Meeting Summary- February 8th

Today's meeting started out with a few words from Ben on the current situation in Darfur.  We all agree that Africa seems to be spiraling out of control into a cycle of tribal conflicts and civil wars, based on the fighting that is now breaking out in Kenya, which is historically one of Africa's most stable countries, and in Chad, Darfur's neighbor that is getting "too involved" in the current Darfur crisis, according to the Sudanese government.  The fact that there is fighting in both Kenya and Chad is making it very difficult to get relief supplies to the people in Darfur, as these countries were both commonly used to channel supplies through.  Additionally, the fighting could turn into a full-scale crisis, such as the one in Darfur, creating the need for even more supplies and further pressuring the UN to more assertively deploy peacekeeping forces.

The articles Ben referenced can be found at these links: "Darfur Force May Take All Year", "'Janjaweed Leader' is Sudan Aide", and "Fighting Resumes in Chad's Capital".  

Before breaking into committees, we also discussed recent developments by the various groups in the past week.  

First, Mrs. Donohue read us excerpts of a letter from Senator Hillary Clinton in response to a letter written by one of the students in the Holocaust/Genocide Class.  Senator Clinton described the steps she's taken in getting our government to pressure the Sudanese government into allowing UN Peacekeeping forces in.

The Battle of the Bands Committee has found a possible venue that would only want a small percentage of the ticket money, but Mrs. Donohue was concerned about the liability of holding an off-campus event.  She is looking into other options this week.

Marissa has been searching for postcards to use at the "Sand and Sorrow" showing for PIG hours.  Mrs. Donohue has reviewed the websites that Marissa provided, and most of the postcards seem a little too expensive.  If anyone can find any postcards that have pre-written messages about Darfur and can be sent to senators and government officials, but are free or extremely cheap, please contact Mrs. Donohue or someone in the Darfur Action Committee with information on where and how to get these cards.

After this, we broke into committees and everyone worked out details for planning our various events this year. So far, we are planning on a "Doors for Darfur" fundraiser, a Dine-Around to raise money for solar cookers, our "Sand and Sorrow" PIG activity, a Scavenger hunt, and a Battle of the Bands if we can work the details out.  Our Public Relations Committee is considering having a bake sale or another pizza sale to raise awareness and funds.  If anyone has any other suggestions that they are willing to help plan for, ideas can be posted on this blog or brought up at our next meeting on Friday, February 15th.

All in all, even though many people were not able to make it to this past meeting, it was very productive.  I am excited to see the results of all of these ideas once put into action. Keep up the good work everyone!

-Ginny

Meeting Recap - February 1st

We are back in action and plan to meet regularly - every Friday foreseeing other issues! Here's what we discussed today:

- We recapped the last meeting (did the bulletin board, did the paperwork for the donation to HelpDarfurNow, etc.)

- We discussed moving forward with the Sand And Sorrow movie showing after school for P.I.G. credit. We would have a pizza sale that day as well. People are looking into getting postcards to representatives that students could fill out after watching the movie.

- We brainstormed a list of fundraising/educational ideas that we could focus on. We generated a nice list and then decided to form committees. The committees are as follows: Public Relations (they will also organize a bake sale), Dine Around (with money going toward the purchase of solar cookers), Scavenger Hunt (similar to how students pay to participate in the Dodgeball Tournament), Battle of the Bands (held at 3MB rather than the auditorium, Darfur Doors (decorating classroom doors to raise awareness), Penny campaign (400,000 pennies/water jugs).

- We also discussed starting each meeting with an update on the situation in Darfur to better educate ourselves. Ben has volunteered to do the first one next Friday. Thanks, Ben!

- Lastly, we are getting rid of the leftover candy from the Comedy Hypnosis event. Many members took bags of candy (10 pieces each) and will sell each piece for $1.00 and come with the profits next Friday.

Great meeting and I am looking forward to next week for when the committees meet and start making things happen!!!!

January 18th Meeting Is Cancelled

I apologize, but this Friday's meeting, January 18th, cannot happen. I have another committment that I must fulfill. Sorry!!!! We WILL meet on Friday, February 1st.

Last week was very productive - we did the bulletin board in the F-Tower, did the paperwork to make the donation to Help Darfur Now, wrote a letter to accompany the check, wrote an update to Mrs. Elias, and hung up a lot of flyers. Nice work everyone!

Meeting Summary - December 14th

Darfur Action Committee Meeting Agenda
December 14, 2007

- We decided that I would update the blog with meeting summaries but perhaps in the future, other people may be able to do this as well.
- We received a very generous donation from Mrs. Judy Elias - $440.85
- Thank you letter for Mrs. Elias was written by Debbie which we all need to sign and the picture that we will give to her of our club together will be in Room F203 on Tuesday right after school. Please wear green.
- Paperwork is in the process of being made out for our $1000 donation to HelpDarfurNow.org
- Press clippings from the Smithtown News about the Darfur Rally were discussed.
- Update on the "Darfur Now" movie showing and discussion with the Darfur People's Association of New York
- Movie Showing of "Sand and Sorrow" along with a Pizza Sale simultaneously was talked about along with a possible date in either January or February. The movie showing being a PIG hour for the seniors was also mentioned.
- Our Bulletin Board is a lot smaller now but we may have to use it anyway.
- No meeting next week on Friday.
- Flyers need to be put up right after break to promote the club because new members are always welcome.
- AJC Solar Cooker Campaign, A Donation of $30 to buy one solar cooker, for more information go to www.ajc.org. We may do a donation in the future where we buy a certain amount of these solar cookers so we know that we are helping specific people in the refugee camps.
- Postcards "Protect Darfur Now"
- The Doors for Darfur Idea was also mentioned and should be discussed further.
- Bracelets from the Save Darfur Coalition.
- Instant Messaging Donations were also brought up.

Great meeting guys. A lot of good ideas were passed around.

Meeting Summary - December 7th

Another great turnout this past Friday - you are a dedicated committee and it is so nice to see! Here's what we discussed:

- Brainstormed a list of organizations to donate the money that was raised from the Comedy Hypnosis show. Many contributed ideas and the ultimate decision was to donate $1000 to HelpDarfurNow.org. We liked that their overhead costs were low. From their website:

Help Darfur Now, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed by New Jersey high school students, committed to providing much-needed financial aid to refugees and refugee camps. The charity is an all volunteer organization with no payroll expenses. Approximately 98% of all proceeds contributed to the organization go toward Darfur relief efforts.

- Reminder about the upcoming showing of "Darfur Now" at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington on Tuesday night, Dec. 11th. Show starts at 7:30pm. Members of the Darfur People's Association of NY will be there speaking as well.

- Ben informed us that showing on HBO is a documentary called "Sand and Sorrow."

- Future activity ideas:
- movie showing after school coinciding with a pizza sale
- Car wash in the spring
- Pop-tops being looked into for legitimacy
- Tents of Hope

- We need to re-do the bulletin board.

"Sand and Sorrow" Documentary on HBO West

Sorry for this late night post but for anyone who's interested, Paul Freedman's documentary about the genocide in Darfur which is narrated by George Clooney is on HBO West (Channel 306) right now and should be replayed many times on the HBO and HBO West channels throughout the next few weeks.

"The documentary, which is set to premiere on the premium cable channel in December, chronicles the historical events that led to the rise of Darfur's Arab-dominated government that allows its people to be killed and displaced, provides an inside look at the situation on the ground and examines the international community's "legacy of failure" to respond to such profound crimes against humanity in the past."

Meeting Agenda Summary - November 29th

Debriefed Comedy Hypnosis Event:
- Raised $1300
- We need to decide where the money is going. We discussed some organizations and asked people to do some research and thinking and be prepared to dialogue at next week's meeting.
- An article appeared in the Smithtown News about the event
- Keep in mind that at the events that we plan, you must be willing to work and possibly forfeit being a participant

Preparation for Darfur Rally:
- Update on speakers - Senator Flanagan is speaking, as is Mr. Menendez and Harrini and Daniella
- Harrini and Daniella gave a run through of their speech and it floored us. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
- We have items for a table - trifold board, display for our committee, water jug for donations, flyers, and pamphlets. Ally graciously agreed to take all of this to the rally.

Darfur Now at Cinema Arts Centre:
- Tuesday, December 11th at 7:30 pm at the Cinema Arts Centre in huntington (www.cinemaartscentre.org)
- People from the Darfur People's Association of New York will be there.

Next Friday, December 7th, we have a meeting. We will discuss new campaign ideas.