MEETING TIME AND LOCATION
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Wesley United Methodist Church
800 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50316-4304
Brown Bag Lunch
MISSION STATEMENT
To bring together and inform individuals and groups concerned about women in the Iowa correctional system and to act on their behalf.
INTRODUCTIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
REPORTS:
ICIW Report – Warden Patti Wachtendorf or ICIW Representative
Fresh Start – Peggy Urtz
Treasurer – Rosemary Jungmann
PROGRAM/FOCUS:
Our speakers this month are Jim Pemble and Kay Oliver who will share with us the story of Camp Hope, the summer camp for children who have a family member in prison. It has been operating for three years at Wesley Woods near Indianola.
You may remember that In September Jim led us through the process of an Amos House Meeting and is a familiar face at Friends. He was chair of the United Methodist Conference Standing Committee on Restorative Justice when Women at the Well was established and currently serves on the Outside Council. He helped develop the connections for Camp Hope.
Kay Oliver recently started attending Friends and graciously agreed to be a presenter with Jim this month. Kay is a retired Registered Nurse. She volunteers at Women at the Well. She was intrigued when she heard of a camp for children of incarcerated parents in the Ozarks. When Camp Hope was struggling to get started she volunteered to help it get on its feet.
RECAP OF NOVEMBER 18, 2014 MEETING:
The November program was presented by two speakers from Disability Rights Iowa: Jane Hudson, Executive Director and Investigations Team Leader, and Jayna Grauerholz, Adult and Investigations Staff Attorney.
Disability Rights Iowa is an agent of the Federal government. They are federally funded with 1.5 million dollars to do their work. Persons working for them strive to be knowledgeable and reasonable, and to avoid being “rabble rousers”.
The program led nicely into our discussion on the Shacking article we have been working on.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & PRESENTERS:
Our January presenters will be Brian and/or Rita Carter, volunteer lobbyists for the United Methodist Conference.