[Peace-discussion] What Should GPAX's input be????Next Call First Wed. in Nov. is Nov 1st! Will this work?

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:54:51 -0500

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I forget who is our particular liason to UFPJ *I'm Pretty sure it's not Dean
or Aimee*grin.

Be nice for us to have a voice, even if our own house is a bit of a mess
*kind of like mine!

Let me know if the 1st wed. works for all this month.

Peace,

joni

INPUT NEEDED ON DATE FOR UFPJ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

TO: Member Groups of UFPJ 

FROM: National Steering Committee of UFPJ

After months of trying to settle on the best date and location for the 3rd
UFPJ National Assembly, we need input from you, our member groups, before
proceeding. 

We know you're probably swamped with other demands on your time, but this is
a major decision for the coalition and your group's response is important.
We have three options to present -- each has advantages and disadvantages.
Please share this information with others in your organization, discuss the
alternatives, and let us know your preference. Unfortunately, we need to ask
for your response quickly, and no later than Wednesday, Nov. 1st. Click here
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/assemblysurvey to respond.

Background on Options for Date and Location of National Assembly

According to UFPJ's Structure and Functioning document, we are to hold a
National Assembly every 18 months, so member groups can set the broad
political direction for the coalition in the coming period and elect a new
national Steering Committee.

By this timetable, the 3rd UFPJ Assembly should have taken place this past
August. The Steering Committee believed that August was not a good time for
maximizing participation. Several fall dates were also rejected after
extensive discussion and research, largely because of concerns about
conflicting with other important work being done by our member groups,
including the Declaration of Peace and electioneer efforts. 

Our options have been further limited by our commitment to use only
unionized hotels, if we use a hotel again. We have also been working hard to
find the most economical options, in order to maximize participation,
especially since UFPJ's tight finances mean we will not have the money to
subsidize participation in the Assembly the way we have in the past.

The UFPJ Steering Committee held a special conference call last night to
discuss these options. Our recommendation is to go with option # 3. But
again, this is an important decision and the steering committee agreed that
we need to get the input from you, the member groups of the coalition.

Here are the three options in front of us:

Option #1: Jan. 19 - 21 at the 4-H Center - just outside of Washington, DC 
Pros:  The earliest of the options, and therefore requires the least
extension of the time between National Assemblies. Cheaper than option #2.
Holding the Assembly in Washington, D.C. would allow us to incorporate a
political action targeting the White House or Congress into the weekend's
events, or on the day after the assembly.

Cons: Coincides with the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. A number of
very active members of the UFPJ administrative and steering committees will
be at the WSF and therefore not be able to attend; others from the staff and
steering committee have other scheduling conflicts that will not allow them
to attend. Some member groups have raised concerns that holding the Assembly
on the weekend of the World Social Forum will send a negative signal to the
global justice movement. 

Option #2: Feb. 9-11 at the Hyatt Hotel in Dearborn, MI 
Pros: We'd be holding the Assembly in the Midwest, and in the U.S. city with
the largest Arab American population. No significant date conflicts that
we're aware of.

Cons: More expensive than the D.C. option, which will make it harder for
some UFPJ member groups to send representatives. Fewer than 5 weeks before
the 4th anniversary of the war, when UFPJ is organizing a major mobilization
in D.C. and many local groups are doing local actions -- this timing will
put a great strain on the national staff, as well as on many local
organizers.

Option #3: Postpone the Assembly until late May or early June and
re-energize the organizing of local or regional meetings of UFPJ member
groups in January and February. In addition, organize a strong antiwar
presence in Washington, DC in January around the time that the new session
of Congress begins.
Pros:  Gives us more time to have a well planned and organized Assembly.
More site options should be available, giving us the possibility of finding
even more affordable options, perhaps a college campus. Gives member groups
more time to fund raise in order to cover the costs for their
representatives to attend the Assembly. By organizing the local/regional
meetings there would be more connection between the national coalition and
the member groups.

Cons: Means dramatically extending the time between assemblies, 9 or 10
months beyond the 18 months called for in the Structure Document.

Please let us know what your group thinks is the best option. Here is the
link to the response form: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/assemblysurvey .
Please note, this is the same as the link above so please do not fill out
the form two times. Thank you for participating in this survey.

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns and want to discuss this
further please call the UFPJ national office at 212-868-5545. Thank you.

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I forget who is our particular liason to UFPJ =
*<b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>I&#8217;m Pretty sure it&#8217;s not Dean or =
Aimee</span></b>*grin&#8230;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Be nice for us to have a voice, even if our own house =
is a
bit of a mess *kind of like mine!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Let me know if the 1st wed. works for all =
this
month.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>joni<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 color=3D"#cc0000" face=3D"Times =
New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:#CC0000;font-weight:bold'>INPUT NEEDED =
ON DATE
FOR UFPJ NATIONAL ASSEMBLY</span></font></b><br>
<br>
TO: Member Groups of UFPJ <br>
<br>
FROM: National Steering Committee of UFPJ<br>
<br>
After months of trying to settle on the best date and location for the =
3rd UFPJ
National Assembly, we need input from you, our member groups, before
proceeding. <br>
<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>We know you&#8217;re probably =
swamped with
other demands on your time, but this is a major decision for the =
coalition and
your group&#8217;s response is important.</span></b> We have three =
options to
present -- each has advantages and disadvantages. Please share this =
information
with others in your organization, discuss the alternatives, and let us =
know
your preference. Unfortunately, we need to ask for your response =
quickly, and
no later than Wednesday, Nov. 1st. Click here <a
href=3D"http://www.unitedforpeace.org/assemblysurvey"
title=3D"http://www.unitedforpeace.org/assemblysurvey">http://www.unitedf=
orpeace.org/assemblysurvey</a>
to respond.<br>
<br>
<u>Background on Options for Date and Location of National =
Assembly</u><br>
<br>
According to UFPJ's Structure and Functioning document, we are to hold a
National Assembly every 18 months, so member groups can set the broad =
political
direction for the coalition in the coming period and elect a new =
national
Steering Committee.<br>
<br>
By this timetable, the 3rd UFPJ Assembly should have taken place this =
past
August. The Steering Committee believed that August was not a good time =
for
maximizing participation. Several fall dates were also rejected after =
extensive
discussion and research, largely because of concerns about conflicting =
with
other important work being done by our member groups, including the =
Declaration
of Peace and electioneer efforts. <br>
<br>
Our options have been further limited by our commitment to use only =
unionized
hotels, if we use a hotel again. We have also been working hard to find =
the
most economical options, in order to maximize participation, especially =
since
UFPJ's tight finances mean we will not have the money to subsidize
participation in the Assembly the way we have in the past.<br>
<br>
The UFPJ Steering Committee held a special conference call last night to
discuss these options. <b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Our =
recommendation is
to go with option # 3</span></b>. But again, this is an important =
decision and
the steering committee agreed that we need to get the input from you, =
the
member groups of the coalition.<br>
<br>
Here are the three options in front of us:<br>
<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Option #1: Jan. 19 - 21 at the 4-H =
Center
&#8211; just outside of <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Washington</st1:City>,
 <st1:State w:st=3D"on">DC</st1:State></st1:place></span></b> <br>
Pros:&nbsp; The earliest of the options, and therefore requires the =
least
extension of the time between National Assemblies. Cheaper than option =
#2.
Holding the Assembly in <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Washington</st1:City>,
 <st1:State w:st=3D"on">D.C.</st1:State></st1:place> would allow us to
incorporate a political action targeting the White House or Congress =
into the
weekend's events, or on the day after the assembly.<br>
<br>
Cons: Coincides with the World Social Forum in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City
 w:st=3D"on">Nairobi</st1:City>, <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Kenya</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
A number of very active members of the UFPJ administrative and steering
committees will be at the WSF and therefore not be able to attend; =
others from
the staff and steering committee have other scheduling conflicts that =
will not
allow them to attend. Some member groups have raised concerns that =
holding the
Assembly on the weekend of the World Social Forum will send a negative =
signal
to the global justice movement. <br>
<br>
&nbsp;<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Option #2: Feb. 9-11 at the Hyatt =
Hotel in <st1:City
w:st=3D"on">Dearborn</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st=3D"on">MI</st1:State> =
</span></b><br>
Pros: We'd be holding the Assembly in the Midwest, and in the =
<st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> =
city with
the largest Arab American population. No significant date conflicts that =
we're
aware of.<br>
<br>
Cons: More expensive than the D.C. option, which will make it harder for =
some
UFPJ member groups to send representatives. Fewer than 5 weeks before =
the 4th
anniversary of the war, when UFPJ is organizing a major mobilization in =
D.C.
and many local groups are doing local actions -- this timing will put a =
great
strain on the national staff, as well as on many local organizers.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Option #3: Postpone the Assembly =
until late
May or early June and re-energize the organizing of local or regional =
meetings
of UFPJ member groups in January and February. In addition, organize a =
strong
antiwar presence in <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Washington</st1:City>,
 <st1:State w:st=3D"on">DC</st1:State></st1:place> in January around the =
time
that the new session of Congress begins.</span></b><br>
Pros:&nbsp; Gives us more time to have a well planned and organized =
Assembly.
More site options should be available, giving us the possibility of =
finding
even more affordable options, perhaps a college campus. Gives member =
groups
more time to fund raise in order to cover the costs for their =
representatives
to attend the Assembly. By organizing the local/regional meetings there =
would
be more connection between the national coalition and the member =
groups.<br>
<br>
Cons: Means dramatically extending the time between assemblies, 9 or 10 =
months
beyond the 18 months called for in the Structure Document.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Please let us know what your group =
thinks is
the best option.</span></b> Here is the link to the response form: <a
href=3D"http://www.unitedforpeace.org/assemblysurvey"
title=3D"http://www.unitedforpeace.org/assemblysurvey">http://www.unitedf=
orpeace.org/assemblysurvey</a>
. Please note, this is the same as the link above so please do not fill =
out the
form two times. Thank you for participating in this survey.<br>
<br>
Of course, if you have any questions or concerns and want to discuss =
this
further please call the UFPJ national office at 212-868-5545. Thank =
you.<font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p=
>

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