Branches Roundup
Published on June, 43 2015
Photo: Virginia Pratt, David Rothauser and Marie Louise Jackson Miller represent WILPF at the Veterans for Peace Memorial event in Boston on May 25. Photo by Michael Borkson, WILPF Boston
Remembering soldiers, civilians
By Virginia Pratt, WILPF Boston Branch
David Rothauser spoke eloquently about WILPF's 100th anniversary and Article 9 at the May 25 Veterans for Peace Memorial Day service in Boston. Veterans talked about the horror of war. Names of Massachusetts soldiers who died in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were read, and then flowers were thrown into the harbor symbolizing all the civilians killed by the US military.
Also participating from the WILPF Branch were Marie Louise Jackson Miller, Virginia Pratt and Michael Borkson, whose photos and video of the event are viewable online.
Honoring peace activists
By Lois Fiedler, WILPF San Jose CA Branch
San Jose Peace & Justice Center presented commemorations from the US Congress to the San Jose Branch of WILPF at a 100th anniversary picnic May 23. Attendees heard from Barby Ulmer who joined the branch in 1956, soon after its founding in 1951.
A new mother and the youngest member by a couple of decades, she found WILPF “provided an umbrella for all my beliefs and issues, both foreign and domestic.” She went on to provide draft counseling during the Vietnam War and serve on the national board. She helped establish the San Jose Peace Center in 1957.
The Center honored the branch, "its current members, the memory of all the powerful women who contributed so much to the movement for peace and justice in the South Bay community," and specifically eight of the current WILPF members. The individuals receiving Certificates of Appreciation included Barby (and Vic) Ulmer, Sue Guist, Roz Dean, Joan Wildermann, Joan Bazar, Shirley Lin Kinoshita, Joan Goddard and Lois Fiedler. The branch's Raging Grannies sang, the history of the organization was reviewed, and a buffet vegan picnic lunch with birthday cake was enjoyed at the home of Paula Rochelle.
Congress members Mike Honda and Zoe Lofgren each sent Congressional commemorations, and the County of Santa Clara sent an impressive plaque. The branch will receive another plaque from the San Jose City Council at an upcoming session (San Jose is the 10th largest city in the US).
PHOTO: Barby Ulmer recounts her half-century history with San Jose WILPF Branch at peace picnic May 23. Lois Fiedler listens. Credit: Joan Simon (newest member)
Sacramento-Sierra Foothills
By Darien De Lu, branch member and national Bylaws Committee chair
Four branch members attending the 100th anniversary Congress and/or Conference each made their special contributions to the US Section presence at The Hague. Also, from the branch's WILPF anniversary celebration on Tax Day to Esther Franklin's local presentation on WILPF's 2015 Centenary in The Hague, to plans for summer Peace Camp, the branch finds diverse ways to celebrate WILPF ideals.
Esther Franklin is a longtime active branch member. She proudly led a "three-generation family delegation" at the centenary occasion in The Hague, along with her daughter (and branch member), Pennie Taylor, and her niece (also a WILPF member). They joined branch members Theresa Coté (who organized a useful site providing Congress and Conference documents for US WILPFers) and Darien De Lu (who attended as an alternate US Section delegate). Esther was the first to publicly report back on the Conference when, on May 17, she spoke to local Humanists about the 100th anniversary event.
The branch's April 15 birthday party and meeting featured a special birthday cake, donated by a local vegan bakery -- thanks to the efforts of member Don Knutson. The occasion provided an opportunity to report on various local and global initiatives for peace -- including the WILPF Conference; the US Social Forum in June in San Jose and the December 2015 meeting of the Provisional World Parliament in India.
To continue the momentum for peace, the branch once again is supporting the work of branch member and US WILPF treasurer, Millee Livingston, in helping organize a week-long Peace Camp in Auburn, CA.. This year the Peace Camp is engaging in a special video project, partly funded by the Joan Patchen Fund of the Jane Addams Peace Association. The video documentary will help publicize the images of and valuable learning experiences from the Peace Camp.
For further information, go to the branch website or contact Darien. Darien also welcomes inquiries and contacts regarding the WILPF US Bylaws Committee.
Photo: Esther Franklin, longtime active WILPF member
