Meeting Minutes 2/2/00

Sister Parish Committee meetings are held the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7 pm. in the school. Newcomers are always welcome. If you have questions, please contact any of the members of the committee.

What follows are the minutes of the Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000 meeting.

Rick and Louise will coordinate with each other to bring some Sister Parish materials to the Peace Prize Forum at St. Olaf in mid-February. There will be a Peace Fair on Friday afternoon the 18th where we should be able to set up a table to explain the Sister Parish concept to the delegates. Anyone wishing to join Louise and Rick for either the 18th or Sat. the 19th should call them.

As a note to clear confusion, Bob's friend Laureano from TNII who will be attending the World AA conference this summer in the Twin Cities is attending as an invitee of Bob and his AA groups. The trip is not Sister Parish related.

Denis Mudderman, SP Inc. director, thanked us for our recent 2 mailings that we coordinated for them. He was wondering if we had any interest in continuing with the bulk mailings. We decided against doing more mailings at this time.

In a letter from Jackie, she tells that Walter brought members of 3 Guatemalan Sister Parishes to the inauguration of a Mayan man who was elected mayor of Chichipate. This was an historic election and there were some threats of violence against the newly elected mayor and his followers.

Our winter retreat did not occur (is winter over??) this year. We discussed the concept of a group camping experience close to the Cities to accommodate the committee members with small children. In this scenario, a schedule would be set and followed so those that cannot attend the whole weekend could attend portions. The weekend of June 23/24 was suggested. Joel will check on campground availability.

Also on the social front, Carol and Vicki are co-sponsoring a potluck on Sat. Feb. 12th at Carol's. Potluck will begin at 5:30 at 4127 Wentworth Ave. S.(612/822-5282). The group will go contra dancing afterwards.

Mindy has some promotional packets on SP Inc. to use with churches considering forming an hermanamiento. She can get more if anyone has knowledge of a church interested.

The Lenten Discussion Series is on for Wednesday evenings after soup supper and the short prayer service on March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12. Louise and Rick will be the co-leaders. The main text is "Refusing to Forget: A Study Guide on Guatemala:Never Again."(on the REMHI report) She has 10 copies of the study guide as well as 10 copies of a supplementary book, "The Economic Way of the Cross". Discussion members can purchase both for a suggested donation of $10 or look on with someone else. This discussion will be advertised in the ArcAngle and is obviously open to anyone. The session will start after Prayer Service at about 7:30 and run 'til 9. If you wish to participate, call Louise at 651.645.6821 or email at eidsmoel@aol.com .

Most who read this have read the recent communication from TNII. If you have not it is on the website at http://www.stjoan.com/sp/tnii.html . Discussion of it centered on the confusion of delegation dates. They suggest April, May, or October. April and May are out for Walter and Jackie and we had suggested November. Louise will ask Susan to seek clarification on the dates. We, as a committee, decided to propose 2 date possibilities. Sat., Oct. 28-Sun., Nov. 5(Halloween, boo!) or Sat. Nov. 18-Sun., Nov. 26(Thanksgiving).

It's that time of year again. Rick is soliciting ideas for this Easters alfombra. If you have a design idea contact Rick at 651.698.6224 or rick.nelson@co.hennepin.mn.us .

Alys Spensely from the 1st youth delegation has recently had gall bladder surgery and is home from college resting. She is doing fine. Please keep her in your prayers. Cards could be sent to 5117 Chicago Av. S Mpls. 55417.

Louise has set meeting dates for the rest of the year 2000. Those of you super organized people can jot them down off the website at http://www.stjoan.com/sp/ue.html