From moriah at preferred.com Thu Dec 1 00:30:37 2005 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 23:30:37 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Tom Fox Message-ID: <035901c5f62f$fe980a80$6464a2c6@abc> f/Friends, Forwarded from Chuck Fager, Quaker House. ~L~ = Mary Calhoun Foxfire FM *g ----------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: CHUCKFAGER at aol.com To: moriah at preferred.com Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 11:06 PM PS. On another subject, have you read about the American Quaker who was abducted in Iraq? Here's my report. If it's new, can you pass it on to SAYMA Friends? (It's only a matter of life and death!) << Tom Fox is a friend of mine. He is also a Quaker who has borne a long and hazardous personal witness for peace in the midst of an immoral and unchristian war. Tom and I were members of Langley Hilll Monthly Meeting in Virginia for many years. Our children grew up together there, and they are still in touch, though scattered across the country. Tom himself was very kind to me in a time of my personal need. I spoke with Tom at Baltimore YM last summer, between his missions in Iraq. He seemed very aware of the dangers of his peace work, but quite calm and almost serene about facing them. I pray that Tom Fox and his companions will be released safely and soon. To his captors I say, harming any of them will only bring dishonor on your cause, whatever that may be. And to the US government which launched this immoral and unchristian war in Iraq, I say, ending it and bringing our soldiers home is the best way to ensure the safety not only of Tom and his co-workers, but of the Iraqi people as well. Others may also have information and memories about Tom. I last heard from Tom in an email in September, as he was preparing to return to Iraq. It was short, and I will include here only the quotation with which he ended it. It is from Hildegard of Bingen, but it could just as well be from Tom himself, and expresses his sweet spirit: ?Holy Spirit, giving life to all beings, moving all creatures, root of all things, washing them clean, wiping out their mistakes, healing their wounds, you are our true life, luminous, wonderful, awakening the heart from its ancient sleep.? More information about Tom and his companions is at: http://cpt.org/ >> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kcarlyle at main.nc.us Thu Dec 1 11:46:41 2005 From: kcarlyle at main.nc.us (Kim Carlyle) Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 10:46:41 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] SAF and other things Message-ID: <00e301c5f68e$6f82d000$0767ec48@yourfulkl1oh2q> Dear Friends, There are but 21 days left until Winter Solstice; 25 days left until Christmas; 31 days left until the SAF editors quit accepting submissions for the winter edition of your favorite yearly meeting newsletter; and but 1145 days left (barring unforeseen events or legal proceedings) until we get a new President. For item three above, your submissions of meeting or personal news, opinions, poetry, book or movie reviews, complaints, or Solstice cookie recipes will be gladly accepted at SAFeditor at SAYMA.org until 01/01/2006. Peace on Earth, Peace with Earth, SAF eds. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From c.vmbra at verizon.net Thu Dec 1 21:14:26 2005 From: c.vmbra at verizon.net (Charles Schade) Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2005 20:14:26 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: From Mary Ellen McNish Re Tom Fox - yesterday Message-ID: <004501c5f6dd$bcf0a520$2f01a8c0@cpschade> In view of concerns posted on this listserv, I thought Friends might want to know of this communication about Tom Fox from the American Friends Service Committee. Conni Lewis is on the Mid Atlantic Region Board and can vouch for its authenticity. cps ============================================================== Dear AFSC Board and Corporation members, The text below was sent out this afternoon from Mary Ellen McNish to AFSC staff: I know that many of you have received phone calls regarding Tom Fox of Langley Hill Monthly Meeting and the other members of the Christian Peacemaker Team who have been abducted in Iraq. Staff members have been in touch with both Tom Fox's family and CPT over the past days. Based on these conversations, we feel that public statements or calls for action would be counter-productive at this time. If you receive phone calls or inquiries, please use the following statement: As a Quaker organization, the American Friends Service Committee believes there is that of God in every person. Our prayers are with our fellow Friend, Tom Fox, and with James Loney, Harmeet Singh Sooden, Norman Kember, their families, their captors, and Christian Peacemaker Teams. In the interest of the safety of those who have been abducted, we can say nothing further at this time. Please refer any program inquiries to Bill Pierre, Director of Middle East and Europe Region Programs, at 215-241-7142. Any media inquiries should be directed to Janis Shields, Director of Media Relations. ----- Original Message ----- From: ConniGL at aol.com To: c.vmbra at verizon.net ; singingplow at igc.org Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2005 9:53 AM Subject: Fwd: From Mary Ellen McNish Re Tom Fox - yesterday thought you should see this Conni -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bright_crow at mindspring.com Fri Dec 2 15:46:17 2005 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2005 14:46:17 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] December Update: SEYMpeace.org Message-ID: <26739660.1133552778600.JavaMail.root@mswamui-cedar.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Friends, Please visit the website of Southeastern Yearly Meeting's Peace & Social Concerns committee. In particular, I invite you look at the "Thought for Twelfth Month" http://seympeace.org/ and two very important new items http://seympeace.org/#NEW. Thanks, Mike From bright_crow at mindspring.com Sat Dec 3 10:51:26 2005 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2005 09:51:26 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] New AFSC/LGBT justice visions issue briefs Message-ID: <27000775.1133621486591.JavaMail.root@mswamui-billy.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Friends, Please visit the AFSC "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights & Recognition" page at http://www.afsc.org/lgbt/criminal-justice/general-resources.htm for links to two new LGBT justice visions issue briefs, "Close to Home" and "Corrupting Justice." These issue briefs are also posted on the SEYM Peace & Social Concerns website at http://seympeace.org/#NEW and http://seympeace.org/GLBT.html. Thanks, Mike From Quakerkristi at aol.com Tue Dec 6 13:21:11 2005 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 12:21:11 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: Urgent request from Langley Hill Friends Message-ID: <86.3583d3ce.30c72287@aol.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Ellen Helmuth" Subject: Urgent request from Langley Hill Friends Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2005 11:43:18 -0500 Size: 11274 URL: From moriah at preferred.com Wed Dec 7 16:44:05 2005 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2005 15:44:05 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: from FWCC - Urgent prayer request: Quaker faces execution in Iraq Message-ID: <00d101c5fb6f$28c88a20$6464a2c6@abc> Urgent prayer request: Quaker faces execution in Iraq ----- Original Message ----- From: Friends World Committee for Consultation Section of the Americas To: adminasst at sayma.org Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 2:29 PM Subject: Urgent prayer request: Quaker faces execution in Iraq ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friends World Committee for Consultation Newsletter Section of the Americas December 7, 2005 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- Tom Fox's meeting asks for your help Dear Friends, You may have heard that Tom Fox, a member of Langley Hill Friends Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, was kidnapped in Iraq on November 26th. Tom is one of four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, an international humanitarian organization, whose captors have set tomorrow, December 8th, as their execution date unless the captors' demands are met. In addition to his work with young Friends organizations, Tom has ties to Guilford College (his daughter is a graduate) and to a number of current and former FWCC volunteers. We ask that you pray for Tom and the other CPT members, and that you share this request with others. Tom Fox's meeting asks for your help ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Langley Hill Friends are holding prayer vigils today, December 7th, and ask all Friends everywhere to join them by either a.. holding a simultaneous candlelight vigil in your community b.. if you cannot attend, hold your own personal vigil, and put a candle in your window or front lawn c.. pray for Tom and his fellow peacemaker team members, seeking their safe and immediate release. Pray for those who suffer similar situations in Iraq and those who have taken such offenses against these individuals and their families You can read Tom's postings at w ww.waitinginthelight.blogspot.com. Additional information can be found at the Friends United Meeting website. Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: newsletter at fwccamericas.org web: http://fwccamericas.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bright_crow at mindspring.com Thu Dec 8 10:31:06 2005 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 09:31:06 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] SEYMpeace.org Update Page on CPT Captives Message-ID: <8872778.1134052266642.JavaMail.root@mswamui-blood.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Friends, I have created a web page to compile the various emails and updates on the Christian Peace Team captives in Iraq: http://seympeace.org/CPTcaptives.htm This page is in the "What's NEW" portion of http://seympeace.org. Thanks, Mike From bright_crow at mindspring.com Fri Dec 9 06:40:22 2005 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 05:40:22 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] =?iso-8859-1?q?Fw=3A_Tell_the_House_Anti-Torture?= =?iso-8859-1?q?_Laws_Must_Apply_to_All_=96_FCNL?= Message-ID: <20230545.1134124822502.JavaMail.root@mswamui-blood.atl.sa.earthlink.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Fri Dec 9 14:28:08 2005 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 13:28:08 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: Oxford Meeting Statement on Torture sent to Congress Message-ID: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Nan Johnson" Subject: Oxford Meeting Statement on Torture sent to Congress Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 10:38:49 -0600 Size: 43714 URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Sat Dec 10 18:47:34 2005 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 17:47:34 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: Fw: Epistle from German Yearly Meeting 2005 Message-ID: <216.f25d3dd.30ccb506@aol.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: "Mary Calhoun" Subject: Fw: Epistle from German Yearly Meeting 2005 Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 17:21:06 -0500 Size: 149932 URL: From moriah at preferred.com Sat Dec 10 20:52:54 2005 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 19:52:54 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] viaYMaa>> '06 Q Youth Pilgrimage Message-ID: <008b01c5fded$83075720$6464a2c6@abc> Received today in the SAYMA office from Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas. Please note adult application due date below. -- 2006 Quaker Youth Pilgrimage, July 14-August 10, to Midwestern US -- sought: a.. 14 Young Friends (16-18), applications due Jan 15, 2006 b.. 2 adult facilitators, applications due Dec 15, 2005 -- for more information, including application form, contact: a.. www.fwccamericas.org b.. QYP at fwccamericas.org c.. 215.241.7250 d.. FWCC, 1506 Race St, Philadelphia PA 19102 __________________________________________________ mc\aa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From moriah at preferred.com Sat Dec 10 23:37:47 2005 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2005 22:37:47 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] viaYMaa>> SEYM Michener Lecture Message-ID: <004001c5fe04$9960a820$6464a2c6@abc> Received in the SAYMA office from Southeastern Yearly Meeting. _____________________________ Thirty-sixth Annual Quaker Michener Lecture "Seeking after Christ" Frank Massey January 15, 2006 Orlando Friends Meeting House Orlando FL Registration at the door $15 suggested donation for lunch & lecture $3 per workshop/seminar that follows Childcare available For more information contact: a.. Nancy Fennell b.. nancyf at strato/net c.. 863.699.1276 d.. 52 Fenny Bosk Trail, Venus FL 33960 More info also available from the SAYMA office, which has a brochure: a.. Mary Calhoun, AdminAsst at sayma.org b.. 276-628-5852 (machine), "in-person" Tue & Thu 5-7:30 c.. PO Box 2191, Abingdon, VA 24212-2191 __________________________________________________ mc\aa -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jhminshall at comcast.net Mon Dec 12 15:47:01 2005 From: jhminshall at comcast.net (Janet Minshall) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2005 14:47:01 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Fwd: Update on Socially Responsible Investing Message-ID: Dear Friends, I hope you all have a happy holiday season -- this year I'm told that Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza all come in the same week. Is that a first? Several of you have expressed an interest in socially responsible investing and I have provided info on several socially responsible mutual funds to those who have asked. In the last couple of years I have been increasingly uncomfortable with recommending any socially responsible funds because their performance was so poor in comparison with other fund choices. I/we have to be concerned with actually saving enough money for retirement as well as with the ethics of a particular fund selection. When asked, I have recommended John Rogers and the Ariel Funds -- Ariel has been a very good small cap fund and Ariel Appreciation has been a very good mid cap fund. Their 3% and 4% returns year to date, however, are pretty pathetic. The magazine Business Ethics, in their Summer '05 issue, did fund profiles which included Ariel Funds and John Rogers, but it also introduced a new fund, Winslow Green Growth, managed by Jack Robinson and Matthew Patsky. Winslow Green Growth has now outperformed nearly every other small cap growth fund around. Winslow Green Growth is covered and recommended among Money magazine's Dec.'05 top performing funds. It is also the topic of coverage in the December issue of Louis Rukeyser's Mutual Fund Newsletter. According to Ruykeyser and Morningstar -- Morningstar is the standard for performance reporting in the mutual fund industry -- Winslow Green Growth has achieved an average 34% return per year for the three years ending October 31, '05. Money magazine shows a three-year return of 34.6% for Winslow Green Growth in data ending October 20,'05. Now that is impressive performance! Socially Responsible mutual funds use two methods to find companies in which to invest. First they use a screen which excludes companies which produce tobacco, alcohol, defense weaponry and electronics, etc. and those which use animal testing to assess performance of their products. Additionally, Winslow Green Growth searches for sound and well run companies which are growing fast and providing services which promote a clean sustainable environment. Winslow Green Growth has only been around for about three years so it doesn't have a long enough track record for me to recommend it as a core holding in a portfolio. It might, however, be considered in combination with Ariel Appreciation and, when interest rates peak, Ariel Socially Responsible Bond Fund. (Since this was originally written in November I have found out that Ariel no longer offers a socially responsible bond fund. Too bad.) I only recommend no-load funds (which do not charge a percentage for the privilege of investing) and both Winslow and Ariel Funds are no-load. I usually keep my other investment recommendations to three mutual fund companies which have a long history of ethical, but not socially responsible, money management. Those companies are Vanguard, T. Rowe Price and Fidelity. I also cover TIAA for retired teachers, Valic for various healthcare and other company-sponsored retirement accounts, American Century, CGM and Royce. Please feel free to write to me individually if you have any questions. Janet Minshall From Quakerkristi at aol.com Tue Dec 13 18:22:26 2005 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2005 17:22:26 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] Yearly Meeting Gathering minute Message-ID: <2c0.1654a85.30d0a3a2@aol.com> To SAYMA reps, clerks, and other interested folks, At representative meeting on Dec. 3 one of the concerns raised by Yearly Meeting Planning Committee led to a deeper discussion about the purpose of our Yearly Meeting Gathering. Below is the Minute of the discussion. It asks us to bring this up in our Monthly Meetings. Feedback can be sent to the clerk at clerk at sayma.org and the clerk of Yearly Meeting Planning errol at kitenet.net We seek ways to nurture, play and work together. Are there ways we may do that better? Thanks, Kristi Estes, clerk 113- 22 The Structure of Yearly Meeting Business Meeting Dennis Gregg from Finance and Yearly Meeting spoke about an additional issue: the tension between friends seeing the Yearly Meeting as a time for business and as a time for retreat and rejuvenation. Yearly Meeting Planning Committee asks that representatives bring this concern into the light in their individual meetings. The Planning Committee feels the need for discernment regarding how we feel a Spirit-led Yearly Meeting would best be structured. One friend offered up the possibility of two days of business meeting and two days of no business meeting at Yearly Meeting. There have been requests for half-day workshops and longer opportunities for fellowship and worship sharing. Another friend spoke with concern regarding our Yearly Meeting?s current discipline and whether we are likely to engage each other with spirit-led discernment in day-long business meeting sessions. Another friend, a former clerk of the Finance committee, spoke from his experience. He said that it was very useful to consult with people at Yearly Meeting and to have space that was not YM business time in between business sessions in order to better do his committee work. A friend spoke from his long-term concern of whether SAYMA?s discernment process is faulty. He asked, ?What is the purpose of our Yearly Meeting?? He said that it took the FGC Gathering 100 years before it had a statement of purpose. He spoke of how Yearly Meeting needs to be more than a business meeting. He spoke of how business meetings can be very, very spiritual. He read London Yearly Meeting?s statement of purpose, written in 1668 (?). They wrote that they created the Yearly Meeting ?to see each other?s faces and open each other?s hearts to the truth of God once a year.? He asked that we look at the purpose of what our Yearly Meeting is. He challenged us to make sure that our business meetings and our workshops and everything we do with Yearly Meeting is done with the intention of seeing one another?s faces. Another friend spoke of how business meetings in FGC have been a source of spiritual nurturance and energizing ? even when they lasted to the middle of the night. She spoke of the need for a recommitment to do the ?deep? work asked of us as Friends in our meetings for worship with attention to business ? both in our monthly meetings and in our yearly meeting. A friend spoke of how both sides of the Yearly Meeting ? the business and the physical and spiritual nurturance ? both feed each other. She spoke of how teaching Quakerism could be more integrated into Yearly Meeting. Another friend spoke of how workshops on business meeting could enrich Friends? participation in business meetings. Friends are asked to hold these concerns in the light and bring them to their business meetings as they are led. The clerk requested that the clerks committee take on the task of discerning ways in which the yearly meeting business meeting can more fully embody an inviting, spirit-led community. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nmwhitt at samford.edu Wed Dec 14 10:07:22 2005 From: nmwhitt at samford.edu (Nancy Whitt) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 08:07:22 -0600 Subject: [saymaListserv] quakers and the pentagon Message-ID: <439FD2BA020000F50000B6AC@gw3.samford.edu> A colleague sent this to me. N. Nancy, I saw a story on NBC national news tonight that you may not be aware of. The pentagon had survelliance on a Friends meeting house in Florida because they were going to help with a peaceful protest of miltary recruitment at a local high school. This smacks of Viet Nam days when peace protesters were spied upon and the public went nuts when they found out that the pentagon was doing that. I hope this revelation brings about the same public outcry. There was a whole ream of pentagon spying, but the Friends Meeting House example was the most outlandish! Got to watch out for those peaceful Quakers!! Robin From Fiddlinshim at cs.com Wed Dec 14 10:45:05 2005 From: Fiddlinshim at cs.com (Fiddlinshim at cs.com) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:45:05 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] quakers and the pentagon Message-ID: nmwhitt at samford.edu writes: > > >Got to watch out for those peaceful Quakers!! But surely you can see that those Quakers were involved in a subversive plot to goad the true patriots into a violent defense of our freedoms. Verrry tricky, those Quakers. Gotta keep an eye on them. Joel Shimberg -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From freepolazzo at comcast.net Wed Dec 14 12:18:46 2005 From: freepolazzo at comcast.net (free polazzo) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 11:18:46 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] quakers and the pentagon In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20051214111712.033ff100@mail.comcast.net> Hi Joel, It's nice to know that the US Military cares about what Friends are doing. Maybe the military will learn from Friends to turn their swords into plowshares? Free At 09:45 AM 12/14/2005, Fiddlinshim at cs.com wrote: >nmwhitt at samford.edu writes: >> >> >Got to watch out for those peaceful Quakers!! > > >But surely you can see that those Quakers were involved in a >subversive plot to goad the true patriots into a violent defense of >our freedoms. Verrry tricky, those Quakers. Gotta keep an eye on them. > >Joel Shimberg >_______________________________________________ >Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association mailing list >posting address: sayma at kitenet.net >subscribe/unsubscribe: http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Fiddlinshim at cs.com Wed Dec 14 12:34:21 2005 From: Fiddlinshim at cs.com (Fiddlinshim at cs.com) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 11:34:21 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] quakers and the pentagon Message-ID: <2bf.176607f.30d1a38d@cs.com> freepolazzo at comcast.net writes: > >It's nice to know that the US Military cares about what Friends are doing. Hey, Free - long time! There's an old song: "'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered". Joel -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From nmwhitt at samford.edu Wed Dec 14 11:20:50 2005 From: nmwhitt at samford.edu (Nancy Whitt) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:20:50 -0600 Subject: [saymaListserv] Emailing: 10454316 Message-ID: <439FE3F2020000F50000B770@gw3.samford.edu> Full story on subversive Quakers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Quakerkristi at aol.com Thu Dec 15 07:57:38 2005 From: Quakerkristi at aol.com (Quakerkristi at aol.com) Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2005 06:57:38 EST Subject: [saymaListserv] CPT actions Message-ID: <24c.3aeadac.30d2b432@aol.com> On the Christian Peace Team internet site (www.cpt.org) they have suggestions for actions, in response to the peace team members who are held in Iraq. For those of you who interested ...one of their alerts ask for folks to write their local newspapers. The text is below. Peace, Kristi Estes CPTnet 13 December 2005 TORONTO/CHICAGO ACTION ALERT: Write letters to the editor about human rights for Iraqis and four CPTers missing in Iraq As we all continue to pray and work for the safe release of our friends still missing in Iraq, we recognize that we have a momentous opportunity to bear witness to the nonviolent commitments of Tom, Jim, Norman and Harmeet and thousands of friends and partners with whom CPT works around the world. The media is eager to keep focusing on the "human interest" story and are delving into the lives of the four CPTers. Our team in Iraq urges us to keep telling the "human rights" story--lifting up the suffering of Iraqis in detention and living under occupation. The season of Advent is about waiting for the coming of the Prince of Peace. As we wait for news about our missing friends, we encourage our supporters to write letters to the editor and op-ed pieces that focus on 1) the suffering of our Iraqi friends and CPT's work to address injustice and 2) the power and conviction of Biblical nonviolence and risky peacemaking. You might wish to frame your writing in response to the question, "Why would they go to Iraq?" Letters to the Editor should be short, approximately 200-220 words. The shorter the better. Check with your local newspaper regarding specific requirements. Op-ed pieces are generally 4-5 times longer than letters (800-1000 words). Consider increasing the relevance of your submission by tying it to the nativity story. Please avoid any speculation about the delicate situation facing the missing CPTers The following links may serve as useful reference sources to your writing. 8 December 2005, "IRAQ: CPT works for the human rights of Iraqi detainees" http://www.cpt.org/archives/2005/dec05/0020.html 10 December 2005, DULUTH, MN: A plea for peacemakers in Iraq" http://www.cpt.org/archives/2005/dec05/0025.html See also Robert Rhodes' editorial in the 6 December online edition of Mennonite Weekly Review, "Seeking Peace must embrace risk http://www.mennoweekly.org/DEC/12-05-05/EDIT-CPT12-05.html Sample letter: Dear Editor, I have been a (friend, supporter, member) of Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) for (x) years and was deeply distressed when I heard that four CPTers, Norman Kemper, Harmeet Sooden, Tom Fox and Jim Loney had been taken in Iraq. [If you know any of the four men personally, you might want to add, "In particular, I know x, and have been impressed by his (commitment to following Jesus, nonviolence, the marginalized, etc.)"] Christian Peacemaker Teams was founded on the principle that Christians need to devote the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that the military devotes to war. These four men were willing to make this sacrifice, believing that their own lives were no more important than the lives of the thousands of Iraqis detained without charges in military prisons or the millions of other Iraqis currently living under military occupation. During Advent, when we remember the arrival of the Prince of Peace and the angels' promise of "Peace on Earth," I invite fellow believers to join me in praying for an end to the war and ongoing human rights abuses in Iraq as well as for the return of the four CPTers. Sincerely, _______________ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From janinebruton at mindspring.com Fri Dec 16 17:43:52 2005 From: janinebruton at mindspring.com (Janine Bruton) Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 16:43:52 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Post to list Message-ID: <847b8e4893fff5f2653c576a5e4601d3@mindspring.com> Hi. Please post me to the list. Thanks From moriah at preferred.com Fri Dec 16 15:42:41 2005 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 14:42:41 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] Fw: Save free speech ... {AFSC} Message-ID: <02c001c6028d$d3ece5c0$6464a2c6@abc> American Friends Service Committeef/Friends -- in the 400-pg Pentagon database AFSC says they "found four events sponsored by AFSC." ^o^ \_/ Mary AdminAsst at sayma.org 276-628-5852 POB 2191, Abingdon VA 24212-2191 ----- Original Message ----- From: American Friends Service Committee To: adminasst at sayma.org Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 11:00 AM Subject: Save free speech from a Pentagon offensive An urgent message from the General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee What I'm about to tell you is an outrage. This is an important update for the peace and justice community. Please share this message with all of your friends. You may have been following the breaking scandal that the Department of Defense has admitted spying on the American Friends Service Committee, our coalition partners, and thousands of people like you. Take action now to tell your Congressional representatives that you want the government to stop spying on the people of this country. Two years ago, the Defense Department directed its Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) to establish a domestic law enforcement database that included information related to "potential terrorist threats directed against the Department of Defense." Earlier this week, NBC broke the story that the Pentagon was using the system to collect information on peaceful gatherings and counter-recruiting activities. NBC obtained a 400 page printout from the database of which 8 pages have been released. In those few pages, we have found four events sponsored by AFSC. The threatening events in the database included handing out literature in front of military recruiting stations and commemorating the second anniversary of the Iraq War. We knew that our staff had already been under surveillance by the FBI and local police in Colorado, Illinois, and Iowa for their work to end this war. The courts agreed with us then that spying, not free speech, is a threat, as they did during the Vietnam War, when we helped win the guarantees that we are all supposed to enjoy today that our military will not spy on Americans. Take action now to see that history doesn't repeat itself. Tell Congress that you support our fundamental right to speak our mind and organize on the issues of the day. This new wave of spying can only be seen as a threat to our rights to free speech and the freedom of assembly. For decades, Cold Warriors criticized foreign governments for exactly these types of activities. With the help of friends like you, AFSC stood firm against the pressures of the McCarthy era and we won't stop speaking truth to power today. Tell your representatives in Washington that this isn't our America. Please, take action now. In Peace, Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, AFSC � 2005 AFSC American Friends Service Committee 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 http://www.afsc.org/ Please follow this link to unsubscribe or change your email preferences. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From moriah at preferred.com Fri Dec 16 18:11:52 2005 From: moriah at preferred.com (Mary Calhoun) Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 17:11:52 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] IMP^o^ 198 kitenet "attachers" & "digesters" Message-ID: <02c201c6028d$d5c157a0$6464a2c6@abc> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IMP ^o^ Bulletin 198 Listserv "attachers" please help... ...listserv "digesters" ......................................................................... There's a glitch in kitenet's archive software ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from the Administrative Assistant, based on info from list-owner Joey Hess, trouble report from a sayma at kitenet.net subscriber, and some AA ferreting out...) <|> sayma at kitenet.net subscribers who opt for "digests" of listserv messages apparently depend on the listserv archives to retrieve any message attachments. <|> Joey says the archive software is malfunctioning and an attachment he looked at was unreadable. He's reported it to the folks who wrote the software. <|> The Administrative Assistant has browsed the listserv's December archive, and found a number of oddities involving -- a.. garbled attachments b.. attachments that couldn't be accessed at all c.. "attachments" where there never were any <|> Until this gets resolved, "attachers" please help the "digesters" by, if at all possible, avoiding attachments on messages sent to sayma at kitenet.net -- a.. paste links (URLs/addresses of websites) into the body of your message b.. when forwarding a message onto the listserv a.. click "forward" rather than "forward as attachment" b.. or, paste the message you want to forward into the body of your own message <|> Heads-up for "attachers" -- if you posted a message with an attachment in the last month or so, you might want to repost it with the attached item pasted in the body of your message. If you need to refresh your memory of what you posted, visit the archives at http://kitenet.net/pipermail/sayma/. <|> If the listserv archive software difficulty doesn't get resolved soon, "digesters" may want to consider turning that option off. To change your subscription settings visit the listserv's website at http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma ~~~~~~ end ^o^ ~~~~~~ 1stpost 121605 ~~~~~~ _______________________________________ IMP ^o^ ... "Information Made Present" is a bulletin service of the SAYMA office to provide practical details to our geographically-challenged Yearly Meeting via our list-server: semi-official information, bulletins that you can print, post, announce, publish, or pass around. Please address questions, corrections and additions to AdminAsst at sayma.org, 276-628-5852 (machine; in-person Tu/Th 5-7:30p), or SAYMA Admin Asst, PO Box 2191, Abingdon, VA 24212-2191. Thank you! ^o^ ----------------------------------------------------- To receive IMP^o^ bulletins, subscribe to the list server, sayma at kitenet.net. You can subscribe on the web at http://kitenet.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sayma. ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From kcarlyle at main.nc.us Thu Dec 29 11:09:46 2005 From: kcarlyle at main.nc.us (Kim Carlyle) Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2005 10:09:46 -0500 Subject: [saymaListserv] SAF -- 'Tis the Season... Message-ID: <00af01c60c8a$035414e0$4666ec48@yourfulkl1oh2q> Friends, 'Tis the season for giving and sharing. Before you make your resolutions for 2006, share items of interest with SAYMA Friends by means of your yearly meeting newsletter, The Southern Appalachian Friend. We are now taking submissions for the winter edition. Due date: 01/01/2006 Send to: SAFeditor at sayma.org Peace on Earth, Peace with Earth, Happy 2006! Susan & Kim -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bright_crow at mindspring.com Sat Dec 31 16:27:44 2005 From: bright_crow at mindspring.com (Mike Shell) Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 15:27:44 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [saymaListserv] First Month, 2006: SEYM Peace & Social Concerns Website Message-ID: <25810578.1136060864335.JavaMail.root@mswamui-swiss.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Friends, Please visit the updated home page for First Month, 2006, and enjoy the Thought for the Month: http://seympeace.org/ Thanks, Mike