HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 01/26/1998Commission on the Status of Women
Minutes
January 26, 1998
Present: JoAnn Ginal, Danielle Johnson, Dana Hiatt, Lu Fisk, Ruth Weatherford, Rita
Anastasio, Nancy Meginness, Audrey Faulkner, Beth Fitzgerald.
Liaisons: Chris Kneeland, Laurie Fonken-Joseph
Excused Absences: Becki Fosha and Christinia Eala American Horse
Absent: Lena Sunthankar. Lynn Warner
Guests: Deni La Rue and Janet Fisher
I. Call to order: Meeting was called to order 6:08
IL Liaison Report: Chris Kneeland reported that the Human Rights Ordinance was
coming up for review February 10, 1998. Health and safety gave a good long look at our
recommendation for only one ordinance. Decided to leave it as two. Explained that the
committee has worked on cleaning up some things in the other part of the ordinance to
keep it in compliance with laws etc. Think things in first ordinance will not be as
controversial as sexual orientation, which is the bases in the second Human Rights
Ordinance. The health and safety committee support the passage of both ordinances.
There is a chance the second one could be referred to a vote and they don't want the parts
that are not controversial to be going for a referral. Sexual orientation has been the
controversial part, so that is why they decided to separate it out. It would get referred to
a vote by a group of people who collect signatures to put it on the ballot. Questions they
anticipate have to do with the process and procedure if people have complaint. Who will
the Human Rights Hearing officer be and how will the process occur. New proposal has
it as a civil action not criminal if civil are not followed as prescribed then there could be
criminal action. People have questioned that the Municipal Judge should be the one to
hear those. People have been courageous in saying how they feel on both sides, and will
be able to voice their opinions both on the 10`s of February at the Study Session. Also on
the 17th of February at the first reading. Meeting may be at the Lincoln Center due to the
number of people who want to talk. Petition has to be written and OK by city clerk and
have to get a number of signatures. There are specific guidelines for petitions. Can be
referred to a vote any time.
Working with county on inter -governmental agreement and looking at making some
changes to the IGA, being more closely aligned with City Plan which is how the city is
planned and developed, new urbanism, compact growth, design guidelines so that
commercial or other guidelines have to be consistent with surrounding areas. Addresses
urban sprawl, talks about activity centers. City wants county to demand the same kind of
standards in the Urban Growth Area that are in the City limits. The City and County are
making gains and it looks like there will be a substantial plan before June.
Citizen Review board for police. Health and Safety Committee still looking at how
people would be appointed to the review board. Would it be council or the City
Manager. Sue Kirkpatrick has some interesting insight into this issue so we could
contact her. Talked about the training of these people.
Will invite Chris to join us once a quarter.
M. Guest Speakers:
Janet Fisher membership development for the Chamber and Deni La Rue, community
information manager from the county. Looking for ideas as to how to market the 10 year
update study. Introductions of Commission members.
Danielle gave a brief overview of the study and what was looked at in the study. The
commission now wants to market the results of the study.
Janet began by talking about how she networks. Chamber is a good way to get
information out. The Chamber has a 2,000 person mailing list as well as sends out
information to all members. Mentioned Women's' Network, American Women's
business association. Junior League.
Deni wanted to know the time frame of the study to see what has changed over the last
10 years. Asked who needs this information and Why? Who do we want to have this
and Why? Who is our market? Who is our audience?
Audrey clarified that we have recommendations aimed at different groups, Council,
Chamber, Schools... Want to make it available to all women through the library, chamber
etc. Will have a summary copy that more people can have.
Deni clarified that there is a mass audience out there, so we should pick out major areas
of interest for this group and pick out target audiences and look at information they will
be interested in.
Beth asked how they would market a certain area without losing the whole of the report.
How to take a specific recommendation and focus on that without the entire context of
the study.
Deni suggested we look at how the agencies can use the information to support their
programs and their funding needs. Example: United Way could use the information to
show a reason why they are needed to provide certain services therefore need the
funding. Deni would like to look at it and then give some suggestions back to the group.
There is not only a target appeal, but also a mass appeal. May want to meet with
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Editorial Board of the Coloradoan. Pitch it to them with graphics. Could be an
interesting story. Look also at Northern Colorado Business Report, Style
Magazine.... Look at getting Feature story. Janet had a number of names of contacts.
Deni suggested we develop a press release with summary and graphics. Need to go to
the people and make face to face contacts. Also suggested we take specific
recommendations and see who needs to know this information. Look at who can benefit
from the information. Women needing economic or financial assistance. How can
people use this information and turn it into action.
How to get information out to companies in the city. Who should we start with and how
should we market it to these companies? Recommendation that companies really address
the issues of family friendly workplace. These recommendations address the culture of
the organization. In addition she suggested we look at book of lists and see which
companies need to have the report. See which companies are already doing some of our
recommendations and contact them and see how they are working. They would offer a
resource. Ask the people who have these things in place if they would be a resource to
others who do not.
Janet suggested the economic development council. Look at what they are doing and
how our study can give them some information. Deni said to start marketing the report
now we could start talking about it. Take a list of major recommendations and then
expand on them.
Nancy spoke to John Clarke about the study and he suggested that we look to use the
internet. He offered the county information board. Do links from one sight to the next.
Other ideas for contacts, May want to talk to Larry Kendall, Cross Currents, Ann
Azari's TV show. Talk to Kelly De Martino.
Beth will get copies of the study to Deni and Janet.
Audrey said we may have a brochure to get to the fundamental recommendations etc.
Minutes: The minutes stand approved.
Review Agenda: Moved guest speakers up on the agenda.
Announcements:
A. Diane Lathrop called Danielle and indicated that she would be resigning
effective immediately. She will let us know in writing soon.
B. Danielle's # 493-8622,
JoAnn's home address is 229 Whedbee Street, 80524
Nancy's home address is 2007 Mathews Building H2, 80525
C. Topics and Guest speaker suggestions. JoAnn wanted to know if there was
any interest in the Commission members giving talks to our group every other
month or so on their area of expertise. Nancy suggested we hear soon from
Audrey and Lu given that their terms are close to coming to an end. The idea
went over very well and members were asked to think about doing a
presentation.
D. Mail: went over some of the mail commission members might be interested
in. The Legislative Breakfast information was passed around as well as
information from National Association of Commissions of Women.
Connecticut Commission on Women does a "making women visible" dinner,
with legislators. Would like to consider doing something like this on the City
level at the time of Women's Equality Day.
E. Other:
■ JoAnn invited members to contribute things to go out into the packets.
■ Laurie shared there are 2 positions open in the City. Human
Resources Director and Computer Information Director.
■ Laurie shared about the Multicultural Commission Conference March
28, 1998 great place to market study.
■ Rita, Affordable housing luncheon will be in February, Keynote
speaker from HUD and facilitators at different tables will answer
questions and address issues. Also will be working with Homeowners
association.
Business:
A. HRC report, Lu. Lu moved that we make a recommendation that the citizens
police review committee members be appointed by city council, Audrey
seconded, motion passed unanimously. Becki will write a letter to city
council. Danielle will let her know about this.
B. Larimer County Women's Network liaison report. Audrey said the group
meets from 3-5 on a week day afternoon. Network is representatives of all
these different women's groups. Meet once a quarter. Rita would like to go.
She will contact Barb Musselwhite at CSU to find out about the meeting.
C. Report on 10 year Study: Audrey reported that there is good progress being
made. The report has been split up for final review. Fine tuning of
recommendations. There is a little more editing to do but it is close to the
end. Next step is to send it to experts then to Commission before it goes to
print. Will put a copy at Human Rights Office to have available for people to
read. Put a check off sheet for members to see who has read it and who has
not. Beth would like to do a study group on the report. Would open her
home to have a study session once or twice a month to help members get
really familiar with the study and the recommendations. Will help with
becoming knowledgeable before they go out and market. Along with this
having a buddy system so that if one cannot make the meeting that the buddy
will contact them and give them the information they need. Pick buddies
when they get together. Meeting dates are as follows: Monday February 2,
1998 between 5:30 and 6:00. Monday February 16, 1998 between 5:30 and
6:00 at Beth's house. The first night will look at the introduction and income.
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D. Printing Committee: Nancy contacted three different places and found one
which is very reasonable. Frontier Printing tentatively has been requisitioned
to do the printing.
E. Marketing Committee: Beth put together an outline from last meeting.
Reported that JoAnn, Ruth and Beth have formed a media committee. Need
other members to join this committee. Please let Beth know if you are
interested. Beth will do a draft brochure for study. Committee members ask
that members watch for seminars and workshops coming up and see when we
could talk about the study. There were three of the committee members at the
last meeting and an issue was brought up that the participants were polled
were from an upper, middle class socioeconomic status. Brainstormed to
look at this as an issue and how to deal with it in the marketing of the study.
Commented on the need for a more stable commitment of the members who
have agreed to be on the marketing committee in order for this group to be
successful and to help in the successful marketing of the report. This is a
major goal of the Commission for the next year and the marketing committee
needs to have all members present. Outline on how the team would market
the study. Depending on time allotted for the information to be provided the
presentations will be different. Important to have consistency. The outline
will provide format for presentation. Can modify depending on the group.
Nancy also suggested a comparison of the prior study done in Fort Collins on
the Status of Women in 1986.
F. Volunteer For Refreshments for February meeting: Rita
Adjourned 8:55