Brenda Hammond
The very first conference on "Making a Difference: Empowering Individuals to Build Inclusive Commu-nities," will be held on Schweitzer Mountain August 8 - 11. Brochures with registration information will be sent out to all our membership within the next few weeks.
Highlights of the program will include a keynote address on Wednesday evening, August 8, by Loretta Ross, Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights Education in Atlanta, Georgia. Her topic will be: "Bringing Human Rights Home." The plenary session on Thursday morning will be presented by United for a Fair Economy. It will focus on economic justice issues and "The Growing Divide." Friday's plenary speaker will be Anne Perkins from Carroll College in Montana, presenting scientific information about the biological basis of homosexuality. Friday will also feature Thomas Warfield, founder of PeaceArt International, from New York. He will do a movement workshop all afternoon on building community. Saturday's closing address will be given by Kathy McGinnis from the Institute for Peace and Justice in St. Louis. It will give an overview of various concepts of privilege in our society and inspire us to work in our own communities to make a difference.
Workshops on "White Nationalism," and "White Power Music" will be given by Eric Ward and Kate Boyd of the Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity. There will be workshops as well on Gender Bias, Tribal Sovereignty and Religious Privilege. A rope-course experience will be an option as well.
There will be places for participants to stay on the mountain, and transportation to Sandpoint provided on Thursday night for the world music concert by Yellowman, at the Festival at Sandpoint. Tickets to the concert can be purchased at a discount with registration. Friday night there will be entertainment on the mountain by Thomas Warfield and his workshop participants and a number of local musicians.
We will need volunteers for set-up, registration, assistance to participants, runners, and probably a number of other things we haven't thought of yet. Day care will be available at the Schweitzer Day Care Center. But we need volunteers to assist with Peace Camp for older children and supervised activities in the afternoon. If you are interested in being an active participant and volunteering a portion of your time, we can make deductions in the registration fee for your volunteer hours. Call and leave a message at: 263-0275, and we will call you back to make arrangements.

Independence Day Parade

Brenda Hammond
The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force is once again inviting all of its members, as well as other community organizations, to march with us in the Fourth of July parade. We will have a float this year so if you'd like to participate without walking the route, it will be possible for you to ride.
For the past two years we have marched with other groups behind a banner reading, "Building a Better Community." This year our theme will be "Pulling Together," and we will have some sort of ribbon or streamer that can connect us to the float.
We all know that it takes much more than a human rights task force to create a safe community that upholds the rights of all its members and its guests. We hope to honor the contributions made by many other groups that make our community better for us all - more compassionate, more welcoming and more fair.
So if you belong to any other organization that makes such a contribution, talk to them about carrying a placard for your group. We will even make one for you, if you like. For latest updates on parade information call: 263-0275 and leave a message. We will be publicizing both time and place to gather.

Workshop Opportunity: Voices of Faith and Interfaith Alliance

Gary Payton
The Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights and The Interfaith Alliance of Idaho will present a workshop on Saturday, June 23, at the Sandpoint Library entitled "Idaho Communities Overcoming Hate: Reclaiming Our Voices." Addressing issues from a faith perspective, the workshop leaders are inviting participation from congregations, parishes, gatherings, and community organizations.
Among the objectives of the workshop are (1) educating parents and teens about hate on the Internet, (2) taking the message of the training back into the congregation or group, and (3) forming a Rapid Response Network.
Registration will begin at 9:00 am. The workshop will run from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. Call Pam Baldwin at 208-344-0400 or email her at pbaldwin@rmci.net for more details.

Workshop Opportunity: Undoing Racism

Brenda Hammond
A three-day workshop will be presented in Lewiston on July 18, 19 and 20, co-sponsored by the Casey Family Foundation, the Nez Perce Tribe and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.
The curriculum for this program has been developed by The Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond which is a national multi-racial, anti-racist collective of veteran organizations and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social change. Founded in 1980, the People's Institute has trained thousands of people throughout the United States.
The Undoing Racism Workshop is an intensive two and a half day program designed to educate, challenge, and empower people to "undo" the racist structures that hinder effective change. The training is based on the premise that racism has been consciously and systematically erected and that it can be "undone" if people understand where it comes from, how it functions, and why it is perpetuated.
The workshop is for community organizers, religious leaders, the business community, social workers, students and educators, cultural organi-zations, peace and social justice activists.
It is limited to 40 participants, and the cost is $100. If you are interested, please contact Julie Stevens by June 30 at (208)377-1771, extension 227.

PFLAG Sandpoint News

Barbara Hansen
Thank you all for supporting the recent fundraiser, SPRING FLING. We are delighted to report a $2,000 profit that will enable our chapter to continue its presence in Sandpoint. We have "planted deep roots", and despite declining numbers of board members due to illness and relocation, we will continue to offer support to parents, families and friends and to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons.
Our mission is also to educate the public to help overcome stereotypes and to advocate for basic human rights for all. We really need the energy of more people respectful of diversity and encourage YOU to join PFLAG as a member, regardless of how active you can become. Yearly membership is $25 for an individual and $35 for a family. Scholarships are available for the asking.
A PFLAG State Conference will be held in Yakima, WA --- an entertaining and informative event July l3, 14, 15 featuring speakers, entertainment, workshops and services all for $35 if registered by June 27-$45 afterwards. This includes a Friday BBQ, all meals Saturday and continental breakfast on Sunday. Keynoter is Rev. Jimmy Creech, defrocked Methodist minister and
others. Scholarships are available. Consider joining Barbara and Jim Hansen at this energy-building event!
Upcoming chapter activities include: marching with the Task Force in the July Fourth parade; staffing a booth at the Farm Jam-Music Fest for Ventures in Peace Saturday, July 28th; 3rd Annual PFLAG-PRIDE Picnic at a secluded location, Sunday, August 19th; and a Community Educational Event "SOUL FORCE" at the Community Hall Thursday, September 20th. Soul Force is a grassroots, nonviolent movement working to stop spiritual violence against God's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children. Based on the teachings of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., it is led by the Rev. Dr. Mel White.
Please call Barbara, 255-1313 for information on all activities.

Youth Leadership Institute

Brenda Hammond
There are places still available for young people wanting to participate in the Youth Leadership Institute that will precede our "Making a Difference Conference" at Schweitzer. It is important to register early as participation will be limited. The dates are August 5 - 9.
This is the seventh year that the Youth Leadership Institute will be sponsored by the Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity. This year the Task Force is participating as a co-sponsor.
The young people who attend will have the opportunity to get to know others from the Northwest, and engage in a number of activities that will increase their awareness of the barriers that divide us from each other and their own power to help break those barriers down. They will be inspired by the work of many others who have paved the way in the struggle to build a world that is inclusive and fair for all.
Scholarships are available and it is the intent of the organizers to make attendance possible for anyone truly wishing to participate. Brochures with registration forms are available by calling: 263-0275 and leaving a message. Or you may call Brenda Hammond at 263-0227, evenings or weekends.

Tolerance Monument

Gary Payton
The community event "Celebrate Sandpoint" was a resounding success! On a sunny and bright Saturday, over 400 people gathered at the Bonner County Fair Grounds to celebrate the values of human dignity and respect.
Organized by an ad hoc committee taking the name "Celebrate Sandpoint," the gathering on April 21st was first conceived as a positive, alternative event to the threatened Aryan Nations parade in downtown Sandpoint. While the parade never happened, the committee moved forward with plans for a day of celebration with music, art, speeches, and community interaction.
The highlight of the day was the unveiling of a drawing of a timber sculpture by nationally known local artist David Kraisler. The "Tolerance Monument" will include the abstract timber sculpture and three bronze plaques lifting up the poem "First They Came" by Martin Neimoller, an essay by Sandpoint High School student Laura Stoll, and a salute to veterans. The surrounding grounds will be planted and maintained by the Idaho Native Plant Society.
Following individual remarks of enthusiastic support, Bonner County Commissioners Tom Suttmeier, Jerry Clemons, and Brian Orr voted unanimously on May 29th to receive the monument and to site it in a prominent location on County grounds.
While a decision on the actual siting is pending as this newsletter goes to print, the goal remains for a dedication on July Fourth. The goal of the "Celebrate Sandpoint" committee is for the monument to serve as a reminder to all who live and visit here of the values of respect and dignity held by the vast majority of citizens in North Idaho.

Mythweaver Poster Sale Benefits Task Force

Gary Payton
The Idaho Mythweaver, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Sandpoint, continues to offer posters for sale as a fundraiser to support its educational work on Native American issues.
The posters are reproductions of a brightly colored watercolor painting donated by artist Patti Ridgway of Sagle, Idaho. They feature the face of a Native American with a golden eagle in the foreground and an osprey overhead. It features a quote by Kalispel leader, Francis Cullooyah. The Kalispel are the indigenous people to the Sandpoint and Bonner County area.
The posters are available for $10 with half of the proceeds being donated back to the Human Rights Task Force. Call 208-266-1284 (Jane Fritz) to arrange for purchase and pickup.

Tolerance.org Website from SPLC

Gary Payton
Take a minute and log on to the newest national website designed to promote human understanding and acceptance. The Southern Poverty Law Center recently launched a dynamic new web site called "Tolerance.org." Among its many features are (a) Planet Tolerance, a safe place for children with storybooks about human rights and a worldwide mural created by young people, (b) interactive maps displaying human rights groups like the BCHRTF and known hate groups, (3) "prejudice tests" created by Yale University and University of Washington psychologists designed to let us privately learn of our hidden biases, and (4) ideas for tolerance detailing practical ways to promote understanding at home, in schools and the workplace, and in our communities.
Of course, find the site at www.tolerance.org.

New Idaho Poster

Gary Payton
On May 29, the Idaho Human Rights Education Center and the Ada County Human Rights Task Force launched a new poster campaign "to counter the image, perception, and the reality of Idaho as a state where hatred and hate messages may exist."
The poster message is clear and unmistakable, "Not in Our Town...Not in Our State...Idaho is Too Great for Hate." If you would a copy, log on to www.humanrightsidaho.org and print your own window card or 11x17 inch poster.

Scholarship Awarded

Brenda Hammond
We were delighted to award this year's Stone of Hope Award and $2000 scholarship to Jennessa Frengle. Jennessa was student body president during her senior year at Sandpoint High School. She was also active in Mime and Masque, Coalition for Justice and Dignity, and PALZ as a Peer Assistance Liaison. Jennessa was a writer for the Cedar Post, the high school newspaper, as well as a member of the Creative Writing Club. She was one of the participants in the Youth Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Coalition for Human Dignity, last year in Wyoming. For the last seven years she has attended a camp for children with cancer where she will volunteer again this year as a counselor.
Jennessa was also awarded the Panida Theater and Terri Casey scholarships and one for the Elks Student of the Year. She plans to begin her college studies at North Idaho College this fall in theater and visual arts, continuing also her work in journalism and creative writing. We hope she also continues her wonderful singing and writing songs she accompanies with her guitar.
Jennessa is a unique individual who already has experience both as an activist and a peacemaker. She has found out that one person can make a difference, just by having the courage to speak up when remarks are made that put others down. She has also seen that this can have a ripple effect, where those who were first speaking thoughtless words catch them-selves and then also remind others. So her words for us all are: "Don't ever think that one person can't make a difference. Those you touch will in turn touch others and the ripples just continue to spread."