Noon Meeting
April 20, 2022
In attendance:
Christian, Bollig, Zalucha, Grabe, Smith, Wallitsh , F., Steinhauer, White, Rooney, Burns, J., Wallitsch, S.
Guest, Kayla Daniels
Peter Johansen Rev.
Happy Bucks
Burns, White, Smith
Fundraising meeting tomorrow, 6pm
Community grants will meet soon
We received 9 applications
Upcoming:
- Folic 9-12 All members asked to be responsible for two 2.5 hour shifts. I you can’t be there, please find a substitute.
- June 29 social in the evening, handing out community grants
- August 17 10K Raffle
- August 24 Teachers Luncheon
District Grants
Cannot do a district grant this year because no one went to orientation.
Also did not have enough members step forward to contribute to EREY
World Wide Grant
Puerto Rico Grant ongoing. They would like to do a zoom meeting with our club in order to fill us in on Libraries Without Borders.
Perhaps we can travel and do a club visit to Puerto Rico in November.
Speaker:
From Wisconsin Council of Churches. Lutheran pastor Rev. Peder Johanson,Volunteer coordinator for Afghan response.
68,000 Afghans evacuated into US in 2 weeks, Most were placed at Fort McCoy
Unexpected refugees overwhelmed Fort McCoy so Wisconsin Council of Churches recognized difficulty and immediate need so they stepped in to coordinate volunteers at Fort McCoy.
They now work with agencies for resettlement including training
Gov't does not do resettlement so various agencies handle it. Previous reduction of refugees in the US has reduced funds resulting in the need for volunteers to help these groups
Phase 2 is to help congregations do the resettlement. Moving assistance & child care are two of the basic needs
They help groups do that work in their own community, become a welcoming community. Provide cultural information.
6 agencies in Wi. In Dane County there are Jewish Social Services & Open Door for Refugees.
Average family size is 8. Apartment of appropriate sizes are difficult to fine.
823 resettled in Wisconsin at this time, majority of those who were at Ft McCoy have been resettled in other states.
Largest Afghan communities are in California and DC area but they are saturated.
Starting to receive refugees from Afghanistan that have been staying outside of US. They must apply and receive asylum within 12 months but no way that is going to happen so they have temporary protection.
We can advocate by pushing legislature to pass a bill which is sitting on a shelf in Washington.
We are waiting to get the Bill Number so we can advocate
Being a refugee closing the door to returning to Afghanistan
For every one here there are 4 in Afghanistan who want to get out.
Afghans are eligible for employment as soon as they are resettled. But it takes time. Each family member is given money when resettled but looking for jobs. Many are highly skilled.
Ukrane
5 Million asylum seekers have left Ukraine.
Their preference is to stay close to home with the intention of returning to Ukraine when conflict is over.
Some are flying into Mexico and coming across southern border
They are being treated well/ not like South American people
Child separation is happening with all.
We can help with resettlement for all refugees…with each one who helped resources are freed-up for the next person.
Below is information supplied by Rev. Peder Johanson
Volunteer Coordinator, Afghan Refugee Response
Wisconsin Council of Churches wichurches.org _________________________________________
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