Director's message at the Open House, 10/12/08

Remarks of Director Liz Kelner at Traprock's Open House, October 12, 2008

THANK YOU and WELCOME!

In the spirit of acknowledging all those who have come before us in the struggle for peace and justice, I want to thank:

Those who had the vision almost 30 years ago to initiate Traprock Peace Center, those who have put their heart and soul into working for peace and building community for all these years.
Sunny Miller, the most recent board and the current board, many of whom were the early founders of Traprock, who have kept Traprock alive thru a very difficult transition - bringing us to today and a new beginning.
All of you who came to Visioning Day and the gathering at Sandra Boston's helping to focus and clarify the path we are now on as Traprock blossoms again.
The Standing Tree Affinity Group ? a beautiful example of what a group of people can achieve if they are inspired and determined. Standing Tree has been meeting since 2003 and had the vision and commitment to raise half a years rent - over $3,000 to enable us to rent this wonderful space - to give us the best chance to become the center for peace and justice that we want to be.
The Reel World Documentary Collective, the folks who for 6 years produced a successful documentary series at Arms Library in Shelburne Falls and who, as it came time to lay that project down, made the decision to give Traprock everything they had - an Epsom projector, all 100 of their films and a small budget to help us buy more films.

I was asked recently how those of us doing activist political work keep from succumbing to despair at the hugeness of the challenges facing us. We are not successful every day but over the long haul we are successful because we keep remembering that we are a part of a greater whole and that no matter, what we share friendship and food and laughter and music. We support each other, encourage each other and learn from each other. We build community and know we are not alone. We love and respect each other. We stay committed to the vision of a world without military and economic violence and we don?t judge our success by the outcome but by how well we do what we are doing.

The vision for Traprock Center for Peace and Justice has come from the input of many of you through Visioning Day, the gathering at Sandra Boston?s and from many informal conversations and exchange. Today our vision for Traprock Center for Peace and Justice is this:

To provide a welcoming place where many segments of our community can feel comfortable and "at home".
To be a resource center with books, periodicals and films that will bring information and perspectives not found in our major media.
To coordinate a weekly email calendar in collaboration with AFSC to promote all the activities happening in Franklin and Hampshire Counties.
To hold ongoing programs in our beautiful space that spark thoughtful discussion from different perspectives and include speakers and poets, book discussions, films and music, workshops and report backs from those who travel the world and see first hand the violent impact of the military and economic policies of our country.
To initiate and support actions of resistance to policies of militarism and injustice internationally and at home.
To support ecological sustainability.
To address and support struggles that are local ? the fight to close Vermont Yankee, support for sustainable ecology, energy issues, labor issues and the right to a living wage, the realities of racism here at home, challenges to our civil liberties, counter recruitment and a whole lot more.
To be steadfast that in all we do we promote peace - within ourselves, in our community and in the world.

Message from the Director

Hello to All Who Shared Traprock Visioning Day -

The visions for Traprock shared last March, after much hard work by many committed and persevering folks, has brought us to the very exciting rebirth of the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice. I have been hired as part time Director and we are ready to move into a wonderful storefront in a great central location on Miles Street in Greenfield.

Our hopes for Traprock reflect the visioning we shared of a center that supports community efforts in all its manifestations toward a peaceful, just and safe world, that has a focus on issues that are local as well as national and international and that will provide a meeting place for many groups and organizations, enabling many folks to cross paths and build community together.

First Event
The first event at our new site is a film being shown on October 7th at 7 pm jointly sponsored by GCC Peace and Justice Department and CAN. “Climate of Hope” is a 25 minute video tour of the science of climate change, the nuclear fuel chain and the remarkable energy revolution that is under way around the world. There will be two speakers from Australia who will share their experiences organizing walks on four continents in opposition to nuclear power and nuclear weapons. This is the first of a film series that the GCC students will be holding at Traprock and the beginning of an exciting collaboration with the students of GCC. Please come!

WE NEED YOU!!! There is much that needs to be done! Future emails will be from the Traprock address but our first task is to get ourselves moved from the current Park Street location to Miles Street. We received the final ok from the building inspector late yesterday so I'm writing to you this morning asking for your help and participation and donations in whatever ways are possible for you. We will be having an open house sometime in October and I'll be sending you the posting of the hours we'll be staffed as soon as that comes clear.

Volunteer Work for the Move
We will be moving on Monday September 29th starting at 8 AM at 10 Park Street. We have hired a mover but the more folks we have helping, the more money we save on the cost so we’re hoping to have as many hands as possible to help.

The chairs (wooden and plastic) that are currently being stored in the basement at 10 Park Street need to be brought upstairs and washed as they have some mold from the dampness. I will be washing chairs on Thursday September 25 from 11AM to 2 PM and would love to have some help.

Please let me know if you can help with either day.

Moving in
We’ll be working to set up Traprock in it’s new home at 24 Miles Street (last storefront on the block) on Wednesday October 1st 10AM to 5 PM; Thursday October 2nd 10:30 AM TO 1:30 PM and Friday October 3rd 1 to 5PM and welcome everyone who can help us unpack and create our new home.

We also need:
Artistic talent to create a large sign – “Traprock Center for Peace and Justice” for our window
Help in changing the outside sign from “Northern Woolies” to “Traprock Center” Needs a ladder and gold letters ordered or professionally painted
Someone with plumbing skills who can assess the possibility of adding a sink outside the bathroom

Donations Requested
Please let me know if you have any of the following to donate –
Folding chairs
A wide low (height of a table) cabinet – top for coffee urn, tea, refreshments, toaster oven, etc – room underneath for storage
Plates, cups, silverware, bowls, glasses (we want to minimize use of paper - we will be hosting many potlucks)
Toaster oven
Boom box
Television
DVD, VCR player
Portable screen for showing films

Getting started
Help is needed to plan for an Open House in October
Resource material needs organizing: books, DVDs, etc.
We are forming working committees – let me know if you are interested being a part of the Program, Fundraising, Finance, Endowment, Volunteer or Media Committees.
We need a Web Master for our website and someone to help with a weekly calendar listing
Volunteers are needed to staff the center and maximize hours we are open
Are you interested in being on the Board? – a great opportunity to help build the Traprock Center we want it to be…

Please email me back (hit reply -NOT reply all please) or call me at home 413-625-9543 or at Traprock – 773-7427. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks so much!!

Peace, Liz Kelner