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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 04/20/1998Commission on the Status of Women Minutes April 20, 1998 Present: Lynne Warner, Lu Fisk, Audrey Faulkner, JoAnn Ginal, Lena Sunthankar, Becki Fosha, Lynne Warner, Ruth Weatherford, Beth Fitzgerald. Liaisons: Dana Hyatt, Colorado State University Nancy Meginness, Larimer County Laurie Fonken-Joseph, City Staff Excused Absences: Danielle Johnson Unexcused Absence: Christinia Eala-American Horse, Rita Anastasio Guests: Bobbie Gonzales L Call to order: Meeting was called to order 6:10 II.. Minutes: Approved with the following correction: Under Business Part B should state the commission "would have three sections of the study by the end of the month. 13L Review Agenda IV. Announcements: A. Commission on the Status of Women mail: National Association of Commission For Women is July 8-12, 1998. Talked about the commission sponsoring a couple people to go. Decided to wait until next year and possibly present a paper on the Ten Year Follow-up on the Status of Women in Fort Collins study. B. Discussion of Attendance requirements. JoAnn read the policy and procedures of the City for Commissions "Upon application for and acceptance of appointment, board and commission members demonstrate their intention and ability to attend meetings. Therefore, either of the following may automatically cause a member's appointment to be terminated. A. Three consecutive absences (not approved by the chairperson) from regularly scheduled meetings of the board. B. Four absences (not approved by the chairperson) from regularly scheduled meeting of the board in any calendar year." She also reiterated the attendance policy in the Commission on the Status of Women bylaws which states; "" Discussed the need to have a quorum and the possibility of not allowing more than a certain number of people absent at one time. Also talked about what constitutes an excused absence and what does not. Absences have been a chronic problem with the commission. It was suggested that we figure out a way to work with people in between meetings, such as subcommittee work. Agreed to send out a letter to those who have missed two meetings in a row, as well as those who have missed meetings and are close to being terminated due to the restrictions of the policies and procedures to see if they plan to continue their membership with the commission. These letters will be drafted by Becki and sent out separately from the packet. C. Recruitment of new members to fill the openings. We have 6 current applicants for open positions. In addition if you know of anyone who would be good for the commission please have them contact the City Clerks office to get and application. D. JoAnn announced a planning meeting alert for the Fort Collins citizens for human rights. April 26 from 1:00-5:00 at the Hope Counseling Center. Meeting is to strategize and plan for education of the community on the Human Rights Ordinance and the upcoming vote. E. Lynne announced the International Visitors Council for the International Visitors Center. She passed out applications for the Council. It will have a clearing house for people who come to our community, with the purpose of making them feel more welcome in the community. F. Audrey announced there is a free conference Advancing Diversity Through Human Rights April 25, 1998 8:30-5:00 put on by the school of Social Work at Colorado State University, in the Eddy Building Second Floor. G. Lu announced the invitation of Mi Gente, the Hispanic Oral History. Audrey will be the commentator for the evening. This project started with the Commission on the Status of Women. H. Nancy announced that on the news tonight we might see something that happened at the Court house the 6' annual flag raising for victim justice. Nancy also spoke at the event. It was also to kick off the traveling victim artwork display which is going around Larimer County. The display will be shown at the court house for the next two weeks. Contact your senator or congress woman to support federal rights for victims amendment. I. E-mail from Karla Smith asking us to do a one page blurb for the web page. Becki and Lynne will work on this. J. Zonta international would like someone from the commission to speak at their June meeting on the Study. Agreed that someone will present to their June meeting. The presenter will be chosen at our May meeting. V. Discussion of Current Issues: Our co-chairs met recently and were talking about current issues and thought it might be interesting to bring up the possibility of commission having dialogue on current issues. Agreed to make this an option for those who want to stay to discuss current issues once the meeting business is done, and the regular commission meeting has been adjourned. VI. Business: A. HRC report: Lu Fisk. Citizen review board for the police has 2 options, (A) that the board shall be appointed by City Council, with names given to the council by City Manager and 2 council members. (B) the board will be r� appointed by City Council. The Human Relations Commission voted to recommend Option A. B. Report on Affordable Housing: Rita was not in attendance C. Report on the Women History month contest. Becki reported that the contest was very successful. It was fun for her to be involved and the students were very excited. The essays will be made available for commission members to read. Marjorie McTaggart had spoken with Lynne and would like to have students consider interviewing older women who may not be in the loop. Was prompted to call Lynne because she visited a school and was recognized as a pioneer because she was a pilot. She asked us to look out for an respond to incidents of ageism. The commission needs to consider how we might expand to meet these needs. Possibly honor senior women at Women's Equality day. Put an ad in the paper that the Commission on the Status of Women wants honor women for their lifetime accomplishments and do this along with Women's Equality day. Lynne explained that Marjorie really wanted an ongoing inclusiveness in the women's history month essay. Idea was offered to invite Marjorie to one of our upcoming meetings to further discuss this. Also use our Coloradoan contact to put articles in the paper. Monthly spotlight on a woman in Fort Collins, or an article on the current projects and works of the commission, etc. Possibly have members take turns writing. A caution: The commission has tried this in the past and it is difficult to get done with how busy everybody is. Laurie will ask Mary Benanti of the Coloradoan what she feels is possible. Can Coloradoan do the interview and we sponsor the article... what are the options? The commission could solicit stories from women in the community. D. Marcile N. Wood committee report, No report. Danielle will get information to Rita. JoAnn will call Rita on this. E. Human Rights Ordinance: Our role in the election referendum process. Laurie will contact Greg Tempel to find out legally what we can and cannot do as a commission. There is concern as how the wording is done on the ballot. If it parallels the state the petitioner writes the question and that is what is on the ballot. Can we have a voice in what is stated on the ballot? F. Minutes from other boards and commissions. Lynne has minutes from Multicultural Commission and shared some of the information from these. G. Update on Study: Any questions for Audrey on the work which has been done. Audrey asked that unless there is some egregious error in editing. Please give only comments on substance. If there is an error in content please point it out. Corrections were given to Audrey. Once corrections are made they will be forwarded to the experts. Corrections can be made before the next meeting so they can go out to the experts before our next meeting. Need to send introduction along with the study section, including personal story. Can send it to anyone we consider an expert and give them two weeks to review and get back to us. Beth asked that they be able to sit down and talk about the statistics, this will be done soon. The study looks great so far. The corrected copies go to Beth and she will get the list of experts, do a draft letter and then send them out. Make sure that commission members get the list so they do not duplicate by sending to the same experts twice. Audrey will get acknowledgments and background and the corrected copies to Beth. Will have Libby do a quick review before it goes out to the experts. Make sure there is a bibliography with the report. Agreed that we will use Business Express for the copies. H. Marketing Committee Report and Presentation: JoAnn Reported and got feedback on several of the sections which have been completed. Will add to the introduction information on how the survey was conducted and all the methods for collecting research data. Talked about where this will be presented and setting up a marketing schedule inclusion businesses, neighborhoods, schedule it to get on Council schedule as soon as the study is really solidly completed and the experts have seen it. Need for marketing committee to get together again before the next meeting to work on presentation at a potluck Thursday May 14 at 6:00 at JoAnn's home, 229 Whedbee, 493-5309. Will invite Deni LaRue to this meeting. I. Volunteer for refreshments for May 18, 1998 meeting is: Becki VL Adjourned: 8:50.