Detailed Workshop Schedule
* Schedule depicts workshops and presenters as of Friday, August 20th. There may be changes prior to the convention that are not noted.
THURSDAY AT 1:15PM
THURSDAY AT 3:00PM
THURSDAY AT 10:15 PM
FRIDAY AT 8:30AM
FRIDAY AT 1:15PM
FRIDAY AT 10:15 PM
THURSDAY AT 1:15PM
THE TEA PARTY AND THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT: DEBRA SWEET AND ELAINE BROWER [CUMBERLAND ROOM] Debra and Elaine will discuss the fascist social base in the U.S. that supports bigotry, cloaks itself in the call for traditional conservative values, and believes that American imperial dominance is necessary. They will also discuss how to defeat this movement while stopping the crimes of our government.
PALESTINIAN OCCUPATION AND THE GAZA OCCUPATION: MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES: ELLIOTT ADAMS, ROB MULFORD, AND OTHERS [MASSACHUSETTS ROOM] A panel discussion about panelists’ experiences in Gaza, exploring the Israeli occupation of Palestine in its historical and current context, discussing the human rights situation there, and proposing ways that VFP can help bring justice and peace to the region.
MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA: COLONEL ANN WRIGHT AND OTHERS [VERMONT ROOM] Colonel Ann Wright will lead a discussion on an issue that confronts current soldiers as well as veterans. Editor’s Note: “Roughly one in seven of America’s active duty military soldiers is a woman, but a NOW investigation found that sexual assault and rape is widespread. One study of National Guard and Reserve forces found that almost one in four women had been assaulted or raped. Last year alone, almost 3,000 soldiers reported sexual assault and rape by other soldiers" (PBS ‘ “NOW” Program, 2007).
PTSD: VETERANS’ SUICIDES: PENNY COLEMAN AND OTHERS [LINCOLN ROOM] Playwright and author Penny Coleman will share her experiences with PTSD and its impact on others. She will be joined by Afghan and Iraq War veterans, who will discuss their experiences as well.
UNLEARNING RACISM: BETSY REZNICEK AND DOUG ZACHARY [KENNEBEC ROOM] Betsy and Doug will lead a discussion about how VFP needs to engage in an ongoing and comprehensive exploration of how racism shapes our organization, our chapters, the peace movement, and ourselves. They believe that all white social justice activists need to work for social justice and to challenge white privilege in all their social justice work. This focus will open VFP to a larger audience and will help us combat the racist, imperialistic nature of war.
THE END OF WAR: HOW WAGING PEACE CAN SAVE HUMANITY, OUR PLANET, AND OUR FUTURE: PAUL CHAPPELL [OXFORD ROOM] Paul will discuss how the peace movement can become more powerful and how we can more effectively wage peace in the 21st century. He will discuss the importance of peace leadership training and how we can bring peace leadership skills to people of all ages.
SAFEGUARD THE GUARD, SAFEGUARD DEMOCRACY: BEN MANSKI, STATE REP. MIKE FISHER, LEAH BOLGER, AND STEVE BURNS [SOMERSET ROOM] Ben and others will lead a discussion about the legal basis for the national movement to reform state national guard law, making it more difficult for state national guard units to be called for use in wars of aggression. They will discuss the disproportionate costs borne by guard members, their families, and their communities. The discussion will include short-term strategies for hastening the end of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations as well as a long-term strategy for reducing the likelihood of future wars of aggression through the democratization of our national military. Presenters will share their experiences organizing this movement.
WAR TAX RESISTANCE/REFUSAL/REDIRECTION: SAYING NO TO ENDLESS WAR EVERY DAY: LARRY DANSINGER [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] Every year the US Government and IRS asks us for money (taxes) to keep buying weapons and waging endless war. We all have a choice to say "NO!" as well as "yes." Larry will lead a discussion about the benefits and possible consequences of war tax resistance/refusal/redirection. Larry has refused to pay income and telephone excise taxes to the IRS for over 30 years and coordinates the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center. He has never had money seized throughout that time.
PALESTINIAN OCCUPATION AND THE GAZA OCCUPATION: MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES: ELLIOTT ADAMS, ROB MULFORD, AND OTHERS [MASSACHUSETTS ROOM] A panel discussion about panelists’ experiences in Gaza, exploring the Israeli occupation of Palestine in its historical and current context, discussing the human rights situation there, and proposing ways that VFP can help bring justice and peace to the region.
MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA: COLONEL ANN WRIGHT AND OTHERS [VERMONT ROOM] Colonel Ann Wright will lead a discussion on an issue that confronts current soldiers as well as veterans. Editor’s Note: “Roughly one in seven of America’s active duty military soldiers is a woman, but a NOW investigation found that sexual assault and rape is widespread. One study of National Guard and Reserve forces found that almost one in four women had been assaulted or raped. Last year alone, almost 3,000 soldiers reported sexual assault and rape by other soldiers" (PBS ‘ “NOW” Program, 2007).
PTSD: VETERANS’ SUICIDES: PENNY COLEMAN AND OTHERS [LINCOLN ROOM] Playwright and author Penny Coleman will share her experiences with PTSD and its impact on others. She will be joined by Afghan and Iraq War veterans, who will discuss their experiences as well.
UNLEARNING RACISM: BETSY REZNICEK AND DOUG ZACHARY [KENNEBEC ROOM] Betsy and Doug will lead a discussion about how VFP needs to engage in an ongoing and comprehensive exploration of how racism shapes our organization, our chapters, the peace movement, and ourselves. They believe that all white social justice activists need to work for social justice and to challenge white privilege in all their social justice work. This focus will open VFP to a larger audience and will help us combat the racist, imperialistic nature of war.
THE END OF WAR: HOW WAGING PEACE CAN SAVE HUMANITY, OUR PLANET, AND OUR FUTURE: PAUL CHAPPELL [OXFORD ROOM] Paul will discuss how the peace movement can become more powerful and how we can more effectively wage peace in the 21st century. He will discuss the importance of peace leadership training and how we can bring peace leadership skills to people of all ages.
SAFEGUARD THE GUARD, SAFEGUARD DEMOCRACY: BEN MANSKI, STATE REP. MIKE FISHER, LEAH BOLGER, AND STEVE BURNS [SOMERSET ROOM] Ben and others will lead a discussion about the legal basis for the national movement to reform state national guard law, making it more difficult for state national guard units to be called for use in wars of aggression. They will discuss the disproportionate costs borne by guard members, their families, and their communities. The discussion will include short-term strategies for hastening the end of the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations as well as a long-term strategy for reducing the likelihood of future wars of aggression through the democratization of our national military. Presenters will share their experiences organizing this movement.
WAR TAX RESISTANCE/REFUSAL/REDIRECTION: SAYING NO TO ENDLESS WAR EVERY DAY: LARRY DANSINGER [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] Every year the US Government and IRS asks us for money (taxes) to keep buying weapons and waging endless war. We all have a choice to say "NO!" as well as "yes." Larry will lead a discussion about the benefits and possible consequences of war tax resistance/refusal/redirection. Larry has refused to pay income and telephone excise taxes to the IRS for over 30 years and coordinates the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center. He has never had money seized throughout that time.
THURSDAY AT 3:00PM
SBCC TEEN MEMORIAL: GILBERTO ROBLEDO [MASSACHUSETTS ROOM] Gilberto will discuss how to construct and implement an interactive Teen memorial for eighteen and nineteen year old U.S casualties of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. As a retired professor, Dr. Robledo has worked with Santa Barbara City College in conjunction with the Iraq Moratorium group each month.
WRITE ON: TELLING OUR STORY: JAN BARRY AND MICHAEL UHL [CUMBERLAND ROOM] Jan and Michael will lead a panel discussion with the audience on writing and publishing poetry, short stories, memoirs, novels, non-fiction books, magazine pieces, blogs, etc. about the transformation from soldiering to peacemaking.
TACKLING IMPERIALIST WAR AT ITS SOURCE: PRIVATE CAPITALIST INVESTMENT BANKERS: JAY JANSON [KENNEBEC ROOM] Jay will lay out actual documentation about Henry Ford's and others’ very early funding of Adolph Hitler; he will discuss how to research the money that was invested in promoting and blocking peaceable and just postwar arrangements in Korea, Vietnam and Laos; how to discover those behind Bzrezinski's advising Carter to fund, arm and train fundamentalists for civil war against Kabul to draw the Soviets into Afghanistan which led to 9/11; the oil money behind the Iraq invasion; what investments benefit from the backing of war lord governments in Somalia and Yemen - from a destabilized or attacked Iran.
HOUSING HOMELESS VETERANS: MARK FOREMAN AND LANE ANDERSON [LINCOLN ROOM] Mark will explain the process of finding homeless veterans in the city of Milwaukee and how he and others addressed their many needs. He will describe how they established working relations with other agencies that help homeless people and how they raised money for their project. Lane will provide specifics on fundraising and providing assistance to make housing available for homeless veterans. He will demonstrate how to write grants for this purpose.
ORGANIZING FOR VFP’S SECOND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS: SANDY KELSON [OXFORD ROOM] Sandy’s goal for this workshop is to provide a spirited discussion on how to move VFP forward into its second twenty-five year period: how to gain more members, more resources, more accomplishments, and how to effectively coordinate the efforts of veteran members and associate members.
THE GI HOTLINE AND THE GI RESISTANCE MOVEMENT: GEOFF LOBENSTINE, GERRY CONDON, JEFF PATERSON, AND RUSSELL BROWN [SOMERSET ROOM] Geoff will continue the VFP convention tradition of discussing the GI Rights Hotline and how it provides support for GI’s seeking discharges based on deployment issues, as well as sexual, racial, and homophobic harassment. Gerry, Jeff, and Russell will discuss “Courage to Resist” and VFP’s “GI Resistance Working Group.” Their panel discussion will feature information about current resisters and the role of GI resistance in helping end the war, including the critical role of public support for resisters. If time permits, the presenters will lead a discussion on networking and building organizations interested in the GI resistance/solidarity movement. The goal of this workshop is to contribute to the collective base of support for the growing anti-war movement inside the military today.
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY LOBBY CONGRESS: MATT SOUTHWORTH [VERMONT ROOM] Matt, who is currently working for the Friends Committee on National Legislation to lobby against the use of war, is an Iraq war veteran who is “…convinced that the road to Middle East stability is conducive to U.S. national security.” His intention with this workshop is to “…turn disgust into action by providing the tool by which veterans can influence governance.” He believes that lobbying Congress is the “…true way to keep government responsive and accountable to the desires of the people….”
IN THEIR FACES: PUBLIC EXHIBITS ON THE COST OF WAR: MELIDA AND CARLOS ARRENDONDO [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] As a means of protest and as a means of peaceful non-violence, Carlos and Melida have jointly created works of visual art that have been displayed along the highways and byways of the United States. They have also exhibited at colleges and universities as well as the Massachusetts State House. Their workshop will explain how to use recycled materials to create messages for peace that can be displayed practically anywhere.
WRITE ON: TELLING OUR STORY: JAN BARRY AND MICHAEL UHL [CUMBERLAND ROOM] Jan and Michael will lead a panel discussion with the audience on writing and publishing poetry, short stories, memoirs, novels, non-fiction books, magazine pieces, blogs, etc. about the transformation from soldiering to peacemaking.
TACKLING IMPERIALIST WAR AT ITS SOURCE: PRIVATE CAPITALIST INVESTMENT BANKERS: JAY JANSON [KENNEBEC ROOM] Jay will lay out actual documentation about Henry Ford's and others’ very early funding of Adolph Hitler; he will discuss how to research the money that was invested in promoting and blocking peaceable and just postwar arrangements in Korea, Vietnam and Laos; how to discover those behind Bzrezinski's advising Carter to fund, arm and train fundamentalists for civil war against Kabul to draw the Soviets into Afghanistan which led to 9/11; the oil money behind the Iraq invasion; what investments benefit from the backing of war lord governments in Somalia and Yemen - from a destabilized or attacked Iran.
HOUSING HOMELESS VETERANS: MARK FOREMAN AND LANE ANDERSON [LINCOLN ROOM] Mark will explain the process of finding homeless veterans in the city of Milwaukee and how he and others addressed their many needs. He will describe how they established working relations with other agencies that help homeless people and how they raised money for their project. Lane will provide specifics on fundraising and providing assistance to make housing available for homeless veterans. He will demonstrate how to write grants for this purpose.
ORGANIZING FOR VFP’S SECOND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS: SANDY KELSON [OXFORD ROOM] Sandy’s goal for this workshop is to provide a spirited discussion on how to move VFP forward into its second twenty-five year period: how to gain more members, more resources, more accomplishments, and how to effectively coordinate the efforts of veteran members and associate members.
THE GI HOTLINE AND THE GI RESISTANCE MOVEMENT: GEOFF LOBENSTINE, GERRY CONDON, JEFF PATERSON, AND RUSSELL BROWN [SOMERSET ROOM] Geoff will continue the VFP convention tradition of discussing the GI Rights Hotline and how it provides support for GI’s seeking discharges based on deployment issues, as well as sexual, racial, and homophobic harassment. Gerry, Jeff, and Russell will discuss “Courage to Resist” and VFP’s “GI Resistance Working Group.” Their panel discussion will feature information about current resisters and the role of GI resistance in helping end the war, including the critical role of public support for resisters. If time permits, the presenters will lead a discussion on networking and building organizations interested in the GI resistance/solidarity movement. The goal of this workshop is to contribute to the collective base of support for the growing anti-war movement inside the military today.
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY LOBBY CONGRESS: MATT SOUTHWORTH [VERMONT ROOM] Matt, who is currently working for the Friends Committee on National Legislation to lobby against the use of war, is an Iraq war veteran who is “…convinced that the road to Middle East stability is conducive to U.S. national security.” His intention with this workshop is to “…turn disgust into action by providing the tool by which veterans can influence governance.” He believes that lobbying Congress is the “…true way to keep government responsive and accountable to the desires of the people….”
IN THEIR FACES: PUBLIC EXHIBITS ON THE COST OF WAR: MELIDA AND CARLOS ARRENDONDO [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] As a means of protest and as a means of peaceful non-violence, Carlos and Melida have jointly created works of visual art that have been displayed along the highways and byways of the United States. They have also exhibited at colleges and universities as well as the Massachusetts State House. Their workshop will explain how to use recycled materials to create messages for peace that can be displayed practically anywhere.
THURSDAY AT 10:15 PM
WOMEN’S CAUCUS [OXFORD ROOM] VFP women, veterans and associates, will meet in a female-only safe space to discuss working together and raising women’s voices in VFP and in the world.
FRIDAY AT 8:30AM
ROTTEN MILITARY: CULTURE OF LYING: CHRIS RUSHLAU [CUMBERLAND ROOM] Chris believes that the culture of lying is entrenched in the military as the result of engagement in illegal wars since WWII. He believes that we need an honest, accountable military. He’d liked to discuss this with other VFP members.
VETERANS’ ATTITUDE CHANGES AND PEACE IN A MILITARIZED SOCIETY: TWO PERSPECTIVES: JULIE HART AND GEORGE APPENZELLER [MASSACHUSETTS ROOM] Julie’s study involves in-depth interviews with 100 U.S. veterans from all branches of the military from WWII to the present war in Iraq. The veterans were contacted primarily through the Veterans for Peace and Veterans Against the War websites. Interviews focused on understanding the attitude change about the appropriate use of war, family background, and current activism. All veterans began with a “realistic” militaristic perspective on war and currently are either strict Just War Theorists or some degree of pacifist. The study identifies both support for and resistance to attitude change and the important role of VFP in this process.
George believes that since the U.S. is a militarized society, most people believe themselves to be dependent on the military for their physical, financial, social and cultural security. When someone talks about abolishing war, they believe that their security may be threatened, and they stop listening to the message. George will describe ways of approaching different groups of people to allay their fears about security, which will in turn open them up to the message of VFP.
9/11 TRUTH AS A PATH TO PEACE: ALFONS OLSZEWSKI AND RICHARD CATE [KENNEBEC ROOM] Alfons’s and Richard’s basic aim is to provide the best information available on the events of 9/11/200. Richard states: “Imagine if we are able to break through the corporate media’s silence on 9/11, and tens of millions realize the government’s role in 9/11 events. Maybe, just maybe, we could throw a monkey wrench in this perpetual war machine, and to begin to put our national priorities in focus.” Alfons adds that he’d like to explore the history of the creation of the “causus belli” for most U.S. wars (false flags, propaganda, deceptions) and tie 9/11 into that history.
COLOMBIA: UNDERGROUND RICHES AND U.S. MILITARIZATION: JOHN LINDSAY-POLAND, TOM WHITNEY, AND AVI CHOMSKY [VERMONT ROOM] John states that all over the world the United States’s nearly 1,000 military bases that have been established to extend military power have been met by local resistance, usually creative and non-violent. He’d like to address this question: “Who are these grassroots movements, and how can we best support them?” Tom adds: “This workshop will explore the U.S. use of dirty war, intelligence, and aircraft capabilities to engage in regime change operations and the protection of U.S. corporations. The discussion will center on Colombia with observations on humanitarian and human rights crises there and on U.S. support for the Colombian national army and paramilitaries.”
ANOTHER AGENT ORANGE? OR WHY WE NEED TO TEST OUR VETERANS FOR D.U. EXPOSURE: RICHARD GILCHRIST AND AL HOLTS [OXFORD ROOM] Richard and Al will briefly review issues around depleted uranium and discuss a method that could be used to persuade veterans to be tested for DU exposure. They emphasize the importance of establishing a data set that may link DU exposure and possible health risks. Finally, they believe that the VA must be required to use the best tests available for the evaluation of DU exposure.
FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER: DENNIS LANE, PAT SCANLON, AND HILDE LIPSON [LINCOLN ROOM] Dennis and Pat will concentrate on discussing the use of fundraising techniques for VFP chapter development. Hilde will discuss her strategies as a fundraiser, especially her work with workplace funding techniques. Chapter One in Maine receives the bulk of its income from MaineShare, Hilde’s organization.
U.S. MILITARISM IN THE ASIA PACIFIC: A DISCUSSION ON UNENDING WAR WITH A FOCUS ON KOREA: PETER BRONSON, WOODY POWELL, TOM STURTEVANT, BRUCE GAGNON, GEORGE MCANAMAS, AND VIRGINIA RODINO [SOMERSET ROOM] In observing the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, this workshop will reflect on the continuing tragedy and costs of this lingering war. The presenters believe that it is urgent now to replace the Korean War cease-fire agreement with a peace treaty. After showing a short video about the Korean War, members of VFP-Korea Peace campaign will lead a roundtable discussion about the hidden history of the war, obstacles to ending the war, and what we can do to end it. Participants are encouraged to bring any pictures, art work, or mementoes of the war to share in the workshop.
THE POLITICS OF TERROR: DOUGLAS VALENTINE [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] Doug will explain the role of language – of information management – in the covert operations that are used to provoke, perpetuate, and rationalize the war on terror and the war on drugs.
VETERANS’ ATTITUDE CHANGES AND PEACE IN A MILITARIZED SOCIETY: TWO PERSPECTIVES: JULIE HART AND GEORGE APPENZELLER [MASSACHUSETTS ROOM] Julie’s study involves in-depth interviews with 100 U.S. veterans from all branches of the military from WWII to the present war in Iraq. The veterans were contacted primarily through the Veterans for Peace and Veterans Against the War websites. Interviews focused on understanding the attitude change about the appropriate use of war, family background, and current activism. All veterans began with a “realistic” militaristic perspective on war and currently are either strict Just War Theorists or some degree of pacifist. The study identifies both support for and resistance to attitude change and the important role of VFP in this process.
George believes that since the U.S. is a militarized society, most people believe themselves to be dependent on the military for their physical, financial, social and cultural security. When someone talks about abolishing war, they believe that their security may be threatened, and they stop listening to the message. George will describe ways of approaching different groups of people to allay their fears about security, which will in turn open them up to the message of VFP.
9/11 TRUTH AS A PATH TO PEACE: ALFONS OLSZEWSKI AND RICHARD CATE [KENNEBEC ROOM] Alfons’s and Richard’s basic aim is to provide the best information available on the events of 9/11/200. Richard states: “Imagine if we are able to break through the corporate media’s silence on 9/11, and tens of millions realize the government’s role in 9/11 events. Maybe, just maybe, we could throw a monkey wrench in this perpetual war machine, and to begin to put our national priorities in focus.” Alfons adds that he’d like to explore the history of the creation of the “causus belli” for most U.S. wars (false flags, propaganda, deceptions) and tie 9/11 into that history.
COLOMBIA: UNDERGROUND RICHES AND U.S. MILITARIZATION: JOHN LINDSAY-POLAND, TOM WHITNEY, AND AVI CHOMSKY [VERMONT ROOM] John states that all over the world the United States’s nearly 1,000 military bases that have been established to extend military power have been met by local resistance, usually creative and non-violent. He’d like to address this question: “Who are these grassroots movements, and how can we best support them?” Tom adds: “This workshop will explore the U.S. use of dirty war, intelligence, and aircraft capabilities to engage in regime change operations and the protection of U.S. corporations. The discussion will center on Colombia with observations on humanitarian and human rights crises there and on U.S. support for the Colombian national army and paramilitaries.”
ANOTHER AGENT ORANGE? OR WHY WE NEED TO TEST OUR VETERANS FOR D.U. EXPOSURE: RICHARD GILCHRIST AND AL HOLTS [OXFORD ROOM] Richard and Al will briefly review issues around depleted uranium and discuss a method that could be used to persuade veterans to be tested for DU exposure. They emphasize the importance of establishing a data set that may link DU exposure and possible health risks. Finally, they believe that the VA must be required to use the best tests available for the evaluation of DU exposure.
FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER: DENNIS LANE, PAT SCANLON, AND HILDE LIPSON [LINCOLN ROOM] Dennis and Pat will concentrate on discussing the use of fundraising techniques for VFP chapter development. Hilde will discuss her strategies as a fundraiser, especially her work with workplace funding techniques. Chapter One in Maine receives the bulk of its income from MaineShare, Hilde’s organization.
U.S. MILITARISM IN THE ASIA PACIFIC: A DISCUSSION ON UNENDING WAR WITH A FOCUS ON KOREA: PETER BRONSON, WOODY POWELL, TOM STURTEVANT, BRUCE GAGNON, GEORGE MCANAMAS, AND VIRGINIA RODINO [SOMERSET ROOM] In observing the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, this workshop will reflect on the continuing tragedy and costs of this lingering war. The presenters believe that it is urgent now to replace the Korean War cease-fire agreement with a peace treaty. After showing a short video about the Korean War, members of VFP-Korea Peace campaign will lead a roundtable discussion about the hidden history of the war, obstacles to ending the war, and what we can do to end it. Participants are encouraged to bring any pictures, art work, or mementoes of the war to share in the workshop.
THE POLITICS OF TERROR: DOUGLAS VALENTINE [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] Doug will explain the role of language – of information management – in the covert operations that are used to provoke, perpetuate, and rationalize the war on terror and the war on drugs.
FRIDAY AT 1:15PM
HIKING FOR PEACE: AN APPALACHIAN TRAIL FUNDRAISER PROJECT: TIM KEENAN [CUMBERLAND ROOM] As president of VFP Chapter 50, Tim would like to present his own experience hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. He hiked to silence the demons and his own uneasiness of being in the woods (he was a former infantryman with the 4th Division, 67/68), and as a fundraiser for an ongoing scholarship fund to a high school student who will dedicate him/herself to world peace. Tim will show slides and tell stories of the trail from Georgia to Maine.
CHAPTER BUILDING: PATRICK MCCANN AND KEN MAYERS [KENNEBEC ROOM] This workshop breaks chapters down into small, medium, and large. People’s experiences will be discussed, including their successes and the obstacles they encountered. Then participants will chart their way forward.
EXPERIENTIAL PRESENTATIONS OF NON-INVASIVE PTSD TREATMENTS: ROB PFEIFFER, JULIANNE PFEIFFER, JANET OLESON, WILLOW HALL, CONNIE EVANS, PAUL MORRISON, AND KEITH COOK [LINCOLN ROOM] Rob and his colleagues will present data on the efficiency of treatment using BFT, EMDR, group participation, individual counseling, acupuncture, massage, and a variety of other energy work type treatments that have been used in the VETS HELPING VETS program since last June. A data segment taken from veterans’ questionnaires will be used. Saturday morning will feature hands- on sessions with some of these presenters.
MAP: THE MOVEMENT ACTION PLAN: ELLIOTT ADAMS AND JANET CHISHOLM [OXFORD ROOM] Elliott and Janet will discuss what is and isn’t effective for ending militarism, using a participatory workshop format based on the work of activist Bill Moyer. Participants will be encouraged to use techniques for engaging opponents, entering a conflict, and using direct action and public witness to nonviolently bring about social change.
WE ARE NOT YOUR SOLDIERS: TAKING AFGHAN AND IRAQ ANTI-WAR VETERANS INTO SCHOOLS: ELAINE BROWER AND JOE URGO [SOMERSET ROOM] Elaine Brower and Joe Urgo will discuss “World Can’t Wait,” which has been sponsoring Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to go into high school classes and meet with students, educating them about the real reasons for wars of empire. They will discuss what recruiters are really doing and how to create a “military free zone” in neighborhoods and schools. Presenters will provide information about this tour, as well as material about student involvement, more veteran involvement in anti-recruiter work, etc.
AGENT ORANGE: THE ENDGAME: PAUL COX, GEOFF MILLARD, SUSAN SCHNALL, AND MICHAEL UHL [VERMONT ROOM] This April, six VFP members traveled to Vietnam to learn first-hand about the legacy of Agent Orange. They traveled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and from Da Nang on the coast to A Shau on the Laotian border visiting Agent Orange victims in hospitals and clinics, and many isolated families whose health has been destroyed by dioxin. They also visited some of the hotspots where the dioxin contamination is the worst. They will present their findings. This issue is moving towards a resolution in Congress-The Endgame. They will also discuss the coming legislation intended to clean up the pollution, strengthen the Vietnamese health system's ability to deal with those affected by AO, and provide assistance to the children of US Veterans. The work of Veterans for Peace chapters will be a critical element in the success of the legislation-a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to heal the most deadly remaining legacy of the Vietnam war.
PENETRATING THE FOG OF MEDIA – GENERATING THE NEWS COVERAGE YOU WANT: SKILLS AND TRICKS OF THE TRADE: EDUARDO COHEN [MASSACHUSETTS ROOM] Eduardo’s workshop is designed to help VFP chapters and peace organizations generate more and better mainstream news coverage. Topics discussed in his workshops typically include strategies and techniques for successful media relations and campaigns: effectively framing issues; positioning organizations; developing effective media strategies; crafting messages and choosing messengers and media channels to target specific audiences; designing successful media events and creating self-contained photo ops; writing effective press releases and press releases for radio; approaching reporters; influencing editorial policy; anticipating and minimizing negative press response; common mistakes made by peace organizations and progressive non-profits; important tricks of the trade; rapid response and surfing the big waves.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: REVIVING A RUGGED, SHOVEL-READY PEACE ARMY: JAY ALEXANDER [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] Jay will present an information session on his passion – reviving the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He has been advocating for the reactivation of the program since 1990.
CHAPTER BUILDING: PATRICK MCCANN AND KEN MAYERS [KENNEBEC ROOM] This workshop breaks chapters down into small, medium, and large. People’s experiences will be discussed, including their successes and the obstacles they encountered. Then participants will chart their way forward.
EXPERIENTIAL PRESENTATIONS OF NON-INVASIVE PTSD TREATMENTS: ROB PFEIFFER, JULIANNE PFEIFFER, JANET OLESON, WILLOW HALL, CONNIE EVANS, PAUL MORRISON, AND KEITH COOK [LINCOLN ROOM] Rob and his colleagues will present data on the efficiency of treatment using BFT, EMDR, group participation, individual counseling, acupuncture, massage, and a variety of other energy work type treatments that have been used in the VETS HELPING VETS program since last June. A data segment taken from veterans’ questionnaires will be used. Saturday morning will feature hands- on sessions with some of these presenters.
MAP: THE MOVEMENT ACTION PLAN: ELLIOTT ADAMS AND JANET CHISHOLM [OXFORD ROOM] Elliott and Janet will discuss what is and isn’t effective for ending militarism, using a participatory workshop format based on the work of activist Bill Moyer. Participants will be encouraged to use techniques for engaging opponents, entering a conflict, and using direct action and public witness to nonviolently bring about social change.
WE ARE NOT YOUR SOLDIERS: TAKING AFGHAN AND IRAQ ANTI-WAR VETERANS INTO SCHOOLS: ELAINE BROWER AND JOE URGO [SOMERSET ROOM] Elaine Brower and Joe Urgo will discuss “World Can’t Wait,” which has been sponsoring Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to go into high school classes and meet with students, educating them about the real reasons for wars of empire. They will discuss what recruiters are really doing and how to create a “military free zone” in neighborhoods and schools. Presenters will provide information about this tour, as well as material about student involvement, more veteran involvement in anti-recruiter work, etc.
AGENT ORANGE: THE ENDGAME: PAUL COX, GEOFF MILLARD, SUSAN SCHNALL, AND MICHAEL UHL [VERMONT ROOM] This April, six VFP members traveled to Vietnam to learn first-hand about the legacy of Agent Orange. They traveled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and from Da Nang on the coast to A Shau on the Laotian border visiting Agent Orange victims in hospitals and clinics, and many isolated families whose health has been destroyed by dioxin. They also visited some of the hotspots where the dioxin contamination is the worst. They will present their findings. This issue is moving towards a resolution in Congress-The Endgame. They will also discuss the coming legislation intended to clean up the pollution, strengthen the Vietnamese health system's ability to deal with those affected by AO, and provide assistance to the children of US Veterans. The work of Veterans for Peace chapters will be a critical element in the success of the legislation-a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to heal the most deadly remaining legacy of the Vietnam war.
PENETRATING THE FOG OF MEDIA – GENERATING THE NEWS COVERAGE YOU WANT: SKILLS AND TRICKS OF THE TRADE: EDUARDO COHEN [MASSACHUSETTS ROOM] Eduardo’s workshop is designed to help VFP chapters and peace organizations generate more and better mainstream news coverage. Topics discussed in his workshops typically include strategies and techniques for successful media relations and campaigns: effectively framing issues; positioning organizations; developing effective media strategies; crafting messages and choosing messengers and media channels to target specific audiences; designing successful media events and creating self-contained photo ops; writing effective press releases and press releases for radio; approaching reporters; influencing editorial policy; anticipating and minimizing negative press response; common mistakes made by peace organizations and progressive non-profits; important tricks of the trade; rapid response and surfing the big waves.
BACK TO THE FUTURE: REVIVING A RUGGED, SHOVEL-READY PEACE ARMY: JAY ALEXANDER [TABLING DISCUSSION AREA] Jay will present an information session on his passion – reviving the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He has been advocating for the reactivation of the program since 1990.
FRIDAY AT 10:15 PM
SPEAKER BUREAU AUDITIONS FOR VETERANS FOR PEACE: WILLIAM COLLINS [OXFORD ROOM] Auditioning and reviewing prospective members of VFP’s Speakers Bureau. Prospective speakers will give a five minute presentation before the Speakers’ Bureau Committee to be critiqued at a later date.
