HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 06/16/2004Commission On the Status of Women
Agenda: June 16, 2004
Present: Penny Vincent, Paula Cole, Amanda Almon, Stacey Arnold, Beth Etter, Alison
Hade, Rondell Ferguson, Barbara Goff
Excused Absent: Kristin Chatnani
I. Call to Order: 6:20 p.m.
II. Approval of Minutes: Alison moved, Stacey seconded, passed unanimously.
III. Announcements: Kristin is thinking about resigning from Commission due to
family matters.
Barb Catbagan's leave.
IV. Business
1) Karen Weitkunat — COSW City Council Liaison
➢ Make the need known and bring it forward. Need to be more visible, more
directive, more active. Karen handed out a packet of material with work
plans of other commissions and spoke about what the COSW is doing.
➢ Some ideas she brought up: is there a place where women can go for
advocacy? Are cityjobs and salaries equitable for women?
➢ She talked about the mission of the COSW from the B&C manual
Document issues of importance to women and publicize it.
Figure out what you want to find out and look for it. Use the
legislative review committee to keep track of legislation. Rondell
will contact Mark Radtke about tracking legislation.
Educational Programs: Showed the "Honey I'm Home"
handout. She brought up a Web site. How can we capitalize on
Women's History Month. Make the Marcile N. Wood Award
really a big deal. Fort Fund to get dollars for the event. Make a
grand show. Essay contest —on the website, in city newsletter, visit
schools.
Cooperate with other organizations: Karen spoke about how to
get involved with other agencies and how to support them. She
mentioned a number of organizations. Alison spoke about the
report that is generated through United Way. Karen brought up the
idea of changing the name to the Commission on Women because
the word "Status" is misunderstood.
Be a presence. Show up at Council and let us know what is
happening. Be role models for the community.
2) Policy Agenda Discussion
➢ Discussion centered around using the old study, taking those categories
that were used and updating the information. Areas are: employment,
housing, education, health, transportation, childcare, safety, welfare
reform, income/wealth, identity, political participation. The idea was put
forward to h vestigate who or what orgamZa ion, is doing what aboui eacth
of the issues. FIRST STEP: BRAINSTORM A LIST OF WHO OR
WHAT ORGANIZATION IS WORKING ON EACH CATAGORY. Beth
will coordinate the people in group one. Stacey will coordinate group two.
DEADLINE IS JUNE 30 FOR INFORMATION TO THE
COORDINATORS. Each person should list what they know about each
category. Come back and vote on which two areas the commission will
work on. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT THE TEMPLATE TO
LOOK LIKE.
3) Other
➢ Kristin Chatnani—Resignation? Penny moved to reject Kristin's offer of
resignation. Beth seconded. Discussion: It would be a big loss.
Members looked at the attendance policy. Does not violate policy. She
could come to vote. Rejection passed unanimously.
➢ Name of the Commission: Beth moves to discuss changing the mane of
the commission, Rondell seconded. Discussion: It is thought of
negatively because of the word status. Some of the individuals from way
back liked the word status for the acronym. Stacey suggested Women's
Commissions, Rondell suggested Commission for Women, Commission
on Women, Women's Advocacy Commission. Names were discussed.
Members decided to change the name to the Commission For Women.
Barb moved to approve the name change. Stacey seconded. Passed.
➢ Paula moved to discuss the number of members on the commission.
Amanda seconded. Discussion: What about not being able to get quorum.
Penny and Alison agreed that nine was an optimum number of members.
Since it was difficult to get nine members, it should stay nine for now and
it could be changed later. Also if there are partnerships more people will
be involved.
➢ City Council meetings. Alison suggested that the city council meetings be
split up. Suggestion was made to look at council agenda before hand and
decide if someone needs to be present. The task to read and be aware of
agenda will be rotated. Beth will look at the agenda and email the
commission when there is an item of interest.
V. Adjourn 8:25
Agenda for July 21 meeting:
Brainstorm discussion
Vote on categories
Discussion of Awards Ceremony and Essay Contest