Category: announcements

PNC-Minnesota up for Most Fascinating Blog award

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PNC-Minnesota has been nominated for the 2012 Fascination Awards.  Nominees are selected by the editorial team from Accelerated Degree and are then voted on by readers.  Voting opened today and will continue until March 06, 2012 when a winner in each category is selected.

Accelerated Degree Programs

The Fascination Awards seek to recognize blogs that “excite, motivate, and inspire their audience.”   Additionally, nominated blogs are those that inspire its audience, create conversation around the topic, create a strong emotional reaction, and are shared both online and off.  PNC-Minnesota is on the ballot along with 92 other nominees, selected from a pool of over 2,300 submissions.

PNC-Minnesota is nominated in the Most Fascinating Librarian Blog of 2012 category and was highlighted for the article “Rape Survivor Devastated by TSA Enhanced Pat Down” which carried an interview with a local Pagan and her reaction to the newer ‘enhanced’ pat downs instituted by the Transportation Security Administration.  As a follow up note to the story, Celeste has relocated to the Twin Cities area and is working for a different company.  She no longer has to fly, but covers a five state sales territory by car.

Although it was a surprise to be nominated for an awards program specific to librarian and student bloggers, Matthew Pelletier, Director of Public Relations for Accelerated Degree Programs said PNC-Minnesota qualifies for the award as one of staff, Heather Biedermann, is a librarian.

As this is the first time an explicitly Pagan blog has been nominated for the Fascination Awards, we hope a repeat of the bigotry Pagan blogs have experienced during other blog contests with online voting does not happen.  Last May, Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom, and several other Pagan blogs, were nominated by the Circle of Moms in the Top 25 Faith Blogs by Moms category.  Other contestants up for the same award started a campaign against the Pagan blogs, “would you guys please help by voting daily til the contest is over?  It literally brings tears to my eyes to think a pagan blogger could win 1st place in a “Faith Blog” contest.”  Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom eventually won the contest and ten other Pagan blogs made it into the top 25.

To vote for PNC-Minnesota, click the badge at the top of the article and you’ll be taken to the ballot for Most Fascinating Librarian Blog of 2012.  The list of blogs are randomized every time this poll and it can be a bit tricky to find PNC-Minnesota as they use the blog URL, rather than the blog name, in the poll.   Instead of seeing PNC-Minnesota, you’ll see us listed as https://pncminnesota.wordpress.com  Only one vote is allowed per IP Address.

Call to Participate in Prayerful Silence – Sunday Feb 26th

A Global Call to Participate in Prayerful Silence on the Eve of United Nations- Commission on the Status of Women on Sunday, February 26, 2012 was announced by the www.womenofspiritandfaith.org
On the eve of the opening of the 56th Session of the UN-Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), women of all spiritual traditions are invited to join in prayer and silence for the good of the world’s women and girls -wherever they are and at any time that day.
Women of all spiritual traditions are invited to join in prayer and silence, to hold in their hearts the hopes of those who come to the CSW: for homes and a world without violence and fear, where there will be good food, air and water,
education and medical care, for women’s empowerment and gender equality, for consciousness, voice and choice,
for circles with a sacred center to support the wisdom and courage of women in them, and for there to be a UN 5th World Conference on Women.
Other sponsoring organizations include:
U.N. WOMEN’S CIRCLES
Anglican Women’s Empowerment www.anglicanwomensempowerment.org
Circle Connections www.circleconnections.com
Earth Child Institute www.earthchildinstitute.org
Gather The Women Global Matrixwww.gatherthewomen.org
Global Room for Women www.globalroomforwomen.org
Imagine The Good Foundationwww.imaginethegood.org
International Public Policy Institutewww.ippiun.org
Millionth Circle www.millionthcircle.org
One Voice Alliance of Women (OVA)    www.onevoicealliance.org
Pathways to Peace  www.pathwaystopeace.org
Peace X Peace www.peacexpeace.org
Ways Women Lead  www.wayswomenlead.org
Women’s Intercultural Network  www.win.org
Women of Spirit and Faithwww.womenofspiritandfaith.org
Women’s Perspective www.womensperspective.org
Women’s World Summit Foundation www.woman.ch

PNC-Minnesota joins SOPA and PIPA Blackout

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Reddit announced they would blackout their site on January 18th to protest House Bill SOPA and the Senate version PIPA.  SOPA and PIPA were created to combat online piracy, but in actuality bring the high price of sweeping censorship to the internet.  (More information on both Bills are at the end of this announcement)

Instead of the normal glorious, user-curated chaos of reddit, we will be displaying a simple message about how the PIPA/SOPA legislation would shut down sites like reddit, link to resources to learn more, and suggest ways to take action.

PNC-Minnesota, along with our sister bureaus PNC-Texas, PNC Bay Area, Capital Witch  joins Reddit and hundreds of other websites in the blackout.  We oppose SOPA and PIPA  for the same reason Craigslist opposes both Bills:

Corporate supporters of HR3261 (SOPA) and S968 (PIPA) want the ability to take down any web site that affects their profits — without due process or judicial oversight — in the name of combating “online piracy.” Hoping you won’t notice or care, your Public Servants are preparing to give them that right.

Noted author and teacher T Thorn Coyle has announced her intent to join in the blackout:  “My website will go dark this Wednesday in solidarity with all of those trying to get the attention of US Congress before the Jan 24th vote.(Let’s fight SOPA and NDAA and Social Inequality too! Let’s stand for the world we wish to create, while we’re at it!)”

Public opposition to both Bills has already started to turn the tide against SOPA and PIPA.  The House has agreed to shelve SOPA until greater consensus is achieved.  Some Senators have started to oppose or drop support for PIPA.  However, it’s not over.  SOPA can be picked up again at any time and PIPA is moving forward in the Senate.  If you would like to join in the blackout, here are a few suggestions:

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Susu Jeffrey – Community Elder Marks Seventy Years at Coldwater Saturday

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Highway 55 encampment, Susu's birthday 1999

Susu Jeffrey is an elder in many spheres, and in our Pagan community. She is a visionary, writer, and poet. She is a percussionist, singer, and ritualist. A social activist and advocate for human, water, environmental, and Native American rights. Once a reporter for a major daily, she has contributed to PNC-Minnesota. This month Susu turns seventy and invites you to join her celebration!

Come to Susu’s 70th Birthday Party at the entrance to COLDWATER SPRING Sat., Dec. 10, 2011, from 2-4 PM.
Bring a biodegradable vision gift for the last natural spring in Hennepin County-to tie onto the 30-foot locked fence. Coffee, hot chocolate & ice- cream-cake: Full Moon-traditional group howl!

Coldwater is between Minnehaha Park & Fort Snelling, in Mpls. From Hwy 55/Hiawatha, turn East (toward the Mississippi) at 54th Street, take an immediate right, & drive South on the frontage road for a half a mile past the parking meters, to the cul-de-sac. Dress for the outdoors.
www.FriendsofColdwater.org  … BYO Chair !

I interviewed Susu today. Many know her, but many also don’t know much about her. Susu can be maddeningly irritating, persistent, loving, and deeply profound all in the same conversation. However she makes you feel, you know she has wisdom. I usually include my questions, but with Susu just state a subject, and she will share her thoughts!

Susu:

I have three degrees, five books, and thirty or forty non violence civil disobedience arrests. My first Pagan gathering was in 1979. It was a Pan Pagan gathering and it was like coming home, ya, this is what I believe. I asked my mom when a child, “What do you believe in?”, and she said, “I don’t know honey, I guess the sun”. My parents didn’t believe in a deity, you would call ‘god’, but they did believe in social justice. My father was in Congress, and I am very proud of what they both did, particularly my father. He was in Congress in 1942-44, one term, and he was one of the authors of the GI Bill of Rights. He was a poor kid, his parents were gypsies. They had no social standing at all. He put himself through school and became a lawyer who always remembered his roots. He always said, “You know honey, if you haven’t given away more money that you are allowed to on your income tax, you haven’t given away anything.” I grew up in the era of being part of a community, with the ethic of accepting obligations in being a part of a community.

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Starhawk Visit Schedule : Mon-Tues Dec 5-6th

Monday, December 5, 2011 at 5  PM
Mayday Books, 301 Cedar Ave. (downstairs), West Bank, Minneapolis
”  Empowering Tools for Challenging Times  ”

From Cairo to Wall Street, all over the world people are coming together to create change, organizing without top-down leadership or hierarchies. In thousands of voluntary groups everywhere, people work together to create everything from community gardens to media to new ways of living. Such circles can be enormously creative and empowering, but they can also be cumbersome and frustrating. Yet when they work well, they liberate our imagination and change the world.

In her latest book, The Empowerment Manual, A Guide for Collaborative Groups,  Starhawk draws on four decades of experience in circles and collectives to show us how to foster connection, clear communication and positive power in ourselves and our groups. She is well-known as a global justice activist and organizer, whose award-winning work and writings-translated into many languages-have inspired many to action.  She has lived and worked collectively for thirty years. 

Starhawk will sign copies of The Empowerment Manual and chat with folks informally.

Join us for a potluck.  Bring some food to share.  

Sponsored by OccupyMN; Women Against Military Madness (WAMM); & MN-WEB (Women’s Earth Brigade)

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Tuesday Dec. 6th:

Empowerment Training Day with Starhawk 8am-5pm. 
This day will be focused on trainings and discussion about core issues facing OccupyMpls, to build a respectful and empowering collaborative group throughout the winter.  The day will include an 8-9 a.m. Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser with a presentation from Starhawk. The rest of the day will consist of Facilitation Training, Teach Ins on various topics, and Open Space for discussing core issues facing OccupyMN. All at Walker Church, 3104 16th Ave. So, in south Minneapolis.  Sponsored by OccupyMN/Minneapolis. New website:  OccupyMinnesota.org.

If you would like to host a breakfast table and for questions Contact Malia at kochikaralove@gmail.com .

  • 7am: Prep for Breakfast-Fundraiser.  Table hosts arrive and help set up.
  • 8-9am: Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser.  30 minutes eat & chat.  30 minute presentation, with a short slideshow about OccupyMpls & Occupy around the world, a story or two from Starhawk, and a few testimonies from people involved with OccupyMpls.  Attendees will be asked to contribute what they can to help cover the cost of Starhawk’s plane-fare, and to OccupyMpls’s general fund.
  • 9:30-12pm: Facilitation Training: (All interested in becoming a facilitator for General Assemblies invited!) What is the Art of Facilitation? How do we improve our skills?  What are some current issues with General Assemblies and how can they be addressed?
  • 12-1pm: Lunch
  • 1-2pm and 2-3pm: Teach-ins:  On various topics, including “Anti-Oppression Awareness”; “Economics Unmasked”; “Art and Community Activism”; and more.  (TBA)
  • 3-5pm: Open Space: Discussion on various core issues facing OccupyMpls, including:
  1. What is the relationship of General Assemblies to Direct Actions? / How are we using Direct Actions as a movement? / Is there a framework for input or feedback pre- & post- actions?
  2. Visioning: What is our goal?  Do we have different goals? Are there Affinity-groups?
  3. Structure of General Assemblies: What is Consensus & how does it work?  What is modified consensus & when is that a better option?  What are blocks & how do address inappropriate use of blocking?
  4. Guidelines & Shaping of “New Norms”… how to build a culture at OccupyMpls that is empowering and respectful?  How do we address conflicts, violence and intimidation?
  • Dinner (location TBA)
  • 7-9pm: General Assembly (location TBA) The “GA” is the governing body of the various Occupy movements.

Sponsored by OccupyMN/Minneapolis.