National War Tax Resistance
Coordinating Committee Meeting
May 1, 2022 * Online
Present:
Lincoln Rice, NWTRCC Coordinator (Milwaukee, WI); Erica Leigh, AdComm (Seattle, WA); Chrissy Kirchoefer, NWTRCC Outreach Consultant (St. Louis, MO); Peter Smith, Michiana WTR (South Bend, IN); Rick Bickhart, Co-Treasurer (Staunton, VA); Susan Miller & Mel Lehman (Hesston, KS); Jerry Maynard, AdComm (Houston, TX); Ruth Benn (Brooklyn, NY); Sarah Weber (Topeka, KS); Cathy Deppe (Los Angeles, CA); Sue Barnhart, AdComm (Eugene, OR); Robert Randall (Brunswick, GA); Bill Glassmire (Corvallis, OR); Ed Hedemann (Brooklyn, NY); Eleanor Forman (New York, NY); Derek Brett (Geneva, Switzerland).
1 – Peter went over the NWTRCC consensus process. (https://nwtrcc.org/PDFs/NWTRCC_Handbook.pdf)
Cards Announcements: For those who have had IRS interactions or some personal reason.
2 – Consultant Reports
Coordinator (PDF report) – Lincoln’s Coordinator Report (separate document). Answers to questions: Instagram interaction? Yes, we need to provide more/better info and get on TikTok; newsletter work time? I spend about one intense week on newsletter every 2 months; Should we get off Twitter? We probably shouldn’t be on any social media based on concerns with owners, but young folks recognize this as a necessary evil.
Outreach Consultant (PDF report) – Chrissy’s Outreach Consultant Report (separate document). Answers to questions: Overlap of audience on Twitter, Instagram, and FB? Mostly different demographics by age. FB includes more of our network. What about groups that don’t hear WTR message? Dissenters is a group we’ve looked at. Kathy Kelly recently became president of World Beyond War board. Follow up youth panel yesterday.
3 – Review Objectives (PDF Approved 2022 Objectives)
Poor People’s Campaign Rally – DC June 18, can we have a presence there. Lincoln & Ruth will reach out see if any network folks going? Rick might go…
Anti-racism training; Perhaps a session at a NWTRCC conference would set the stage; go over terms, etc.
7b needs to be expanded in November. – put under network…
4 – Finances (Financial Statement & Finance Report Notes)
Comments:
Suggestion to make a contribution to CPTI as a member, but Erica notes that NWTRCC not a legally recognized NGO, so we cannot be a member.
Went over raffle – note made that the travel destination prizes may not be used.
5- Ad Comm Nominations (Two Nominees and Background Info)
Consensus reached: Unanimously Approved
6 – No Proposals & Endorsements
7 – Future Gathering Locations / 40th Anniversary
Straw poll: How many folks fairly confident they would attend November in person? about an even number of yes/no with large inbetween.
40th ideas – slideshow, panel with reps from different decades (Ed Hedemann for 1980s); where are they now (staff)? Trivia;
Get recollections from all folks present at the founding. Oral history recording. Stream it somewhere/ Pacifica radio/ social media. Remembrance ceremony for all those lost over 40 years. Robert/ Ed / Erica/ Sue/ Rick/ Susan Miller volunteered for an ad-committee for 40th anniversary. Booklet: Map with location of all online conference, pics–sell for money. Info from alt funds about $ given away; amount resisted over 40 yrs by folks in our network.
8 – International Meeting – CPTI (Conscience & Peace Tax International) Conference; Sept 16 – Sept 19, 2022 in Geneva; UN Human Rights Council will be talking conscientious objection near these dates. www.peacetaxinternational.org – Lincoln will pass on info to all at this meeting & Peter D.
9 – Evaluation of the Weekend
Sue – loves us all, sad to meet online; Chrissy – digesting info nutrients of the weekend; Bill – thank you to organizers, sorry it’s not in person, hoping to get rid of war in next 40 years; Sarah – better internet connection this meeting, loves being with like-minded folks at this meeting; Robert – feeling good about NWTRCC’s trajectory and we’re continuing to function better in an online world; very appreciative of NWTRCC’s 40 years of work; always forward thinking and on the cutting edge; Ruth – numbers down this meeting, but a few new folks; perhaps should have done short go-arounds to begin Saturday session; sterling young folks who were on panel; Cathy – great meeting, inspiring group, quit Zoom for just about everything else. feels good about increases on social media; Jerry – another good meeting, visionary group; Rick – good panels, especially young folks, appreciates great work of NWTRCC & consultants with tiny budget; Peter – appreciate of work for conference, perhaps a small groups break out sessions about panels. Ed – pass; Erica – good to see everyone, doesn’t want a NWTRCC COVID spreader event; most energizing part was sitting in on 101 workshop; Eleanor – always enjoy these conferences, can’t travel, glad they are on Zoom; Susan – Friday was good. good to see all the smiles. Lincoln: Getting better at online meeting; Thanks the AdComm – Sue & Jerry !!!! Chrissy Outreach Committee – debrief of young people panel. Ruth – setting up special Ukraine meeting online; Chrissy might organiz
