MEETING NOTES MAY 18, 2012

EDUCATION WORKING GROUP – NOTES FOR MAY 18, 201

Present: Ronna l., Sandy R., Alice W., Dianne F. Marcia L.

Members arrived over time so we had a lively conversation with overlapping talk and wide ranging subjects.

Starting out we talked about the use of words and how they matter. This is a takeoff on George Lakoff’s work starting with “Don’t Think of an Elephant”. IT is important to know which words the conservatives use and then how they use their words against progressives. Examples are we should use NATURE instead of environment as we are put into a “socialist” box when we use the term environment. Another example given was that conservatives say progressives are using “class warfare” when we fight back. We agreed we need to find the best words to refer to the Public Commons in order to oppose the push to private land ownership.

We discussed Healthcare as a worthwhile teaching topic. “How did we get it – How can we keep it”. The Bellingham Senior Center has a Readers Theater Group and the group agreed it would be a good idea to contact this group to see about doing a teaching on a subject they would like to hear about.

The approach when contacting other groups will be to make a neighbor. Alyce and Sandy agreed to make initial contact with this group.

Another teaching topic could be “What Happened/Is Happening in Wisconsin?” The point was made that we are hearing nothing from the White House about Wisconsin nor from the DNC. Suggested that we could look into Democratic Party Wisconsin and Daily Kos for information. The vote will be final on June 5 so we are behind on this. We could use the web site to create links to such important events in the future.

Dianne suggested we each invite 2 other people to the ED group on Friday June 1. We are interested in;

What they would like from #OB
Why they would join #OB
Why they believe #OB exists

There is a teaching at the Nooksack United Methodist Church on Sunday May 20 at 4:00. With the goal of meeting neighbors Ronna said she would try to make this meeting.

Alyce said she would contact the Joe show in 3-4 weeks to get on and give an Occupy Bellingham update.

The group sang John Prine’s Paradise song and Dianne will send along the 3 new verses (Paradise Redux) that she has.

Next meeting will be June 1 – Friday at 1:00 pm.

Paradise by John Prine

When I was a child, my family would travel

Down to western Kentucky where my parents were born

And there’s a backwoods old town that’s often remembered

So many times that my memories are worn.

And Daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County

Down by the Green River where Paradise lay?

Well I’m sorry my son, but you are too late in asking

Mr. Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away.