Our yearly fund raising letter -- November 21, 2011
Dear Friends of the Center:
For the past 25 years, the Neahtawanta Center has persevered as a voice for peace, justice and environmental preservation. We are small, yet persistent! Thank you for your past support. We hope that you will continue with a contribution for the coming year.
Over the years we have faced challenges large and small at the Center. Our longtime supporters will recall the early days as we adjusted to using our first MacIntosh computer back in 1987!
For the next 12 years we published Synapse, a quarterly tabloid-sized newsletter/paper with in depth articles on many topics related out our mission and goals. Some of you will recall informative and stimulating articles by people like Stephanie Mills, and board members: the late (and beloved) John Schneider, Jim Crowfoot and Ruth Carey, David Haenke, Ben Drake, Michael Cline, M.D. along with many other insightful contributors.
The late ''80's and early '90's brought the challenge of the first George Bush presidency and the first Gulf War. Many of you joined us for peace rallies and street protests during those years. The Center also met the challenge of the biased corporate media monopoly by becoming involved in the independent media movement and remain involved today.
As we entered the 21st century it became clear that a sense of humor was essential to keep our spirits up. So, the Center, and a rambunctious troop of activists formed GAG, the Guerrilla Action Group. We held hilarious potlucks, wrote scripts, made costumes, performed street theater, skits and even got booted out of the Mall on Buy Nothing Day. (Do we need to resurrect GAG?)
The events of 9/11/01 brought new, sobering challenges, first with the bombing of Afghanistan, then Gulf War II, with our invasion of Iraq. Again, street protests, education and helping to promote the mindset that "another world is possible" was the response at the Neahtawanta Center.
The early 2000's also called us to challenge the "culture of excess" and the popular mindset that resources and growth have no limits.
In addition to the large challenges, and sprinkled through-out the years were events large and small, sponsored by the Center: salons, celebrations of Earth holidays, speakers, workshops, All Species Parades for Earth Day, teach-ins, peace meditations, discussions, concerts, non-violence trainings, annual candlefloats and other events to build a strong, viable community. The Center also collaborates on projects and events with other local non-profit organizations.
For the past several years the Center has focused on the concept of community resilience. It is clear from the lens of resilience that our non-linear complex social-economic system is unpredictable. Unforeseen thresholds will be crossed that will take us into economic chaos and climate disruption. Experts are able to give us some possible outcomes but there are simply too many variables to know what will occur in the near future. That is why we feel that the concept of resilience is the frame we need to use. A resilient community is more adaptable, has diverse solutions and a high level of social capital to deal with issues of justice and governance. We are encouraged by the emerging global citizen movement for justice. Around the world, ordinary people are standing up and demanding a more just system.
Now, as many of you know, we are facing the personal resilience challenge of Bob’s cancer diagnosis last May. We are very happy to report that he is responding well to chemotherapy and the cancer is diminishing. He is continuing to undergo treatment and we are optimistic. We are so fortunate to have an incredibly supportive community and the availability of complementary medicine. Deep thanks to those who have been aware of Bob’s health situation and have given us emotional support. It helps immensely. We are grateful and hopeful.
Please go here to see the lists our current projects and plans for the coming year.
We feel very blessed to have been able to focus on these important issues for the past 25 years. The support of you, our community, has made this possible. Every donation, large and small, is important to us and much appreciated.
With respect,
-- Sally Van Vleck Bob Russell
P.S. We haven’t been making plans too far down the road these days, but stay tuned for an invitation to join us in June to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Center!