Peacemakers “Show” Hits the Road

Where do I begin? Peacemakers WORKING Board has stirred up so much dust since my report last month that I hardly know where to start.

Let’s start with Arriscraft: We have a letter from the president, Randy White, explaining Arriscraft’s new status as a public corporation. He enclosed a check for $500.00 and said that we should not expect any more funds in the future. Arriscraft will confine their charitable giving to Canadian groups from now on. We are grateful for the final gift. It does, however, leave a $13,500 gap in our 2005 budget. What are we doing about that? Twelve Peacemaker volunteers have each had at least two ideas for funding and agreed to go after it. Two grant proposals have been made and others are in progress.
We have “taken our show on the road.” Rob Mathis, Mandi Mathis, Gabriel Hill, Lori Dunn and Akangbe Assongba traveled with John Donahue and me to speak to the UU Fellowship of Columbus last month. Hearing those young people speak about the impact of Peacemakers in their lives was a real joy to John and me. They received rave reviews from the Columbus congregation, who took a special collection for camp.
Adam Schaffauer, Lori, Gabriel and Rob also spoke at an adult religious education gathering at St. Francis Episcopal Church. Vestry members from St. Paul’s Episcopal were present as well. The two churches are starting plans to form another Peacemakers (YEA!). St. Francis has agreed to sponsor the cost ($285.50 per child) of two children for our camp this year. As folks say in Costa Rica, “Poco a poco, los rios llegan al mar,” or, “Little by little, the rivers arrive at the sea.”