NRCAT Memo for Communities Participating in the Banner Project, 2008

May 5, 2008

To: Contacts for congregations participating in the Banners Across America project

First, we want to thank you and your congregation for participating in this exciting project.  You are helping to create a very visible, nationwide religious witness against US-sponsored torture.

In this message, we will give you an update on our outreach efforts and tell you about other aspects of this project you can look for in the coming weeks.

We now have confirmed commitments from congregations in 43 states and DC.  In the remaining 7 states (GA, HI, ID, MS, NE, SD, WV), we have promising contacts which we are fairly confident will lead to banner orders in the next week or so.  However, if you have friends, relatives or colleagues in any of the following states, we would be eager to contact them and find out whether they know of a congregation that might participate in this project.  We would need to make that contact SOON, so please send any names, numbers and e-mail addresses right away (send to jhumphries@nrcat.org or 860-216-7972).  Alternatively, you can send information about the project directly to your contacts by directing them to the project webpage:

http://www.nrcat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152&Itemid=151

For those of you who have been organizing locally and producing your own banners, we need to get a list of participating congregations to include in our publicity and communications.  Please send me an updated list as soon as possible.

As we approach our goal of having at least one congregation in every state, we are ready to start focusing on other aspects of this project to give it the greatest visibility we can during the month of June.  Here are some of the things you will be hearing more about during the next couple of weeks:

1.    Media Strategy: We are working on a media strategy that will include approaching national and regional media outlets and providing each of you with tools that will help you do effective media work in your local area.  We will have a media packet (including sample media advisory, media tips and talking points) available on the website no later than May 20.

2.    Other Suggestions for Using the Banner: NRCAT will send to you and put on the web site other suggestions for using the banner as a vehicle for witnessing against U.S.-sponsored torture.  

3.    Prayers: We are collaborating with Rabbis for Human Rights in developing materials to accompany an interfaith “Prayer of Recommitment” that can be used during worship services in June, with a special emphasis on the weekend of June 6-8.  This is one way to highlight the need for an amplified religious witness following the President’s successful veto of the Army Field Manual legislation in early March.  It will also be a way for congregations to participate in Torture Awareness Month even if they are not displaying a banner.  More information about these prayers will be available on the website no later than Tuesday, May 13.

4.    Bumper Stickers: We have printed bumper stickers that look like the “Torture is a Moral Issue” banners, but more explicitly identifying the statement as website address.  These will be available on our new online “storefront” (minimum order of 10) by June 1.  We hope congregations displaying a banner will also distribute bumper stickers as a way to carry the witness out into the surrounding communities.

5.    Posters: We are moving forward with our plans to develop a poster using photos of some of the banners displayed on houses of worship across the country. Posters will be delivered to every member of congress, the White House and the presidential campaigns.  They will also be available for purchase on our website.  We don’t know yet how many of the photos we will be able use – we will be working with a graphics designer to develop something that is eye-catching and powerful.  But we will have a deadline of June 10th for the submission of digital photos.  Any photos received after that date will not be considered for inclusion on the poster.

Let me know if you have any questions about any of these items.  We look forward to working closely with you in the coming weeks to make the Banners Across America project a powerful religious witness against US-sponsored torture.

With appreciation,

John Humphries
Director for Program Coordination
jhumphries@nrcat.org
860-216-7972