The meeting was called to order by B. Fleishman, The invocation was given by Rev. Senley Jack. We introduced ourselves to new members. New and returning members were welcomed.
Motion to approve minutes of March. 13. Approved.
Treasurer's Report. Carol Tyrell reported that the balance was $5898.60 as of March 22. The total includes diner reservations to date. There are a few more than 24 paid members.
The agenda was approved with addition of some announcements.
Committee Reports
Electoral/Campaign reform: The new representative for the Fair Campaign Practices board will be Harriet Warnach-Graham. Since this is an election year it may be busier.
CFE - There will be a public meeting at the Schenectady Public Library Sunday May 7 (maybe 1:30, check with Gene Rowland). Gene Rowland is representing us at CFE meetings with the League of Women voters and other groups. John Amidon pointed out that funding of schools will always be difficult with the war taking so much of our resources. (more than half of the budget goes to military) Joe Seeman said that the Lobby Day has been rescheduled to April 25. They are trying to get candidates to support public funding of elections such as has been done in Arizona and Maine.
Joe reminded us that if you want to be on our e-mail information list send a blank e-mail to: [email protected]
Violence/Anger Management: John Amidon was in Alabama participating in a march that ended up in New Orleans. He said the entire coastal area is wrecked and very little reconstruction is going on. Pervious residents are disenfranchised because no arrangement has been made for them to vote. He recommended that we send a donation to help people of the area. We must do some research to determine what agency would be the best to support for this purpose. Volunteer groups have helped cleaning out houses that have been flooded.
Dr. Propp and the Capital District Physicians for Health Care are very active. May 7th at Saratoga Springs there will be a meeting. April 24 There will be a forum. Lou Ismay will represent us at this meeting.
There were 9 signed up for the next Anger Management program but only 3 came. John proposed that they increase the fee to $39.95 which is still very low for the number of sessions. The TIA contribution would then be $50. Some attendees are referred from the court system. The Consultation Center sent a letter of appreciation for our support.
Sign on Campaign March 15. More signs will be made which say "Support our Troops, bring them home now". If you want signs, pick them up at the TIA office in Latham.
The Darfur issue has been dropped because it is so complex that there is nothing that we can do. There is tribal warring and foreigners can only make it more chaotic. Gene suggested that we might be able to get a speaker who would give us some understanding of the situation.
Corporate meeting. According to corporate law we need to have an annual meeting. This will take place after the Executive Committee meeting on April 24th.
Reservations have been slow to come in for the Dinner on April 27th. Please send them in promptly and ask a friend also.
The Rev. Joyce Hartwell presented video clips and discussion of the work she has been doing for many years with troubled youth. She started out teaching carpentry skills to women to enable them to get viable jobs to support their families. Since the crack epidemic came along there have been many youth whose parents are addicted, infected with AIDS and dying. The children are afraid to talk lest their parents be arrested. There are many orphans. The children act out because of their frustration. They don't believe they will live. Graffiti is a way of saying what they can't say. Many grandparents are raising children. During the Cuomo administration a program was started to help dying parents make arrangements for their children rather than leaving it to court action.
In Albany, 30% are of color, median income $22,000. The community is isolated without socializing activities or opportunities for artistic expression. Kids act out because they are distraught, their parents are addicts and/or HIV and they dare not speak up about it. Wealthy kids are very upset about the world. Joyce has been to many planning meetings in the city but there are no black faces present. She thinks the Convention Center should be built in a poor neighborhood.
The good news is that her work with youth is continuing at Trinity Methodist Church.
May Day used to be the US Labor Day until it was moved to September. Unions are now trying to make May 1 a Global Labor Day.
Next month: Harriet Warnock-Graham will make a presentation about the fundamentalism issue.
Meeting adjourned at 10:40.
Respectfully submitted,
Florence Skiff
Next Executive Committee Meeting: 9:00 a.m Monday, April 24th at Friendlys on Rte 7.
(Corporate TIANYS Meeting will be immediately afterward.)
Next Membership Meeting: 9:00 a.m. May 8th , 2006 at Latham Community Baptist church.
E-mail The Interfaith Alliance of NYS
(via [email protected])