chapters

Eagle flies over the Hood Canal (photos: Robert Whitlock)

Earlier this month, I had the great opportunity to attend and speak at the 50th annual Seabeck conference -- a gathering of FOR members in the Pacific Northwest in early July each year. It was an honor to be one of the three national speakers at this "golden anniversary" event, with some 200 peace and justice activists present.

I recently found this picture in a series of photos about life in Olympia, Washington. The Olympia FOR chapter has been conducting weekly vigils since 1980!

Pictured at left is Glen Anderson, who has just rejoined FOR's National Council.

A small group of FOR members in Charlottesville, Virginia, are active in a variety of areas from interfaith dialogue to issues advocacy. Judy Sayed has helped convene a dialogue group of Christian and Moslem women who have been meeting for more than a year. Bill Anderson, a long-time National Council member, stays involved through the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice that will celebrate its 25th anniversary this June. Their annual report is three pages of small type, single spaced recounting of activities over the past year: lectures, films, salons, vigils and demonstrations, picnics and art’s festivals, newsletter and website, tabling and simple community presence.

Congratulations on 25 years of Presence for Peace.