Beyond Iraq: Building an Agenda for a Culture of Peace in Florida
2007 Annual Meeting of the Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice
Friday & Saturday, March 23-24
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
A point of historical context:
On April 4, 1967, during the early stages of the Vietnam War, Dr. Martin Luther King stepped up to a podium at Riverside Church in New York City and delivered a speech entitled: Beyond Vietnam: Breaking the Silence. That speech went on to demonstrate that his work for civil rights and social justice were intimately connected with the demands to end that tragic war. And of even greater significance, in that same speech, King gave a clarion call to the challenge of cultural transformation in America. In its substance, he put forth a model that melded together anti-war strategies with proactive peace-building efforts and the advancement of what we in the FCPJ have come to call a Culture of Peace. Now, almost 40 years to the very date of that speech, the FCPJ gathers to reflect on Dr. King's challenge in the context of the current conflict in Iraq.
OVERVIEW of our 2-Day Meeting at Eckerd College: Plan now to be part of the FCPJ annual meeting as we address both sides of Dr. King's challenge. This year's gathering builds on last year's bi-annual State Convocation as we seek to respond to the current crisis in Iraq while also addressing specific elements of an emerging agenda that advances a Culture of Peace in Florida. This year's meeting is comprised of two primary components:
Friday Evening (6:30-11pm): A strategic planning session where we welcome peace activists throughout Florida to discuss proposals for a new FCPJ campaign called FLORIDA PEACEMAKER where our specific focus is on developing strategies to end the war in Iraq.
Saturday (8:30am-5pm): A day-long gathering where we address a proactive agenda that furthers the advancement of a Culture of Peace in Florida. This session also serves as the official "annual meeting" and provides a context for members to learn from one another and give input to the FCPJ Board of Trustees as it fulfills its leadership responsibility to further the mission of the organization.
For further detail on each segment of the program, please see the detailed agenda below.
Friday Evening Program: March 23, 2007 - 6:30pm
Toward a Statewide Strategy to End the War in Iraq
"We must continue to raise our voices if our nation persists in its perverse ways. We must be prepared to match actions with words by seeking out every creative means of protest possible … These are the times for real choices and not false ones. We are at the moment when our lives must be placed on the line if our nation is to survive its own folly. Every person of human conviction must decide on the protest that best suits one's convictions, but we must protest. …We will be marching and attending rallies without end unless there is a significant and profound change in American life and policy."
- Martin Luther King, April 4, 1967
Purpose of Friday Evening's Program:
To foster solidarity
To discuss opportunities for cooperation
To plan next steps
To recognize success
To build community and networking in our collaborative efforts to end the war in Iraq.
For further background on Friday evening's agenda and to submit proposals for consideration by the Planning Committee, go to: http://ipolity.com/wiki/FCPJ+PM
6:30 Registration: (Triton Room, Eckerd College Campus)
7:00 Welcome and Introduction: John X. Linnehan, Chairperson, FCPJ Board of Trustees
Keynote: Samm Simpson, Former Candidate for Congress (FL District 10)
Strategic Presentation: Edwin Enciso, FCPJ-Tampa Bay Coordinator
A proposal for development of a statewide FCPJ campaign and the establishment of the FCPJ Peace Maker Task Force to end the war in Iraq
World Café: A group dialogue process facilitated by George Sherman
Recognitions: Celebrating the success of anti-war efforts in Florida and recognizing best
practices
9:45 Peacemaker Reception: Social Time (Light snacks and refreshments will be provided)
Saturday Program: March 24, 2007 - 8:30am to 5:00 pm
Toward Cultural Transformation in Florida
"I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of history, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society. … A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. … This kind of positive revolution of values is our best defense. … These are revolutionary times … Our only hope lies in our ability to recapture the revolutionary spirit … We must find new ways to speak for peace…. Now, let us begin and let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world."
- Martin Luther King, April 4, 1967
Purpose of Saturday's Program:
To continue development of FCPJ's strategic plan for advancing a Culture of Peace in Florida, particularly in context of the last three years that have served to re-focus the organization's mission and core values
To provide an enriching, inspiring, and educational experience for attendees through sharing of best practices and models that emulate an emerging culture of peace
To deliver the Annual Report of the organization
To attend to organizational needs including final adoption of new bylaws and procedures for the forthcoming nomination of candidates for election to the Board of Trustees later in this Spring
To offer feedback to the FCPJ leadership (Board) as it fulfills its responsibility to be steward of the FCPJ mission in service to its members
8:30 Registration: (Fox Hall, Eckerd College Campus)
9:30 Opening Session:
§ Welcome and Overview of the day
§ Annual Report to the Members: Bob Tancig, FCPJ State Coordinator
§ Review and Adoption of new Bylaws: Michael Sosadeeter, FCPJ Interim Board
§ Report on procedures for nomination/election of Board of Trustees (later in the Spring)
11:00 Keynote: Rev. Charles Mackenzie: On the 40th Anniversary of King's Anti-War Speech
11:30 Overview of Afternoon Breakout Sessions and Introduction of Each Presenter: (Click on links below for more information)
§ Workshop #1: FCPJ Peacemaker Campaign to End the War in Iraq (Edwin Enciso)
§ Workshop #2: Community Supported Agriculture (Michael Sosadeeter)
§ Workshop #3: Involvement in Electoral Politics (Samm Simpson)
§ Workshop #4: The Earth Charter (Jan Roberts)
§ Workshop #5: Toward a US Department of Peace (Heart Phoenix)
12:00 Lunch (Included in Registration Fee)
1:00 Breakout Session A: Separate sessions for each of the 5 workshops listed above
Breakout Session B: Separate sessions for each of the 5 workshops listed above
2:40 Report from each of the five workshop presentations
Break
3:20 Reflections: Dr. John W. Frank: Beyond War & Anti-War: An Action Agenda for Cultural Transformation."
3:45 Open Mic: Feedback to FCPJ Board Members
4:45 Closing Function
5:00 Adjourn
An important note about Membership:
FCPJ is a membership-driven organization. Approval of proposed bylaw amendments, and nomination for election to the Board of Trustees, requires current FCPJ membership status which is obtained through payment of annual membership dues.
Questions or concerns about membership status should be directed to Bob Tancig by e-mail at: bob@fcpj.org.
Click Here to Register or Renew Your FCPJ Membership .
OTHER THINGS YOU WILL WANT TO KNOW:
DISPLAY TABLES:
Organizations that wish to display literature or sell merchandise may do so for a modest fee. For more information, and to submit your reservation for table display space, please use the following online form: Display/Vendor Table Registry.
REGISTRATION & HOTEL INFORMATION:
This event is open to all members and friends of FCPJ
Pre-registration is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
Registration Fees are as follows: (if you are not a current member of FCPJ, please add $5.00)
§ Friday night only: $15 (includes Peacemaker Reception)
§ Saturday only: $25 (includes Saturday Lunch)
§ Friday and Saturday: $35 (includes Peacemaker Reception and Saturday Lunch)
TWO ways to Register:
§ Click here: On-Line Registration for Eckerd College FCPJ Annual Meeting & Program
§ Call in your registration at 352-468-3295 or send an email to: bob@fcpj.org
Overnight Accommodations:
We can suggest the following hotels:
4400 34th Street South
Saint Petersburg, FL 33711-4549 
Phone: (727) 866-2471
If before March 12th, ask for Frances and mention the Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice for a discounted rate.
Please Note: Their web site states that the Bay Way Inn has been a family owned and operated business for over 20 years.
· Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort Hotel
6800 Sunshine Skyway Lane
St. Petersburg, FL 33711
Hotel Front Desk: 1-727-867-1151
Hotel Fax: 1-727-864-4494
(Mention the Florida Coalition for a reduced rate)