WEBSITE DIRECTORS REPORT – OCTOBER 5, 2009

 

AUGUST 2009

August was Nuclear Free Future month and we hosted two moving events to commemorate Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to recommit as we do over and over to work for a world without nuclear bombs and nuclear energy. 

 

On August 6th we handed out paper cranes and the story of Sadako to dozens of folks attending a concert at Energy Park . This gave us the opportunity to interact with children and adults about our hopes for a nuclear free future. We then gathered at Traprock to share thoughts, feelings and music followed by a showing of the documentary "Strangest Dream".

 

On August 7th  Board members and volunteers welcomed the Pagoda peace walkers with a reception at Traprock and a gathering on the Greenfield Town Common. We were very grateful to Randy Kehler who spoke and Lui Collins, Annie Hassett and Storm who gave us music and poetry as we sent the walkers on to Northfield.

 

SEPTEMBER 2009.

In September we welcomed our intern BJ Miller who works with us for 10 hours a week through the Youth Programs of Community Action.  Two projects that BJ has been working on are our rotating art exhibit and planning and implementing all aspects of a program for National Coming Out Day that will be held at Traprock on   Sunday October 11th.

 

We marched in the Franklin County Fair Parade on September 10th and were warmed by the vocal reception of support we received by the onlookers as we marched by. We were a presence during the Fair at a booth we shared with the Concerned Citizens of Franklin County.

 

An evening with Randy Kehler on September 30th  was the program highlight for  September with an overflowing gathering to hear Randy’s talk about his personal understanding of, and life-long commitment to, ‘active nonviolence’. 

 

Our “art wall” is beautiful!  We have large oil paintings by local artist Marilyn Zelwian that reminds us of the beauty of our natural world and our commitment to honoring and protecting it. The wall also includes a moving photographic installation by "Jennifer" that describes the devastation war has brought to her family and a beautiful collage by our intern BJ that expresses the interconnectedness of us all.  We invite everyone to come see our art and peruse our video and book libraries.

 

Programs in the works for October include a presentation by a semester away program in California on October 9th, a celebration of National Coming Out Day on October 11,   a program and film on immigration on October 13th and the first of our Roots of War series on October 27th.  See our calendar for details.   

SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS continue to meet at Traprock including

  • Progressive Democrats of America
  • West Mass Jobs with Justice
  • Greenfield Quakers
  • Just Roots

 

We are currently looking for a compatible organization to share our space (and our rent!)

 

Wish list for the month:

A color copier

A vacuum cleaner that really works

Volunteer time on a regular basis (even if it’s only 1 hour a week)

 

Traprock Hours – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1 – 5 and any other time the flag is waving.