Wintess Life Commission Report to the Coordinating Council
January 25, 2008
• On January 5 the Commission met with Jonathan Falk of PICA (Peace through Interamerican Community Action) regarding their application for a NIN grant for a new program which will build on a sister city relationship in El Salvador and other personal contacts. Jon noted the many similarities between El Salvador and Maine: sweatshops, free/fair trade, loss of farms and farm employment, and manufacturing jobs lost after NAFTA and CAFTA. The program will involve non-judgemental listening with members of all the affected groups, in depth interviews, and facilitated dialog among those in these groups as well as community and congregational presentations to provide education and discuss involvement and outreach. The goal will be local action in Maine. The Commission voted unanimously to endorse the grant, noting that the official endorsement may need to be on Conference letterhead over David’s G.’s signature to satisfy NIN requirements.
• Edith Rasell of the national office in Cleveland has set up a meeting of all the New England Conferences’ committees on justice and witness. The meeting will be held on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at a Massachusetts location TBA. At this date three members of the Commission and David G. have indicated an interest in attending.
• The Conference office received an updated Justice and Peace Action Network list from D.C. and it has been activated once to inform activists of the State House rally to oppose cuts in human services as proposed in the State budget. The rally was called by the Maine Council of Churches and other organizations for the date of the Governor’s State of the State address to the Legislature.
• Two guests are expected for the February meeting: Victor Stanley re development of a Just Peace Church manual for congregational use; and Bill Walsh to report on his trip to a national conference on ONA and future in-state plans. Bill received travel funds and a grant from the Commission.
• A budget sub-committee composed of Jeanne Davis and Connie Insley will present a draft budget at the February meeting, following the process outlined by Jane Lowell.
• Silver Moore-Leamon reported that there is progress with Native American issues in Maine, in that Gov. Baldacci has agreed to meet with reps of the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission to re-visit what the settlement left vague and to be worked out later. No previous governor has been willing to do this; Maine Council of Churches will be involved.
• Stan Primmer reported for Maine Interfaith Power and Light that there
will be a new combination of green power available for consumers this year:
hydro/wind, just wind, or just hydro. He provided a handout showing how various
carbon footprints can be offset by purchase of Wind Watts: car travel, truck/SUV
travel, air travel, and household electrical use.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Davis, Chair