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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 03/21/1994i • MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN MARCH 21, 1994 Present: Amy Beuschlein, Sue Cottingham, Carolyn Duff, Kathy Everett, Audrey Faulkner, Lu Fisk, Stevie Honaker, Doreen Kemp, Stephanie Lane, Sally Miles, Lynne Warner, Chris Wood Absent: Brownie McGraw Dana Hiatt Guest: Vina Solano Council Liaison: Gina Janett Staff Liaison: Colleen A'Hearn Staff Support: Joan Busch MINUTES Minutes from the February 28, 1994 meeting were approved as written. COMMUNITY MULTI -CULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT Vina Solano, Chair of the Multi -Cultural Advisory Committee reported on the progress of the Oral History Project. Volunteers are interviewing local Hispanic individuals to capture on audio tape their families' history in Fort Collins. After reviewing the audio tape, about 8 individuals will be selected for the video tape which is being produced with the assistance of the City's Cable Channel 27 staff. In addition, this committee is also compiling a book with histories and photos of the individuals and families interviewed. During the course of these interviews, committee members answered questions individuals had regarding community resources and members were able to direct them to the appropriate agencies. Although there is $4,000 in funding for the project, additional funds may need to be raised. In order to maintain the spirit of the video and so Spanish speaking individuals can tell their stories in their own words without "voice overs", subtitles will be used. Funding is needed for this extra expense. Fund raising options are pending. Details for promoting the video are to be determined. Vina expects the video to be completed by the end of August and offered the Commission the opportunity to preview it before its release to the community. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Gina clarified the Green River Ordinance. Kathy drafted a letter to the Mayor and Council Members expressing the Commission's support of continuing the Green River Ordinance as it relates to safety concerns for women and children. Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes March 21, 1994 Page 2 The annual council retreat is scheduled for April 9. Items to be discussed: Community Policy Making Process; City Wide Vision Process; and survey techniques to determine what the city wants to do in the future. Currently, council hears primarily from activists. Council members want to hear from a cross section of the community, but it is difficult to create community if there aren't public spaces. Some neighborhoods are using their locals schools as a base for their community. Council plans to go where people are already congregating in their outreach efforts. Audrey suggested that women's responses to survey questions be tracked separately. o Lu Fisk will facilitate the April 18 meeting. Agenda items are due by April 8. o Commission members Audrey Faulkner, Lu Fisk, and Amy Beuschlein were notified that their terms are expiring and applications for reappointment need to be submitted. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Kathy reported that there is a concealed weapons bill out of the House and in the Senate. Sally Miles has copies of pending domestic violence bills. Colleen advised that Andrea Reiger, Legislative Coordinator for the City's Administrative Services is also watching for this type of legislation. Kathy has available a listing of other pending legislation. OLD BUSINESS o Domestic Violence Coordinator Sally read a revised letter drafted to the Larimer County Commissioners expressing the Commission's support of a funding proposal for the Domestic Violence Coordinator monitoring program. This letter was supported by the Commission at a previous meeting. Members gave final feedback and the letter will be sent to the Commissioners over Audrey's signature. o Women's History Project/Related Issues Chris advised that posters for the "Women in Your Own History Poster Contest" will be on display at the mall beginning March 26 Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes March 21, 1994 Page 3 through March 31. Over fifty essays were submitted by junior high students for the annual "Women in Your Own History Essay Contest" and they have been reviewed. Carolyn reported that letters will be mailed to the top three winners to notify them and to invite them to attend the April 19 city council meeting to receive their awards. Chris volunteered to take copies of the essays to the Coloradoan and ask to have them printed in the "Young People's" section of the newspaper. Responding to an earlier inquiry by Chris, Coloradoan reporter, Bob Getz, indicated he would be willing to write articles about the Commission if it's in relation to a project or specific topic. Chris requested labels be placed in the front of the books recently donated to the library indicating they were a donation from. the Commission. Kathy offered to make the labels. As members attend other local group meetings, or events, Chris suggested that name tags would be helpful in increasing visibility. o Women's Equality Day Members should provide ideas to Chris for Women's Equality Day activities. Members discussed the possibility of sponsoring a speaker, perhaps a woman in a non-traditional role or career. o National Association of Commission's for Women Conference Chris reported that the annual National Association of Commission's for Women Conference will be held July 14-16, 1994 in Topeka, Kansas. The registration fee is $175 or $185. The question was raised as to available funding from the Commission's budget to pay for registration if a Commission member would want to attend the conference. o Task Force on Racism Lu announced that the Human Rights Officer position has been advertised with a closing date of April 1, 1994. Based on recommendations from the Task Force on Racism and the Human Relations Commission the position will be filled by one person. 0 Status Report on Boards and Commissions Workshop The issue raised was whether the Commission makes a difference in sponsoring the workshop. Doreen reported that Rita Harris of the City Clerk's office provides a questionnaire to new boards and Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes March 21, 1994 Page 4 commissions members and only five individuals responded to available positions because of the boards and commissions workshop. Rita plans to coordinate a mass mailing campaign targeting minorities and women and may use a video to enhance recruitment. Doreen and Lynne will be meeting with Rita to see how the Commission can support her efforts. Sue Cottingham reminded members that Larimer County changed their appointment dates to piggy -back on the Boards & Commissions Workshop. As the Larimer County Commissioners have some of the same goals regarding membership, Sue suggested that Janet Duval be contacted to update her on the mass mailing plans and to coordinate efforts. NEW BUSINESS o Consideration of New Task Forces Filtering criteria developed at the January retreat was applied to the new task forces proposed by members. Criteria included: • Visibility • Credibility • Relevance • Impact on Women (positive or negative) • Legal implications • Women power to do the job New task forces proposed were: Domestic Violence; Sex Education; Economics. Members discussed whether .it would be difficult for the task force to be effective if there were fewer than three members on the task force. It was agreed that fewer members may be effective depending on the project. Chris will continue to act as a liaison for sex education issues although it will not be considered a task force. Domestic Violence met the screening criteria and it was moved and seconded that Domestic Violence be added as a task force. Members of this task force are responsible for developing a work plan and reporting their work plan at the April 18 meeting. Economics met the screening criteria and it was moved and seconded that the Economic Task Force be adopted. This task force will present a work plan and time line at the April 18 meeting.