By Robert Weir
Congressional District Team Leader, MI-6
July 8, 2008

Having a dozen of our Dept. of Peace Campaign members from Southwest Michigan attend the Midwest Regional Conference was one of the best things we have done. The enthusiasm emanating from those who attended is extremely high. One of those dozen asked permission to organize and host a post-conference discussion, which we did this past Tuesday. Eight of the dozen were there, and a ninth sent written comments.

These people are now abuzz with fresh ideas regarding how to generate more enthusiasm within our group and communities. Many of these ideas are adaptations and extensions of what they heard from Marianne Williamson, Lynn McMullen, Kathy Kidd, the nonviolent communications presenters, Robert Koehler, Colleen Mills, you and others they encountered there.

This enthusiasm stemmed from our group's fundraising efforts. In 2007, we stated our intention to raise enough money to pay for the lodging of anyone who wanted to attend the Midwest Conference, with registration and transportation being the responsibility of the attendees. About half of those who attended said they went because of this lodging scholarship. We slept two or three to a room, and the cost for the dozen was $1,100--a great investment.

We are now stating our intention to raise $3,000 to provide lodging for as many attendees as possible at the national conference in March 2009. As a district leader, I highly suggest that other district groups consider this concept.

Our fundraisers within the past year have been a yard sale, a program by Swami Beyondananda, a program by a local comedy improv group, and donations from t-shirts, cloth totes, buttons and bumper stickers. This year, we are looking at a Peace Talent Show in various communities and an ongoing nonviolent communications training program. We will likely do a peace march next May.