Capital District Interfaith Alliance
Interfaith Alliance of New York State



Capital District Chapter TIANYS Meeting Report
November 10, 2003


Members Present: Rev. Joyce Hartwell, Pat Beetle, Nicholas Fuller, Sumans Joshi, Rev. Senley Jack, Shirley and Rudy Nelson, Gene Rowland, Anne Marfey, Lou Ismay, Bernard Fleishman, Joe Seeman, Jean Cowan, Liz Pearson, John Amidon, Ed Bloch, Rabbi Aryeh Wineman, Florence Skiff.

The meeting was called to order by B. Fleishman. Invocation was given by Rev. Dr. Senley Jack.

The minutes of September 29 were approved, with correction of spelling of Susan Arbetter's name. Treasurers Report. Copies of detailed reports of the expenses for Oct. 13, and financial records of 2003 were distributed. The available balance is $5069. Bills have not been received for the advertising ($108 and $1290.87). Total expenses for the conference were $3316.25, a deficit of $206.25. A check for $206.25 was received from St. Rose. Rather than return the check it was felt that we should support one of St. Rose's future projects. Some workshop leaders returned stipends or gave them to charity.

Ed will send $100 to the Baptist church for use of their facilities for meetings.

Senley Jack invited all to a celebration of his 45th anniversary of call to ministry and the graduation of Senley and Judy Murphy Jack. December 18th, 6:30-9 at Bethesda Episcopal Church, 43 Washington St. Saratoga Springs.

REPORTS

Campaign Reform - Joe Seeman said that the Clean Election Campaign "Mop-up Crew" would show up at a fund raiser for Dennis Hassert at the Ft. Orange Club this Thursday. (demonstrators meeting at 5:30, all welcome)

Gene Rowland said the Fair Campaign Committee had three complaint hearings this year, an increase over last year.

Rockefeller Drug Laws - Lou Ismay is looking into possible ways to impliment alternatives for employment in communities where prisons are the only source of jobs.

John U. Miller would like to have congregations work with him in his program of alternatives to incarceration.

ARISE now has a Justice Task Force, proposed by Joyce Hartwell, to address the core problems that are the causes of what is wrong with our cities. They talked to judges and found that judges want change. The District Attorneys control the court actions. What we have now is primarily a program of punishment which cuts off the possibilities for rehabilitation. This is not working, but there are rehab programs that do work. To show that alternatives can succeed, they are planning public relations events including presentations by recovered persons.

There will be an important meeting November 18th at The Egg, Hart Theater, 7-8:30 pm "A Tech Valley Equity Agenda". '"Tech Valley" must include a social transformation, addressing the problems of inner-city neighborhoods as well as the suburbs.'

Violence Committee John Amidon said there are already 9 signed up of the Nov. 17 workshop. John pointed out that anger management reduces punitive action attitudes.

John expressed concern that advanced placement proceedures in the schools are not accessible to blacks. School board meetilngs are intimidating to parents and they have dilfficulty getting to them (work conflicts, transportation, etc.) Rabbi Wineman pointed out that the guidance councelors are the key persons.

Report on the Conference - Numbers were disappointingly low, but the conference was well received and there were a number of encouraging, positive comments. We didn't have an evaluation form for attendees, it would be good to have one. There were few young people. In the future we should be more intentional about attracting youth. For example, works shops aimed at the interests of youth.

Washington DC Antiwar Rally. John A. said there were maybe 50,000-100,000 people, no trouble, and orderly, and successful rally.

Gene said the governor had a project going recording experiences of returned veterans. So far has not included feelings against war expressed by veterans.

Confronting the Politics of Fear: A People's Assembly, Nov. 15th. Flyers were available for distribution.

Campaign for Fiscal Equity meetings are continuing. Next is on Monday Nov. 17th at 10 am at the office of TIA. There will be a Statewide meeting in Albany Nov. 19th. For more info call 432-5315.

The Nominating Committee for '04 is chaired by Joyce Hartwell with Nicholas Fuller and Bob Lamar.

Meeting was adjourned 10:35.

Respectfully submitted,
Florence Skiff

Next Executive Committee Meeting will be Monday Nov. 24, 2003. Next General Meeting will be Monday December 8, 2003 at 9:00 a.m. at Latham Community Baptist Church.



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