
Veterans For Peace Chapter 93, located in the south-central Michigan area (Washtenaw , Livingston, Hillsdale, Lenawee, and Jackson Counties), is named in honor of two legendary peace activists, Utah Phillips and J. David Singer.
Utah Phillips was not only a veteran, but a longtime peace activist, labor supporter and musical troubadour who appeared numerous times at The Ark in Ann Arbor. For more on Utah, click here. Veterans For Peace Chapter 93 is also named in honor of J. David Singer, a legendary local scholar who dedicated a large part of his life in confronting the "why" behind war. For more on David's phenomenal life, click here.
Veterans For Peace itself seeks to increasing public awareness of the costs of war, restrain our government from intervening in the affairs of other nations, reduce the arms race as well as eliminating nuclear weapons, and to abolish war as an instrument of international policy.
Meetings & Events
Next Veterans For Peace Chapter 93 Meeting – Thursday, September 21st, 7:00pm (Note Earlier Time)
The next VFP Chapter 93 meeting will be held online only, Thursday, September 21st at 7pm. If you would like to participate in the meeting online and your computer has a microphone and video, go to the Zoom meeting link of https://zoom.us/j/95022299743 No computer access or computer problems? Dial 312-626-6799 and enter the Meeting ID of 950 2229 9743 if prompted, Anyone can participate in this meeting, or any other VFP Chapter 93 event, be they veteran or not. The meeting agenda is the first item in the Chapter's September newsletter (see below).
September 2023 VFP Chapter 93 Newsletter
The September 2023 Chapter Newsletter can be downloaded (click on your choice) in a PDF format or a Word format
VFP Golden Rule Visit Detroit/Southeast Michigan Report
On a very pleasant Detroit Sunday afternoon of August 13th, the Golden Rule arrived at the Milliken State Park and Harbor marina at 5:30pm and was met with VFP members, peace & justice activists and also the Detroit Party Marching Band - https://youtu.be/GOvP0-CGdqc?si=Zm-5cpNu2OcgTOyC.
For Monday and Tuesday, August 14th and 15th the crew of the Golden Rule gave tours of the sailboat from 11am to 4pm and then gave evening presentations in Ann Arbor and Lansing on the history of the boat, its restoration and second life spreading the word of the need for nuclear weapon banishment.
While the original plan was to have the Golden Rule to overnight in Detroit on Wednesday, August 16th, the crew had been reviewing deteriorating weather reports for their journey north to Mackinaw City and Traverse City and determined the best course of action was to leave Detroit early to avoid encountering the worst of the weather. However, a Golden Rule planned reception and presentation at Detroit’s Swords Into Plowshares Peace Center & Gallery still took place with Helen Jaccard and Gerry Condon, two of the Golder Rule “ground crew” (who use a travel trailer and drive to each stop of the Golder Rule to make sure everything goes as planned when the boat arrives), stayed an extra night in Detroit.
While the Golden Rule nears the end of its journey in a few more weeks in Minneapolis, Minnesota, there is still a real need for donations to keep the Golden Rule operating and also pay for expenses associated with the Detroit stop (lodging, local transportation, meals, etc.). Tax deductible donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/veterans-for-peace-golden-rule-in-detroit. Every dollar you donate will go directly to support the Golden Rule's trip and mission. The last day for the “go-fund-me” donations will be 11:59pm, 9/15/2023.
For more information on the Golden Rule, along with an interactive map, visit https://vfpgoldenruleproject.org. or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GoldenRulePeaceBoat. Also, a huge “THANK YOU” goes out to all the volunteers who helped locally with the Golden Rule visit, and especially VFP Metro Detroit Chapter 74 Vice-Chair Jim Rine (who really made this visit happen locally) and VFP 93 Chair Bill Shea who worked to arrange the Ann Arbor visit.
4. Mark Your Calendar – VFP Concert For Peace At The Ark In Ann Arbor – Thursday, October 12
The 16th annual Concert For Peace (…formerly known as the John Lennon Birthday Concert), will be held at The Ark in Ann Arbor on Thursday, October 12th with doors opening at 7pm and the concert starting at 7:30pm. The concert is a benefit for the Veterans For Peace Chapter 93 Peace Scholarship Fund.
As in past years, the concert will be emceed by Chris Buhalis. The line-up for this year’s concert is yet to be announced but the 2022 concert included Laith Al-Saadi , Judy Banker, Dave Boutette & Kristi Davis, Kevin Brown & Jud Branam, Annie & Rod Capps, Rochelle Clark, Dave Keeney & Sophia Hanfi, Shari Kane & Dave Steele, Billy King, Dick Siegel, Michael Smith, and Rollie Tussing. Musical artists will be performing peace and justice related songs, including a tribute to John Lennon, whose widow Yoko Ono, made a generous donation in 2007, to establish the Peace Scholarship Fund.
$20 admission with proceeds going to scholarships for college students enrolled in peace studies and conflict resolution programs (such as those offered at Wayne State University and Michigan State University). For advance tickets visit https://theark.org/event/veterans-for-peace-concert-231012/ or call (734) 763-8587. For more information on the Veterans For Peace Chapter 93 Peace Scholarships, visit https://www.vfp93.org/peace-scholarship.
