African Activist Archive

Contents: 1. Root's TIAA/CREF document • 2. Root's Political Action Lobbying Document • 3. Bucher's Document on Hunger Crisis and Free South Africa Movement • 4. Alpers' Document on the Newsletter • 5. Ferguson's Document on Membership • 6. Groff's Document-Financial Report. Participants: W. Johnson, D. Wiley, C. Root, Ned Alpers, D. Groff, J. Sarnoff, Ed Ferguson, B. Bigelow, and H. Bucher. Dennis Cordell has volunteered to work on TIAA/CREF. Johnson urged that one person be found to give priority to TIAA/CREF who is deeply involved at the state level in campaign for divestment, who has high credibility in the academic community, and who understands the economic issues. Butcher will contact Tim Smith at ICCR (Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility), and Root will contact Jennifer Davis for advice on sources for funds. Root to ask Bill Cotter (at Colby College) if he will be on advisory committee and to find out who on TIAA/CREF board supports divestment. Bucher discussed how to promote the Newsletter. Regarding lobbying on U.S. policy, focus is on mobilizing support for passing legislation, working with ACAS members in D.C., of whom there are at least ten. Jean Sindab, who is the Free South Africa (FSA) contact with legislators, will continue to keep us informed through Root. Johnson affirms his priorities with TransAfrica, asks that ACAS be represented on national steering committee of FSA movement and that ACAS join in: 1) demonstrations at South African embassies where possible (as Portland group has done) and 2) stop the sale of Krugerrands. Seidman pushed for more local actions and widespread reporting of such actions. Ferguson noted that his arrest gave visibility to OSU's History Department but local press was not interested in ACAS. Root, Johnson, and Bucher to consult on drafting a letter for Newsletter. Seidman favored tying in the hunger crisis to the political realities (following Oxfam's approach), especially with regard to the FSA movement. ACAS has 147 members; they are unevenly distributed across the U.S. Ferguson suggests regions with a core state in each region. Would this be primarily for building up membership or for coordinating political action? David Wiley will help publicize Bill Bigelow's curriculum on apartheid to African Studies Centers Outreach Directors.

African Activist Archive

Minutes of the Steering Committee Teleconference of 2/9/'85

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