March 2014

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Wednesday, March 5^th, 2014

Liaison Conference Call Minutes

Attendance:

 Action Alerts for March: Liaisons are asked to promote these in their Congregations

1. Reinstate NJ membership in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. View Action Alert

2. Immigration Task Force calls attention to detention conditions in NJ. View Action Alert

3. Prevent Fracking in the Delaware River Basin. View Action Alert

4. Work with municipalities for gun safety features by manufacturers. View Action Alert

5. UULM and UU Service Committee ask for federal minimum wage raise to $10.10. View Action Alert

Other request for Liaisons:

Liaisons are asked to attend and ask congregants to attend the UULMNJ 5^th Celebration & Annual Meeting and Liaison & Volunteer Training. Register now!

Congregational Updates

Palisades began a reading circle on the New Jim Crow and held an event with Mr. Clinton Rice, past Deputy Commissioner in New York City, who spoke on race and ethnic issues in the criminal justice system.

Princeton: Sunday, March 2 Action Table activities included letter writing for federal Minimum Wage increase and promoting NJ’s participation in REGGI, and asking for names of those interested in the Gun Violence Prevention initiative of municipalities inquiring about safety features from gun manufactures. There was a computer demonstration on Health Exchanges and insurance sign up, and information was available on the Jim Crow program it’s volunteer opportunities.

Montclair had a lull this month at their Action Table and continues their work on Gun Violence Prevention with like minded collaborators.

Summit is compiling a list of volunteer jobs in their Social Justice area which includes opportunities to participate on the UULMNJ Task Forces and working on the initiative of municipalities inquiring about safety features from gun manufactures.

Task Force Issues Updates

 Criminal Justice Reform: Ending the New Jim Crow

This is our newest task force approved by the Board in February. Read the Policy Brief.

There is a hearing on Monday March 10 at 10 am in Trenton on the Daily Form Act about persons arrested who cannot afford bail, waiting in jail for up to a year. (Al Stawsky alynways@gmail.com)

Economic Justice, Affordable Housing

COAH Hearing: Lorraine Wearley and Rev. Craig Hirshberg attended the hearing in Newark on March 5 about the NJ administration’s failure of having representatives on COAH to come up with guidelines as required by the courts. Fair Share Housing suggested the court appoint a master/monitor to oversee this process. A decision on the process will be issued in the coming days by the judge.

Gun Violence Prevention

The Gun Violence Prevention Network of churches and other community collaborators are having a telephone conference and talk “Protect Our Children from Gun Violence” by Rev. Shannon Daley-Harris at the Summit Unitarian Church on March 23. PDF of slides are available for other locations by teleconference. Diane Finn finnflynn@verizon.net

Other: Liaisons and other Training after the April 5 Annual Plenary 2:15 to 3:15

Managing Your Congregation’s Advocacy

The Moral Imperative. Articulating, Educating and Advocating by Rev. Craig Hirshberg.

Using SALSA demo

Keeping abreast of issues

An example of an Action Table set up

The Next Liaison Conference Call – Wednesday, April 2nd, 8:00pm.

For more liaison information about how to be included in these calls, please contact director@uulmnj.org

Thank you for your participation!