2009 Midwest Regional Conference

Dignity: All Rights for All People

November 14-15, 2009
Palmer House Hilton
17 East Monroe St.
Chicago, Illinois 60603
(312) 726-7500

» Register now!

Come join other AI activists from around the Midwest Region for an inspiring weekend affirming the full spectrum of rights and human dignity for all. The conference theme is "Dignity: All Rights for All People."

We look forward to seeing you all at the conference and thank you for your commitment to the human rights movement!

News and Features

Agenda: This is a working agenda and subject to slight changes and modifications. Priority campaign workshop titles are place holders pending the final determination of actual workshop titles. Click Here to view the Conference Agenda

» Download an application for the 2010 Sister Laola Hironaka Award

Events to include:

Human Rights Gala (Friday): 2009 Theme - Heroes in the Struggle
Midwest Regional Reception(Saturday): 2009 Theme - Amnesty's Got Talent
State Receptions (Saturday)
Plenary Sessions: "Demanding Dignity: The Modern Struggle to Protect Human Rights" A (Saturday); "Demanding Dignity: The Resolution Revolution" B (Sunday); "Demanding Dignity: The Impact of Torture from the Burge Cases to the Women of Atenco" C (Sunday).
Workshops on Saturday:
- Individual Case Work - "The Role of Advocacy in Supporting Prisoners of Conscious"
- Health Care Reform - "Demanding Dignity: Human Rights in the Context of Poverty"
- Immigration Reform - "Jailed Without Justice: Immigration Detention Reform"
- Torture Policy Reform - "Countering Terror with Justice: The End of US Sanctioned Torture"
- Criminal Justice Reform - "Abolishing the Death Penalty"
- Effective Local Advocacy - Organizing Training Session
- Effective Local Advocacy - Event Planning Training Session
- Youth and College Activist - "Exploring Human Rights as a Career"
- Youth and College Activist - "How to Make Your Group Flourish"
Leadership Networking and Training:
- State Caucus (Saturday)
- Youth Caucus (Saturday)
- Faculty Advisor Caucus (Saturday)
- Amnesty International Volunteer Leaders Summit (Sunday)

Become a member online and you will receive an Amnesty International tote bag at the conference!

Speakers

Larry Cox
Executive Director of Amnesty International USA

Larry Cox was appointed Executive Director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in January 2006. A veteran human rights advocate, he came to Amnesty after serving for 11 years as Senior Program Officer for the Ford Foundation's Human Rights unit. His work there focused on international justice, advancing economic, social and cultural rights, and human rights in the United States. In assuming leadership of AIUSA, Larry's career has come full circle 30 years after joining the organization as its first press officer. He spent nine years at AIUSA, from 1976 to 1984, establishing the organization's Program to Abolish the Death Penalty before becoming its first Communications Director and as the first Deputy Executive Director. He then spent five years as Deputy Secretary General at Amnesty International's London headquarters. Throughout his time at Amnesty International he has served as a delegate on several international missions, including missions to Australia, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Father Jose Landaverde
Immigrant Rights Activist

Father Jose Landaverde is a founding member of the Latino Union of Chicago, a community-based outreach organization dedicated to working alongside low-income immigrant workers to develop the tools necessary to collectively improving social and economic conditions. Father Jose has served as the Executive Director of the organization. A life long activist, he has contributed to the struggle for worker rights in Chicago and across the country.

Resolutions

Exercise your organizational citizenship! Amnesty International is a grassroots organization. Any individual member or group of members has an opportunity to impact the mission, method, policy, or organization. Resolutions are a means by which members can influence policy on a regional, national, or international level.

A resolution is a statement directing a change in AI that can't be accomplished by simply asking a staff member or volunteer leader. A resolution can be as simple as asking staff to clarify current procedures or as complex as requesting a change in AI's mission. The submission form and more information are available at www.amnestyusa.org/members/resolutions. Resolutions submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

The deadline for submitting resolutions is September 1, 2009. The deadline for members of registered student groups is September 15, 2009.

Voting on Resolutions at the 2009 Regional Conferences will be by Voting Cards rather than by count of hands. To obtain a Voting Card at the Regional Conference, you must be recorded as a voting member of AIUSA (having paid dues to AIUSA or submitted a valid dues waiver in the last year, and tentatively no later than Saturday, November 14, 2009), designate a group representative (one vote per group), and submit a Group Voting Authorization Form. You may join when you register for the conference on-site and be eligible to vote.

Resolution Submission Forms and Guidelines
Membership Resolutions Process Guidelines & Submission Form
The Membership Resolutions Process
Resolutions and AIUSA

Download the Midwest Regional Conference 2009 Resolutions Packet (on the members section)

Registration

To take advantage of early bird rates, on-line registration must be completed by October 30th, 2009 or paper registration posted. After that, rates increase by $10.
» Register for the 2009 Midwest Regional Conference

Download the Registration Form
Individual | Group

Volunteer Opportunities

The success of our regional conference is in large part due to the generous help from those who volunteer at the conference. Areas in which we need volunteer support include: registration table, ideas fair, group sales, information technology, Irene Khan's book sales, workshops, concert, on-site action, and overall conference set up and clean up. We will be waiving the registration fee for all who are able to volunteer 6 or more hours for the duration of the conference. Please fill out the attached volunteer registration form if you will like to volunteer.

Download the Volunteer Signup Form

Accommodations

The Palmer House Hilton is offering Amnesty International conference attendees a special room rate of $149.99 for a single or double, plus local taxes and fees. Reservations must be made with reservation code ANI to take advantage of the special rate! However, space is limited, so please make your reservations as soon as possible!

Conference attendees must make their own reservations directly with the hotel by calling (312) 726-7500. Be sure to mention "Amnesty International USA" to obtain this special group rate.