Final Parade Prep!

Many people have emailed to let me know why they would not be available to help with the parade, as well as to express some heartfelt appreciation for the Ojai Peace Coalition's presence and role in the parade and in our community. One of the elements of culture is our holidays and celebrations, and so of course i agree that making Peace a part of this holiday is very much about culture-building and is a worthwhile pursuit.
My tremendous thanks go out right now to Kris Young, who has stepped forward this year as inspiration and energy and who i consider almost entirely responsible for our entry this year so far. When you see him on the 4th (probably driving our tractor!), please say thanks.
Below you will find all the details i can manage right now for our presence downtown on Independence Day. Enjoy!
in Peace,
-evan

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Wednesday: Poster-Making!

We have a relatively low signage need this year, but we would still benefit from a time to get together and make them. Primarily our signs will consist of some of the advantages or issues that local eating brings along with it, such as greater security, energy conservation, and strengthened communities through personal relationships with our food providers.
If you can invest some time in making some of these signs, please meet at my home on Wednesday July 2 from 10am to noon. i live at 210 Grand Avenue, which is the apartment complex at the curve where Signal becomes Grand. i'll be there with posterboard, paints, markers, stapleguns, tape, and wood slats.

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FRIDAY is Independence Day!

This Friday is July 4th, and the parade begins at 10am. We will gather where we always have: at the eastern end of the Matilija Junior High School campus, at 9am.

• By that time, our float - a flatbed trailer pulled by a farm tractor - should be all put together and decorated. We will have a need for a few sign- and banner-carriers.
  

• We still need an Earth Flag!! If you have one you can lend for that day, please let me know NOW.
  

• I will have cold, distilled water for walkers, along with cups that i can collect afterwards for re-use.
  

• In solidarity with our theme of local agriculture, please dress as you might to work in the garden or on the farm (keeping in mind that it will be HOT that day!), including actual produce and gardening tools!
  

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Peace-Lover's Potluck after parade!

Sue Williamson is hosting a potluck party for all Peace and Freedom Lovers after the parade on Friday, complete with a spectacular view of the fireworks show!
The gathering is at 47 Taormina Lane at 6:30pm, and you're welcome to park on the Theosophical Community's Mesa so that the roads aren't too congested.
There will be a security guard at the entrance to Taormina, so give them Sue Williamson's name and the address: #47. Fireworks usually begin at 9pm.

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See you soon,
evan austin
Ojai Peace Coalition

It looks as though i have something like 6-8 confirmed volunteers with which to pull off this year's Independence Day parade entry from the OPC, and i'm related to 90% of them. i want to build a local culture of peace, and this was a good centerpiece for that at one time, but perhaps that time has passed.
We'll still do it this year, but then it's up for serious review. PLEASE, if you intend to be there and can help, let me know. i need to be reassured that we'll have what we need on the day of the parade...i'm not interested in being pleasantly surprised by a good turnout if it means days of worry and frustration beforehand. HOWEVER, i'm also not interested in poisoning our planet with guilt or fear...if you can help from a genuine place of solidarity, please do!!

in Peace,
-evan

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"Peace One Day" at Ojai Retreat

This inspiring and very popular film was screened last year as part of the opening ceremonies of the valley's first Living Peace in Ojai weekend, which also included the awarding of the Ojai Peace Coalition's first-ever Noble Peace Prize (nominations still being accepted for this year's prize...see below!).
The film is being screened tomorrow, Wednesday June 25 at 7pm at the Ojai Retreat, 160 Besant Road, as a fundraiser and pre-publicity for this year's Living Peace event in September.

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Independence Day Parade Entry

Under the official parade theme of "Fourth of July Memories", this year the OPC will urge our community to remember America's small family farms and the fresh, local produce that came/comes from them. We will use the opportunity to promote the "Eat Local One Year" project that's slated for 2009, and we will connect local eating to larger issues of peace and security.

immediately, i'm aware of a few needs:
· two people to bear the OPC banner
· one vibrant Earth flag
· 4-8 strong people to keep our "float" (a trailer) moving, since our environmental
values don't include an idling tow vehicle.
· 6-10 people to walk behind the float carrying signs representing the related issues.

remember: this is our peace community's most ready-made public opportunity to express our values in a patriotic setting, and our past appearances have been very well received! one or even a handful of people cannot do it alone...it requires a community, just like Peace itself.
watch for another email very soon about working parties to prepare our entry!
if you can help, please contact me.

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Noble Peace Prize Nominations!

The Noble Peace Prize is awarded each year to an individual or entity that is working primarily within the Ojai Valley to create and promote cultural Peace.
MAKE YOUR NOMINATIONS HERE!

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CPR: Eat Local One Year

CITIZENS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTIONS Monthly Meeting

WHAT: EAT LOCAL ONE YEAR: A 2009 Locavore Project
Could you live for an entire year eating only food that was grown within 100 miles of your home? A spunky group of Ventura County residents are going to give it a try in 2009!
Ojai residents, Kristofer and Joanne Young, will speak about "EAT LOCAL ONE YEAR", the Ojai-centered, countywide, and nationwide locavore project they founded. They will discuss their inspiration in Barbara Kinsolver's book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," the groundrules for participation in EAT LOCAL ONE YEAR, and how you can be a part of this movement.
Local organic vegetable farmer Phil McGrath of McGrath Family Farms will discuss the importance and availability of local food.
Participants in the EAT LOCAL ONE YEAR project will share their motivation for committing to local eating for all of 2009.
Join us to help grow a safer, healthier and sustainable food system for our community and our nation!
WHEN: Sunday, July 6, 2008 - 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Foster Library's Topping Room, 651 E. Main St., Ventura, CA

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Integrity Now meets July 6

The local movement that grew out of Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign continues to meet on the first Sunday of each month from 10am to 12pm at 207 North Ventura St. (former site of Ojai Creates!)

The next meeting is on Sunday July 6, 2008 and is open to all!

Only two weeks left until Independence Day! We're forging ahead with our theme of remembering America's small family farms, connecting that to the effort to reclaim local eating, and connecting that to peace and security. i'll describe our remaining needs as i know and see them below.
in Peace,
-evan

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Independence Day Parade Entry

Under the official parade theme of "Fourth of July Memories", this year the OPC will urge our community to remember America's small family farms and the fresh, local produce that came/comes from them. We will use the opportunity to promote the "Eat Local One Year" project that's slated for 2009, and we will connect local eating to larger issues of peace and security. immediately, i'm aware of a few needs:

· two people to bear the OPC banner
· one vibrant Earth flag
· 4-8 strong people to keep our "float" (a trailer) moving, since our environmental
values don't include an idling tow vehicle.
· 6-10 people to walk behind the float carrying signs representing the related issues.

i know that more finely-tuned needs will surface in the coming days, but the core need for bodies to staff the key positions is primary in my mind. remember: this is our peace community's most ready-made public opportunity to express our values in a patriotic setting, and our past appearances have been very well received! one or even a handful of people cannot do it alone...it requires a community, just like Peace itself.
if you can help, please contact me.

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"Hungry for Change" Bake Sale

22 Jun, 10:00 AM
Von's Market at the "Y"
1125 Maricopa Hwy

Everyone loves a bake sale! Bring your yummiest offerings to our table at Von's and help MoveOn.org raise money to support Barack Obama's candidacy. Let's face it, we are all VERY hungry for change!

Address: 1125 Maricopa Hwy (Map)
Location: Ojai, CA 93023
Directions: Corner of Maricopa Hwy 150 and Hwy 33 in Ojai. Take 101 to the 33 East,
stay on that road and you can't miss it.
Host: Wendy Stroud

**REGISTER TO ATTEND BY CLICKING HERE**

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Integrity Now meets July 6

The local movement that grew out of Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign continues to meet on the first Sunday of each month from 10am to 12pm at 207 North Ventura St. (former site of Ojai Creates!)
The next meeting is on Sunday July 6, 2008 and is open to all!