Amnesty Group Meeting 13th September 2012 - Notes and Actions

Those present - Richard, Maureen, Steve, Doug, Mu and Mike were at the meeting and we had apologies from Audrey, Tricia, Julian, Cherry and Heidrun.

From the last meeting - still no response from AI UK re Monthly Mailing; Mike to e-mail again.

Campaigns - Arms Trade: Doug had been continually put off by James Duddridge who had avoided meeting him to discuss the Arms Trade Treaty. A decision on the treaty had in any case been deferred. LGBT: Richard summarised recent events in LIBERIA, MOLDOVA, NORTHERN IRELAND, SCOTLAND, UGANDA,UKRAINE and the UK (his full report will get on the web site later!). Nothing to report on Poverty & Human Rights, Death Penalty, or Women's Rights.

Treasurer - We have £717.29 in the bank and agreed to send a further £200 to AI UK. Likely expenses for the Greeting Card Campaign necessitated keeping a larger than usual balance in the account.

Fundraising - Steve has the latest AI UK catalogue - if you see anything you like in the catalogue or on line at https://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=431&ArticleID=431 then please order it through Steve 01702 47191 as the Group benefits.                        

After the Show on Saturday we haven't got any more fundraising events fixed but Maureen is investigating another meal at the Taj Mahal in Leigh in November and a Lazybones Boot Sale stall at Leigh Station early next year. Plans for an Art Lottery in autumn 2013 are  proceeding - after another meeting of a working group in August we're pursuing SEC as a possible venue. Mike will investigate whether AI UK's insurance covers an event like this for damage/loss/theft.

Publicity - We had a stall at the SEC Freshers' Fair on 20th September - Richard, Mike & Mu set up and "manned" the stall. We have a display at Southend Central Library 8th - 10th October; AI UK have no new exhibitions so it will be a general display about AI and the Group. Mike will ask Martin to help set it up and take it down.

Secretary - There is a "Skill Share" at AI UK on Saturday 6th October: contact training@amnesty.org.uk  if you're interested. Lisbeth ten Ham, the E Anglia Regional AI Rep, will be at our October meeting. AI had eventually informed us that Solomon Madzore, a Zimbabwean who Stanford Biti had asked about, is not a Prisoner of Conscience. Mike has received a Regional Update and a paper on International Issues - if you want to see them ask him for a copy (Maureen will be sent a copy of the paper on International Issues). There was a strike at AI UK on 12th September in protest against the cuts being imposed to balance the budget. It was agreed that the Group would buy Mike's next box of A4 printer paper as a contribution to his admin expenses.

Monthly Campaigning - After tea and biscuits and a therapeutic few minutes spent sticking Group address labels on leaflets and posters we signed a petition on behalf of Reggie Clemons who is on death row in the USA, which you can do on-line at https://protectthehuman.amnesty.org.uk/actions/stop-the-execution-of-reggie-clemons. We also wrote letters on behalf of two Prisoners of Conscience - Chen Zhenping in China and Amadou Scattred Janneh in The Gambia. Details of their cases and how to act on their behalf are attached below.

That's it for now - don't forget:

Next Meeting Thursday 11th October at Avenue Baptist Church, Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 7JX