Present: Pam Allee (OR), Susan Balzer (KS), Ruth Benn
(NY), Rick Bickhart (VA), Joan Broadfield (PA), Ruth Clark (NC), Ronnie
Fellerath (NY), Peter Goldberger (PA), Clark Hanjian (MA), Tana Hastings
(OR), Brad Lyttle (IL), Susan Quinlan (CA), Bill Ramsey (MO), Robert
Randall (GA), Lincoln Rice (WI), Vicki Rovere (NY), Susan Silver (PA),
Peter Smith (IN), Carolyn Stevens (WA), Joffre Stewart (IL), Susan Van
Haitsma (TX), David Waters (AL), Betty Winkler (NY), Daniel Woodham
(NC)
1. Administrative Committee (AC) Members
Esther Freeman (CA) and Lincoln Rice (WI) complete their terms on the
Administrative Committee with the May meeting. Daniel Woodham (NC) and
Susan Balzer (KS) stay on as full members and Alice Lui (CA) moves into
a full position. Diana Desnoyers (CT) was selected as an alternate last
May but has had to resign.
Nominations are open for 3 new members for the AC, 1 new full member,
2 as alternates, to be selected at the May meeting. Nominations deadline
is March 15, 2006, and the process will be announced in the December
newsletter. Jerome Witschger (NM/AZ) and Oliver Water (AL) were nominated.
New members will be selected at May meeting and begin serving in November
'06.
2. International Conference Rep
NWTRCC needs to send a representative to the international conference
in Germany next October. A delegate will be selected at May meeting;
registration, room and board, and travel are paid up to $1,000. Daniel
nominated Lincoln, and others may throw their hat into the ring (self-nomination
is fine!). Send a short write up describing your interest in going and
anything else you think relevant. Representatives are expected to take
a NWTRCC report to the conference, might participate in a workshop or
panel, and write a report for the newsletter and the following CC meeting.
Deadline is April 7, 2006.
3. NWTRCC Handbook
Clark Hanjian drafted a NWTRCC Handbook, a compilation of standing decisions
and policies in one convenient format. Clark has gone through minutes
to compile this and is asking for feedback. Do we want to keep it as
an informal summary or make it a formal policy document? Clark is willing
to update it for the foreseeable future. Ruth suggested that at the
end of each CC meeting the CC list or flag decisions that should be
added. Susan Q. suggested that it be posted on the web. Tana said that
a review before members would refresh our institutional memory and make
meetings more efficient. We agreed to review it between now and the
next meeting. Send Clark comments by email to: pax444@verizon.net
or by mail to PO Box 4594, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. After that, Peter
Smith offered to post it on the website. (If you would like to review
the handbook, please contact the office for a copy.)
4. Consultant's Report ()
Ruth reminded us that the job is part-time, 25-hour/week, and that the
workflow is irregular: some weeks are full-time, others less, and it
evens out over the year. She keeps a time tally.
Peter Smith asked if the fundraising clerk position needs to be reevaluated
this meeting. We forgot and will put it on the agenda for the next meeting,
and the AC will prepare for the review. For various (mostly personal)
reasons the work with current clerk Jim Stockwell hasn't really taken
off.
5. Strategy Conference Follow-Up
The expectation was not to make decisions today to implement conference
ideas, but rather to bring them forward in May. Can/should be fast-track
some ideas today? What is some preliminary work that we can get started
on?
We had in front of us the list of 6 ideas or categories of ideas that
were narrowed down at the last conference session (see also www.nwtrcc.org/strategylists.htm,
for a more full list of ideas from which these were prioritized). There
was some confusion and discussion about what our process/purpose is
and what can be done today, then we launched into the list point by
point.
A. Video
We agreed that we are looking for an introductory and how-to film on
wtr because our last video dates back to the 1980s. We might want two
pieces, one longer for discussion, one shorter for use on the website.
It will include youth, but should appeal to all kinds of folks. We're
calling it a video, but it would probably be a DVD since they're easy
to reproduce. Bill pointed out that it might not be cost effective to
mix the longer documentary with the shorter promotional film. Others
could get funding for an oral history documentary, while probably a
promotional/how-to is something we would have to raise funds for ourselves.
We had a professional team conducting taped interviews with as many
people for whom there was time at this conference on Saturday; that
tape has to be transferred to standard video. Steev has lots of footage
from previous wtr events/actions and also from this conference. Suggestion
that we put up video from the conference on our website soon. Susan
suggested that production of the web video could be done by young adults.
Robert suggested a production committee to start on the details because
a project of this scale can't go forward without such a working group.
Clark suggested that the working group create a specific outline and
budget.
Proposal: Create an introductory why and how-to DVD, parts of
it will be put on the web. Set up a working group to get it going. APPROVED.
Volunteers: Steev Hise, Bill Ramsey will ask his daughter who
has an interest in this area. Ask folks who came to the tech working
group yesterday (Mel, Peter S, Sherrill, Alice, Ruth, RJ, others?).
Susan Quinlan will convene this group.
B. Survey/One year boycott (see below for original
proposal)
A few comments from presentation during conference: For now the survey
is the primary aspect of this proposal; can be an organizing tool to
get us out where we need to be and raise awareness of WTR in the peace
movement. A pilot is probably necessary. Will need to compose a good
survey to focus on obstacles to WTR and economic power of peace movement.
Then we need an infrastructure to support the 1-year boycott, i.e.,
literature and resources. The survey will influence what the one-year
boycott looks like.
Bill suggests that a working group is needed to develop the survey,
research procedures, developing questions, running a pilot, and deciding
on target audiences. Ronnie presented some of the professional hurdles
and issues. She imagines a draft with four rewrites, and perhaps the
pilot could be done by May if the writing goes fast. The work could
probably be done by listserve.
Proposal: CC establish a working group to prepare a survey to
present to the May meeting as a proposal for a nationwide survey re:
understanding obstacles to WTR. Tasks for the working group would be
to draft, edit, and run a pilot survey by May. Objectives, questions,
readers, understanding the target audience and running a pilot are all
crucial elements. Youth will be an important demographic of who would
be reaching out to. APPROVED.
Volunteers (or suggested): Bill Ramsey, Eszter Freeman, Mary
Loehr, Betty Winkler, Ann Huntwork, Bob Bady, Ronnie, Ed Hedemann, Susan
Silver. Bill will convene.
C. Youth Outreach/Campaigns
A few specific priorities came out of the weekend's discussions under
youth outreach: Emphasis on Web-based; new W-4 piece targeted at young
adults; new cell piece/updated info; enhance links with Counter-recruitment
work; Redirection Campaigns that connect to causes of special interest
to young people.
Do we need a youth task force, or just a youth focus in all our work?
Discussion re: does a youth task force mean bringing in new youth or
working with youth already within our local groups/network? Probably
the latter is better (otherwise we're asking new folks to come into
NWTRCC and help us). Is this a youth review committee or something more?
We might be able to establish be a review group without too much trouble.
Our focus is young adults rather than teens; some teens will be involved,
but mostly folks in the 20's-early 30's. It may start as a review committee,
but we want to the group to feel empowered, not just translate our work
into youth-eese.
Proposal: Establish a youth review committee (from within our
networks) to look at web based, W-4 lit, phone tax/cell phone, discussion
board, links w/counter recruitment, redirection. APPROVED.
Volunteers: Lincoln and Ruth will see that this gets set up,
and others will help or be asked to help with specific areas:
* Emphasis on Web-based
* W-4 info: ask Oliver
* Cell phone info: ask Randy; Peter S and Steev (and Tom Good, NYC)
re: Hang Up On War discussion board
* Link with Counter-recruitment work: Carolyn, Susan Q, Peter S and
ask Steev
* Redirection Campaigns: Carolyn, Susan Q, Rick B, ask Randy
D. Outreach to Intentional Communities
Intentional communities are often a good fit with WTR. We should enhance
our outreach to natural allies. (Comment from conference report back:
Add a list of intentional communities that support WTR to the website.)
Keep in mind Food Not Bombs and Catholic Worker. We will ask Bob Bady
to give us more information about the discussion that brought this forward.
Others who might work on this are Karl Meyer and Juanita Nelson.
E. Military Spending Graphic Visuals
NWTRCC has long used the WRL pie chart but we could also link any good
representations about this on our website. FCNL has a good bar graph.
NWTRCC should point to all sources in this area.
F. Field Secretary (Traveling Speakers)
There was no specific proposal on this and but the idea is to get people
out and about speaking on wtr. Kathy Kelly for Voices in the Wilderness
and Roy Bourgeiose for School of the Americas Watch are two examples
of great success at spreading the word about their work through regular
speaking tours and also raised money for their groups this way. But
can we create audiences? We have had regional representatives in the
past to do this. The CC is open to proposals on this; would require
a written proposal with budget.
6. Next meeting
May 5, 6, 7 in Seattle, hosted by the Nonviolent Action Community of
Cascadia. Anyone want to offer for Nov. 2006? Southwest would be preferred
location. New England could work too.
7. NWTRCC Objectives for Dec 1, 2005 - Nov 30, 2006
We reviewed the progress on the past year's objections. The Peace Tax
Form will be done again this year, coming out in December with only
small changes from last year. It was noted that youth work was a focus
last time, and now we're adding passion and specifics, so it's getting
going.
The proposed objectives were adjusted to take account for the items
that came up at the conference and were passed at this meeting or simple
enough to carry out without further discussion/decision-making.
APPROVED - Objectives are below.
8. Budget for fiscal year Dec 1, 2005 - Nov 30, 2006
The group looked over this year's report and the new budget proposal.
This year has gone fairly well. At present there is no Cost of Living
Adjustment built in for the coordinator's compensation, which hasn't
been raised in several years.
Proposal: Add $630 to Coordinator's base amount leaving a net income
of zero (a wash). Amendment to instruct AdCom to confer with Ruth re:
her needs and remuneration during the review process. Budget APPROVED.
Final budget is at: www.nwtrcc.org/05-06budget.pdf
It was pointed out that we have adopted a number of programmatic items
that will cost money, but are basically approving the usual administrative
budget. We can revise the budget at the May meeting as necessary. Working
groups should be exploring fundraising.
Great meeting!! Thanks to Carolyn Stevens for taking minutes!
Next meeting: May 5-7, 2006, Seattle, hosted by the Nonviolent Action
Community of Cascadia.
OBJECTIVES
FY 05/06
Approved by Coordinating Committee October 9, 2005
Implemented by Coordinator(s) unless otherwise specified.
1. OUTREACH
a) Send out NWTRCC ads and announcements to alternative media for free
publication - especially PSA's for radio.
b) Continue outreach to other groups that have a similarity or affinity.
c) Build on ideas from young adult panel at conference and with the
young adult review committee.
d) Use the survey to extend our outreach (will be ready in May).
2. MEETINGS
a) Organize two Coordinating Committee meetings in May '05 in Seattle
and fall '06.
b) Arrange for a NWTRCC representative to go to at least three other
group's national meeting: UFPJ, SOAW (Nov), CPT, Voices, Pax Christi,
FOR, Brethren, Mennonites, Sustain. Go to 1 student conference (SEAC,
Network Opposed to the Militarization of Youth).
c) Send a representative to the international conference in Germany
in October
d) Schedule and prepare for biannual review of coordinator & review
of Fundraising Clerk position. (Ad-Com)
3. NEWSLETTER
a) Publish six issues of newsletter More Than a Paycheck.
b) Send bulk copies of newsletter to active local groups on request.
c) Include a camera ready ad in December & Feb issues. (Rick Bickhart
to design). Make it available electronically on web (Peter Smith). Likewise
with PSA's.
4. NETWORK
a) Update the Network list in the early fall; add 12 new contacts this
year.
b) Respond to requests for basic WTR information and connect with local
contacts.
c) Do a survey of Alternative Funds after Tax Day & write an article
about them (Volunteer).
d) Recruit new area contacts, especially for states currently not covered,
or for areas sparsely covered (Coordinator to do with the help of Ad
Com).
e) Encourage new or existing groups working on WTR to affiliate with
NWTRCC. Try RCNV Santa Cruz.
f) Get out information on strategy conference and follow-up.
5. LITERATURE
a) Fill literature orders.
b) Update or discontinue old literature stock as needed.
c) Work with Mary to get Aging Practical done this year.
d) Write briefs on legal issues that arise. Update information through
articles or standardized reports on these topics. (Issues: student loans,
financial aid, citizenship)
e) Develop other topics of interest to young adults, in particular more
info on W-4 & cell phone resistance. (Use Youth review committee; seek
interns.)
f) Produce revised Peace Tax Form for 2006 tax season.
g) update practical on low income - ask David Gross
h) Develop a young adult review committee (Lincoln and Ruth to move
along)
i) Set up committee to create a new how to/basic wtr video/DVD
6. MEDIA
a) Gather information on the Tax Day plans of local groups and send
to everyone on the NWTRCC network list for local press work.
b) Produce a national press release for Tax Day and distribute to media
(especially those who have responded in the past).
c) Do additional media work related to one current event.
d) Encourage wtr's to post articles on IndyMedia website.
7. WEB
a) Regularly post the newsletter and NWTRCC resources on the Web (Peter
S & Ed H). Add video clips. Link to web blogs related to wtr (add disclaimer
as needed).
b) Maintain list serve (Robert Randall).
c) Post practicals as updated and ready (Susan Quinlan & Peter Smith)
d) Update Hang Up On War website with discussion board & other ideas
from conference.
8. COUNSELING AND LEGAL INFORMATION
a) Provide WTR counseling on request.
b) Review and disseminate change in laws and regulations pertinent to
WTR thru newsletter & emails to counselor list.
c) Offer new-counselor training once a year and/or a training for trainers.
d) Work with legal point person. Keep up list of lawyers and accountants.
(Volunteers).
e) Talk with CPA volunteer about outreach to other accountants.
f) Create a counselor training packet, encourage experienced counselors
to train new counselors. Make use of tapes from 10/05 training if possible.
9. FUNDRAISING
a) Raise funds as necessary to accomplish the above, including: Collect
a list of religious funders to approach by letter or calls. Write proposals
to Resist, Muste, NACC and others with ideas out of strategy conference.
(Coordinator and volunteers).
b) Work with the fundraising clerk (and volunteers for any of the above
and below).
c) Send out annual dues form to affiliates. Call groups who are behind
on affiliate fees.
d) Explore resources for funding youth outreach workers in the NWTRCC
office.
10. SUPPORT
a) Offer support for wtr's by sending cards to people who have received
levies & such.
Volunteers means that we volunteer to do the work, not that Coordinator
recruits.
Survey and One-Year Boycott Draft Proposal
A Proposal Draft from Bill Ramsey and Angi
O’Gorman, St. Louis Covenant of War Tax Resisters
9/05
(Modifications are developing out of discussions at the Strategy Conference)
We
believe that broadening the network of people who refuse to pay for
war and making war tax redirection a more central component of what
it means to oppose war in the U.S.
will require:
1)
That we take the time and develop the tools we need to assess our potential
power and understand the obstacles that stand in our way in exercising
that power.
2)
That we develop to counseling network and resources needed to prepare
large numbers of peace and justice advocates to engage together in a
public act of war tax refusal and redirection.
3)
That we set an April 15 target date for an act of mass refusal and redirection
base on a one-year commitment to income tax refusal.
Stage
one (perhaps the calendar year 2006): A survey tool would be widely
circulated nationally through web-pages, e-mail, newsletters, and at
meetings and rallies. A set of questions would attempt to assess (anonymously)
the collective refusal power of anti-war activists in the U.S.
How much did you pay in federal income taxes this year? How much of
that was withheld? How much did you end up owing at the end of the
year? Did you receive a refund, how much? Are you an employee or are
you self-employed?
The
survey would also ask about obstacles within a specific framework. What
obstacles, personal, practical, or philosophical that would prevent
you from making a one-year commitment to refuse to pay a portion of
your federal income taxes and redirect them to groups in your community
that you determine with others deserve your support? What information
would you need and what types of support would your need to make this
one-year commitment?
While
the survey itself would be anonymous, we would ask each person who filled
out a survey to register separately as a person interested in knowing
the results of the survey and considering a one-year commitment to refuse
and redirect. This would create a bank of potential war tax resisters
for NWTRCC and its affiliates to approach in the coming year. We would
be dealing with a contingent of real people within the larger anti-war
movement
We
are suggesting a one-year commitment, tied to a specific April 15, because
we believe is the most effective entry point. It does not require people
to wade-in as individuals to an unlimited commitment with unknown consequences.
The collection consequences for a one-year refusal are fairly predictable.
If they did it alongside thousand of others who were engaging together
in a one-time act of resistance, it would be empowering (perhaps inspiring
them to experiment with a longer term commitment). It could also inspire
repeated waves of successive one-year acts of refusal and redirection.
Stage
two (perhaps the calendar year 2007): NWTRCC and its local affiliates
would look
at
the results of the survey and announce the potential tax power of the
of the peace and justice movement. Based of this potential, NWTRCC and
affiliates could issue a call for people to commit to one-year of war
tax refusal and redirection the following April 15 (perhaps 2008). Based
on the obstacles identified in the survey, NWTRCC could develop counseling
tools and materials (many of these probably already exist) designed
to address the obstacles and offer them to all who had registered as
survey participants.
The
survey could also offer us information about how many people needed
to adjust their withholding and how many people were already in a position
to refuse taxes owed at the end of the year. If most people need to
adjust their withholding, the we would need to concentrate our efforts
on contacts early in the year would allow the time for people to prepare
and make the adjustment necessary to be in a place owe taxes on the
following April 15. If there was a large body of people who were already
likely to owe taxes, we might choose to focus on identifying them from
the survey registrants and encouraging them to be the first wave of
one-year resisters. Local affiliates could use this year of preparation
to attempt to conduct a personal visits with each individual who filled
out the survey in their area and then call of gathering of all those
who were making the one-year commitment; to plan public announcement
of their collective act of refusal and to make decisions about alternative
grants.
Stage
three (perhaps April 15, 2008): a national action in DC and local
actions around the country announcing the war tax refusal and redirection
of thousands who were refusing to pay for one year. The “new” resisters
would issue a call for a second wave to take up resistance by committing
to one-year of refusal and redirection on the April 15 the following
year. Stage one and two survey, counseling and outreach efforts would
be repeated as new people answered this call of the first wave.
