VFP 2009 National Convention
VFP 2009 CONVENTION A "SUCCESS!"
Almost 350 members of Veterans For Peace, Military Families Speak Out, and Iraq Veterans Against the War gathered at the University of Maryland, College Park, to organize, educate, and re-energize! One associate member said it well when she said:
HIGHLIGHTS
The
2009 Convention was full of fantastic workshops, speakers, and ideas!
Some of the highlights include workshops specifically on military
sexual trauma, Afghanistan, and "Where We Go From Here."
One of the principal speakers was Shazia, a representative from the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan.
Shazia spoke of the horror of living in Afghanistan, "The people of
Afghanistan have three enemies: the Taliban, the Karzai government and
warlords, and the US soldiers." Video and audio of her presentations
will be available soon.
The banquet featured Phyllis Bennis, Chris Toensing, and Bill Fletcher Jr., editor of www.blackcommentator.com. Bill elegantly brought together the theme of the convention, "Moving From Hope to Action" suggesting guidelines for where we need to go from here!
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
Each
year, chapters and individual members work to draft resolutions to
guide and shape the direction of Veterans For Peace. This year, the
resolutions passed include:
- Support for Agent Orange Eligibility for "Blue Water Navy" Vietnam Veterans
- Support for Agent Orange Eligibility for Vietnam Veterans with Parkinson's Disease
- Election Delegation to Columbia in 2010
- Stop U.S. $30 Billion military aid to Israel
- Support a valid investigation into the national security failures of the 9/11 attacks
- Pinon Canyon Land Preservation
- Veterans Outreach Representative
- Youth Promise Act
The full resolutions can be found online. Resolutions will be accepted early for the 2010 convention, so start thinking what resolutions you and your chapter might want to present in Portland, Maine!!
LEARN WHO RECEIVED VFP AWARDS
Each year at the VFP Convention, awards are awarded to outstanding activists
and members of Veterans For Peace by members who have been nominated by
members. This year, nine people received awards at the convention. The
2009 recipients were:
- Ed Edverts
- Melida & Carlos Arredondo
- Tom Brookhart
- Kenneth Arnold
- Jack Bussell
- Edward Bloch
- Art Dorland
- Paula Ash and the Guacamole Fund
CONVENTION VIDEOS ONLINE & ORDER COMPLETE SET OF CONVENTION DVDS TODAY
The 2009 Convention was filmed by two fantastic members, Clay Claiborne
and Jeffrey Keating. A convention DVD set is available for purchase
online for $21. The set includes the opening ceremony, Friday night
community event, Saturday night banquet, and the Nagasaki
commemoration.
Portion of the convention can also be viewed online:
CONVENTION PHOTOS ONLINE:
| Carlos and Melida Arredondo | Clay Claiborne | VFP National | Mike Hearington |
VIEW NATIONAL SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION
Curious what VFP has done in 2009? Want to see a breakdown of finances and reports that the Executive Director gave at the business meeting during the convention? A pdf of the presentation is available online.
PLAN TO JOIN VFP FOR IT'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY IN PORTLAND, MAINE!
Veterans For Peace will gather in Portland, Maine - the starting point for VFP to commemorate it's 25th anniversary August 18 - 22, 2010 at the Eastland Park Hotel in Portland, ME. This is the convention to attend!
Plan to join us for VFP's 25th Birthday Celebration!!
Veterans For Peace, 216 S. Meramec, St. Louis, MO 63105, 314-725-6005
www.veteransforpeace.org
Veterans For Peace appreciates your generous donations.
We also encourage you to join our ranks.
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August 20, 2009