[Antiracism] Re: Invitation to the Valleywide Spokescouncil

[American Friends Service Committee]

 From Tim Anderson...


>Invitation to the Valleywide Spokescouncil
>July 5, 2006 7-9 PM, at the First Churches
>129 Main Street, Northampton
>
>The first meeting of the Valleywide Spokescouncil will occur July 5.
>This is not a new organization per se, but will be a growing group of
>regularly gathering representatives of groups or organizations with a goal
>of building critical mass to achieve goals those groups are working on or
>care about.  The intent is not to add work, but to make all of our work more
>effective.
>
>In the initial informational meetings held in May and June, attendees raised
>various issues that the Council might itself decide would qualify for higher
>level action and building of critical mass -- e.g.   Vermont Yankee, ending
>the Iraq War, stopping Walmart, sustainable energy and curtailing corporate
>power. The representatives who join the council will decide what issues to
>build actions on.
>
>So if you are part of a group or organization of 20 or more people in
>western Massachusetts and can serve as their spokesperson, you are invited 
>to join the Valleywide Spokescouncil.
>
>Our intention is to join forces with each other to generate critical mass
>and take practical, effective action for a better community and world.  And
>to have fun in the process!
>
>We hope that our collective effort will help displace frustration, fear, and
>malaise with a sense of community, responsibility, focus, and effective,
>practical power.  It's time.
>
>As a quick and easy way of defining our common ground, we ask those who 
>join this Council to be in general agreement with The Earth Charter.
><http://www.earthcharter.org/>http://www.earthcharter.org. Its preamble 
>states: "We stand at a critical
>moment in Earth©ös history, a time when humanity must choose its 
>future.  Asthe world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the 
>future at once holds great peril and great promise.  We must join together 
>to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, 
>universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace."
>
>The Valleywide Spokescouncil leadership will be equally shared by all
>present through consensus decision-making based roughly on Formal
>Consensus 
><http://www.consensus.net/ocaccontents.html>http://www.consensus.net/ocaccontents.html. 
>The Valleywide
>Spokescouncil will meet monthly, with additional
>communications and gatherings as needed.
>
>The organizers of this process, Sandra, Sanford, Lois and Tim,
>will not attempt to achieve their personal or organizational preferences for
>action while facilitating; we are assuming service roles, taking
>responsibility to call the circle, help facilitate meetings and keep the
>process moving within the mission of the Valleywide Spokescouncil.
>
>The mass of people eventually represented by the Council will undertake the
>most effective series of actions upon which it can agree.   As a process
>grounded in consensus we expect that people will come together with diverse
>issues they care about, and will find common ground through sharing and
>listening. We will not act until we have achieved the critical mass
>necessary for the greatest possible impact.  We expect that these actions
>will be diverse in nature, scale and scope.
>
>If this concept makes sense to you and you feel called to attend this
>Council, please RSVP to 
><mailto:connect%40valleywidespokescouncil.net>connect at valleywidespokescouncil.net 
>and join us. If you have questions, please see the FAQ at
><http://valleywidespokescouncil.net/>http://Valleywidespokescouncil.net or 
>call or email any of us.
>
>If you know of others who may meet the qualification of responsibly
>representing at least 20 others and should be invited, please invite them.
>
>With great respect and anticipation,
>
>Tim Anderson (781) 307-2142 timothymasonanderson[at]gmail.com
>Lois Barber (413) 549- 8118 lois[at]earthaction.org
>Sandra Boston (413) 774-5952 bostons[at]aol.com
>Sanford Lewis (413) 549-7333 gnproject[at]earthlink.net



"What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?
         The world would split open"  ~ Muriel Rukeyser


Jo Comerford
American Friends Service Committee, Western Massachusetts
140 Pine Street, Room 10
Florence, Massachusetts 01062
413.584.8975 (W)
413.584.8987 (F)
413.695.6059 (C)
afsc at crocker.com
www.WesternMassAFSC.org

New Resource:
Ten Reasons Why the US Must Leave Iraq:
http://www.afsc.org/iraq/activism/10-reasons.pdf
http://www.afsc.org/iraq/activism/10-reasons.htm (Text)
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