Ethnic Young Adult Summer Internship Program 2008

Sponsors: The Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group and The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society

Who can apply? All EYA applicants must:

• be between 18 to 22 years of age
• be a member of one of the 5 United Methodist Church ethnic caucuses
• be involved in their church and/or community
• be in good academic standing, if currently enrolled, at their college or university, demonstrating concern for social justice issues through extracurricular activity and academic study.
• If employed full time, show active leadership and participation in local church and community, and an involvement in social justice activities
• have an interest in exploring issues of public policy, social justice advocacy and social change have a passion in exploring faith and justice issues from a personal, institutional and societal perspective

"For me, "EYA was an opportunity to bridge the gap between church and state, and to explore the places where our faith meets the world we live in."
— James Stevenson EYA '07

"Before my internship in 1984 I feel as if I lived in a cocoon; I really wasn't concentrating on much more than my own personal faith. After the internship, I developed a real passion for social justice and wanted to be able to contribute toward a world that better reflected God's kindom."
—Cynthia Abrams Director of Alcohol and Other Addictions, Health Care Advocacy General Board of Church and Society EYA '84

"EYA was an opportunity to live in a community of people totally different from myself and to be challenged and grow from that experience. It brought about a renewed sense of love for people and a desire to bring about positive change in today's society."
—Joseph Kim United Nations Associate Intern General Board of Church and Society EYA '05

For more information:
The Rev. Neal Christie
Assistant General Secretary General Board of Church and Society
100 Maryland Ave. NE, Washington, DC
202.488.5611 nchristie@umc-gbcs.org

National Death Penalty Conference in San Jose

Death Penalty Focus
870 Market St. Ste. 859 San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415.243.0143 - Fax 415.243.0994 -  www.deathpenalty.org

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Please join us for the preeminent
national death penalty conference
on January 17-20, 2008 in San Jose, CA.


The early-bird registration deadline has been extended until December 7th!


WHO WILL BE THERE?
The 2008 NCADP Conference brings together committed volunteers, grass roots organizers, staff professionals from state and national organizations, and legal advocates, all of whom are working to abolish the death penalty in the United States. Cosponsored by Death Penalty Focus, the Conference is themed: Reaching for the Dream. The Conference promises to build on current efforts to abolish the death penalty, connecting you with new ideas, new arguments, new strategies and ideas for building alliances with new constituencies that will help us in reaching "the Dream."


WHY ATTEND?
Conference sessions will provide opportunities for networking and interaction, as well as opportunities to enhance your skills in strategizing, organizing, fundraising and communicating. If you need help in starting and running a chapter, passing resolutions, letter writing, data base management, fundraising, answering tough questions, creating new arguments, e-advocacy, connecting with faith communities, developing a strategic plan, building or taking your organization to the next level, you'll find it all at the 2008 NCADP Conference!


ATTENTION ATTORNEYS
Specialized legal training will be held on Friday and Saturday for capital defense attorneys. Earn up to 14 MCLE credits! See our website for more details: http://www.ncadp.org/events.cfm?event=1001


REGSITRATION RATES
Prices are for registration before Dec. 7th /After Dec. 7th

Regular Registration $175/ $200 (includes Banquet)
Single Day $80/ $110
Student Rate $35 per day (for currently enrolled students)

Legal Training $300/ $350 (14 MCLE credits, includes Banquet)
Single Day Legal Training $150/ $175

Regular Awards Banquet tickets $150
Student Awards Banquet tickets $65

Hotel rates for the San Jose Holiday Inn start at $99/night: http://www.ncadp.org/events.cfm?event=1001&pg=10

SCHOLARSHIPS
If you feel that you are unable to cover the cost of your attendance please get in touch with Sean Wallace at sean@ncadp.org or (202) 331-4090 for information regarding scholarships.


FOR MORE INFO OR TO REGISTER:
http://www.ncadp.org/events.cfm?event=1001 or call (202) 331-4090.


SATURDAY, JANUARY 19th
AWARDS DINNER HONOREES:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Mike Farrell, President of Death Penalty Focus

Legal Service Award
David Kendall, Williams & Connolly
The Law Firm of Morrison & Foerster
Death Penalty Clinic, Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley and Elisabeth Semel

Abolitionist(s) of the Year
Stefanie Faucher, Death Penalty Focus
Natasha Minsker, ACLU of Northern California

Lighting the Torch Award
The People of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Accepting the award will be Edgardo Manuel Romain Espada
General Coordinator, Puerto Rican Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Special Recognition for Outgoing NCADP Board Chair
Bill Pelke

Mark Your Calendars

The next meeting of the Conference Board of Church and Society (BC&S) will be
Saturday January 12 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. at the Conference Center Room C, West Sacramento.

There will be a pre-meeting hosted by the Networking Task Force from 9:00 am to 10:00 am about orientation to the board and roles and responsibilities. If you are having any confusion in this area, or would like to participate in this discussion, you are invited to the pre-meeting.


respectfully submitted,
Katherine Parker, secretary


Explanation:
The Executive Committee met today, one item was a conflict of the Board of Church and Society previously scheduled meeting with the Conference Council on Ministries Meeting (where we need to be represented). I apologize for the confusion that this change may make, and hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday! - Katherine

Minutes of the Cal-Nev BCS Meeting 9/15/07

September 15, 2007
UM Center, West Sacramento

Present: Karen Paulsen, Adrienne Fong, Brenda Vaca, Mary Liebke, Jennie Bellard, Pam Fine (morning), Steve Hanusa, James Cramer, John Chamberlin, Alan Jones, Carole Bergman, Floyd Quenzer, Eileen Reisinger, Joel Verner, Sandra Verner, Art Okuno, Margo Tenold, Katherine Parker, Doug Sibley, Linda Wiberg (afternoon)

Opening
Joel called meeting to order at 10:05, John offered devotional thoughts and prayer, followed by introductions and "Happy 86^th Birthday" song for Art.

Discussion of Task Forces and Role of Advocates
Suggestion: Next meeting, include a discussion on positions and assignments

Margo moved (Pam 2^nd) to create the following Task Forces: (1) Legislations Task Force, (2) Social Action Task Force, (3) Networking Task Force, (4) Research Task Force, (5) ACS Follow-up Task Force, (6) Grants Task Force. Approved with 1 abstention.

The following individuals were supported to serve on each task force:

• Legislations Task Force: Alan Jones (chair), Susan Griffin, Doug Sibley
• Social Action Task Force: Mary Liebke, Brenda Vaca, Steve Hanus. Request that Jannis Chilsom and Doug Monroe also serve.
• Networking Task Force: Katherine Parker, Karen Paulson. Request that Mona Sargent and all district liaisons also serve.
• Research Task Force: Joel Verner (chair), Sandra Verner, James Cramer
• ACS Follow-up Task Force: Margo Tenold (chair), Pam Fine, Doug Sibley
• Grants Task Force: Sandra Verner (chair), Adrienne Fong, John Chamberlain

Doug moved (Alan 2^nd) that by October 15th, each committee should email Joel with a "mission statement" and define a working agenda for their task force.

Website Update
Katherine presented the BCS webpages on the Conference website (http://www.cnumc.org/). Any member of the committee that would like a page as part of the BCS section of the Conference website should contact Katherine to get the appropriate log-in information to create this page. Anyone can post upcoming events to the Conference calendar at http://www.cnumc.org/event_add.asp.

Steve moved (Doug 2^nd) that the Cal-Nev BCS Blog "Take Action" at http://calnevbcs.blogspot.com/ be made public. Approved.

All board members have received an invitation to become a member of the blog. Only members of the blog can post updates and action items to the blog (general public can see the blog and make comments). Individuals needing assistance in establishing membership to the blog or posting to the blog should contact Katherine.

A listserve for the BCS was created by Brenda. Everyone at the meeting was sent an email invitation to join. You must follow through and accept this invitation to join the group. Anyone can join by visiting http://groups.google.com/group/calnevbcs and subscribing to the group. Send an email to calnevbcs@googlegroups.com to reach everyone on the list.

Pam moved (Steve, Doug 2^nd) that the board designate $400 for mailings and communications on the Global AIDS Fund. Approved.

Pam moved (Sandra 2^nd) that the Tax Code Fairness study referred to CBCS by ACS be referred to the ACS Follow-up Task Force. Approved.
Suggestion: Libbie Sholes and the UM Foundation be used as resources for the Tax Code Fairness.

12:20 Adjourn for lunch
12:50 Called to order after lunch

Update: Steve presented an Alcohol & Additions Advocacy report. Encouraged everyone to participate in a Faith Partners training event on October 25 in Nevada.

Suggestion: Linda has been requested to give a definitive statement on the 2008 Budget for the BCS at the next meeting.

Peace with Justice Grants
Adrienne presented a report of the Peace with Justice Offerings taken thus far in 2007 and PwJ grants already distributed. Adrienne presented the review by Grants Task Force (Sandra, Adrienne & John) of grants submitted for this cycle and the Task Force recommendation for amount allocated to each applicant.

Carol moved (James 2^nd) to approve the Peace with Justice Grant Awards as recommended by the Grants Task Force. Approved with 1 opposition.

Update: Ecumenical Advocacy Days will be March 7-10, 2008 and March 13-16, 2009

Update: Doug Sibley gave an update on the actions taken in response to Item 36 of the 2006 ACS on Tibet.

Ecumenical Grants
Floyd moved (James 2^nd) to grant $1500 to Earth Justice Ministries. Approved.

Sandra moved (Eileen 2^nd) to grant $1500 to Loaves and Fishes to maintain voucher program of Mary House. Approved

Update: John gave a report of the impact of the $2000 Ecumenical Grant to East Timore given earlier this year.

Budget
Katherine moved (Steve 2^nd) to allocate $500 to the Networking Task Force for resourcing the District Liaisons. Approved

Alan moved (Doug 2^nd) that the board empowers the Executive Committee to distribute the remaining 2007 budget. Approved

Update: The Conference Reconciling Network will hold a workshop January 25 & 26 at Campbell UMC.

Suggestion: Include a discussion of the 2008 budget at the January Meeting.

Suggestion: At the January meeting include a discussion of how we want to address issues (recommendations versus social action at the capital).

Suggestion: Joel email a list of suggestions for focus areas for the CBCS this coming year to the board and we continue the dialogue at the next meeting.

Adrienne moved (Alan 2nd) that the board endorses the Iraq Moratorium http://www.iraqmoratorium.org/. Approved

Margo closed with prayer. Meeting adjourned at 3:50.

Submitted: Katherine Parker, Secretary

Happy Birthday Art

At the September 15th meeting, the California-Nevada Conference Board of Church and Society was happy to celebrate 86 years of life for Art Okuno, District Liaison to San Jose.  Congratulations Art, what great dedication you have.

Immigration Activist Deported to Mexico

Members of the Conference Board of Church & Society can now post announcements to the blog. Please note that you cannot post "attachments", but links are okay. An example of the type of announcements that now go out by email and might be posted follows. At our September 15th meeting we can discuss a policy for what should and shouldn't be posted.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Adrienne Fong
Date: Aug 20, 2007 12:50 PM
Subject: Immigration Activist Deported to Mexico

Dear Bishop Shamana, and Conf. Board of Church & Society Folks

Just saw this a couple hours ago...don't know if any of you have seen it yet.

The website below is an article from the S.F. Chronicle about the deportation of Elvira Aralleno, the woman who took sanctuary in a United Methodist Church in Chicago.

Look at the comments after the article, the hatred that is conveyed against "illegal immigrants" is appalling.

With Hope,

Adrienne Fong

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/20/national/a001656D62.DTL&tsp=1

New Website!

At long last the California-Nevada Board of Church and Society is developing a website to better communicate with churches and individuals within our conference. We hope that you find this resource helpful.