HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 05/15/2007City of Fort Collins
Women's Commission
Meeting Minutes
May 16, 2007
215 N. Mason, Room 1-A
Attendees: Stacey Arnold, Beth Etter, Pat Lewis, Jill Walusis, Sue Baccari, Tanya
McCandlish
Members not in attendance: Barbara Goff (Excused))
Liaisons present: Karen Gebhardt, CSU
Liaison not in attendance: Marjorie McTaggart, SAB
Staff Liaison: Suzanne Jarboe -Simpson
Meeting called to order at 6:37pm by Commission Chair, Beth Etter.
Beth asked for a motion accepting the minutes from the March 21, 2007 meeting. Tanya
moved acceptance of the minutes as presented. Pat seconded the motion. The motion
passed, unanimously.
Announcements
Jill Walusis announced she has a new job working for the City of Fort Collins in the
Recreation Department. Suzanne will check on the City's Policies re: staff serving on a
Board or Commission.
Updates
David Roy is the Commission's Council liaison. The Commission is interested in inviting
David to attend one of the upcoming meetings.
City Manager, Darin Atteberry, has expressed an interest in briefly attending one of the
Commission's meetings. His assistant will find a date that works for his calendar.
Suzanne provided a brief update on the City's budget process. A budget request will be
submitted on behalf of the Commission for $1,200. for 2008 and 2009.
Old Business
Essay Contest Recap
Suggestion to publish the winning essays at the schools, or as a link to the Commission's
website
Suggestions to check with the Coloradoan re: publishing the winning essays — or possibly
in the Fort Collins Weekly
Suggestion to get pictures of the winners published
Suggestion to consider tying the essay contest in more tightly with Women's History
Month
Suggestion to get a press release out in February
Need to follow up with the Home Schoolers and private schools to increase participation
in the contest
Consider a meeting in November with representatives from both home school programs
and private schools to explain the contest
City Council Recognition: find out when the meetings will be re -cast and provide that
info to the winners/participants
Investigate the possibility of recognizing the essay contest winners at one meeting and
the MNW award winner at a different meeting in order to provide the recognition and
time that each deserve
Consider bringing in a speaker for the essay contest event in conjunction with the school
board recognition/event
Consider providing savings bonds or a gift certificate from the City for each of the essay
contest winners
Location of the recognition events: the 2007 event was held at Poudre High School. It
was conveniently located near the Administration Building, and the staff was easy to
work with, but the space wasn't particularly cozy.
Stacey will compile the notes from the essay contest
MNW Award
There were two applicants
Suggestion to clarify the criteria (resident of Fort Collins?)
The extension of the deadline was a good idea. However, it didn't give the winner much
advance notice for the presentation or dinner.
Dinner with the winner and her nominator was a great idea. The Crown Pub was fun but
noisy. Maybe a quieter place next time?
Next time, start earlier, get the information to KUNC, KRFC, Newspapers and Angie
Joseph at 211
Discuss ways to increase the number of nominations
Pat will send the contact information for this year's winner to Jill, who will provide it to
Journey Magazine. Jill will recommend that Journey consider doing an article closer to
the holidays on the winner — which may result in donations for her work.
Members of the Commission felt they should provide something in addition to the plaque
and dinner for the winner. Sue moved that the commission present to Jenifer a $100 Visa
gift card as part of the recognition. Tanya seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Jill will get the gift card and submit the receipt to Suzanne
Newsletter
Topics for consideration: identify, transportation, economic well-being, political
participation 2008
Step 1 — chose a topic: Economic Wellbeing
Target September 2007 for the first issue
First issue will be 1 page, front and back (2 pages of text)
Consider linking to a survey on economic wellbeing on the Commission's website
Jill will work with Barbara to develop the primary article
The rest of the Commission will look for other topics that relate to Economic Wellbeing
Suggested topics: top ten best paying careers, data on top majors at FRCC and CSU
based on gender
Members were asked to bring ideas back to the June meeting.
Periodic Review Questionnaire Discussion
The Commission prefers a 2-3 year workplan, not an annual plan. The Commission will
continue to review their goals throughout the year. They like the ambitiousness of their
workplan.
Beth will take the summary comments and compile them and send them to Suzanne who
will submit them to the Clerk's office.
Bylaws Changes
Beth will update the bylaws.and send them out for comments to Commission members.
No update on the Victim protection legislation
New Business
Sub -Committees
The following committees were proposed and adopted:
Legislation Committee: Barb, Stacey, Pat
The Legislation Committee is responsible to identify legislation that is likely to affect
women and to bring that information along with a recommendation for/against supporting
the legislation to the Commission
Newsletter Committee: Jill, Sue and Tanya
The Newsletter Committee is responsible to develop the ideas suggested by the
Commission and/or to suggest ideas for the newsletter. They are also responsible for the
development and distribution of the newsletter, once the Commission has accepted it.
Each committee will be responsible to research their topics and bring recommendations
back to the Commission.
Karen will see how CSU can support the Committees and their efforts
The Committees will communicate via email or by small group meetings in order to
identify questions, concerns, recommendations, etc.
Tanya will follow up on a `blue ribbon commission' she's familiar with.
Additional
Suggestion that the minutes be distributed the week following the meeting.
Tanya will take notes for the June meeting and will try out a new format.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm. Next meeting: June 20, 2007. Submitted by
Suzanne Jarboe -Simpson