Minutes of 11th September Amnesty meeting – 2014

Attendance – Lesley [minutes], Judy, Ian, Sara [chair], Ian [secretary] Ayaka, Patricia, Linda, Adrian, Judith, Alison, Liz, Ann and Bob.

Apologies – Helen, Ann B, Rosemary, Lorna and Ruth O’Keefe

Minutes of last meeting in July were read and accepted.

Skills Share workshop on the 4th October – Lesley and Ann [new member] to attend

Next Letter writing slot – Ian had sent an email but had not had a response

Secretary’s report-:

·  Head Office report - the Monthly Action i.e. re Claudia Medina in Mexico re Torture impunity.

·  There is a campaign update re Women and Afghanistan – as nearing the final phase of presidential elections

·  Invite an Amnesty trainer?

·  Encourage members’ usage of Amnestea?

·  Need at next meeting to discuss Amnesty’s Strategic Goals 2016-19 Consultation Document

Treasurers’ report-:

·  Accounts are very healthy with £4000 – some of this is fixed to be used for our Educational Ice and Fire programme

·  Donate £250 to HQ – agreed [would leave £1000]

·  Linda and Adrian to also donate proceeds of the selling of Linda’s ‘seconds’ and a future pop up meal to Amnesty. We thanked them.

Reports of recent events-:

We had a small group meeting for a letter writing session at Helen’s house in July – cards sent out were part of the Torture campaign.

Forthcoming Amnesty events-:

·  Annual Glynde walk? This to start at 10. 30 on Sunday 12th , meeting on Cliffe Bridge [see later email from Hazel re use of a ‘Stop Torture’ banner]

·  Stop Torture stall – Sara couldn’t get the Farmers Market date so stall now on Saturday 25 th 10 - 2pm – Lesley, Hazel, Rosemary, Ian and Sara to meet to discuss how stall to be organised as soon as possible. What to achieve – media and campaign wise here? Sara to invite Norman for a photo shoot.

·  Lesley, Rosemary, Sara, Hazel, Ann, Liz, Ian, Ayaka and Bob to ideally meet after next meeting briefly for a photo shoot with sparklers and small torches [see email from Hazel]

·  Death Penalty day in November – group to try and organise a letter writing event on that day ideally.

·  Xmas Write for Rights session – Ian to book the same venue as last year for Saturday 6th December. We will need to get a professional banner made though. Serena mentioning ‘Spiel Designs’ in Lewes, based in Lodge passage. Ian to follow up

Next Fundraising event in 2015?

·  Lots of discussion. As All Saints already very booked [leaving only the 3rd and 10th July – both Fridays, or last Saturday in July which would be to late], group agreeing we should go for a Saturday in October. The theme to be Mexican, and to use the ‘Stop Torture’ Mexican case etc [Claudia Medina]. As yet no organiser

·  Use again of an auction at our Xmas Amnesty meeting.

·  A quiz night at Westgate with food or at South over Church Hall or at the Elephant pub at end of January?

Face book Site-:

Sara to meet with Hazel for a further discussion about expanding our usage. More group members need to use site

Campaign planning template and Group calendar-:

·  This to be aired again and campaign plans to be formulated at November AGM.

·  Liz mentioned she and Ann had sent an email re others joining their Death Penalty group but had no response. Still meeting 1 x per month and now focusing on what is happening in Egypt. She will bring a letter to be circulated and signed every second meeting [one given at his meeting]; to advertise group in next News letter?

·  To use International Women’s Day in March for a stall for Amnesty’s other new campaign – ‘My Body, My rights’ which can and should encompass some of the issue raised at our recent L.G.B.T.I stall and work.

Awareness raising/new members-:

·  We have had two new members – Ann and Ayaka – both have had new members packs

·  Education - Ian had had ongoing discussions with Ringmer, Chailey and Priory schools re another joint workshop with an Amnesty speaker ideally for the 23rd October am. The Ice and Fire theatre group is now booked until January 15

·  Lesley has sent all the above three schools plus Uckfield sixth form an email about doing a ‘Torture’ assembly in the near future

·  Lobbying – Norman is still involved with us – to be invited to our Torture stall on 25th October. Lesley to organise a briefing pack for him

·  Media – nothing at the moment.

Specific campaigns-:

·  Ann and Liz- already discussed

·  Lesley - Women’s Rights – to be linked with the new ‘My Body, my rights’ campaign in January. Need other members to contribute- Hazel?

·  Israel/OPT – Rosemary – talk from CC Gary Ettle at last meeting. A concert on 5th October at St Nicholas church to attend? - organised by Amnesty and Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. After all the ongoing pressure the Brighton shop has now stopped selling the Israeili soda streamer which is good news, but this item is still being sold in Steamer Trading in Lewes.

·  Counter terrorism and Justice- Saker Aamar is still in detention despite al the ongoing media attention etc

Joint meeting with LSARG group – 26th November/

Meeting closed at 10 pm – Linda to minute next meting

Lesley to speak on ‘Torture and the Philippines’ at next meeting on the 9th October