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September 2005

Attendees:  Deborah Brown (Taunton Public Schools), Jennifer Brown (New Hope), Milly Burrows (AHS, Inc.), Barbara Clark (Kennedy-Donovan Center), Dan LeBrun (New Hope), Annemarie Matulis (SEMA-VAV), Lorraine Rosa (GATHER/GTHHSC)

Announcements:

·         Dan LeBrun will finish his time at New Hope at the end of September. Jamie Crossman will assume his position. He has served the DV community at New Hope for 10 years. Best wishes and thank you, Dan. You will be greatly missed!

·         Associates for Human Services Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser will be held 10/14/05 at St. Joseph’s in Dighton. Seniors and children $5; Adults $7. For information or tickets, please call AHS at 508-880-0202.

·         New Hope Gourmet Guys Fundraiser will be held Friday, 11/18/05, 7:00 pm, at the Attleboro Elks Lodge, Rout 152 in Attleboro. Save the date.

·         GATHER Steering Committee met 9/14/05. So far, 41 have signed up for the Annual Meeting next Tuesday. The Committee also discussed the addition of Community Health and Wellness as a GATHER Committee, an updated coalition chart, the Attleboro/Taunton relationship, and committee marketing and outreach.

·         Videos Reviewed include “Breaking Peace: Babies Have Their Say About Domestic Violence” (an unborn child’s perspective) and “Through My Eyes” (Children who have witnessed violence)

Community Outreach - Norton and Middleboro Public libraries, AAssociates for Human Services and others are interested in receiving display materials to raise awareness of DV issues and the National Day of Unity on 10/3/05. Other possibilities include area media, Taunton High School Bridgewater State and Stonehill Colleges. Self-stick ribbons as well as purple ribbon stickers will be distributed throughout the vigil & other DV Awareness events in October.  The embroidered ribbons will also be offered to area business staff for wearing during DV Awareness month as well as in anticipation of Taunton’s National Day of Unity.

Cell Phones – Old cell phones will be collected at the vigil and throughout October for DV victims emergency use.

National Day of Unity 10/3/05 Agenda

·         Clothesline Project3:00-6:00pm, First Parish Church, across from Taunton City Hall.

·         Candlelight Vigil of Hope – 6:00-7:15pm, Taunton Green. The fountain will be fitted with purple bulbs for the event. A tape of ringing church bells will be played every 15 seconds.

·         Church Bell Ringing – 7:15-7:30pm. All churches and congregations are asked to ring their bells for 15 minutes to honor all who have died in violence as well as to celebrate those who have survived. 

Mentors in Violence Prevention – Student skits address the issue of bystander involvement in diffusing potentially violent situations. The presentations will be offered for high school English classes, to enhance a literature unit, such as “Romeo and Juliet”, while giving the message of the empowered bystander’s role.

Next Steps:

Outreach community to generate support for & participation at the candle light vigil (everyone)

Invite churches to ring bells for the vigil (SEMA-VAV)

Invite libraries to set up informational displays about DV, child abuse, etc. for the month of October (SEMA-VAV)

Next Meetings:

GATHER DV/VP: 10/20/05 (3rd Thursday of the Month), 3:30, New Hope, 39 Taunton Green

Contact Person:

Annemarie Matulis, 508-824-3227 or 508-922-7278 cell