Spreading The Peace Wreath Idea
1) Possible locations
a) New Paltz
b) Cobbleskill
c)
d)
e) Canaan
f) Downstate
g) Make one and give to gov. Spitzer
2) Contact info for organizer
3) The timelessness of the wreath
a) Martin Luther king or appropriate theme
4) Locate a coffee shop for bathrooms etc and tip them
a) Talk to meter person to avoid parking tickets
5) How to make a wreath
a) Materials
i) Getting the grape vines
(1) Pull them out of trees with tractors
(2) Climb trees and cut them out
(3) Need forked vines for the nd letter at bottom
(4) At city park spread them all out in lengths like snakes or fire hoses
ii) 5 # spool of binding wire
iii) Lights
iv) Electrical tape to seal outlets
v) Plastic ties to tie on lights
vi) Forget the evergreen, it isn’t a xmas wreath but a peace wreath.
b) Method-need an artist to direct
i) Delegate to get others involved
(1) Selecting next peace to be used
(2) Let the vine tell you how it wants to go
(3) Weave it around the first circle you have joined keep it tight and use long pieces
(4) Keep weaving until you have the desired thickness of the circle
(5) Secure vines with wire as needed, not around whole bundle but just tying new vine to a couple of the already woven ones.
(6) Wreathes as large as 15 feet in diameter have been made
(7) See www.chathampeace.org for pictures of wreathes made by them and hung.
6) Hanging the wreath
a) Rope
b) Chains if needed
c) Extension ladder
d) Bucket truck
e) Get the dpworks involved after you secure the mayors permission
f) Have them tie your lights into a light with a timer
7) Who to invite (use letters, email, mail, posters, phone, visits, website)
a) Veterans for peace
b) Peace groups
c) Interfaith churches/temples/synagogues/mosques and their representatives and members-
i) Send a contact who is member to speak with the religious leader or congregation
ii) Have someone ready from each religious group to say a prayer for peace after the wreath is up and you have formed a circle and you can invite people to voice their thoughts, open and close with silence and hold hands at the end-vary as desired! These are just ideas.
d) Political leaders
e) Press
f) Bring a camera (night ones are great) and take pictures for media if necessary and for website.
8) How to contact city government
a) Approach the mayor or an alderperson who is known to you
b) Get all political parties involved if possible
c) How long to hang it-a month is good-can be used next year
9) How to pass it on
a) Contact a town near you and share your experience of making and hanging and praying under the wreath. Maybe you have contacts there and they will become interested.