Amnesty International USA Group 4 of Seattle

Join us for our monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 4, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the den at the Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE. First half hour is letter writing and socializing. Meeting starts at 7 pm.

Sorry for the short notice! Meeting just confirmed & agenda details below:

6:30pm to 7pm: Individual at Risk Letter Writing;

7pm:                   Introductions, of everyone present;

7:15pm               Review of August Events

–          Amnesty International Puget Sound Meeting of August 19^th

a)      Election of new Executive Committee in April 2013; Good discussion of ways to support

The national AIUSA around trainings and engagement of youth and college Amnesty Groups;

–          Anything else from August to share or follow up upon?  We can do so here;

7:30pm:           Future Action Scenario: Planning from December to Now –

–          December 11: Human Rights Day Week Writeathon and (probably) a rally for Human Rights Day;

November, October: Ideas? Letters Only? Plan an Event?  Interests? Think on it.

–          November: See October; and also below –

Regional AIUSA Conference for one day, in SF: An occasion to discuss implementation of the new AIUSA Action Strategy Plan. AIPS will likely offer subsidy to assist with costs of attending – more soon about this subsidy and Conference program;

8:00pm: Announcements and TBC.

September 5^th:  “Ending US-Sponsored Torture Forever: Successes and Challenges”

 Wednesday, September 5; Reception at 5:45pm, presentations begin at 7:00pm

          University Temple United Methodist Church, Fireside Room

          1415 Northeast 43rd Street

(next to the UW campus in the University District)

“We are pleased to have both Rev. Killmer and Dr. Crawford join us for this program and share their perspectives. Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of National Religious Campaign Against Torture, is intimately involved in the anti-torture movement on the national level and will speak about the organization’s initiatives in Washington, DC. As founder of WSRCAT, Rob Crawford’s years of leadership, teaching, and research experience have shaped his perspective about the obstacles and possibilities of anti-torture politics.”

The Mosaic Coffee House is a nonprofit coffee house located in Seattle First Church (behind the Dick’s Drive In on 45th Street in the Wallingford Neighborhood). Check for directions, free parking and bus line information at:http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/directions.htm

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/280406668731296/

Join us for our monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 7, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the den at the Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE. First half hour is letter writing and socializing. Meeting starts at 7 pm. Our meetings are open to the public, and all are welcome.

Discussion will include what we want to work on for the upcoming year, including information about AI’s new program structure. A few thoughts from Larry:

I invite ongoing reflection,on kinds of projects each of you/any of you might want to

develop and continue work on this upcoming season. AIUSA now uses a Program

Structure – Programs include – “America Program”; which is how detainee rights at Guantanamo   and Bgrm, CATreaty violations by the U.S.such as NDAA 2012,indefinate detentions, lack of fair trials, rendering of suspects, more;  Migrant rights issues and racialist profling can use our reponses, I feel.; Films and panel discussion at Ethnic Cultural Center/UW, cosponsored by UW Amnesty, is

a do able way to present each of these projects.

The Mosaic Coffee House is a nonprofit coffee house located in Seattle First Church (behind the Dick’s Drive In on 45th Street in the Wallingford Neighborhood). Check for directions, free parking and bus line information at: http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/about-us/mapdirections/

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/193456804118937/

Amnesty International Group 4 will once again have a booth at the Fremont Fair this weekend, June 16-17. Stop by & sign a few petitions, take some literature, buy a t-shirt and/or just say hi!

AI Booth at 2011 Fremont Fair

Fremont Fair website: http://www.fremontfair.org/

Join us for our monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 5, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the den at the Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE. First half hour is letter writing and socializing. Meeting starts at 7 pm.

Topics include:

Syria DieIn Action in May will be noted and follow ups listed

Elaboration on the importance of the May 4, NWIRP “talk” and May 19th “One America Events” that provided an prologue for the currently successful legal actions to decrease racial profiling based on presumption of national origin by Border Patrol and other “authorities” at the Northern Border of WA!

Recognition of June 3rd Tiananmen Square Memorial/rally for human rights in China

June 16/17th Fremont Solstice Fair: sign ups to help on info booth, and types of topics to discuss then/there;
June 23/4: Seattle GLBT-Pride Days – if anyone is interested in participation;
June 24-26th Actions – see
http://blog.amnestyusa.org/americas/why-is-june-torture-awareness-month/ that will link to how to take
phone call action to the White House and will be a resource for the many June 26th events organized;
For Maher Arar and the importance of “The Apology” see, http://www.thenation.com/article/167993/can-obama-say-hes-sorry

Seattle June 26th: Vigil and Dramatic Reading, “International Day in Support of Torture Survivors” – Jackson Federal Building, 2nd Ave and Madison, 6pm to 8pm. Bring a poem or prose statement by a favorate author that expresses your own concern for the issues – the poems and prose pieces will be used by the AIUSA Lobby Delegation to local Congress in early July (Signup for lobby is only via AIUSA online, see lobby delegation). June 26 is sponsored by AIUSA in WA, WSRCAT, among other sponsors. Info: wordheath@gmail.com

The Mosaic Coffee House is a nonprofit coffee house located in Seattle First Church (behind the Dick’s Drive In on 45th Street in the Wallingford Neighborhood). Check for directions, free parking and bus line information at:http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/directions.htm

Facebook page for June meeting at: https://www.facebook.com/events/182271055235510/