BACP/BLUE Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026, BACP/BLUE Meeting Minutes

Doug, Richard, Trish (remotely), and Dean attended the meeting.  Doug noted the passing of former member and secretary Karen Williams last month, please remember her and her contributions to our group.
1.  Continue to plan for the 11 a.m. Saturday, September 5, 2026, Iran War/Gaza genocide vigil.
Doug, Larry, and Gayle plan to participate.  Trish will be there or at E. 6th & MN 210 if anyone will join her there.
2.  Continue to plan the peace vigil at the Camp Ripley entrance during opening day of the new Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 2-4 p.m.
Correction, this event will run from 9 am until 1 pm.  Larry, Gayle, and Holden will be at the entrance with our float, others are planning to join.  Dean will join after setting up our booth at the Pride in the Park festival. (see attachment to the cover email)
4.  Continue to plan to host a booth at The Sowing Room's "Pride in the Park" event on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Dean and Doug will setup the booth at 9:00 am.  Doug & Pat will man the booth until 12 pm, Trish from 12-2pm, and Doug & Dean from 2-4pm.  Please visit us if you are at the event.
5.  Update on the BACP/BLUE hosting a presentation by the newly formed "Boycott Is Free Speech" Coalition to support legislation in the Minnesota state house which would ban contractors who advocate boycotting the mining, lumber, and big agriculture industries from receiving contracts from the State of Minnesota, at some point following the mid-term elections.
Doug & Adrian will host this presentation on-line via Zoom at 7 pm on Wednesday, November 18th, 2026, invitations will follow.
6.  Update on the Crow Wing County Historical Society's collection of historic BACP materials for their archive.
These materials will be hosted in the archive for future reference; no exhibit is currently planned.
7.  Update on the Lakes Area Environmental Table (LAET's) support of BACP/BLUE's film presentation of the 2025 Abby Martin documentary "Earth's Greatest Enemy" on Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., in the UCC Fellowship Hall.
Doug will approach Larry to see if publicity posters are available.  Doug volunteered to bring cookies, and Dean will bring beverages.  Eleanor from LAET has offered to connect with Pat on moderating this event at UCC.
8.  Plan the Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, 11 a.m. Peace Vigil.
This will be held at the intersection of MN 371 & MN 210 in front of the Baxter Kohl's store, please join us there.
9.  Other discussion:
We briefly recalled the damage caused by the Line 5 spill in northern Wisconsin and hope this will lead to abandoning the planned tunnel for that line under the Straights of Mackinaw
The Master Naturalist trainees will be conducting a cleanup of the Arboretum on Saturday, September 26th, 2026, if you are interested in joining them contact Eleanor.
10.  Our Wednesday, October 7th, 2026, 6 pm meeting, may be held in person again if weather conditions are favorable.  Watch for the invitation and agenda closer to that date.