KAIROS ATLANTIC

KAIROS ANNUAL ATLANTIC REGIONAL MEETING

                                             Tatamagouche Center , September 25-26, 2009

 

Kenn Stright, our Regional Rep. welcomed us asking everyone to give their name and a word or two about their activity.  Tim Devlin and his wife Pauline, from St. Stephen looked after registration and also worship.  Tim pointed out the Jubilee quilt covering the table in the center of the room and the rocks in the center (which are part of the earth).  Madelaine Huntjens guided us in two Native ceremonies of worship, at the beginning and at the close and in an early morning sunrise ceremony.   Cathy Scott played the drum and sang a native water song as a gathering to begin our meeting.  We all joined in.  Our guest from head office was Dorothy McDougall (ecological justice).

Before leaving the gathering, Kenn described this as being the best of times and the worst for the Atlantic Area.  It is a transition period and we have no idea what Kairos will look like when this is ended.  The National Gathering was good for all. 

 

Reports from Groups:

 

TRURO— Doris McCallum told us about the IZZY dolls, over a thousand, were sent with materials to Africa and used as packing material, and then given out to the children.

Used Hospital material– we are in the process of building a new hospital in Truro and we are attempting to make the right connections so that what can be used will be sent overseas. Don Hamilton is spearheading this.

Also we are supporting the digging of wells in Africa .  

Concerning generic drugs for Africa , which are less expensive and needed, Don Hamilton encouraged all to support this effort.  There are many barriers in the way even though people are dying.  A company was able to do this (Apotex) and they had to get a special license.  Finally they were able to send these drugs to Africa but it took four years and then they gave up.  Write to you Senator, Health Minister and your MP.

Doris McCallum told us that all our activities are reported at Presbytery meetings. 

 

P.E.I.—Jim and Myrna Wicks have been very active in spite of having only three members (Mary Boyd) is the third.  They have made very good use of the grants available from the Anti Poverty Fund and had a workshop where 125 people from all over the province attended.  This funding has since been cut and they are very upset because to have special speakers needs money.

 They have also been to Guatemala with Kathryn Anderson and encouraged any who have a chance to go because it is well worth it.

They expressed their appreciation for the teaching material that Kairos has available and said it was excellent.

 

ST. STEPHEN–Tim told us about an activity that included food on three levels and a chance to educate people about poverty and about the different diet of people.  In Haiti , one of the poorest countries in the world, they make a cookie of clay, butter and salt.  Then there is bannock and noodles. Finally a roast beef diner. 

In the Spring they were at a pub with university people.  There was music, an information booth, a sale of brownies, Fair Trade coffee and chocolate and all this began with a worship service.  There was a good attendance.

 

SAINT JOHN—Judson Corey read a report from Sister Angie: Held monthly meetings from Oct. to May.  March 22, in collaboration with the local chapter of the Council of Canadians, we celebrated World Water Day.  The event consisted of an ecumenical prayer service followed by the film, FLOW which depicts the evils of the privatization of water services. 

March 24, we and the Council of Canadians hosted the directors and producers of the documentary, Myths For Profit, showing Canada ’s role in industries of war and peace.

“Myths For Profit” was one of the films in the “Faith and Public Policy Video Series” of which we are co-sponsors with Germain Street Baptist Church . These are shown on the last Thursday of each month, ending with “Gandhi” in April.

Good Friday, April 10, with the local Way of the Cross committee, we held a Contemporary Ecumenical Way of the Cross through the streets of the city.  Theme: “Our Complicity with the Empire”.

April 4, we hosted a public information session with Stephen Allen, member of the national board of KAIROS.  Purpose was educational to make KAIROS better known.

During the year we wrote two letters, in the name of our group, to our MP Rodney Weston: oppose the Canada -Columbia Free Trade Agreement and asking that he vote against it with copies to the Prime Minister, Leaders of the Opposition.  One letter sent in January and the other in April.

 

FREDERICTON and area —Advertising Kairos but no cluster.  Selling oil from the Holy Land .

 

SACKVILLE—Education on the Sustainability of Green Energy.  Margaret Tusz-King is a counselor for the area and has a great opportunity to educate on Climate Action. Will link Kairos into these activities. 

 

CAPE BRETON—People here are working on their own.  They make pneumonia vests to send to Africa because many of the infants die from pneumonia and these vests are sent to them.

 

HALIFAX—-Working on environment and poverty reduction strategy. John Lewis was in Halifax for a workshop and the group hoped to have his services but the weather didn’t cooperate with a storm warning. There is still time to protest Free Trade with Columbia .  First reading is over and passed but it wasn’t easy.  Two more to go.

Joined the Canada Wide Coalition—Turn on the Taps.  Good to get the Municipalities on board. 

Will be welcoming families from Palestine and showed the film “The Courage for Peace” by Linda Diamond.

 

Report– Dorothy McDougall (national Kairos staff)

It’s been a tumultuous two years.  Her work involves connecting with the grass roots and the travel allowance has gone through the roof.

A game for thought and information:  You will find it in CREATING A CLIMATE FOR JUSTICE. 

This is not just about changing weather but about Justice and Morality. Keep in mind Copenhagen in December.  Also in the same information booklet take a look at: Your Own Greenhouse Gas Emissions, page 15.

At 7:00 PM there was a movie on the Kairos Church Leaders’ Tour of the Tar Sands.

 

Campaign 3—Climate For Justice (Dorothy McDougall)

To promote various groups to work together, both international and national and to engage local politicians.  To reduce our Carbon production in the North so to help the South, to respect indigenous rights, adapt to change, make use of workshops and Dorothy is open to be invited, make material available (Carbon Sabbath Initiative) to your group.

We have hired a person to make better use of the Internet and to hear voices from the South to tell their stories.  A new media person is hired, Nik Beeson.

 

Linda Scherzinger—Climate Change- don’t despair-get out there.  Get involved with student groups, get the message to our leaders.  We need effective voices if we are to be effective and to keep the momentum going to Copenhagen in December.

The WHY? WHAT? HOW? Game: Why are we where we are? What can we do about it? and How can we do it?. To avoid the worst results of climate change—we need to change, question our lifestyle to connect the environment with economics, start a count down to Copenhagen, advertise our information—buttons (350.org). 

 

Kairos Strategic Planning (2010-2015)–planning programming for the next five years and looking for input.  Date given for submission of info. is October 19 and this is a discussion paper. To assess the working together of groups, churches and especially how we do it now and in the future.  The need to rebuild our grass roots, to have regional gatherings, bring in speakers and be notified when speakers are in our area and to work more closely with the churches when possible.

 

ARC (A):  Eric and Margaret Tusz-King– Group meets four or five times a year in Riverview in a church basement.  Concerning this the Center has received money to help share resources and to educate about native rights.  In July there was a “Peace and Friendship Gathering” on right relationships held in Tatamagouche at the Center and sixty people attended with a sound system and a sweat lodge.  The United Church was very glad to make a donation.  Another gathering in Sept. and youth is involved. 

Big Cove First Nations will host a gathering in November.  If you attend be sure to have something to exchange.

 

Business Meeting:

$5,000 is available for next year.  We will stay here at the Center same as this year the last week in Sept. 25, 26 (Saturday and Sunday) and we are looking at meeting in Fredericton in 2011. 

 

Climate Change: Whatever we are planning as activities on Oct. 24 and leading up to Dec. and the conference in Copenhagen be sure to take pictures, make petitions available to be signed, contact MPs, big business, Premiers, Make banners, ring bells. 

 

Send pictures and notes to Sara Stratton.

 

Budget 2008………..Income

Opening Balance (includes $2,413.57)……………$2,361.16

                              (Reserve Fund)

National Grant……………………………………………..$5,000.00

AGM…………………………………………………………..$1,062.75

Diocese NS/PEI……………………………………………$   100.00

Total Income………………………………………………..$8,523.91

 

Expenditures:

Bank Charges..(Service)……………………………….$      24.00

Checks………………………………………………………..$     34.00   Total $58.00

Telephone..Aliant…………………………………………$    203.01

Tatamagouche Center……………………………………$ 3,013.71

Travel (NL Anti-Poverty Fund),                         $    683.96

Travel, Mary Boyd……………………………………..  $      75.18

Honorarium (Robert Massoud)………………………$     100.00

Photo copying (Bulletins, D McCallum…………..$     166.40

other, B. McDonald.)…………………………………….$       30.51

Snacks AGM (S.Murphy)………………………………$        38.61

Grant to travel to NAPO conference……………….$      250.00

                             ( S. Murphy)

Total Expenses……………………………………………..$    4,619.38

 

Balance  (includes $2,413.57 Reserve Fund)……$    3,904.53

 

Budget (Atlantic KAIROS, 2009)

 

Income:

Opening Balance……………………………………. …. $       3,904.53

Bank Charges………………………………………………$            24.00

Telephone……………………………………………………$          360.00

Photocopying , Printing……………………………. …$          200.00

Travel………………………………………………………….$       1,900.00

Snacks……………………………………………………….. $            40.00

Tatamagouche Center…………………………………..  $       4,400.00

Total……………………………………………………………$        7,024.00

 

Nominations:

The slate of officers was approved for 2010. Kenn Stright has stepped down as Atlantic Regional Rep. Bev McDonald will work with the new Regional Rep.

 

Rhoda Hogan,

Atlantic Regional Kairos