Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic Region's Activist Homepage!

Mid-Atlantic Region
Delaware - District of Columbia - Maryland - Pennsylvania - Virginia - West Virginia

Updates from MARO

The cell was in Philadelphia May 30-June 1, 2008. Click here for more pictures from the cell tour.

Experience Guantánamo in a town near you!

On May 8 in Miami, Amnesty International launched its national tour of a life-size Guantánamo prison cell replica. Philadelphia was the next stop, and was this past weekend (May 30-June 1). The cell tour is a way to bring the harsh realities of illegal detention to concerned citizens and call attention to the injustice and human rights abuses that Guantánamo symbolizes.

In Guantánamo's maximum security facilities, detainees are kept for up to 23 hours per day in complete isolation. Watch a panoramic photo from inside the cell to get an idea of what it's like.

You'll be able to enter the cell, go through the conditions of isolation and record a video message to President Bush, letting him know where you stand on Guantánamo and torture.

And before leaving, you can tear down a pixel of Guantánamo and join our call for detainees to be charged and given fair trials or released.

Together we can take action to end the human rights violations Guantánamo stands for: illegal detention, torture, denial of fair trials and habeas corpus, extraordinary rendition and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
Together we can close Guantánamo.

• AGM Highlights

Thanks to everyone who took the time to join hundreds of Amnesty International members and staff for the inspiring 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM). Whether this was your first AGM or your twenty-something, we hope that you came away from the conference motivated, reinvigorated, and energized about carrying forward the important work of ending human rights abuses around the world. More than 800 members from across the country attended the 4-day AGM. Of these, 189 members registered to attend from the Mid-Atlantic region. If you were unable to attend or missed some of the great happenings, here is brief recap of some of the conference highlights.

Conference attendees were captivated and inspired by an impressive array of plenary speakers that included Irene Khan, our International Secretary General, Ellen Dorsey, Chair of our Board of Directors, Larry Cox, our section’s Executive Director, Betty Makoni, the 2008 Ginetta Sagan Award recipient for her heroic struggle helping young women survive the scourge of violence in her native Zimbabwe, Fatou Bensouta, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and Moazzam Begg, former detainee at Guantanamo Bay prison?

Special training opportunities, including the Legislative Institute for Legislative Coordinators and a Lobby Day training, and thematic workshops with timely information about our 5 priority campaigns were spread over the 3 days. As always the resolutions process gave members the opportunity to make their voices heard on important matters of organizational governance. On the fun side, many of you took the adventurous metro trip downtown for the MARO members reception which was a blast. Thanks particularly to staff members Kelly Nilsson and Cecili Thompson Williams for organizing it. It was truly fabulous to let our hair down and party like only Amnesty International members can.

The AGM was capped off by a powerful lobby day action involving more than 200 activists and more than 100 congressional meetings to push for the passage of the International Violence Against Women’s Act (IVAWA) on the Hill. As a direct result of this action, 3 additional Republican Senators were added to the growing list of the Bill co-sponsors. As the host region, we are very elated by this legislative action and interested in seriously considering a lobby day action as our niche annual regional event. If your group is interested in undertaking the effort to organize a lobby day action, you will find great support from the regional office.

As the host region, this year’s AGM was particularly special and a great opportunity for regional staff to meet new members and catch up with old ones. We hope you all returned home safe and sound and will share the wonderful AGM experience with your group members, family, friends and other acquaintances. And, be sure to mark your calendar, our regional conference is coming up next in beautiful and historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia from November 14-16. We look forward to seeing you all there.

• Current Weekly Update

• Sign up for the MARO weekly email

• Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Newsletter (PDF)

Activist Resources

• 2006-2007 Membership Survey Report (PDF)
• New Member Welcome Packet *
• Directions to MARO
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Upcoming MARO events
• Find a student/local group
• AIUSA Internship Program
• For MARO Groups
   ° Speakers List (PDF) *
   ° Submit your group's event to be listed on the AIUSA website
   ° Group Leader Handbook (PDF)*
   ° How to Write A Letter to the Editor (PDF)
• For Volunteer Leaders
   ° Guidelines for AIUSA Volunteer Leader Expense Reimbursements (PDF) *
   ° MARO SAC Monthly Report (Word)*
   ° MARO AC Monthly Report (Word) *

About MARO

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20003
1-866-A-REGION
202.544.0200
FAX: 202.546.7142
aiusama@aiusa.org

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office works with Amnesty International USA activists in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia to mobilize and educate people. The goal of the office is to support our local groups, student groups, and volunteer leaders, and provide information and resources to the general public. We do this through direct interaction with our members, education, media, public speaking, events, and outreach to and with other organizations and communities.

Meet the Staff *

About the RPG

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Group (RPG) is a volunteer body which acts as a voice for the membership (local and student group and action team members, network members, volunteer leaders, and individual members) and as an advisory board to the Regional Office. The RPG helps formulate policies and programmatic goals for the region and to craft a regional budget, which reflects these policies. The Regional Office consults the RPG on all fundamental policy matters relating to their program, including long-range and annual plans, major policy or program changes or initiatives, and program evaluation.
Contact the RPG »
Apply for a seat on the RPG (PDF)
Upcoming Meeting Agenda (PDF)
RPG Conference Call schedule (PDF)
Conference Call minutes
June 9, 2008 (PDF) *
April 14, 2008 (PDF) *
RPG Charter (PDF)

Training Opportunities

MARO and the National AIUSA office offer a variety of training opportunities throughout the year. See the attached document for the current MARO training calendar.

Training Calendar (PDF) *

Training Calls: The Mid-Atlantic Region has begun hosting regular training calls to help our members become informed about our priority issues and build the skills needed to take effective action!

Summer Activism Training Call: How to Get the Most Out of the Summer Months!
May 13, 2008