TIAR Meeting
January 11, 2024
9:30- 11:00 AM, Zoom
Present: Richard Codding, Roberta Davis, Tom Perry, Mary Sutton, Barry Swan
Absent: Becky Elwell, Gaynelle Wethers
AGENDA
1. 2024 Board Meetings- We will hold the general Board meetings during the months of March, June, September, and December. This is in accordance with the decision to hold four meetings/year.
2. Brochure- we still need to have them printed. Initial price checks were a bit high.
ACTION: Richard will continue to obtain pricing options.
3. Membership- As per our last meeting, we will need to update our information. Tom reported (12/5/23) that many letters came back to us because of the wrong addresses.
A. Richard will send the list to Gaynelle who will make calls reengaging and updating our
information.
B. Roberta will contact Professor Susan Nowak SSJ, Religious Studies Dept., Nazareth College
to see if any students are interested and available to work with us. Richard will send a
statement to accompany Roberta’s message.
C. Barry will contact Dr. Muhammed Shafiq, Religious Studies Dept., Nazareth College to see
if any students are interested and available to work with us.
D. Both Roberta and Barry will ask if any student would like to work with us as an assistant to
our webmaster, Rev. Todd Goddard. We are willing to pay $100/semester.
These two contacts were recommended by retired Professor Harry Murray, Nazareth College. All members should continue their efforts to recruit additional members.
4. Website- The purpose of the website is a place where members can go to pursue their interests. Rev Todd Goddard is our web master. He is on the mend and hopes to be back working on the website by February 2024.
5. Financial Report- Tom Perry
We are solvent.
6. Honorary Members
We received an email from Neil Jaschik informing us that he is retiring from TIAR. We extend our deepest gratitude to Neil for his years of service. He becomes one of our honored members in retirement.
ACTION: We need to update this list so that past members are recognized and appreciated.
7. 2024 Legislative Season- Legislators are now back in session until June
A. Some of the Bills in Progress
1) 13th Forward- has a constitutional amendment that forbids anyone to be forced to work, including inmates. It also has a bill on fair opportunities that would apply labor laws and fair pay to working incarcerated persons.
2) Solutions Not Suspensions- this bill hopes to halt the suspension of Pre-K to 3rd Grade students and to bring solutions instead.
3) End of Qualified Immunity- qualified immunity is the doctrine by the Supreme Court in response to the 1960’s civil rights protests. It allows public officials, including cops, to avoid civil suits. Proponents insist that the rule of law be followed so that there is similar treatment for similar circumstances. A special focus is how this law impacts police officers’ treatment of civilians.
4) New York Immigration Coalition - NY4All Legislation- All New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, want to lead open lives, participate in their communities, provide for their family, and access health care without intimidation. The New York for All Act offers protections that help make this possible, by prohibiting all local law enforcement and state agencies from conspiring with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) or participating in its cruelty.
5) New York Immigration Coalition- Coverage4All Legislation- provide state-funded health insurance coverage for 154,000 undocumented New Yorkers who currently do not qualify for any federal- or state-funded comprehensive coverage.
6) Daniel’s Law- A Rochester initiative that would amend public health law in New York state, establishing mental health response units that are trained to deescalate mental health and substance abuse emergency situations.
7) Indian Boarding School Act- would establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States to the Senate (S. 1723).If passed, the legislation would create the first official commission in U.S. history to investigate and document the long-term impacts of hundreds of federally sponsored Native boarding schools operated by Christian churches, including some Quakers. The Commission may also recommend that the federal government create guidelines to protect student graves and support the repatriation of bodies interred at the schools.
8) Native American Child Protection Act (H.R.663) If passed, this bill would reauthorize and amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. It supports programs related to the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect involving Indian children and families.
B. Legislators- members are reminded to monitor and contact their legislators on all levels of government to assist them as they decide which bills and amendments to support. Richard and a team of her constituents met with Sarah Clarke to discuss environmental concerns.
8. Possible Topics for Board Meetings- please let us know if there were a topic you would like us to address
A. Racism- its manifestations and infusion into society (Bill Wynd, Poor People’s Campaign)
B. Water and migration
C. The impact of Christian Nationalism on our region (Jimmy Reader)
D. Separation of Church and State
E. Upcoming Presidential Election
9. Issues of Interest: With the understanding that racism is the common denominator
A. Braver Angels- connecting the left and right political extremes
B. Climate Crisis- RAICA, Climate Accelerator, Climate Solutions, Pachamama, Climate Reality
C. Criminal Justice- 13th Forward, Daniel’s Law
D. Education – Solutions Not Suspensions, PARA
E. Elders and Allies- racial justice
F. Homelessness- Project Haven, REACH, Person-Centered
G. Housing- Tenant’s Union (Housing Justice 4 All)
H. Immigration- NYIC legislative priorities, Coverage4All
I. Interfaith Relationships- GRCC, Interfaith Alliance
J. Native American Issues- Child Protection Act, Truth & Reconciliation Commission legislation, 60’s Scoop, MMIWC
K. NY Renews- is currently organizing around the Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package, a legislative roadmap to rapidly decarbonize New York, make our state healthier and more equitable, ensure a just transition for workers, and help create an accessible green economy for all.
L. Poor People’s Campaign- State of the State, preparation for June Rally
M. RASE CARTS- purpose is to enact the RASE Commission recommendations: Mental Health, Policing and Criminal Justice
N. Separation of Church and State- working with the national Interfaith Alliance
O. Voting Rights- contact Judy Schwartz
ACTIONS FOR EVERYONE:
1) Each of us is working on different issues. Please continue to attend the meetings, send any postings to Richard, prepare to report during our meetings.
2) Poor People’s Campaign- please go onto the website to sign the petition asking Kathy Hochul to defend the poor in NYS at : bit.ly/PPSOS2024 (it’s also on our website, nysppc.org)
10. Parking Lot
*Climate Accelerator- we need to discuss sponsorship