Military Recruiting: Meeting Notes: Sept 23rd, 2003

Counter-recruitment meeting, September 23, 2003

Present: Don McKeating, Ryan Kopish, Dianne Riley, Jim Ellsworth, Don Kliese, Cy Griffin, Michelle Nightoak, Kathy Walsh, Steve Ringwood, Tom Benish, Bob Veith

We discussed quite a few interrelated issues, so instead of trying to do chronological notes, I will group things by topic.

Review of opt-out leafleting at high schools on August 19 and 20/presence in schools:

East, West, and Memorial were leafleted.

East – problems finding a good place to stand – all doors were open; students were being told that if they didn’t opt out within days that they gave up the right to do so; 4 students helped

West – good response, but problems accessing students that were entering

Memorial – met with the principal first; table was not staffed, which Rae Voegler offered to do

Overall, a good response from students – many coming out still weren’t aware of the form and their rights. It was confusing that each school had its own form in addition to the one created by the district. A four hour shift is too long, and needs to be broken in half for volunteers. We need to make sure that the School Board is setting a time limit that will allow folks to opt out BEFORE they agree to release info to military recruiters (a month?) We need to get better access to students on school property – have parents or students offer to staff the opt-out form tables. We need to access La Follette next year as their population is especially targeted by recruiters. We need to have a network of parents, teachers, and students that are allies to help us with access to the schools.

***Tom will contact the district and get opt-out numbers – how many opted out this year and how many opted out last year. Then Dianne and Jim will compose an email to the School Board thanking them for their help, listing the opt-out numbers, and asking for improvements in next year’s system.

***Ryan will research which guidance counselors are responsible for setting up Career Days and military recruiters’ days

Improving the number of students, parents, and teachers involved:

Parents – we need to get in touch with parents within MAPC – some ideas include:

• a graphic and webpage on the website - ***Jim will work with Steve on this
• insert a plea in the newsletter - ***Michelle will contact Terry and see if it’s still possible to add this blurb in the newsletter
• research PTO’s and PTA’s and offer to do presentations and/or put something in their newsletters - ***Dianne will research
• send an Announcement out via MAPC Announce asking for parental involvement in counter-recruitment efforts - ***Don will compose and send out

Students –

*Don will contact those he is working with on October 25th actions, Michelle will phone the other contacts that she has,**Dianne will call the coordinator of Gear Up!!, a program and contact recommended by Alfonso Zepeda-Capistran, the president of Madison LUChA?

Teachers –

*Jim will identify and call teachers within MAPC, *Kathy will contact some teachers at Shabazz

”Minority” communities

***Michelle will continue to talk with Alfonso, and will attempt to contact Barbara Golden from MAFAAC again

Misc.

***Cy Griffin will do all contacting of folks that are not available via email. Michelle will call him with info and he will pass along.

Dianne mentioned that we should keep abreast of what the ACLU is doing with youth, especially now that she is the part-time coordinator for the new Madison office. October 7th is an ACLU conference/event for students - ***Michelle will call Nikki Yunk from the Milwaukee office and see if we can get some counter-recruitment and opt-out info to the students there.

***Don McKeating will contact Bob Kimbrough to see if he can renew his relationship with Bill Keys (prez of School Board) so we can have more personal access

Group structure and accountability – we discussed Veterans for Peace having limited resources at the moment in terms of people, but the amount of time that folks can commit is varied. Michelle mentioned that we need to make this a truly collaborative effort, where multiple groups and individuals will share information and responsibility for counter-recruitment efforts in Madison. It will take time to develop relationships and to grow the group to a size that can maintain an active, ongoing presence in the schools. Folks will need to commit to certain amounts of time and effort to get the group built.

Overall – a very productive meeting. We will have our next one in approximately one month, after we have spoken with all of the folks that we want to see involved with these efforts in order to try to accommodate their needs.

Notetaker - Michelle