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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I sent the notice about the Heart of America bus
tour out in October. Here is the story of this rolling OS.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peggy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=sjm96@attbi.com href="mailto:sjm96@attbi.com">Sarah-Jane Menato</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=Undisclosed-Recipient:@host32.cedant.com;
href="mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:@host32.cedant.com;">Undisclosed-Recipient:@host32.cedant.com;</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 01, 2002 11:26 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Follow up letter from The Heart of America Bus
Tour</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Thank you so much for your generous and heartfelt support
of the Heart of America Bus Tour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
want to let you know some of what happened both on the tour and, as a result of
the tour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The idea for this
cross-country pilgrimage, The Heart of America Bus Tour, was born in the
aftermath of the collapse of the World Trade Center.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the days following September
11<SUP>th</SUP> Tom French gathered a small group of people who began to
consider the possibility of taking their own insights seriously.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our question was, “Could it be that in
the midst of catastrophe, enormous opportunity to support healing and accelerate
the visibility of already emergent thinking and practices of community was
available in an unprecedented way?”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And so The Heart of America Bus Tour began.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The journey is not done yet, and a
conference we are planning at the end of July <B>“Imagine 2002: A Call To The
Way Forward”</B> is an ongoing response to questions raised by events of Sept
11<SUP>th</SUP>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Bus left Seattle on Thanksgiving Day, traveled across
the United States and arrived in New York in time for Christmas.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The crew included Tom French, Ella
Dillon, Alana Karran and Anne Theisen.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Missoula, Montana was the first stop, where Annie
Soerensen, one of many extraordinary volunteers across the country, coordinated
activities in her hometown.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Annie
said “<I>I had been numb since Sept 11<SUP>th</SUP> and couldn’t bring energy to
respond in any way until receiving the request to host The Heart of America
events in Missoula.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I said
yes!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s a way to bring spirit and
action together”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></I>Following the
bus tour, there are ongoing peace meetings every Friday in Missoula, and in
March there will be a film showing to benefit and increase understanding of the
needs in Afghanistan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tom will
return to Missoula in March to continue a conversation initiated during The
Heart of America Bus Tour, about developing a job-training program for homeless
people.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none">In
Chicago, events took a serious turn when Tom was mugged in Roger’s Park where he
was conducting community outreach activities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tom sustained injuries including a
fractured arm.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is still dealing
with the aftermath of the attack both physically and emotionally.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Shortly after the attack, the community
where the mugging took place held a meal and dialogue to harness creative
energy, and build bridges within the local neighborhood.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The event, designed to help heal and
unite Chicagoans in light of the current world situation, was held at St.
Jerome’s Church in the Rogers’s Park neighborhood.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Over the course of the meal,
participants were invited to reflect on what they could do to prevent terrorism
in the world, starting in their own neighborhood.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The event resulted in a pilot program
that is currently getting underway guided by Nancy Backas.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is a six-week intensive skills
training course designed to keep kids off the streets.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none">Tom
said following his experience of being mugged, <I>“In light of this attack, it
is clear that the work of the Heart of America Bus Tour must continue.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The issue of terrorism in our world must
be addressed at our own dinner tables, in our own neighborhoods, and within
ourselves, before we can hope to address the issue at a global level.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What we are doing on this tour is giving
people a chance to have the meaningful discussions with their neighbors they
haven’t had yet.”<o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">A rich “unscheduled stop” took place in Mishawaka,
Indiana.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Doug Germann coordinated a
day’s experience of deep connection with children painting, grandmothers and
grandfathers talking, and sharing wisdom born of rich life experience.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The bus crew cooked for the firefighters
in town, as they did at all the stops the bus made.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Doug and his community are one of
several we have maintained contact with and look forward to further
collaboration with him.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none"><U> <o:p></o:p></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none">In
Washington DC, the bus crew met with Senator Patti Murray.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The creation of a national agenda to
address issues of homelessness and hunger among poor people was the focus of the
conversation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A national task force
is being formed with Nancy Backas (chef and food writer) and Bob Egger, the
founder and director of DC Central Kitchen and Tom.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The focus of the task force will be
youth and the elderly.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">A colorful feast and multi faith gathering was held at
the Fresh Farm Market at Dupont Circle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Tom cooked a meal showcasing the stunning beauty and bounty of
fresh-picked market produce.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A wide
variety of faith traditions were present.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Deborah Koff-Chapin a well-known artist from Whidbey Island joined the
bus crew at this point and began offering in depth “Touch Drawing”
workshops.<SPAN
style="COLOR: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none"><U> <o:p></o:p></U></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none">On
December 21<SUP>st</SUP>, the bus rolled into New York and a series of powerful
events unfolded.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Larraine Mai was
one of the volunteers who made events possible in New York, and she said,
<I>“For me, the dinner the bus crew cooked for the families of undocumented
workers lost in the Trade Center was so important.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The people it was recognizing are the
invisible ones, with no voices.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
fact that the bus crew came across the country to see them, hear them and give
toys to the children was very powerful.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; text-underline: none"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">The
toys the bus crew distributed at the dinner were donated by a midtown fire
station</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> </SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Tom</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> cooked dinner at the
previous evening.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The fire station
has become a shrine within which the normal, daily business of the fire fighters
goes on.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The station’s Chaplin,
Father Mychal Judge, from the church across the street, St. Francis of Assisi,
was killed on September 11<SUP>th</SUP>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Today, looking up at his window from the fire station, there is light in
the window and the place has become a holy site.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The bus crew described being in the
station as an experience of standing inside a
miracle.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">On Saturday January 5<SUP>th</SUP> 2002, a welcome home
celebration was held at The Whidbey Institute for the bus crew.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Seventy people showed up to celebrate
with us, and acknowledge the journey The Heart of America Bus has taken.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was a rich evening of feasting, art
and music.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We discovered that it is
as important for those who were on the bus to have receptive ears to hear their
stories as it was for the families of the undocumented workers in New York.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The gift of listening and bearing
witness to what has heart and meaning is part of what allows spirit to take root
in our actions in the world.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This
was one of the things the bus crew learned.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Prior to the commencement of the bus tour, Parker Palmer
gifted us with an article called “Contemplative by Catastrophe”.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In it he speaks of the fact that
contemplation, which is normally regarded as a private pursuit, needs communal
support.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As we continue to
contemplate the meaning and impact of September 11<SUP>th</SUP>, we have learned
that even in our most private and sacred moments, we need each other.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In community, we are most likely to find
the internal strength to be faithful to the implications of being willing to let
September 11<SUP>th</SUP> change us forever.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The work initiated by the bus tour goes on.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tom is feeling better daily and working
hard to integrate the learning and growth opportunity afforded by the bus
tour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the days ahead we will
send you an update telling you more about where Bountiful Table is headed and
some of the next steps in our journey.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Thank you for making this journey with us.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Best
wishes,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Sarah-Jane Menato<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Bountiful Table <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">206 285-3274<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">www.bountifultable.org<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>