Ventura County Interfaith Community Minutes

 

Regular meeting, August 17, 2006

 

Attendees:        B’Hai – Rene

Buddhist – Debbie, OBT Pure Land;  Kim, SGI Nichiren

Christian – Linda, PS Catholic; Lowell, Mormon; Teri, Tim, St. Columba’s Episcopal;

       Susan, Mt.Cross Lutheran

Jewish – Charlotte, Frieda, Temple Ner Ami

 

Devotional:  Teri – An interfaith twist on the Good Samaritan story

 

Review of Minutes:  Minutes of the July 20th meeting were approved.

 

Activity reports:  Regarding Pioneer Commemoration at Church of Latter Day Saints on July 23,

            Lowell and Teri exchanged compliments on graciousness of reception; Charlotte commented

            on inclusion of children;  Kim and other remarked on the four lay speakers who talked.

 

Regarding hosting Interfaith table at CSUCI student orientations, Linda said she connected a student with Lowell for Mormon activities and had several Catholic inquiries and will seek ways for Padre Serra to serve their needs.

 

Upcoming events in our communities:

 

Aug. 20            Islamic Center Open House, Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, at the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley, 2700 Borchard, NP.  Presentation by imam at 1:30 pm.  Several VCIC members plan to attend.

 

Aug. 20            USC Blood Drive at St.Columba’s; call church for appt. per Teri

 

Aug. 26            Interfaith Party and Pot Luck, Saturday, 2-9 pm, hosted by Jeff Utter in Pasadena;  fliers distributed by Tim.

 

Aug. 27            CSUCI  Student Welcome Day, Sunday;  Rene, Kim, Frieda will staff interfaith table.  Kim to confirm schedule.         

 

Sept. 11           Children of Abraham: An Evening for Prayer and Peace, 7 pm at the Assumption

Hall in Ventura.  A Muslim imam has been confirmed as well as a Jewish rabbi and a

Catholic priest.  Contact is Rachel Torres.  VCIC members may carpool.

 

Sept. 16           California Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, 8:30 to noon;  meet near the tennis courts at Mission Oaks Park.  Wear long pants and sleeves, closed shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and bring gloves.  Participants must sign a liability waiver.

 

Sept. 24           Disaster Preparedness Seminar, Sunday, 9-2 pm, at St. Columba’s; includes free fingerprinting and photo ID for children.

 

Oct. 14-15       Valley Arts Council’s Artist Studios Tour, tickets $20, contact Roz 818-425-4850

 

Nov. 9             VCIC FEAST OF FAITHS, Thursday, 6-8:30 pm, $25; reserve by Nov. 1 with Teri

 

VCIC minutes page 2, August 17, 2006

 

Business:

 

VCIC Email / address list confirmed & corrected by those present. 

ACTION-DEBBIE will complete & send via mail or email to core team.

 

Covenants – Per Rene, Roz’s is missing.  ACTION-TERI See if it turns up; if not Roz will redo one.

 

Letters re: Feast of Faiths went out with returned checks.  Debbie suggested making letter available

to Christian Science host group for their members.  ACTION-TERI Call and see if they need it or what else needs to be done.

 

Coastal Clean-up – VCIC will meet at 8:30 am near the tennis courts at Mission Oaks Park.

ACTION-GROUP: encourage participation by our respective community members and bring first aid kits if possible, in addition to items in event listing above.

            ACTION-DEBBIE: follow up on T-shirts; email info to core team for immediate decision.

            ACTION-KIM: bring extra waiver forms

 

Tickets for VAC Artist Studios Tour – (Roz absent) Group decided not to purchase discounted 

tickets as a fundraiser. 

 

VCIC checking account – ACTION-RENE & TERI will work on it before next meeting.

 

Campus Interfaith CSUCI – per Rene, in addition to Aug. 27 Welcome Weekend, there will be a

panel discussion moderated by John Soyster September 11, 12-1 pm with psychology professors discussing the psychology of terrorism and stereotyping/prejudice (how Moslems feel when they are misjudged).  Next meeting is October 17.

 

Youth Authority Service Projects – Discussion included approaching large companies for donations (Debbie), donation of suitcases for girls moving out such as foster children receive (Susan), approaching foundations or charities such as Tom Delay’s for info or donations (Teri), sale of some inexpensive item such as a laminated bookmark as a fundraiser for VCIC birthday gift to each girl and/or exit package (Linda), collecting clothing and other donations for exit packages which are not as restricted as gifts for the girls staying at the facility.

ACTION-LINDA: bring bookmark, organize holiday project and other options for next meeting

 

FEAST OF FAITHS – Publicity and flyers

 

PRODUCTION – Both SAVE THE DATE, and RESERVATION TEAR-OFF flyers are done.   ACTION-TERI make corrections on flyers and send to core team; produce printed copies of both flyer (200-250 @ .10 ea.) and poster size (30 @ .80 ea.) for the next meeting.

 

DISTRIBUTION via MAIL, EMAIL, MEDIA – Core team will distribute in respective communities. 

ACTION-SUSAN:  set up mailing list and labels for local churches and VIP’s for this and future uses.  Contact Happenings and Star.

ACTION-TIM:  document procedures he followed when notifying churches and other organizations of VCIC and member community functions.  (basically 1-2 mos. ahead for monthly newsletters; 1 week ahead for weekly bulletins; well-timed email reminders, etc.)

VCIC minutes page 3, August 17, 2006

 

FEAST OF FAITHS – FORMAT will include:

            Introduction of dignitaries

            CD’s provided by core team for background music

            Performances—probably NOT, too disruptive of the dialogue purpose of the gathering; 

ACTION-DEBBIE: check on possibility of taiko drums as an option

            Literature table—definitely YES; very popular at the Forum;  probably NO on SALES at the

table (such as Rabbi Lotker selling his book there)

ACTION-RENE: research parameters of “unrelated business expenses” and

types of sales permissible under non-profit guidelines

 

NEXT MEETING:  September 14, devotional by Frieda