612 Ocean St

October 1, 2011

Dear Friends and Supporters:

The Resource Center for Nonviolence is in for some major challenging and exciting changes. These changes will build and strengthen our work and advance the cause of active nonviolence. After more than 34 years at 515 Broadway, the Resource Center, a project of the non-profit 501(c)(3) Eschaton Foundation, will relocate to 612 Ocean Street. We have purchased and will be moving over the next several months into the former Church of Christian Science just two blocks from our present location.

This new facility offers larger and better space:

*It is a single story building accessible for people with special needs;
*It includes a large meeting hall, several smaller meeting and conference rooms, more office space for staff, volunteers, special programs and other community groups;
*There is substantially more parking than on Broadway, on site as well as on nearby public streets; and,
*The location has even more traffic and is more visible than our current location.

How are we able to make this big move at this time? First and foremost, careful stewardship of our current facility for more than three decades means that we own the Broadway property without debt. This enables us to take loans against and eventually sell our property on Broadway to purchase the new facility. A local resident and long-time supporter of the Center, who prefers to remain unnamed, has stepped forward with a major gift and loan. A recent bequest from the estate of lawyer and community activist Emily Maloney will help us cover additional costs related to the move into the new facility. The Estate of the late lawyer and theologian William Stringfellow will provide needed resources as well.

Project director Kim Frentz Edmonds of Ventura Partners has drawn on her extensive experience helping nonprofits build or renovate buildings to support their work. Kim has helped us lay out a financial plan for the next ten years detailing costs for operating the new facility and doing our work at and from the Ocean Street site. This plan incorporates a financial projection that understates potential revenue and is realistic about likely expenses. This financial plan will enable us to focus on the next phase of the Resource Center life and work after moving into the new facility.

As we make this move to 612 Ocean Street, RCNV staff and Steering Committee are embarking on a review of our current programs. We will be seeking community input on projects that will help create a more cooperative and inclusive society. This program assessment is in many ways even more important than the fact of a new home for RCNV. But we have come to understand that the work we do requires different space than available at the Broadway building. The facility we utilize and the work that we do go hand in hand and reinforce one another. We are confident that our new facility will strengthen and sustain our work by providing ample room for activities, community gatherings and special events, and coalition building, as well as knowing that the ongoing work of the Center will make good use of this new facility.

We encourage you to join in the following three upcoming events:

* March/Procession from 515 Broadway at 11:00 a.m. to 612 Ocean Street on Tuesday October 4. Join us for a symbolic move from our present home to our new facility. Food and beverage provided. Bring your own sign.

* Volunteer work day at 612 Ocean on Saturday October 15 at 9:00 a.m. Let us know you are coming 831.423.1626 or just show up!

* Join us for our annual dinner and program Sunday October 23rd, 6:00 dinner and 7:00 program at 900 High Street. RSVP at www.rcnv.org or 831.423.1626.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel ran a recent article about this new home for RCNV (9/28/2011). You’ll be hearing more about this project from us in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we wanted you to hear directly from us about this exciting new phase of our work and to thank all of our friends and supporters who have helped set the stage for our big change!

Peter Klotz-Chamberlin, Chair
Yolanda Henry
Darrell Darling
Dorah Rosen
Erik Larsen
Ricardo Banda
For the Steering Committee

Marciano Cruz
Sandino Gomez
Anita Heckman
Scott Kennedy
Wallace “Woody” Wood
For the Staff

Please note changes in the Program- see below

Resource Center for Nonviolence

Annual Dinner and Program

Sunday October 23, 2011

Presentation on our New facility, and Dr. Stephen Zunes, professor of Politics, University of San Francisco, will speak on the Arab Spring and its ramifications for U.S. policy in the Middle East

At First Congregational Church, 900 High St., Santa  Cruz

Gather 5:30p.m.; Dinner 6:00p.m. – Vegetarian Cuisine

Advance Reservations Required for the dinner: call Now 831-423-1626 or email rcnvinfo (at) gmail (dot) com

Program 7:00p.m. NO advance reservations needed for the Program portion of the evening.

We are very sorry that due to circumstances beyond our control, Ahmed Salah has had to cancel his visit to the United States. Ahmed is well and he is deeply involved in the tumultuous events still embroiling his country, but he won’t be speaking at our Annual Dinner and Program on October 23rd. In his place we will be making a presentation about and having discussion of the Resource Center’s new facility. Dr. Stephen Zunes will also speak about the Arab Spring and its ramifications for US policy in the Middle East. We hope we can still count on your participation and support. If you want to cancel your reservation, please just let us know.

We will also welcome special guests from Greenfield and King City, where activists are engaged in organizing for more inclusive and representative government. As a central part of this effort, activists have chosen as their first project a youth leadership development project. A special collection will be taken to support their modest start-up budget of $10,960. Tax deductible contributions may be made to RCNV or to CAUSE (Coastal Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy.) 100% of your donation by check or cash will support this youth leadership initiative. Thanks for any support that you can give to this important initiative.

Dr. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, where he chairs the program in Middle Eastern Studies. He serves as a senior policy analyst for the Foreign Policy in Focus project of the Institute for Policy Studies, an associate editor of Peace Review, and chair of the academic advisory committee for the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. Professor Zunes is the author of scores of articles on Middle Eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, international terrorism, nuclear nonproliferation, strategic nonviolent action, and human rights. He is the principal editor of Nonviolent Social Movements, the author of the highly-acclaimed Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism and co-author (with Jacob Mundy) of Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution.
Advance Reservations Required for the dinner: call Now 831-423-1626 or email rcnvinfo (at) gmail (dot) com

Join us for a Volunteer Workday at RCNV’s New Bldg.-612 Ocean
Location: 612 Ocean St.
Description: Volunteer Work Day
at 612 Ocean St., Santa Cruz
Saturday, October 15,
9:00 a.m.
RSVP: email rcnvinfo@gmail.com or call 831-423-1626×101
or just show up.
Let us know if you can bring these tools: garden clippers, hedge trimmers, branch cutters, tree saws,
shovels, spades, orchard ladders, extension ladders,
step ladders, screw guns,
hammers, wrenches,
pliers, trucks (to haul garden waste to the landfill), brooms (sweepers and push brooms), dustpans, buckets.

Title: Let Compassion Ring- Interfaith Commemoration of 9/11

Location: Town Clock & Holy Cross Church

Sunday, September 11, 2011

4:45p.m. Gather at the Town clock, Santa Cruz

5:00p.m. Opening Ceremony of lament and remembrance

5:15p.m. Silent procession along Pacific avenue to Holy Cross Church

6:00p.m. Interfaith Vigil, Holy Cross Church with Cyprian Consiglio OSB, Cam., Rabbi Paula Marcus, Lori Gitanjali Rivera, and more

7:00p.m. Launch of Charter for Compassion; Refreshments

All people, of all beliefs, cultures and ages are welcomed. You are invited to bring flower, meditation bell or bowl to ring, ribbon banners or sign identifying your group or community. Join in remembering the lives lost on 9/11/2001 and in launching the Cities of Compassion Campaign. For more information, call 831-427-1644.

The Truth about Greenfield and King City: Multi-cultural Working Class Struggles on the Central Coast.

Location: RCNV 515 Broadway SC, CA 95060
Description: On Thursday September 15 at 7 PM, Latino and Indigenous activists and community leaders from Greenfield and King City will offer another perspective on controversies that have been labeled \”Latinos versus indigenous\” in recent media reports. Join us for a dialogue with Latino and Indigenous activists on the front lines of the movement for social justice and the rights of working people in rural California. Guests will include Mayor John Huerta, school board candidates Ana Vargas and Laura Caballero, as well as youth organizers and indigenous community leaders. Hosts include Council Member Tony Madrigal, UCSC Professor Jon Fox, the Resource Center for Nonviolence and Paul Johnston of Organizing for Santa Cruz. The event will take place at the Resource Center for Non Violence 515 Broadway, Santa Cruz. Tax exempt donations will be requested: this is a fundraiser for immigrant youth leadership development in the south Salinas Valley.

A private reception will also occur at 5:30 at a nearby private residence.  Call for more information at (831) 239-2068.