Meeting Notes: March, April, May, and July

I apologize for the long absence here. This post brings us up to date.

Below you will find my notes from the past four Pax Christi GR meetings—this is what I typed during the meeting with very little editing or explanation. I will offer a summary at the end.

Peace,

Nick

Sunday, 1 March 2009

Present: Katie, Mike, Joe, MaryPat, Marjorie, Nick

Discussion of Video Content:

Open with scary music, images of destruction, video of Hiroshima/Nagasaki.

Manhattan Project, etc. Einstein & Oppenheimer

US moral leadership—with P-5 (UN Security Council)

Idea of Evil—not people or things, ideas and actions

Find common ground

Cost (to maintain nuclear arsenal)

Secure loose nukes

Move toward nuclear free world.

Consistent ethic.

Schedule to complete video:

Outline in April

Details in May

Start script in June

No meetings in July & August -- subcommittees work on production

Try to finish by August

Meet Palm Sunday.

Sunday, 5 April 2009

Present: Katie, MaryPat, Marjorie, Nick

Opening prayer

Notes from Katie on what to avoid in video, outline of video

Moral leadership?

Nuclear Free Zones

Other Christian statements

increased fear? —Be Not Afraid by Tom Cordaro

Outline

Katie will get details on CMC.

Start writing script before May meeting. Have drafts for next meeting, preferably with times.

Katie will have copies made of free DVDs for us to use.

Sunday, 17 May 2009

Present: Katie, Larry,* Jeff,* MaryPat, Marjorie, Theresa,* Nick

*PC Muskegon

Regional Peace Conference

Rosina Hussein(?) presentation on Arab prejudice—Palestinian Christian—great speaker—MSU

West Michigan conference? speaker series? —cooperation among WM local groups

Nuclear weapons DVD

Wayne says to adapt NAPF video, rather than make our own

Using NAPF video, add intro (by Lou) and commentaries by GR Catholic authorities

next meeting 26 July

Sunday, 26 July 2009

Present: Katie, MaryPat, Marjorie, Nick

Nuclear weapons DVD

video complete—edited existing video, will add local Catholic commentary on end

commentators discussed: Aquinas Theology professor? campus ministry? GR Dominicans?

Lou will be first commentator, will be added to all copies

2-3 minute talk, bio

Upcoming events discussed

Hiroshima Day events

Pax Christi Muskegon picnic

International Day of Peace

Fall or Winter Regional Peace Conference with IGE

Next meeting Sunday, 30 August 2009, 4-6 pm.

Summary

For the past few months we have been discussing two projects: a video to be used to educate Catholics in our Diocese on nuclear weapons and a regional conference for pacifists and peace organizations. The initial vision of the video production was a combination of documentary footage and original commentary. Over the course of months, responding to financing and media advice, this plan transformed into the simpler product that we are now finishing: we have, with permission, edited an existing video originally produced for a secular audience and are in the process of adding some local Catholic commentary. We hope to have this project finished in September. It will probably make its way into the local catechetical community in the spring of 2010. The regional conference still in the visionary stage, but we hope to have the first within the year. We have already made contacts with Pax Christi Muskegon and the Institute for Global Education, two organizations that will likely be involved. We are considering topics, speakers, venues, and scale. The currently prevailing idea is to host a conference at Aquinas College this fall or winter on jobs, the environment, and peace.