28th Annual
New England Regional Gathering of War Tax Resisters and Supporters
War Tax Resistance in Connection:
HELPING US HELP EACH OTHER
Special Friday evening presentation by Cindy Sheehan
Fri.-Sun., Sept. 27-29, 2013
Amazing Planet! Farm & Justice Center
218 Depot Road
Williamsville, Vermont
(Brattleboro area)
Theme & background of this year's Gathering: As War Tax Resisters, it is in the very nature of our resistance that we undertake bold and mindful actions of conscience. We bear witness to the appropriation and expenditure of our common wealth for immoral and sometimes heinous purposes. By its nature, War Tax Resistance confronts, to one degree or another, the most powerful governments in the world.
For support we rely, also to one degree or another, on our fellow Resisters and many other sympathetic and supportive people and organizations within the spheres of our own personal lives.
But what about our loved ones whom we sometimes simply scare the daylights out of by our seemingly stubborn insistence to do the right thing? What about friends and family for whom following their own deepest moral makeup requires them to honor the commitments and responsibilities of relationship, and who are understandably challenged by our practice of Resistance, with all its potential fear, economic difficulty, and social implications?
At this year's Gathering, we'll talk about this. We invite Resisters, those exploring Resistance, and supportive non-Resisters to attend and take part in a real sharing of the challenges and gifts of being a War Tax Resister or being close to one. We'll share our stories about these relationships and attempt to improve them by giving voice and time for understanding to these sometimes difficult situations.
Our Friday night session will feature peace activist and War Tax Resister Cindy Sheehan! Cindy will speak about her own experience, which is broader than WTR, and is sure to start us off with a powerful preface to resistance and relationship.
Cindy Sheehan is a resister and activist whose son, U.S. Army Specialist Casey Sheehan, was killed in the U.S. War on Iraq. She came to international attention in 2005 for her extended antiwar protest at a makeshift camp outside of President Bush's Texas ranch. On April 4, the 9-year anniversary of the day Casey was killed in action, Cindy began the "Tour de Peace" from his gravesite in Vacaville, CA. This cross-country bicycle trip ended in Washington, DC, on July 3rd.
Weekend schedule
Friday
5-7 pm: Registration and dinner
7:15-9 pm: Cindy Sheehan Talk: "Peace Mom: A
Mother's Journey Through Heartache and
Activism"
Saturday
7:15-8 am: Yoga (Gentle Mindful Stretch)
8-9 am: Breakfast
9:15-10:15 am: Panel discussion: WTR in
Connection. Cindy Sheehan will join other
WTRs, their family members, and friends in
sharing their stories.
10:30-11:30 am: Facilitated small groups: Personal
response to the panel -- sharing our own stories
of connection, disconnection, and bridge
building
11:30 am-12:15 pm: 2nd round of small groups
(same as above, but to allow for maximum
sharing, participants are new to each other and
not from the previous small group.)
12:30 -1:15 pm: Lunch
1:30-2:30 pm: Discussion topics. Choose one:
1) Reaching out to other communities of
resistance – building the movement
2) Support for non-WTR family and friends
3) Support for WTRs in need
4) Arts response to connection, disconnection,
and bridge building
5) Other suggested topics
2:45-3:45 pm: Reconnect in a large group. Open
discussion. (For example, time to talk about our
life as a WTR, of life with a WTR, without
being held to a certain topic of discussion.)
4-5 pm: 1) Q&A for new and potential WTRs or
2) Planning for next year's gathering
5-6 pm: Free time
6-7 pm: Dinner
7:30-9 pm: Talent show. Bring your instruments, voices,
songs, poetry, jokes, skits, etc.
Sunday
7:15-8 am: Mindful Yoga
8-9 am: Breakfast
9:15-10:45am: Options: Circle Dance with an
experienced dance leader or join in on a work
project at Amazing Planet! Farm
11 am-12 noon: Regional reports, announcements
12 noon-1:30 pm: Lunch and clean-up
Location & facilities
Amazing Planet! Farm & Justice Center is a working organic farm and retreat center located 10 miles northwest of downtown Brattleboro, VT. This is our second Gathering held at this location – a place of beauty and progressive values! (prior was 2009) www.amazingplanetfarm.com. We'll send detailed directions in reply to your submitted registration form.
There is ample indoor floor space for sleeping and outside areas for tenting (bring your own bedding). For folks who require or desire a real bed, we will coordinate arrangements with hosts in the area. Beds are available at the Center for a limited number of people. Please note housing check-offs on the registration form.
Children are welcome! If you need child care, please note it on the registration form.
Pets are not invited to the farm. Service animals, of course, are welcome.
Please feel free to inquire with any questions or concerns you might have – we're eager to make it a great weekend for everyone.
Meals
Six fabulous meatless meals will be provided from Friday supper through Sunday lunch. Please tell us on the registration form about any special dietary needs or restrictions.
Registration
The nominal cost for the weekend is $60 per adult. As always, we operate on a sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Pay less if necessary, more if possible. The challenge is for us to just break even, so we ask folks to keep this in mind. No charge for children under 12.
For those attending the Friday evening Cindy Sheehan presentation only, we suggest a donation of $10 to defray Cindy's travel costs from California.
It's really helpful for planning purposes if we receive a registration form ahead of time. It also really helps if a deposit is included (any convenient amount), or if the registration is prepaid. Please mail to Jenny at the address in the form by Wednesday, September 18. Make checks payable to Jenny Wright.
For questions or more information, contact Jenny Wright at (603) 543-0910 or Daniel Sicken at (802) 387-2798. For email registration, email Daniel at: dhsicken@yahoo.com.
Registration Form
New England WTR weekend
Name(s):
Mailing address:
Phone:
E-mail
Enclosed is my deposit of $ payable to "Jenny Wright". Cost for the entire weekend is $60 per adult. (See Registration section.)
Accommodations (X those that apply):
__ I need housing for: __ Fri. night __Sat. night.
__ I will utilize floor space for sleeping.
__ Please reserve a bed for me.
__ I will arrange my own housing or will not need it.
__ I will bring a tent and sleep outside.
Number of adults attending:
Childcare:
__ I need childcare. Please list ages:
Rideshare:
__ I need a ride from:
__ I can offer a ride from:
Meals: (X meals desired)
___ Fri. supper ___Sat. breakfast ___Sat. lunch
___ Sat. supper ___Sun. breakfast ___Sun. lunch
Please list below any special needs pertaining to mobility, diet, or health concerns we should be aware of.
Return this form by September 18 to:
Jenny Wright/WTR Gathering
168A Quaker City Road
Charlestown, NH 03603
Phone Jenny at: (603) 543-0910
Email registration: Daniel Sicken, dhsicken@yahoo.com
Tel. (802) 387-2798
Walk-in registration is also possible, but we encourage you to register in advance, which will help with planning meals and housing. We can only guarantee child care for those who pre-register.