top of page
CVN-GenericHeaderBackground.png

VETERANS FOR PEACE
CONVENTION

2024 Schedule

Scroll down to see our 2024 Convention schedule or click on one of the dates below to be taken to that day's list of programming!

SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE

Please note that the times below are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?

Friday, August 16th

​

12:00 PM
Sitting Meditation with Claude AnShin Thomas

1:00 PM

Workshop: The Worldview and Peace Workshop

3:00 PM

Workshop:  Deported Veterans Advocacy Project
3:45 PM
The Red Team Report Echoes SOVA's Stance

5:00 PM

Workshop: Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Seek Justice - And the Outlaw of Nuclear Weapons - Through People's Tribunal

7:00 PM

Opening Program

9:00 PM

Poetry moderated by Doug Rawlings

​

Saturday, August 17th

​

11:00 AM

Sitting Meditation with Claude AnShin Thomas

12:00 PM

Business Meeting

3:30 PM

¡Presente!

4:00 PM

Workshop: Impact of Current Wars on Climate Crisis

6:00 PM

Keynote Event: Focus on Gaza with Odeliya Matter, Elik Elhanan, and Huwaida Arraf

9:00 PM

Music Event w/ David Rovics, Joanne Rand, and Issa Boulos

Sunday, August 18th

​

12:00 PM

Workshop: Calling Out the War Industrialists and Calling for Divestment

2:00 PM

Workshop: Resisting Repression: Strategies of Solidarity in the New McCarthy Era

4:00 PM

Workshop: The Rising Multi-polar world: WIll the Empire start World War to prevent it?

6:00 PM

Workshop: Moral Injury in Today's Wars and a Future Care Model

8:00 PM

Closing Keynote: We Sail Until Palestine Is Free: The Freedom Flotilla

9:30 PM

End convention

​​

Additional Programming
Social Room - Open 24 Hours

August 16

AUGUST 16TH

Please note that all times are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?

12:00 PM 

SITTING MEDITATION WITH CLAUDE ANSHIN THOMAS

​Veterans, you are invited to join Claude AnShin Thomas for two sessions of sitting meditation during the convention— Friday, August 16, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm EDT and Saturday, August 17, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT. Sitting meditation is a powerful way to address the unique challenges due to military service. It can offer a way into finding peace with our un-peacefulness. Sitting meditation is a practical tool that offers insights to navigate the challenges of post-service life, fostering resilience and discovering the ability to be more present. Join us with this chance to transform your life and embark on a path to peace and healing. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@zaltho.org. We look forward to welcoming you. Together, let's take the first step towards a life of peace, understanding, and renewal.

​

​Presenter: Claude AnShin Thomas

7:00 PM

OPENING PROGRAM

  Welcome Host

  Blessing and Centering Four Arrows

  Offering of a Poem: Jenny Pacanowski

  Opener Marjorie Cohn

  Opener Margaret Stevens

  Keynote: Margaret Kimberley
  Keynote: Harrison Mann
  Juan Bettancourt Appeal For Redress

 

9:00 PM

POETRY

Moderator: Doug Rawlings
​

Veterans speaking truth to power is a beautiful thing…

​

Veterans expressing that truth as spoken art is world changing. Join Veterans For Peace in the sharing and baring of creative souls through poetry, spoken word, and oral tradition.

​

Want to read a poem or sing a song? Sign up here!

Opening Program
Poetry
August 17

AUGUST 17

Please note that all times are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?

11:00 AM

SITTING MEDITATION WITH CLAUDE ANSHIN THOMAS

​Veterans, you are invited to join Claude AnShin Thomas for two sessions of sitting meditation during the convention— Friday, August 16, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm EDT and Saturday, August 17, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm EDT. Sitting meditation is a powerful way to address the unique challenges due to military service. It can offer a way into finding peace with our un-peacefulness. Sitting meditation is a practical tool that offers insights to navigate the challenges of post-service life, fostering resilience and discovering the ability to be more present. Join us with this chance to transform your life and embark on a path to peace and healing. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@zaltho.org. We look forward to welcoming you. Together, let's take the first step towards a life of peace, understanding, and renewal.

​

Presenter: Claude AnShin Thomas

12:00 PM

BUSINESS MEETING

We will be using the regular Zoom Online Meeting format for this year’s business meeting.  This will allow everyone present to see who is attending the meeting.  The board’s request is for you to keep yourself on mute unless you have been recognized to speak.  Please raise your virtual hand and wait to be recognized before speaking. 

​

During the discussion on resolutions, we will “call the question” and move to a vote when there are no members on the “pro” or “con” side after three members have spoken “for” and three “against” each resolution. 

​

During other items that require discussion, debate, and a vote, we will take speakers for each side until there are no members wanting to speak for either side.  We will then “call the question”  and move to a vote.  Zoom format has a function that allows members to participate in a poll-which we will be using for the convention straw vote.

​

Fall Vote

​

All current VFP members will have the option to vote in October.  Online ballots will go out in October.

3:30 PM

¡PRESENTE!

 

6:00 PM

KEYNOTE EVENT: FOCUS ON GAZA

 

  6:00 PM:  Blessing and Centering - Oren Lyons

  6:30 PM:  Focus On Gaza: Odeliya Matter, Elik Elhanan, Huwaida Arraf
     Moderator: Will Hopkins
     Panelists: Odeliya Matter
· Elik Elhanan · Huwaida Arraf

  7:30 PM:  Joy Metzler
  7:45 PM:  Awards
​​

9:00 PM

MUSIC EVENT

David Rovics, Joanne Rand to perform song-swap style interspersed with a few videos incl. Issa Boulos 

Keynote Saturday
Music

AUGUST 18TH

Please note that all times are listed in Eastern Time.
What time is that for me?

8:00 PM

CLOSING PROGRAM: WE SAIL UNTIL PALESTINE IS FREE: THE FREEDOM FLOTILLA

​​​​Panelists: Mary Brownlee · Jayson Mizula · Ann Wright · Barry Riesch · Elliott Adams

​​

Members of the Freedom Flotillas "Break The Siege" on Gaza action in April of 2024 will share their experiences and thoughts about their involvement. Please join us for the final session of the convention

Please note that all times are listed in Central Time.
What time is that for me?

August 18
Closing Keynote
bottom of page