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Visit our website for additional information on the following events or the mark your calendar section in this newsletter:
- Kick off festival July 8th
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Sister Organization Links
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| Greetings!
Here is the latest from Rural Migrant Ministry!!! |
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A MEDITATION
Summer Camp is home for me. The rest of the year, people go out of their way to make it clear I don't belong - in the camps, at the school, in the town. You (RMM) go out of your way to make it clear I do belong. (Ivan)
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News
-We are overjoyed to welcome Maya Isabel, daughter of Luis and Allison, to the RMM family!
-Over 30 people involved in the Youth Empowerment Program(YEP) joined us for a three day retreat donated by the Omega Institute (Thanks Omega!) to evaluate the YEP and to brainstorm about the future.
-We had a farewell party for our very own Nydia Medina at Shaows in Poughkeepseie. Nydia will be moving back to Puerto Rico after working at RMM for 10 years. We will miss you Nydia!!
· RMM joined with St. John's Episcopal Church and The New York State Labor Religion Coalition through the Kairos Project to host the second of two public hearings on economic justice in Sullivan County. Featured speakers included: Frank Mauro of the Fiscal Public Policy Institute and Judge Josephine Finn, Village Justice of Monticello and Richard Riseling, President of Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development.
 
Matt Heyd of Trinity Wall St
Frank Mauro Executive Director of Fiscal Policy Institute
Danial McCormack St John's Episcopal Church Kiros Steering Committe
- What a glorious day at Cornwall-On-the-Hudson Presbyterian Church as they celebrated Rural and Migrant Ministry Sunday. Members of the Youth Arts Group (YAG) and their families joined in for Communion Sunday, followed by a delicious pot-luck meal and a presentation by YAG.
- RMM is grateful to be the recipient of a major grant from the Collegiate Corporation. This grant will enable RMM to expand and improve our efforts in our Youth Empowerment Program.
- RMM also gives grateful thanks to First Presbyterian Church in Brockport, Hitchcock Presbyterian Church Women, Scarsdale and Reformed Church of Fishkill for major gifts to support our efforts.
-The Youth Arts Group from the Rural and Migrant Ministry, hosted a parents meeting on June 1, 2007 at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Newburgh, NY. Teens from the Youth Arts Group presented our yearly program accomplishments, and what this experience means to them.
Parents shared their thoughts and appreciation about YAG and other programs that RMM provides to the community.
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Action Steps
·Urgent 10 days left New York State Action Alert!!
A.7528(Nolan) / S.3884 (Flanagan). This Act would remove those sections within the New York State Labor law that deny equal rights for farmworkers in New York. We have until June 21st 2007 to get the State Senate to push the bill out of committe, vote on the floor, pass and have Spitzer sign into law and we need your help!! Urge your Senate representative to support our bill let him or her that you want New York State Labor law to stop excluding farmworkers from basic human rights afforded others (including a day of rest, overtime pay and protections when bargaining collectively). Send an email or a letter to your State Senator (you can get their contact info, by going to: http://www.senate.state.ny.us/senatehomepage.nsf/senators?OpenForm.
In the Assembly please encourage your represenatative to pass this legislation, it will be on the floor for vote in the next 10 days. Contact your state assembly presentative by going to http://www.assembly.state.ny.us
Additional action steps!!
· There is quite a bit of discussion in Washington D.C. and throughout communities about Immigration Reform. Rural and Migrant Ministry would like to help our partners engage more fully not only in this debate, but also in welcoming immigrants to our communities. To this end we have produced four documents:
· A Theological Message to the Covenanting Faith Bodies
· A Position Paper on the necessary Components for Immigration Reform
-An Invitation to join the New Sanctuary Movement · A Menu of Hope: Opportunities for helping your local government be more welcoming of immigrants.
All of these documents are available on our web-site or be calling either our offices in Poughkeepsie (845-485-8627) or Brockport (585)637-8360
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Mark Your Calendar
· A kick off Festival for our new Summer Day Youth Group in Pine Plains. Sunday July 8th at the Lions Club in Pine Plains at 2pm. Come join us at this pot-luck as we have a time for fellowship and fun. For more information, please call Sandy Oxford at the Poughkeepsie office (845) 485-8627
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Summer is just about upon us, and we need your support for our summer youth program!
SUMMER at RMM = CAMP and you are invited to join us by helping complete our WISH LIST
FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP - August 12 thru 18 at Camp Kutz, Warwick, NY
- Buy a T-Shirt @ $5.00 (VBS students could be challenged to give an offering that would purchase a T-shirt or a Tote Bag) - Needed 230 T-Shirts
- Buy a Tote Bag @ $5.00 - Needed 150 Bags
(These prices include cost of shirt plus imprint/RMM logo)
- Beach Towels - Needed 150 mid-size beach towels
- Underwriting the cost of busses for a special Day Trip - Needed 3 at $850 each
- Small supplies of about 50 each: Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Deoderant (30 each: boys and girls), Sun Screen (50 large bottles) and Bug Spray (50 cans)
- Water Bottles (approximately 200)
FOR DAY CAMPS - This year there are plans to offer Day Camp for two weeks (Monday thru Friday) in two different locations: Pine Plains - July 9 to 20 and Newburgh - July 16 to 27
NEEDED
Transportation for children and youth in the Pine Plains area including Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Hudson areas
Help with Lunches for approximately 40 each day in Newburgh & Pine Plains
Snacks/Juice Boxes for approximately 40 each day in Newburgh & Pine Plains
If you, your church or a community organization are able to help in any way, please call Jane Konitz, Volunteer Coordinator for Special Projects at 845-485-8627 (RMM) or 845-297-5864.
WE SURE COULD USE YOUR HELP:
We are beginning to put together the summer camps and other programs for our youth. This year we are pleased to announce a new day camp in Pine Plains that will serve northern Dutchess and southern Columbia County. Unfortunately the costs of offering a great summer camp are going up. Please make a donation to support the children. RMM PO BOX 4757 Poughkeepsie NY 12602. We can also use help with transportation - give us a call if you can volunteer.
Finally, we need some meals donated for both Pine Plains and Newburgh. Please call Jane Konitz at our Poughkeepsie office if you can help 845-485-8627.
· Volunteers to help out part time in the offices - We really need help and it is fun!!!
· Journalists to write a story about RMM
· Donation of a relatively new vehicle with low mileage and in good working condition
Give Janaira a call in the office - if you are able to join us! 845-485-8627
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RMM NOTES
