UPDATE from Ernest McMillan, July 10

Dear Friend,
I received a hot update from John Waller, coordinator of Pastors for Peace' Cuba Friendship Caravan late yesterday. There are an additional 15 caravanistas on the routes headed to Houston on Saturday! This brings our estimated total of overnight guests to 40 people, virtually doubling our initial estimates. I am reminded that our caravanistas are a hardy bunch, willing and ready to sleep on couches, pallets and most have their own bed rolls.

I need you to step up and provide room for at least one caravanista. They'll arrive around 4 PM on Saturday, joining us for the reception at St. Dominic Center, 2403 East Holcombe until around 7 PM. Please respond as soon as possible. Be prepared to come to the reception Saturday afternoon or make arrangements for their transportation to your home.

Report on SHAPE Meeting, July 9, 2005
We had a good meeting Saturday at SHAPE. I wish to thank Alma, Ellen, Rev. Fana and Njeri for showing up and contributing to the planning.

There were three basic agenda items: Humanitarian Aid Collections/Sorting, the Caravan Reception and Caravanistas Housing.

a) Aid Collections/sorting- It was agreed that all material aid be brought to the St. Dominic Center beginning at 2:30 PM; we'll start the sorting, packaging and labeling party early (with accompanying salsa music!). We do need help with checking medicines' expiration dates, sorting and boxing items. Ellen and Alma agreed to bring some tape. We'll need a few more boxes. Ernest will collect items donated to SHAPE and Fana will do the same with the Shrine. It is not too late to contribute! Cash and checks are welcomed. Checks may be made payable to Pastors for Peace (IRS tax write offs apply).

b) Caravan Reception-Rev. Fana will bring the music (CD's and a jam box) and St Dominic will provide TV/VCR so we can have inspiring sights and sounds while the caravanistas are en route. We do need more covered dishes as we are trying to feed about 100+ people! Your favorite covered dish(es) is welcomed. Ellen is bringing her famous chicken salad, some cups and plates, Alma is bringing sodas and a salad along with some cups and plates. Ernest is (sweating over the stove?) and bringing spaghetti. As you can probably tell, this can't feed anywhere near the numbers expected, so come on and chip in!

c) Caravanista housing: As you know we were preparing to house 20 folks initially, now that's doubled, so we need you to help us with housing the additional 20 folks. So far, our housing commitments were for the original 20-from the Shrine of the Black Madonna (12), Ellen (1) person, Ayanna (3), Alma (3) and Ernest (1). Can you make room for at least one person?

d) Other news and announcements-
Rev. Fana will mobilize African drummers as our official welcoming corps as the caravanistas arrive. Roshanda Johnson (of "2Die4") will perform spoken word for us. (Please catch her later that same night at the Ensemble Theater for her and others' outstanding performances and her CD release party! (Go Roshanda!)
Rev. Thomas Smith, Pastors for Peace spokesperson, will be a live guest on "Dialogue with Ada" 97.9 FM on Sunday morning, July 17th! (Thank you most honorable Councilwoman!) The Caravan's "reverse challenge" is on. We are looking for those who'd like to join Gloria and others on the border to support and greet the returning caravanistas on August 1 at the McAllen, Texas border crossing.
Finally, but not the least, 10 people in Cuba reportedly died as a result of the Hurricane Dennis' destruction Friday night. Our own caravanistas, along with the Venceramos Brigade and many others shall be Cuba and bringing much needed relief at a crucial moment, just in the wake of this most recent path of destruction unleashed by the storm (with 150 mile/hour wind speeds!) Our prayers go out to all who suffered from this devastation including the Haitian people (several lives were lost and much havoc caused there too).
Houston, we need you!
Siempre,
Ernest

Dear Friends and supporters,
We are focusing on two events. They are: Cuban Film Festival and the Caravanistas' Reception. The purpose of these events is as always, to raise awareness and support for the Pastors for Peace' Cuban Friendship Caravan. Here are the three key dates:
Saturday, June 18th for the Cuban Solidarity Committee's final coordinating meeting at SHAPE Center, from 5-6 PM.
Saturday, June 25th, the Cuban Film Festival, 7PM to 10 PM at MECA, 1900 Kane Street (in historic 6th Ward). Films include: "Mission Against Terror", "Assata Shakur" and other short documentaries. Admission is $5 and/or humanitarian aid donations.
Saturday, July 16th, Friendship Reception welcoming the Caravanistas and final aid collection, 3 PM to 7 PM. NEW LOCATION: St Dominic Center, 2403 East Holcombe
Our goal is to collect and transport humanitarian aid for the people of Cuba, who for over 40 years, have been the target of the U.S. government's ruthless and inhumane blockade. The Cuban people, especially the most vulnerable sectors- the children, elderly and the disabled- need medical supplies, medicines and educational supplies especially. Won't you help? Here are a few ideas: For medicines, please note that vitamins, pain killers antiseptics, are welcomed . (Their expiration dates need to be no earlier than January 2006!) We also welcome reading glasses, walking canes, wheel chairs, text books (in Spanish and in very good condition please!)), pens, pencils. We are not accepting clothing or food. Perishable items are a no-no. If you care to donate blankets or linens, they must be unused, packaged in their original wraps.
Your help is indispensable to any success we attain. There is so much truth to the saying: "we are the one's we've been waiting for." We need your contributions in many ways. Below is a list. Please select at least two ways of helping us build friendship and peace with our Cuban neighbors:
Donate cash, and/or humanitarian aid. (Collection points include the Shrine of the Black Madonna, SHAPE Center, First Unitarian Church beginning June 15th!!!)
Attend the Film Festival, Saturday, June 25th
Attend the reception, Saturday, July 16th
Tell a friend. Reproduce, circulate our flyers
Donate housing for a caravanista to stay overnight on July 16
Bring food/refreshments for the Friendship Reception on July 16
Volunteer to help at the reception, the film festival, package donated aid/supplies, distribute flyers, get friends and relatives involved.
Join the Cuban Solidarity Committee
If you have questions, suggestions, need more information, reply via email or call Gloria at 713.503.2633 or Ernest at 713.523.4483.
For peace and friendship,
Ernest

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