Subject: RE: 9/14 Meeting Report Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 09:38:19 -0500 Message-ID: <376546015E56D640AB10F112B8127DDF029A3FF3@PEPSI.uwec.edu> From: "Wesenberg, Nancy Christine" <WESENBNC@uwec.edu>
Sorry I couldn't be there for the meeting. I work mornings, so late
afternoons is harder for me too, though not impossible (lousy memory).
I would like to suggest as a topic something to do with restoring the
idea of the dignity and respect due to all honest work. I personally
have been sorry to see in this country that encouraging people to avail
themselves of higher education has led to a gradual belief, especially
among the younger generation, that anything done while wearing a
business suit (male or female version) is automatically better and
worthy of more respect than things done while wearing a tool belt or
something of that sort. I think we are forgetting that what someone does
is less important than how they do it, meaning an ethical electrician
who does his best work in an honest manner is deserving of more respect
than an unethical doctor or businessman. When your pipes burst and are
flooding your house, the brain surgeon next door is not who you want to
come running. Anyway, you get the picture.
I think we need to encourage our children to love and respect education
for its own sake, not just for the jobs or status connected with it. I
used to know a carpenter with a history degree from Harvard, a very
interesting guy, and I'm sure others have run into such people. My own
husband, who's been up nights lately fixing a cable cut to restore phone
service to a whole neighborhood, loves history and science and has been
asked to give talks at the UU Fellowship many times. We don't give
enough respect to people who do more practical things, and parents push
their kids into college before many of them have really had a chance to
understand their own strengths. Consequently, I end up walking over the
footbridge behind one student who is bragging to his friend that he
never reads any of his textbook assignments, while another instructs his
friend in the best ways to cheat the parking tag system. Oh, I am
going on. Sorry. That's my suggestion.
Nancy Wesenberg
Communication Specialist
News Bureau
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
(715) 836-4423
-----Original Message-----
From: sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu
[mailto:sfpj-request@listserve.uwec.edu] On Behalf Of Glenn, Larry R.
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 9:46 PM
To: sfpj@listserve.uwec.edu
Subject: 9/14 Meeting Report
9/14/05 MEETING REPORT
Eau Claire Staff and Faculty for Peace and Justice
Quick Summary:
*For more sfpj information see website: www.uwec.edu/sfpj
<http://www.uwec.edu/sfpj>
*Next Meeting: watch for an email asking about preferred meeting times
*Planning started for a series of monthly, noon talks with a general
theme of
"The World I'd Like To See, and What We Need to Get There."
1. Introductions by people attending: Kate Hale, Donna Raleigh,
Pam Forman, Yanick St. John, Rick Richmond, Eberth Alarcon, Paul
Kaldjian, Larry Glenn.
2. Kate described her idea of a series of talks by campus,
community, or invited guests with a positive and specific focus on one
aspect of what would make a better world, from the presenter's
perspective. Some possible ideas to consider: chemicals and the
environment; community building; peace movement among Israelis; social
awareness and investments chosen by the State of Wisc. Investment Board.
Those present thought we could tentatively plan a monthly series.
3. Suggestion to develop some guidelines for noon talks to provide
some consistency: a specific, positive focus; what can
individuals/groups do to express active involvement on the issue.
4. Possibility of holding another 2-3 day "teach-in" in the spring
discussed. Suggestion of inviting Rus Feingold as a speaker.
5. Other events suggested for promotion or co-sponsorship: Eberth
will find details for a live satellite broadcast from Milwaukee on Oct.
14 with Regoberta Menchu.-----Paul will finish a proposal to co-sponsor
an exhibit called "Breaking the Silence" scheduled for Schneider 100 on
Oct. 21. This exhibit documenting the treatment of Palestinians was
created by Israeli soldiers.
WHAT'S NEXT?
*There are about 50 people on the sfpj listserve group. An email will
be sent asking for suggestions on preferred meeting times before
announcing next meeting.
*Think about possible topics and presenters for the noon talk series.
Try to get a diverse group of presenters.
*Planning for publicizing noon talks.