<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal">*****************FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE********************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jeannette Rankin Peace Center & The Missoula Peace
Quilters announces the </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2016 Peacemaker: Patrick Weasel Head</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Contact: Betsy Mulligan-Dague, 543-3955 or <a href="mailto:peace@jrpc.org">peace@jrpc.org</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Available for Interview: Betsy
Mulligan-Dague, 543-3955 or <a href="mailto:peace@jrpc.org">peace@jrpc.org</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:0.5in">Patrick Weasel
Head, 406-550-1869 or <a href="mailto:pweaselhead@bresnan.net">pweaselhead@bresnan.net</a>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The JRPC Coordinating Council and Missoula Peace Quilters awards
the 2016 Peacemaker award to Patrick Weasel Head. He is the 30<sup>th</sup>
Peacemaker we have made this award to in this our 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary
year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of nine children from simple roots in Browning to one of
13 Native American students attending a not very welcoming University of MT to
living as an openly gay man in Missoula, Patrick set out to walk a good path,
fight discrimination, relax stereotypes, enjoy the experiences of life and make
every moment count. He has reached out to others to understand, build trust and
use humor and teachable moments (in a calm way) to help us all learn from each
other and find ways to serve. Patrick has a long and varied list of volunteer
positions, including delivering Meals on Wheels and several months as a driver
for Paws Up so he could learn about how others live and also educate visitors
to MT about Native Americans. Patrick believes in education and is passionate
about mentoring disenfranchised students to better themselves as he was helped.
Patrick stepped up many times to fill a void and serve others. He worked to
break down barriers in order to build understanding and appreciation of others.
In this he set about to be the more peaceful world he envisions. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The peacemaker award is given each year to individuals or
groups who demonstrate a long-term commitment to peace and justice and take a
leadership role in creating a better world. We look for people who “walk the
walk” in their personal and professional lives. Join us as we welcome him to
the list of honored Missoula Peacemakers and celebrate his lifetime of
commitment to a better and more peaceful, connected world at an awards
celebration on Sunday, May 22 from 4-6 pm at the Payne Family Native American
Center on the UM Campus. The Missoula Peace Quilters have just completed a very
special quilt for Patrick, as they do for each of the award recipients. The quilt will be unveiled and presented at
the celebration on May 22, and coffee and cake will be served at a reception
afterward. The event is free and open to
the public. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information about the award, please visit our
website at <a href="http://www.jrpc.org">www.jrpc.org</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PRIOR PEACEMAKER OF THE YEAR WINNERS</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1986 Flo Chessin</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1987 Jim Ranney</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1988 Butch Turk</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1989 Connie Skousen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1990 Perry
Gliessmann</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1991 Pat Ortmeyer</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1992 Anita Doyle</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1993 Beth Sirr</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1994 Scott Morgan
& Tom Javins</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1995 Julie Grant</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1996 Alice Campbell</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1997 John Agner
& Tammy Elser</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1998 Pete Lawrenson</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2000 Jim Hogan</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2001 Liz Rantz</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2002 Scott Nicholson
& Bryony Schwan</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2003 Rita
Jankowski-Bradley </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2004 Amy Martin</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2005 Ethel MacDonald</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2006 Peter Shober</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2007 Josh Slotnick</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2008 Carel Schneider
& Women In Black</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2009 Jim Caron</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2010 John Baugh</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2011 Jane
McAllister</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2012 Dan Gallagher</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2013 Meyer “Mike”
Chessin</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2014 Claudia Brown</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2015 Kathi and Glenn
“Woody” Wood</p></div><div><div class="gmail_signature"><font style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif" size="4"><b style="color:rgb(0,102,0)"><font size="2"><br></font></b></font><div style="text-align:center"><br><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Betsy Mulligan-Dague, Executive Director</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Jeannette Rankin Peace Center</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">...working to build a world that is nonviolent, socially just and environmentally sustainable...</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"></div><div style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">519 S. Higgins</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Missoula, MT 59801</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Phone: 406-543-3955</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Fax: 406-541-3997</span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="mailto:peace@jrpc.org" target="_blank">peace@jrpc.org</a></span><br style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.jrpc.org" target="_blank">www.jrpc.org</a></span></div></div></div>
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