To the Council:
To become an effective non-profit organization that is able to be self-supporting, we need to discuss and decide what sorts of initiatives and programs the Council will support. Simply saying that we all want peace is not enough.
Basic idea for the Home Page
About Us page
Our Programs page
Our Mission page
You’ll note that on the Our Programs page that I’ve listed several ideas. The first, the Clean Water Project, would be directed toward obtaining between 10,000 to 100,000 FirstNeed water filters from General Ecology, the best of their kind. Each FirstNeed water filter can effectively remove bacterial pathogens, viruses, chemicals and pesticides from 150 gallons of even the most contaminated water, providing clean water for many people. The filters can then be backwashed with a bleach solution and be used again, before eventually needing to be replaced.
We could distribute these water filters in concert with Phil Sauers’s Water Not Weapons organization, Pierre Leroy’s Haitian People’s Support Project and the Clinton Foundation, to the Haitian communities where potable water is a scarce commodity—and many people die from contaminated water, not just in Haiti, but around the world. Without water, there is no life—nearly 30,000 people die daily because of lack of access to clean water. Without water, there can be no peace. This would be a worthwhile effort for the Council to pursue. A hundred-thousand of these filters could provide clean water for up to 500,000 people for a year.
You’ll also note that the Student Sponsorship Program on the Our Programs page. It would be possible to send an area student abroad in partnership with Cross Cultural Solutions, a non-profit organization working for the benefit of the poor in 12 different countries around the world. We’d need to work out the details in regards to how best promote this, but CSS spends 91 percent of funds on their programs. This is the same ratio I’d like to see for the Woodstock Council.
The Council could get donations for this purpose. CCS volunteers make a meaningful contributions, working side-by-side with local people and sharing in the goals of a community that warmly welcomes them.
The cost to sponsor sending a volunteer abroad (2 to 12 weeks)—ranges from US $2,784 upwards. Volunteers gain college credits through participation in the program.
Cross-Cultural Solutions has volunteer programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand.
The other programs listed are starting points; I’m sure that you all have ideas about what would be most effective. The World Peace Concerts is Jack’s idea, and he’ll tell you what his plans are in this regard. The main point, though, is that we have to have unique and effective programs if we are to gain people’s interest and donations.
I’ve also sent some banner ads and buttons; these would appear on targeted websites that fit the demographic model for potential donors and members. This is a low-cost and effective means of advertising.
Button Web Ad
The website pages I’ve sent are just a rough idea of how the site might look, obviously, there will be many sub-pages, and hundreds of hours of work required to make this a reality. Please note that anyone can register and sign in, but the Join button at the lower left will take the user to a secure e-commerce page; I suggest that the cost of membership be $10.00; and I think the Council should put this up for a vote tonight.
These are my thoughts, and I thank you for allowing me to share them with you.
Peace and Love,
Cameron Williams
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