161 Stovepipe Alley
Monroe, ME 04951
(207) 525-7776
rosc@psouth.net
An Affiliate of the War Resisters League

Resources for Organizing and Social Change was founded as INVERT (Institute for Nonviolence Education, Research, and Training) in 1977 to promote nonviolence and social change through education, training, and research programs. Since 1978, it has been a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) organization. In 2000, we changed our name to Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC).

The mission of ROSC is: to build and support a movement for nonviolent social change that will educate, activate, and empower all Maine people through grassroots community organizing.

In 2004, ROSC, through volunteers, board members, and consultants worked with numerous projects, each of which is part of our above-stated mission. Those projects primarily under the wing of ROSC: Changing Maine Directory, (list of grassroots groups), Maine Draft and Military Counselors (information and counseling for youth), Changing Maine (gathering for activists), War Tax Resistance Resource Center, Alternatives to Violence Project (conflict resolution in prisons), No Class (work to end classism), GROW New England (organizer education for ME, NH, VT), AbilityMaine.org (disability rights website), Nonviolence Training, and Youth Activism Gatherings (activist trainings).

ROSC staff also worked with groups we helped to start, including MaineShare, the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, Central Maine Tikkun, and an American Friends Service Committee Peace and Justice Committee in Maine and with other selected peace and justice campaigns in Maine.

A brief summary of projects:

No Class: After three self-education weekends in 2003, the group has begun workshops, talks, and action to highlight class issues and discrimination Claire Gélinas has coordinated this project.

Changing Maine Directory: We are selling or giving away 500 remaining copies of the fifth edition, released in June, 2001. Copies are available on request; a partially updated version is on line through the www.abilitymaine.org web site.

AbilityMaine.org: Maine's website by/for disabled people, coordinated by board members Russ Anderson and Norm Meldrum. Began literary journal of writing by people with disabilities called Breath and Shadow, staffed by Sharon Wachsler, and began a "Newly Disabled Guide," available in winter/spring, 2005.

Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP): Coordinated by Tracy Booth, AVP offers conflict resolution workshops with inmates. Programs continued at Maine Correctional Center (Windham), Bolduc Prison Farm (Warren) and Cumberland Pre-release.

War Tax Resistance Resource Center: The Center provides information for persons who are conscientiously opposed to paying taxes for war.. Tax Day actions on April 15 are annual events. It hosted a New England WTR gathering in November in Kennebunk.

Changing Maine: The 9th annual gathering, led by No Class members, focused on Classism. The 10th will begin planning for a Social Forum in Maine.

Youth Activism Gatherings: A fourth annual Youth Activism Gathering took place in April, 2004, and organzing began in early Janaury, 2005, for a fifth annual event.

GROW (GrassRoots Organizing Workshop) New England: ROSC's GROW events in Maine were resurrected on a Northern New England level with about 35-40 people attending a training in June, 2004. A second GROW will happen in 2005.

A summary of spinoff projects:

Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine: Larry Dansinger helped to coordinate the Center's successful annual HOPE (Help Organize Peace Earthwide) Festival on Earth Day, 2004.

MaineShare: ROSC continues as a member of this statewide fundraising federation and Larry Dansinger participates on its board of directors and chairs the Development Committee.

Maine AFSC Peace and Justice Committee: Larry helped to re–establish this committee, emphasizing "youth and alternatives to militarism." About 25-30 people are getting information to students in various Maine high schools to balance out what youth hear from military recruiters.

Affiliations and Other Projects: ROSC continues as a local affiliate of the War Resisters League. ROSC continued connections, sometimes as a fiscal sponsor, with others promoting nonviolent change during 2004, including NWTRCC, Maine Independent Media Center, Bangor Area Citizens for Responsible Development (BACORD), Downtown Neighborhood Assn., Friends of Nuestras Raices, MEEPI, JED Center, People's Free Space, Portland Victory Gardens, and other youth organizing groups, and PICA and its Bangor Clean Clothes Campaign.

ROSC is a proud member of MaineShare.

Income
Donations ..............................................$25,681
Literature.....................................................725
Program Income.........................................4,465
MaineShare................................................5,589
Grants.....................................................25,572
Other Income............................................... 500
Total......................................................$62,532

Expenses
Postage...................................................$1,276
Office Supplies/Equipment.........................2,494
Office Rent..................................................900
Copying/Printing.......................................1,156
Phone/Internet.........................................1,324
Travel.......................................................4,451
ROSC Programs.......................................10,917
Consultants.............................................22,882
Benefits....................................................5,317
Miscellaneous...............................................115
Total.....................................................$50,832

Resources for Organizing and Social Change continues to create and maintain many programs with a small budget because of consultants/board members who are committed to simple lifestyles. We thank you for your generous support, which enables us to do so much with so little.

2004 ROSC Board Members: Annie Lunt, Augusta; Norm Meldrum, Wilton; Russ Anderson, Waldoboro; Carol Dove, Athens; Cal Clark, Portland; Claire Gélinas, W. Paris; jesse leah vear, Portland; and Jim Loomis, Cambridge.

In addition to maintaining or expanding 2004 projects, ROSC will take leadership in organizing a Social Forum for Maine. This event should attract several hundred people for networking and learning about and adopting new strategies to solve Maine's social problems.

ROSC has always sought out more involvement from those in Maine, New England, and the Gulf of Maine bioregion who support our work of education and action on nonviolence and organizing a movement for nonviolent social change. Your active involvement, through participation in ROSC projects and annual financial assistance (contact us about stock donations), is really needed. Contact Larry Dansinger for questions or more information about current activities:

Resources for Organizing
and Social Change (ROSC)
161 Stovepipe Alley, Monroe, ME 04951
(207) 525-7776, rosc@psouth.net