on the fence in full view of the public. At that point the police moved in, one of the eight (Marty's wife Janie Stein) chose to remain seated, and was gently removed. The police knew exactly what to do because they had been trained in the techniques of managing limp bodies without giving injury during the week before the event.
The event climaxed The Heartland Speaks three day conference on non-violent action and training drawing people from all over the Midwest and our own VFP Board member, Ellen Barfield.
Marty reported the total budget for honorariums, meals, and accommodations came to $6000.00 - as opposed to the $40,000 raised in the Salina community for the Warthawg show drinks, golf and awards ceremony.
Lunch both days during The Heartland Speaks conference was provided by local food vendors; a free will offering was collected for the local food bank in Salina. This resulted in more support for the food bank as well as briefly increasing attendance at the conference. It also afforded opportunity to expose local citizens to the various peace and justice groups, including VFP, and their literature. Marty spoke of being able to engage many people in conversations about the need to de-militarize our country and develop non-violent means by which to resolve both local and world-wide conflicts.
A theme of the conference was Glimpsing the Beloved Community, a theme the organizers hope to continue to include in future activities.