US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation - national organizers conference

I want to share this information from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.

From the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Coming up in Chicago 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference!
September 12-13, 2009

This is an exciting time for our movement to change U.S. policy toward Palestine/Israel to support human rights, international law, and equality. We have a new President who, for the first time in decades, is exerting pressure on Israel to end settlement activity. This past year we witnessed over $3.3 million of divestment from Caterpillar and the first U.S. college to divest from the occupation, and are gearing up to build on these successes with our fall organizing tour. Join us in Chicago Sept. 12-13 to help plan the future of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation during these exciting times.

See below for information about this exciting gathering:

LOCATION: We will be holding our 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference at the UniversityCenter in beautiful downtown Chicago at 525 South State Street (the intersection of State Street and Congress Parkway). For more information on how to get there, please click here. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2065)

REGISTRATION: Now open. The registration fee is $75 and will include conference packets, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and admission to the Saturday key-note speech. To register and pay, click here. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2003)

SPEAKERS: We are excited to announce that Omar Barghouti and Rashid Khalidi will be speaking at our conference. See below for the biographies of these two amazing advocates for justice. More details on conference agenda will be announced soon.

Omar Barghouti is a Palestinian political commentator and human rights activist currently studying at Tel Aviv University. He is a founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and author of numerous articles and essays on the Israeli Occupation.

Rashid Khalidi is a Palestinian-American historian on Middle East affairs. He currently serves as the director of the Middle East Institute and profession of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University, and has previously held positions at the University of Chicago, GeorgetownUniversity, and the American University of Beirut. He is a founding trustee of The Center for Palestine Research and Studies and author of six books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also sits on the US Campaign's Advisory Board.

AGENDA: This year's annual conference will be extremely important; all member groups of the US Campaign should start making plans to send delegates today. We'll be discussing the political situation and its implications for our work in the United States, our ongoing political and legislative work challenging military aid to Israel, the functioning of the coalition, and next steps forward on our Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns. Details for proposal applications will be announced soon. We will be bringing back our Grassroots Training Institute. More details on conference agenda to be announced. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2004)

MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN GOOD-STANDING: Please note that while individuals and member groups of the US Campaign are encouraged to attend the conference, only delegates of member organizations in good-standing are allowed to submit proposals and vote at the conference. "In good standing" means that your group has paid its membership dues for 2009. Annual membership dues are set at between $100-$1,000 or more depending on the size and budget of the group. Groups that are unable to pay $100/year can contribute $50 or request a waiver of the membership fee from the Steering Committee. Please click here to check to see if your group is "in good standing."You can renew your dues by emailing the National Membership & Outreach Coordinator at office@endtheoccupation.org. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=2055)

FAQs: We have anticipated some questions you might have and went ahead and offered answers. Click here to read the frequently asked questions. (http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1624)

GRASSROOTS TRAINING INSTITUTE: We are happy to announce the return of the Grassroots Training Institute (GTI) on Sunday, September 13. Please be sure to indicate in your registration form which 3 GTI workshops you are interested in attending.

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
www.endtheoccupation.org

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