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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 05/17/1999Commission on the Status of Women Minutes May 17,1999 Present: JoAnn Ginal, Danielle Johnson, Ruth Weatherford, Rita Anastasio Liaisons: Karen Wietkunat, City Council Liaison Laurie Fonken-Joseph, City Staff (221-6871) Nancy Meginness, Larimer County Diane Gregg, Crossroads Safehouse Excused Absences: Peggy, Loonan, Annmarie Izuel-Evans, Connie Uliasz, Bobbie Gonzales, Susan Crowe. Unexcused Absences: Lena Sunthankar I. Call to order: Meeting was called to order 6:05. II. Minutes: Approved as written. III. Review Agenda: Approved IV. Announcements: A. Introduction of New Council Liaison: Karen Wietkunat. Karen will be attending our meetings as requested by the Commission. Gave Karen an update on the work being done by the Commission regarding the study and the future plans. The role of the Commission and the scope of the work has been something we are trying to understand. Talked about the process of the study and the recommendations are concrete. How it will be used as a resource and the goal of using it as a work plan for the Commission. Invited Karen to join us at the July 19 meeting which will be just before the Council presentation on July 27, 1999. In addition, Commission members would like clear direction as to what council is excepting of the Commission. B. Nancy announced the SAVA has the number for the Sexual Violence and Rape Crisis Hotline. This number now stands alone from the Mental Health Center. Now have a new location for SAVA. C. Diane announced that services in the county are being pulled. She is working on the Welfare Reform process. The welfare to work program does not make sense, it is putting women to work for minimum wage jobs and they are thrust into poverty. There are so many changes and the transition from welfare to work is overwhelming and confusing. Hoping the Commission can have some influence even though it is a County program. Want to look at how the Commission is going to use their voice to help the community realize that sexual violence, welfare reform etc. are community issues, not just women's issues. It is important for us to connect with the County in some ways, Ginny Reiley Director of Human Services. Larimer County is doing so well that we are being penalized and we are not getting as much funding as other counties who have not done as much. Use the study and the statistics and needs around these issues to present to the community and the county. Talk about what will seriously help our community to avoid the results of the reform. Maybe the Commission could sponsor forums to talk about these issues at a neighborhood level. We are looking at an increasing level of homeless women and families. July will be the end of the two years of this new welfare reform, and changes will be made at this point. Diane will ask how the other community agencies can benefit from collaboration with the Commission. She will also review the welfare section of the report thoroughly. The Commission is willing to act once it has a sense of direction. Talked about the possibility of doing a video to show the real faces and hear the real voices of these women and children. Ruth is going to do some checking. May be a great opportunity to partner with Colorado State University's Commission on Gender Equity. Invite Audrey Faulkner to come and talk to us again on Welfare Reform. D. Mail was passed around. V. Business Items A. Update on Ten Year Study: Danielle spoke with Connie and she is finishing up the graphs and the formatting. The writing committee will review the formatted draft on Wednesday. They will make changes and then it is off to the printer. No firm bid until we have the number of pages. Two bids are within our budget. JoAnn is presenting the report at a Community Forum on May 26, 1999 at 6:00 at the Streets Department 625 Ninth Street. B. Report on Marcile N. Wood Award: Laurie reported that the letters and applications went out last week. The deadline for applications is July 16, 1999. Traditionally the Commission does a proclamation for Women's Equality Day. A copy of the proclamation will be in the next packet for members to review and make changes to. C. Report from the Human Relations Commission: No one was able to attend. D. Legislative Report: No report E. Ruth went to the Senior Women's Gathering Meeting. They are working on the annual conference. Have many activities scheduled. Looked at who to invite to share own experiences. Coming this October 20, 1999. Also shared that the Senior Advisory Board would be sending out information on UN Resolution 46-91 Principles for Older Persons. F. Other: Members of the commission discussed with Karen the status of boards and commissions. Karen stated that with over 300 applications for 30 boards and commissions the process is extremely time consuming. Also discussed the possibility of future collaborations among existing boards. One option being to combine some of the boards. Some boards have no real purpose • • anymore. Also talked about the role of boards and the move from serving as advisory to a more active role in city policy making. There is some controversy as to what role boards and commissions should and do play in City government. As the issues which are in the forefront change the role of boards and commissions will also change. VL Adjourn:7:50 Next Meeting will be June 21,1999. Lena will facilitate and bring refreshments.