Minutes for November 2019

Meeting minutes for Wednesday, 20 November 2019
In attendance: Barbara, Bob, Jeff, Gina, Tilo, Struan, Marsha

Welcome and Introductions

Reports

• Minutes (Marsha)
• Treasurer (Tilo)
• Social media director (Barbara)
• Group 342 coordinator (Jeff): Update on the new Amnesty International Main Line Group
• Planned for September launch, but Edwin didn't send out invitations to local AIUSA members, so decided to wait
• October (launch meeting): 1300 invitations sent, 1 person showed up
• November (second meeting): 2600 invitations sent, meeting was canceled but there was 1 walk-in

Special Report on AIUSA Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference (Bob and Barb)

• Held in downtown Richmond, VA
• Bob's report
• Session on what to say (and not to say) when being interviewed as a representative of Amnesty International
• Session called "Stop State-Sanctionoed Killing in the US"
• PLAN method: proportionality, legality, accountability, necessity
• several states considering legistration on what police can and can't do
• Session on climate change
• Local group caucus (Prachi has left AI; Angelina C is now our new area rep) 
•  "What would Eleanor Roosevelt say? Are human rights universal?"
• In July 2019 Secretary of State Pompeo started a new commission on human rights (to distinguish between the universal declaration and ad hoc right)
• Human Rights First sent a letter to Pompeo on 23 July 2019 to express concern about the commission elevating religion and trying to redefine some "inalienable" right in the Declaration as ad hoc
• Barb's report
• Session on women's human rights activists in Saudi Arabia: ask the U.S. Senate to support S.Res.73 in support of them
• Session on detainment of children in Homestead, Florida (AI wants to close that center)

New Business
Should we consider a new meeting site?

Actions
2019 Write for Rights cards and letters, part 1 (prepared by Bob and Barbara)

Upcoming Events

• Fundraising committee meeting: Sunday, 24 November 2019, 9:30 a.m. Green Street Grill in Downingtown
• Next group meeting: Wednesday, 18 December 2019, 7:30 p.m., Wegmans cafe in Malvern