February 2004 Meeting
        Fell Room of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal, IL
        February 1, 2004

    Minutes for Feb. 1 BNCPJ Meeting

        Introductions around the room.
        
        (1) ANNOUNCEMENTS
            (a) The web site www.pabn.org has a community calendar of events and a lot of information about BNCPJ and other progressive groups.  Members were encouraged to use the calendar to advertise events.
            (b) Status of plan to show MoveOn.org's "Uncovered" on local cable networks
                - It was discovered that the rights to broadcast MoveOn.org's "Uncovered" are not easily and cheaply obtainable.  A brief discussion followed on whether BNCPJ should show it again. It will be shown by the ISU Cinema Society on 02/10 as part of Student Peace Action Network's Raging Hope events the week of 02/09 - 02/13.  Flyers outlining the week's events 
        were distributed.
            (c) Carolyn Treadway encouraged attendance at an exploratory meeting being held at 7 p.m. on 02/03 at the Normal Public Library on hosting The Joanna Macy Great Turning Roadshow.  Carolyn briefly outlined Joanna Macy's work and what the Great Turning Roadshow hoped to accomplish.  Carolyn also reemphacized the importance of the Nuclear Reality Conference which will be held at ISU on 02/21-22 and urged members to register at nukereality.org.  Registration fee is $20.
            (d) Bob Broad announced that "Los Vivos" will be playing at the Illinois Brewing Company on 02/07 at 9:00 p.m.
        
        (2) Report from Future Search Committee (See report below on their 02/28 meeting). Maria Schmeeckle briefly outlined the content and goals of the Future Search weekend and asked the group for assistance on contacts, meeting place ideas and donations.  Jessica Montgomerie read a draft of the invitation letter and solicited ideas for final shaping.  Members contributed ideas for contacts (NION ad list, etc.) and some additional places to inquire for a location. 
        
        (3) Discussed Suggestions for Action 
            (a) March 19 or 20 Rally or Demo (Anniversary of U.S. invasion of Iraq) -- national demonstrations scheduled for 03/20.
            (b) Organized Letter Writing to Pantagraph 
            (c) Door-to-Door canvassing: Get Out the Vote
            A planning group consisting of Rebecca Zimmerman, Liz Burton and John Wilson will bring plans for the group's approval to the 03/07 meeting.
        
        (4) Video Presentation of "Independent Media In A Time Of War." 
        This 30 minute video is a hard-hitting new documentary by the Hudson Mohawk Independent Media Center. This film is composed of a speech given by Amy Goodman, host of the Democracy Now! Internet news show, and is illustrated by clips of mainstream media juxtaposed with rare footage from independent reporters in Iraq. The documentary argues that dialogue is vital to a healthy 
        democracy. "Independent media has a crucial responsibility to go to where the silence is," says Amy Goodman, "to represent the diverse voices of people engaged in dissent."