{UVic Poverty Law Club} PLC Movie Rescheduled!! Social Justice Conference!!

Movie Rescheduled!  Debt Trap: Our planned screening of the film "Debt Trap" has been rescheduled to October 28 at lunch! Where:  Room 157, Fraser Building  When:  12:30 Wednesday, October 28th Description: Feeling maxed out? Smothered by a growing burden of credit card payments, loans, mortgages and other debts? You are not alone. The average Canadian is shouldering a personal debt load greater than their total yearly net income. Never before in history have so many people been in so much debt to large corporations, and our debt load is mounting daily. DEBT TRAP examines why the average Canadian is sinking deeper in hock, by looking at the stories of several individuals and families who are struggling with debt. As the recent debt crisis in the United States threatens to impact on Canada, the questions raised by DEBT TRAP couldn't be timelier. Sobering, ironic, and enlightening, the film probes the reasons why more and more of us are struggling to keep afloat, and what needs to be done to turn this trend around. DEBT TRAP is written and directed by David Adkin ("Jim loves Jack: The James Egan Story", "We're Funny That Way") and produced by Howard Fraiberg ("Class Queers") Social Justice Conference 2009:  Registration Deadline Extended! The Poverty Law Club will be sending a delegation to the Social Justice Conference at Harbour Centre in Vancouver.  If you are interested in attending the conference, you must register before October 26th.  Spaces are filling up fast!  We will try to organize a carpool; email wep@uvic.ca if you're interested in coming. Where:  Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre in Vancouver  When:  Saturday, October 31st (Hallowe'en!) Details and registration information can be found at: http://justiceconference.wordpress.com/ Feeling maxed out? Smothered by a growing burden of credit card payments, loans, mortgages and other debts? About: Scheduled for October 31, 2009 at Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre, the 2009 Justice Conference is a chance for lawyers who practice law in social justice fields, or law students or lawyers who wish to practice law in social justice fields, to discuss issues related to this unique practice area. The conference is aimed at building a community of lawyers committed to social justice principles for ongoing networking, professional development and advocacy opportunities. Guest speakers will present on personal routes to social justice practice, social justice practice models, and ways progressive lawyers organize themselves in Canada and the U.S., and how progressive lawyers have organized themselves historically in British Columbia.
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{UVic Poverty Law Club} PLC Film this Tuesday at lunch: Debt Trap

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Film this Tuesday:  Debt Trap Come out on Tuesday at lunch to room 152.  We will be showing the Film "Debt Trap."  Where:  Room 152, Fraser Building  When:  12:30 Tuesday October 20th Description: Feeling maxed out? Smothered by a growing burden of credit card payments, loans, mortgages and other debts? You are not alone. The average Canadian is shouldering a personal debt load greater than their total yearly net income. Never before in history have so many people been in so much debt to large corporations, and our debt load is mounting daily. DEBT TRAP examines why the average Canadian is sinking deeper in hock, by looking at the stories of several individuals and families who are struggling with debt. As the recent debt crisis in the United States threatens to impact on Canada, the questions raised by DEBT TRAP couldn't be timelier. Sobering, ironic, and enlightening, the film probes the reasons why more and more of us are struggling to keep afloat, and what needs to be done to turn this trend around. DEBT TRAP is written and directed by David Adkin ("Jim loves Jack: The James Egan Story", "We're Funny That Way") and produced by Howard Fraiberg ("Class Queers")
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{UVic Poverty Law Club} FYI: Alternative Careers Database

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ALTERNATIVE CAREERS DATABASE The Alternative Careers Database Project is an initiative of students at the University of Windsor's Faculty of Law. The objective is to "make a database of firms and legal organizations that practice social justice law available to law students". Similar clubs from across Canada are spreading word about this project which launched this year. You can: View the existing list of Canadian organizations (PDF) Contribute to the list by adding entries to the project wiki page (which will then be incorporated into the next scheduled update of the PDF) IDEAS FOR BLOCK GRANT APPLICATIONS? Jeremy wants to remind people that the Law Society block grant applications are due this week. If anyone wants to engage in a significant project related to Poverty Law Issues that would require funding, this may be a good avenue and he will help you with the application process. Jeremy can be reached via email at jeremybg@uvic.ca BUSINESS MEETING The first PLC Executive meeting will occur this Thursday at lunch in the Fraser building. The meeting will be an opportunity for the executive to make plans for the coming semester. As a note, all business meetings are open to any member of the club. All club members have full voting privileges at business meetings, not just executive members. A club member is defined in the club constitution as anyone who is a UVic law student who is on this mailing list and has attended at least one club event.
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{UVic Poverty Law Club} New Executive, UVic Social Work Prof Asking for Help

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NEW EXECUTIVE ELECTED The Poverty Law Club Elected a new executive and ratified an updated constitution at its AGM today: (links go to photos so you know who everyone is) Co-Presidents: Joshua Prowse + Jeremy Burgess VP Admin: Mark Osmond + Emmett Scrimshaw VP Communications: Eric Pedersen VP Internal: Matt Boulton VP External: Pip Stanaway, Lyndsey Delamont Note: Pip was elected in abstentia.  There were two people elected to a number of positions as a number of club members will be leaving next semester to go on co-op terms and so there was a desire to try to have a larger executive for the next two months to build institutional knowledge. We brainstormed a list of events that the club might want to hold over the course of this year: you can view the list  VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: PETER VERIN This is an email the club received from David Turner (pictured, right). David is professor of Social Work at UVic, an anti-poverty activist and the former mayor of Victoria. He heard about the Poverty Law group and asked if any members of the group would be interested in helping him work on the legal case of Mr. Verin, a well-known figure at UVic (Times Colonist piece), whom he says is suffering a human rights violation: Peter Verin, the person who we are working with, calls himself an eco-philosopher and a salvager.  He chooses not to have a fixed abode and had until fairly recently maintained a continuing presence on the UVic campus for more than 20 years as an intellectual support to students. Peter is suing the University of Victoria, because in their gentrification  drive 5 to 10 years ago he was assaulted by campus security staff, who allege that he was a nuisance and a health risk with his salvaging.  The university counter-sued for trespass and sought an injunction to ban him from major sites on campus.  The BC Supreme Court granted this pending the outcome of the trial.  Peter obtained counsel for this action, but the lawyer was unable to continue, as she was moving to Vancouver.  He has been unable to find and obtain new counsel. Peter requires paralegal help in pursuing this suit, with completing documentation, affidavits, in preparation for trial.  He is also worried that the University (Counsel Michael Mark) will raise the issue of timely action, and Peter would like some help in researching the issue of limitations of these actions. He is also concerned that the SUB management violated a mediation agreement that allowed him to continue salvaging in the SUB building.  He is concerned about the connection between the University, facilities planning management, campus security and the Student Society. We believe that Peter's situation represents a violation of Human Rights and we believe that he has been harassed because of his visibility, political stance and support from students as he challenges the status quo on campus. David approached the Law Centre but was told it would be a conflict of interest for them to become involved as they are funded by UVic and Mr Verin is suing UVic. You can follow up by emailing Professor David Turner. This was sent out tot he club last year and David has gotten back in touch with us recently.
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{UVic Poverty Law Club} Annual General Meeting Wednesday, Volunteer Opportunity with TAPS

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Date: Wednesday, October 7 Time: Lunchtime, starting at 12:30 and running for 35 minutes Location: Room 152 Fraser You are invited to the Annual General Meeting of the UVic Poverty Law Club. We will discuss what activities you would be interested in doing this year and elect the club executive.  The Poverty Law Club is a nascent organization; if we want to sustain the club, it will be essential to develop a team to lead the club. I would ask you to consider volunteering to fill one of these five executive positions at this week's meeting. If you are considering the possibility, please email <uvic-plc@prowsej.fastmail.fm> just to let me know. Responsibilities should be limited and not time consuming. : ) 1.       President – Responsible for overall leadership of the Club, coordination of executive duties, chairing meetings, communications with the LSS and the University. Official voice of the Club. Tie breaking vote in cases of ties. May delegate responsibilities as need be. 2.       Vice-President Administration – Responsible for maintaining Club records and managing Club funds. Responsible for preparing a proposed annual budget. Responsible for preparing a detailed statement of club expenses bi-annually. Budget and expense reports should be presented to the membership through the club mailing list and in person at a regular club meeting. Acts in the absence of the President. 3.       Vice President Communication – Responsible for maintenance of the Club web site, mailing list, servers and fora. Responsible for keeping the club web site updated with all upcoming events in a timely fashion and for sending emails to the membership. Will also liaison with external organizations, including media organizations, with regards to Club events. 4.       Vice President Internal – Responsible for club activities within UVic. Responsible for recruitment and retention of members. Responsible for fostering club relationships with other campus student groups. 5.       Vice President External – Responsible for organizing Club participation in external events and fostering club relationships with external organizations. We will also vote on some minor housekeeping amendments to the UVic PLC constitution, as uploaded to the club web site.  Thank you.  VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY TAPS (The Together Against Poverty Society) in Victoria runs a volunteer disability advocacy program. Volunteers help clients prepare provincial benefits applications for persons with disabilities.  This involves working with the clients, communicating with medical professionals and the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance, and representing clients in appeals.  TAPS is offering interested students an opportunity to volunteer for this program. They will train you in the legislation, the process, and give you the opportunity to pair off with a current advocate and observe a client interview session. What: Training program for new volunteers When: Wednesday, October 14 at 5:30 p.m.  Where: Trainings will be conducted at the TAPS office (302-895 Fort St.) People who have done this say that it has developed their legal advocacy skills, knowledge of this area of law, and that their work has provided tangible assistance for persons with disabilities. To follow up or RSVP: Contact: Katie Tanigawa at TAPS Contact Email: vdap@tapsbc.ca  Contact Phone: 250 361 3521
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