HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 03/15/19990 0 APR 2 7 1999
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Commission on the Status of Women
Minutes
March 15, 1999
Present: Danielle Johnson, Susan Crowe, JoAnn Gina], Annmarie Evans, Bobbie
Gonzales, Rita Anastasio.
Excused Absences: Connie Uliasz (chair 225-1681), Ruth Weatherford, Peggy Loonan,
Unexcused Absences: Lena Sunthankar, Sylvia Schmid
Liaisons: Diane Gregg, Crossroads Safe House
I. Call to order: 6:10
H. Minutes: Approved
III. Review Agenda: Bobbie Gonzales requested time to give and update on legislation.
IV. Announcements:
A. Mail reviewed.
B. Passed around information from Ruth Lytle-Bamaby on Teen Pregnancy.
C. Passed around applications for boards and commissions for members to take
and distribute to others.
D. Announced that three members terms are ending and two vacancies are
currently open so we may have 5 openings in July.
E. Passed around flyer on Strengthening Board Effectiveness Training April 30,
1999, and encouraged all members to sign up.
F. Passed around information and Bobbie gave an overview of the March 20,
1999 Multicultural Conference.
G. JoAnn announced the talk for Project Self Sufficiency March 16'' at 8:30 at
Larimer County Employment and Training Building.
V. Guest Speakers: Diane Lathrop, Audrey Faulkner, Doreen Kemp
History of the Ten Year Update Study on the Economic Status of Women in Fort
Collins.
Audrey began by giving a history of the study. In 1985 a group of women got together
and became the Task Force on Women's Issues and did a study on the status of women.
Did this report as volunteers. 152 women gave input in public forums and 100 individual
interviews were completed. All interviews were anonymous. In 1986 submitted the
report and recommended the creation of the Commission on the Status of Women and the
first Commission was appointed by City Council in 1986. Commission began with 9
members. Members were added later because there was much work to be done. This
Commission established the Poudre School District essay contest, mall displays for
Women's History Month, a weekly column in the Triangle Review, created the Marcile
N, Wood Award and observed Women's Equality Day. Sponsored the Multicultural
Advisory Committee which spun off to become the Hispanic Oral History Committee
which did the video Mi Gente. Took positions to support Equality Colorado against
Amendment II, and advised the City on their health care plan and policy and City
changed the plan as a result.
One thing that has hampered the Commission has been the turnover as it is hard to keep
continuity. Women with all their roles have a difficult time putting in the time it needs.
There was a perception that the Commission was too feminist and Audrey had a note
about a woman who was fired from her job when she turned 40 and joined the
Commission. She ended up leaving the Commission as she had to leave town for a new
job. The Commission has been tom as to how political they should be. It has been
difficult to come up with an agenda that all could agree on because the focus at times has
been unclear.
In 1995, Ann Azari and Gina Janett asked the Commission to consider updating the 1986
report. The Mayor asked them to be sure to submit a budget that was no less than
$25,000.00. The Commission struggled with the request, yet decided to do the study and
focus on the economic status of women in Fort Collins. The City Staff cut the budget to
$20,000. This lead to some struggle and delays with the project.
Decided to do a 200 person random sample and focus groups on Women of Color,
Senior Women, Lesbian Women, United Fund Agency personnel, Physically Challenged,
and one open forum. Also used census data that was available. Wanted to compare
women in Fort Collins to women at the state level and nationally. Subcontracted the
collection and analysis of the data and hired a technical writer. Did telephone interviews.
Tried to process the data as a whole committee and then decided it would be easier to
have a subcommittee to do the writing, Diane, Doreen and Audrey.
Diane shared that the 1986 report was being used throughout the county and agencies
were to the point they were using 10 year old information. Agencies were asking for
updated information which was easy to use and understandable. Goal of the Commission
to help women and this was a way to do that. Fort Collins has so many boards and
commission and there is debate as to the need for these. It is hard for council to justify all
of these so it is important that the Women's Commission to show the necessity for their
work. They have an important role in advising City Council. Addressed a concern that
when members are interviewed they are not aware of the work that is being done on the
commission. Need to better educate members before they come on as to what will be
expected and what projects are being worked on.
The report was supported by a number of people in the community who gave their time to
help the Commission. The community is invested. It is essential to make sure the report
is a credible and thorough report. Acknowledged that some members may not be familiar
with the report and may not have been made aware of it so they may have other issues
they would rather work on. It is important that the Report be supported by the
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Commission so the Commission remains credible in the community and with the City
and Council.
The recommendations have been written in order to drive the agenda for the Commission
over the next ten years. Many of the recommendations are directed toward the City and
departments in the City. Identifies areas of work for the City in the future.
Doreen shared that this current Commission will be the tie from the women who worked
on the study to the women who will join the Commission in the future. Study is set up in
a way and covers so much information and has recommendations in the areas most
critical to women so it is easy to find areas to work on and to focus on. After the June
1999 presentation to the City Council the Report will set the course for the Commission
for the next ten years. There is flexibility in the material and the data which will lend
itself to whatever platform you choose. With this data the Commission can really ask
some tough questions of the City and others for example pay, housing, transportation.
Chance for collaboration with Colorado State University, Poudre Schools, Larimer
County and United Way Agencies. Publicity of the report will be very important.
Marketing to all segments of the community to let them know about the study and about
the Commission. Part of this will be challenging belief systems and value systems which
are based on the suppression of women.
In a politically charged environment, as we have now, the stability of boards and
commission are in question making it critical to be prepared for the future with a plan of
action. If you can ground your work in the material that has been gathered then go forth
from that foundation, it will help you remain viable in this environment.
Discussion and Questions:
Update on the formatting by Danielle. There was a proof sheet that looks great.
Connie would like to meet with Doreen, Diane, Audrey and Libby to clarify some
questions. Also had some questions about graph formats. Still need to decide if we can
go with color.
Discussion on what the report going to be titled. Looked at what the report is about and
what the goals of the report are. Something that is catchy and that people will want to get
a copy of because they will want to see the information in the report. Look at who we are
targeting the marketing to.
Talked about the status of women, how women are blamed for many of the things that go
wrong in society and yet women are not supported in their lives and all the roles they
need to take on to survive in the world today. It was unfortunate to hear many of the
same things in the focus groups that were said in 1986.
Diane, Doreen and Audrey are interested in coming to the City Council presentation.
Might want to advertise the session so the public is invited to the meeting as well.
Decided to have members call in with two suggestions for study title and that will go to
Rita and a decision will be made. The illustrator is ready to do the cover.
VI. Business Items:
A. Women's History Month Committee- Passed around essays of winner. There
were three winners, and several honorable mentions. Proclamation and
awards begin at 5:30 in City Council Chambers. JoAnn will explain the
commissions participation in Women's History Month as well as our new
honoring of a woman in our history. This year's honoree is Mable Preble.
Essay winners will be asked to give a brief synopsis of their essays. A
committee will work on the Women's History Month program for 2000.
B. Report from Human Relations Commission meeting- No liaison was able to
attend. Laurie reported that the Mayor was present and the meeting was spent
conversing with her.
C. Update on the Report: Danielle reported that all of the sections are in and to
Connie who is doing a great job with the formatting.
D. Legislative: Bobbie shared a column she found in the Denver Post that says
what issues are up for vote and how people vote. Education issues, did not
pass an amendment that would have allocated 11 million dollars to hire on
100,000 teachers over the next 6 years. Special Education amendment was
approved to spend allocations from last years budget to spend this year. Ed
Flex gives greater flexibility to states on how they spend education money.
Waivers will be given to school districts locally to spend as they need. This
bill passed. Passed a bill to prevent nursing homes from evicting elderly
patients on Medicaid when the home withdraws from the Medicaid Program.
Bill on poverty house rejected this bill. House approved to send US troops to
Kosovo.
Peggy Loonan will be next months facilitator and will bring refreshments.
VL Adjourn 8:10