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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 04/19/19930 11 MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN APRIL 19, 1993 Present: Donna Aurand, Bobby Cullor, Kathleen Faller, Audrey Faulkner, Lu Fisk, Brownie McGraw, Kathy McLeod, Sally Miles Absent: Carolyn Duff, Kathy Everett, Dana Hiatt, Betty Medina, Lynne Warner, Chris Wood, Mary Zamora Council Liaison: To be appointed * Staff: Colleen A'Hearn Guest: Shari Olson, Human Relations Commission liaison to the Commission on the Status of Women COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT Ann Azari announced in March that her term as the Council Liaison to the Commission was ending and that the March meeting would be her last in this capacity. New Council Liaisons are scheduled to be appointed at the April 20, 1993 Council Meeting. * Note: Gina Janett was subsequently appointed as the Council Liaison to the Commission on the Status of Women effective 4-20-93 (see copy of resolution included in the May, 1993 packet.) MINUTES Minutes of February 22, 1993 and March 15, 1993 were approved as written. (Discussion of February minutes had been tabled until the April meeting in order to give Commission members additional time to review.) AGENDA ITEMS (as modified during course of meeting) o Larimer County Boards & Commission Appointment Process Bobby advised that she had recently spoken with a member of the County Commission regarding the feasibility of coordinating the County's appointment process for Boards & Commission with the City's process. In that way, both the City and County processes would coincide with recruitment efforts made as a part of the annual Boards & Commissions Workshop, sponsored in March of each Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes April 19, 1993 Page 2 year by the Commission on the Status of Women. To the degree possible, the County will do its best to coordinate Board & Commission appointments to coincide with the City's process and to take advantage of the annual workshop as a marketing tool to encourage citizen participation. o Commission members were encouraged to read the article co- authored by Audrey on the inter -relationship among feminism, sexism, and racism; a copy was included in the April packet. o Bobby distributed a hand-out identifying early pioneer women in Fort Collins history. This hand-out was prepared by Cheryl Miller, a local resident with an interest in City and women's history. o Per Sally, Chris Wood's baby is due any day. She sends her regards and is sorry she was unable to attend tonight's meeting. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE o Legislative update materials were provided in this month's packet. It was also noted that The Coloradoan has a new format for tracking legislation that is easier to follow. OLD BUSINESS o ZONTA International Resolution Per a conversation with the Chair, Lynne continues to work with Arlene Davey from ZONTA International on drafting a proclamation or resolution supporting the criminalization of rape throughout the world. There is some question as to whether/how this will be presented to Council. Additional update will be on the agenda for the May meeting. o Sexual Harassment Task Force Work is continuing on analyzing results of community business surveys and policies submitted. o Task Force on Racism and Multi -Cultural Advisory Committee Task Force and Advisory Committee members are actively recruiting Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes April 19, 1993 Page 3 individuals to increase numbers and expand diversity of the Advisory Committee. One of the recommendations submitted by the Advisory Committee to the Cultural Diversity Task Force was an oral history project, with specific emphasis on hispanic and other ethnic families with roots in the Fort Collins community. The Advisory Committee will work with City officials to implement this recommendation. An update was provided on the Human Relations Commission meeting with Ed Gibbs, Civil Rights Specialist with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in Greeley. Mr. Gibbs shared that every case brought to their attention must be investigated within 30 days. The workload is extremely heavy, but all cases filed receive at least a cursory review. Out of 111 cases filed year-to-date, 28 have proceeded beyond the initial review stage. The Civil Rights Commission is short staffed and is asking the state for budget to hire additional staff members. Mr. Gibbs mentioned that a claimant can elect to file with the EEOC initially; the CRC refers cases to the EEOC that have specific federal consequences. Unfortunately, many claimants feel that the only way to get any kind of resolution is to hire a private attorney. Cases generally take 1-2 years to bring to trial and most people can't afford the legal costs. o Budget Report Joan Busch in Employee Development prepared a report on year-to- date expenditures. Through the month of April, the Commission has spent $512.98 on postage, copying, materials/supplies for Women's History Month, essay contest award checks, and coffee/refreshments for the Boards & Commission Workshop and other outreach events. o workload Priorities During earlier meetings, some Commission members expressed concern that workload priorities as currently defined were important, but not necessarily broadly enough defined so that every member could invest themselves in an area they feel passionate about. The issue of domestic violence was one that generated a lot of interest. Commission members agreed that addressing domestic violence may not necessarily require a specific task force, but is an area that directly impacts women and families and requires attention and action vs. merely tracking. Chris, Sally, Kathy E., Brownie, and Carolyn have expressed a specific interest in the past in dealing with domestic violence Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes April 19, 1993 Page 4 issues. Brownie will contact Ann Azari and see where domestic violence is relative to City Council's work plan. It was also suggested that the Commission may want to revisit suggestions made by Ginny Riley, Director of Crossroads Safehouse for Women. Affordable housing was a major need identified by Ms. Riley and the Commission continues to work with groups in the community concerned with affordable housing. In relation to this discussion, Sally reminded Commission members that the annual March Against Violence is scheduled for Thursday, April 29. The march will begin on the CSU campus and conclude in Old Town, with a stop enroute at the Lincoln Center Sculpture Garden. NEW BUSINESS o United Nations Year of the Family 1994 has been designated by the U.N. as the Year of the Family. Mims Harris with CSU is spearheading an effort to develop/tailor CSU programs that highlight the role of family in society. She is in the process of forming a "town/gown" committee to explore joint programming between CSU and the community. Audrey has previously been invited to participate on the planning group as a citizen and a Commission member. She was unanimously selected to represent the Commission in an official capacity. The Commission indicated an interest in coordinating existing programs vs. necessarily creating new or special programs. o Follow-up on Amendment 2 Issues Lynne provided through Audrey a copy of the Colorado for Family Values Community Watch Group action plan. The intent of CFV is to mobilize community watch groups throughout the state. The Commission will explore at the May meeting whether or not guest speakers from both sides of the Amendment 2 issue should be invited to address the Commission or to participate in some sort of community forum or debate. In preparation for this discussion, Sally will invite a representative from the Moderate Voter's Coalition Project to speak to the Commission during next month's meeting. Presentation and discussion will be limited to one hour and 15 minutes, assuming the guest speaker's schedule will allow her to meet on May 17. HRC members will be invited to attend. Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes April 19, 1993 Page 5 o Family Center Brownie informed the Commission that the need for a community Family Center is being proposed to Challenge Fort Collins and Team Fort Collins by Larry Abrahamson, Deputy District Attorney. The purpose of the Center would be to provide a single place for families to obtain assistance on dealing with problems involving youth and families ("one stop shopping concept.") Brownie will continue to update the Commission on the status of this proposal. o Take Your Daughter to Work Day The Ms. Foundation is sponsoring the first annual "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" on Wednesday, April 28. Sally will contact Jan Knight at The Coloradoan to see if she would be willing to do an article on this topic, i.e. the importance of role models and self-esteem for young women. Research indicates that female children respond to peer pressure and societal influences beginning in junior high and high school and often lose sight of career goals to which they previously aspired. o Larimer County Representative Beginning June 1, Sue Cottingham will represent Larimer County as the liaison to the Commission on the Status of Women. Commission members expressed gratitude to outgoing liaison Bobby Cullor for all her efforts on behalf of the Commission. o Message from the Chair Kathy McLeod announced that she will not be applying membership on the Commission. She provided a letter + members and expressed regret that she cannot continue to requirements that members live in the urban growth worked very hard to find housing in the urban growth unable to do so. Commission members expressed their Kathy for all her efforts as the Chair over the past ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:25 p.m. to renew her o Commission to serve due area. Kathy area but was gratitude to two years.