Monthly Pot-Luck and Dialogue

Join us on Sunday August 3rd, 2008 at 6:30 for a presentation by Phil Caroom and Barb Thomas from Annapolis Monthly Meeting.

"Quaker Dudes," a monthly social function of AFM men, in early October 2007, discussed both the Bush Administration's pending "Annapolis [Mid-East Peace] Conference" and the Quaker's own newly-formed "Peace and Justice Center" (PJC).

Under these unique circumstances, Phil wondered if it would be possible to reverse the usual bumpersticker philosophy of "Thinking globally and acting locally." He recalled news reports of former Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, collectively dubbed the "Geneva Initiative," (GI) who successfully drafted a proposed peace agreement. The Dudes agreed that PJC should invite GI representatives to speak publicly in Annapolis at the time of the conference.

Amazingly, in less than one month, arrangements were made for Israeli and Palestinian representatives of this NGO to speak to an enthusiastic Annapolis public. While in town, the reps. told Phil that they would welcome American support for continued "track II" negotiations on an unfinished topic.

Phil Caroom and Barb Thomas (clerk of Annapolis Friends and PJC) will tell how plans have come together in the subsequent months for PJC to assist GI with a peacemaking workshop for one of the crucial unfinished issues between Israelis and Palestinians.

Barbara Thomas became a Friend in the early 1990s at Sandy Spring. She spent 23 years as a communications skills trainer at the World Bank, working with the international community on writing, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Recently retired, she is clerking Annapolis Friends Meeting, BYM Nominating Committee and has recently helped to initiate the Annapolis Friends Peace and Justice Center. She has a special interest in multi-track diplomacy.

Phil Caroom has attended Annapolis Friends Meeting (AFM) for more than 20 years. As a young attorney, he met local Quakers first via NRC hearings on Three Mile Island and activism for alternate energy. Today, as a local trial judge, Phil is limited to nonpartisan volunteer work.

Front Yard Peace Garden

Come by and take a few minutes this spring to sit in silence in our Peace Garden.

Seek Peace and Pursue It

A silent vigil is held each Saturday on the west lawn of the Capitol from noon to 1 pm.