2006 Peace Booth Evaluations
Imagine a World Secure Under an Umbrella of Peace
Thanks To Everyone Who Helped
General Comments
We had about 64 people attend the two orientation sessions. These folks were better prepared to present and discuss the petitions and our material. We, again, heard many positive comments about the orientation meetings and the booth. The fair was from Oct. 13 - Oct. 22.
The war has continued (occupation of Iraq, Afganistan). Americans are getting angry at the US administration. Many are seeing how the money going to the war is hurting our citizens here. Just as we had predicted, many people wanted to talk with us rather than confront us. It seemed that the negative comments were people who said that torture was OK - in the name of redemptive violence.
Coordinators
We had 13 coordinators this year. All but two had done this before which made it easier for Leo and Judy. The coordinators seemed to have little trouble finding volunteers and there were no times when the booth was not staffed.
The Booth
It was in the same location as last year. We notified the
coordinators as soon as we learned where it was located.
Volunteers thought that this was a very positive booth. They liked
Roger Ehrlich's idea of the umbrellas. Again, we posted a sign each
day listing the group who is staffing the booth on the day. This
seemed to go well.
Set up for the booth was on October 11. Jon and Ingrid used her van
and helped David, Ann, Roger, Patrick, Judy and Leo. Take down was
October 23, beginning at 8 PM. Jon and Ingrid took the material to
be stored at Jon's home.. The last shift of the Quaker folks helped
organize the remaining material.
Preparatory Meetings
We began to meet in June, 2006. Debbie had already paid for the
booth. We met at Father Charlie Mulholland Worker House, St.
Christopher Episcopal Church and Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. Two
orientation sessions were held on consecutive nights at Community
United Church of Christ, October 4 &5.
Mailing
We sent out the mailing in July asking for financial
contributions and staffing assistance for the booth. We limited our
mailing again this year to people who had contributed over the last
several years and new volunteers from David Thompson's list. About
12 letters were returned.
Finances
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2006
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2005
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Total money received
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$2,630.00
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$2,485.00
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Total cost of the booth
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$2,700.00
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$2,661.91
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Materials And Their Use
This year we handed out about 4,000 stickers. We now have over 3,000
stickers left from previous years. We made about 1,500 coloring
sheets. We had many left over. Some we give to Patrick and other
teachers. We made 100 copies of the petition text only (3 to a
page) for orientation.
Volunteers
About 15 people volunteered (16 last year) from the appeal letter or contacting Leo by phone or email. One or two volunteer coordinators were assigned for each day and made assignments for coverage of the day. Most coordinators spent the day at the fair and assisted in each shift change.
PETITIONS
Children's Activity
The coloring sheets were great , were used less last year and this
year. We did not have to replace the two sets of magic markers (in
the past years we would use 3 or 4 packs). Volunteers seemed to want
to hand out the stickers, get people to sign the petitions and
encouraged them to take material.
Faith Statements
We told staffers that if someone asks about the church statements, or
have other comments, we need name and phone and/or email. Seven
people asked to be contacted. Patrick O'Neill agreed to contact
these people. He will ask Barbara Cain to help him. Leo saved
church statements and will give a copy of them to Barbara and
Patrick. Leo and Judy developed a
Guideline For Faith Based Peace
Statements that Dave Biesack put on the web site in 2005. Two new
statements were developed using them in 2006.
Bookmarks
The
NC Peace Booth Bookmarks
replaced the PLEASE JOIN US statement. We made 3,750
in 2005, over 1,000 still remain.
Yellow cards
About 13 cards that people could sign, requesting
further information were completed. Most checked all subjects.
Bill agreed to contact the signers. Even though few people
requested additional information, we decided to keep using them next
year.
The Peace Pole
The Peace Pole was standing outside the chapel by the Village of
Yesteryear. Thanks to Leo reminding the State Fair staff, it was
put on a large white metal staff with hooks for flower pots.
Comments From 2006 Suggestions, Problems and Needs
The steering committee read each of the written comments and some of
you will be contacted soon - others will be contacted next Spring.
If you do not hear from us, know that your comment was read and
discussed.
Web Site
Last, but definitely we must say thanks to Dave Biesack for developing our web site in 2005 and updating it in 2006. Hopefully we will be able to use it more as the years go by.
Thanks Again And Peace
We felt that most people who staffed the booth this year seemed well
prepared, were great at engaging
the public and that "PEACE" was very well modeled this year.
We hope to see you next year!
Judy Occhetti-Klohr and Leo Klohr for the Peace Booth Steering Committee