Amnesty International, Eastern PA

On Dec. 23, 2008, four members of Group #531 (Allentown, PA), including one new member, attended the group’s regular bi-monthly meeting. Those attending reported sending 40 letters and postcards in the past two months. The group discussed the recent Mid-Atlantic Regional conference, including the resolutions passed and the workshop on the proposed Integrated Strategic Plan for the 2010-2016 cycle. Members of the group participated in a outreach/fundraiser, held in conjunction with Group #347 (Bethlehem, PA), at the local Barnes and Noble bookshop, where we talked about AI’s purpose with many customers and raised $60 in donations. The treasury of Group 531 being in good condition, the group agreed to subsidize a membership in the national organization for those who are regular attenders of the group meetings, and who have difficulty paying for the membership on their own. The group’s next meeting will be February 24, 2009, 7-9 PM, at St. Timothy.

Though bad weather kept some people away, six Lehigh Valley volunteers participated in a Global Write-a-Thon event on December 6. Together we sent 23 letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders. Pictured are four of the participants, hard at work.