Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 02/26/1968El N FORT COLLINS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION MEETING MEETING February 26, 1968 ---000-- A Commission meeting of the Fort Collins Commission FEBRUARY 26, on Human Relations was held at the City Council Chamber, 300 1968 La Porte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado on Monday, February 26, 1968, at seventhirty o'clock in the evening. PRESENT There were present: Dr. Parker Preble Mrs. John Matsushima Mrs. David Landers Mr. Thomas R. Wilson Dr. Karl Carson Mrs. Mary Anderson Mr. Eugene H. Smith Dr. Albert Nelson Chief Ralph Smith Rev. Edward Ostertag Mr. Ralph Braden Mr. Henry Chavez Mrs. Jessie Godinez Mrs. Walter Atherly Dr. S. R. Schneider comprising a quorum of the board; also Arthur March Jr ..... Legal Advisor Shelton Stanfil..... Guest Speaker Two press representatives ABSENT Absent: None CALL TO ORDER Tom Wilson called the meeting to order and then asked for the member committee reports. The committees were to meet prior to the meeting to organize themselves, draw up guidlines to direct their organizational operations. EDUCATION COM- The Education Committee of the Fort Collins Human MITTEE REPORT Relations Commission met at Police Chief Smiths's office at Ralph Smith 7:30 p.m., on Monday, February 12, 1968. Present were S. R. Reporting Schneider, Ralph Smith, Henry Chavez, and Mrs. David Landers. Mrs. Landers served as chairman. The committee in organiza- tion then chose Mr. Ralph Smith as chairman and Dr. S. R. Schneider as secretary. The chairman asked Dr. Schneider for a brief review of the experience and activities of the previous committee. Dr. Schneider displayed all the library materials he had gathered together during the past several years. N Minutes of Human Relations Commission February 26, 1968 Page 2 EDUCATION COM- Upon reviewing the principles and objectives of the MITTEE REPORT Education Committee as set forth by the by-laws, the following (Cont.) plan was suggested: 1. To contact the City Library for space and if available that we provide material such as books and pamphlets (current) for public use and that we accept monetary aids for the above purpose. Also, where possible we provide similar materials for the Buckingham Center. 2. To sponsor a newspaper column every other week dealing with human relations. Also to list all the new materials as they are placed in the Library. 3. Encourage joint educational meetings with CREE on the CSU Campus 4. Encourage and develop a group of speakers who will be able and willing to tell the Human Relations Story to interested groups throughout the community. 5. Promote education of our own membership 6. Visit the Human Relations Commissions of other cities, gather information of their activities and wherever possible get a copy of their annual reports. 7. Promote those activities in our various area centers, schools and community organizations which will develop a better understanding of all persons concerned. B. Encourage and evaluate research in problem areas. 9. Help establish an audio-visual library at the Buckingham Center for their use and also to be used at similar areas. 10. Encourage and help in the organization of meetings for special age groups and organizations whereby they can express their desires and complaints or share ideas which will ultimately bring about a better understanding of all involved. Mr. Smith also reported that a movie film projector had been given by the Fort Collins Elks Lodge to the Buckingham Center. Copy of letter is made a part of these minutes. Minutes of Human Relations Commission February 26, 1968 Page 3 EDUCATION COM- Dear Mr. Wilson: MITTEE REPORT (Cont.) At the meeting of the Education Committee of the Human Rel- ations Commission which met February 12 in my office Mr. Hank Chavez, a,member of the committee, brought out the fact that Buckingham Center did not have a movie projector and without it they were unable to show educational films. I contacted Mr. Floyd Baker, who is the manager of the Elks Lodge here in Fort Collins, and he advised that he would discuss this need with Mr. Wayne Schrader, who is presently serving as Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge No. 804 Approximately a week later Mr. Baker contacted me and advised that the Elks had a 16mm projector that had been used once in approximately eight years and that the Buckingham Center would be most welcome to it. I had this projector delivered to Buckingham Center along with a nice metal stand and extra reels, etc. They were very appreciative and advised that they would write a letter of acknowledgement and appreciation to the Elks Lodge. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Ralph M. Smith Chief of Police Chairman Education Committee RESEARCH COM- The research committee met and had a communication MITTEE REPORT with Mr. Ed Lupberger of East Denver regarding his meeting with Dr. Parker Preble us and his aid in suggesting other personnel that could be of Reporting help to us in our early growth and development as an organiza- tion. People that were suggested as being available were: 1.- Richard Young - Chairman of the City Recreation 2. Minu Sui - Executive. Director of the City Commis- sion on Community Relations. 3. Warren Alexander and James Reynolds of the Colorado Civil Right Commission PUBLICITY COM- Purpose of Committee - To acquaint the entire com- MITEE REPORT munity with the purposes, aims, and activities of the commission. Mrs. John Matsushima Proposed activities to attain these goals: Reporting 1. To list telephone number for the commission. 2. To publicize thru Poudre R-1 schools and CSU to the new faculty members that a Human Relations Commission exists in Fort Collins, 3. To acquaint newcomers with our civil rights laws. M Minutes of Human Relations Commission February 26, 1968 Page 4 4. To invite members of the State Human Relations Commission to meet with the commission for ed- ucational purposes. 5. To carry out any other publicity the commission desires. GRIEVANCE AND This committee has had two meetings (February 12 and INVESTIGATION 19) since the last commission meeting. Meetings covered the COMMITTEE following business: REPORT Dr. Nelson A. The Election of Officers Reporting Chairman - A. Wendell Nelson Secretary - Mrs. Walter Atherly B. Selection of working teams. 1. Eugene Smith and Ralph 2. Mrs. Atherly and Mrs. Godinez 3. Father Ostertag and Wendell Nelson C. Establishment of Operating Guidelines. 1. Committee meeting time - obtainable for those who wish to bring problems in person. 2. Meetings will be closed to the press. 3. All detailed information handled by the com- mittee will be kept confidential until released by the City Council or State Civil Rights Commission. 4. The chairman of the committee is the only of- ficial spokesman for the committee. 5. A general report will be submitted to the Fort Collins Human Relations Commission at its regular meeting. D. Four items submitted for investigation. 1. Hunting of game near residential areas outside of city limits. Status: Avenues for limit- ing such hunting have been outlined and passed on to those interested. We are waiting for a reply. 2. Bussing of children to Laurel and Harris Schools from Andersonville and Buckingham in- stead of to Tavelli. Status: General accept- ance of need to bus children since the reasons for such bussing were outlined at recent hear- ings. No present problem expressed. 3. Housing and sanitary facilities in Anderson- ville and Spanish Colony. Status: Under investigation. so Minutes of Human Relations Commission February 26, 1968 Page 5 GRIEVANCE AND 4. Possible race consideration in setting up of INVESTIGATION summer recreation groups. Status: Under COMMITTEE REPORT investigation. (Cont.) There was an inquiry relative to assistance to low income families thru the HUD housing program. The grievance and investigation committee reported that correspondence to the Fed- eral Housing Administration had already been iniated. Copy of letter is on file. Tom Wilson introduced the guest speaker Mr. Shelton Stanfil, CSU Professor who is the faculty advisor to CREE (Commission of Racial and Ethnic Equality). Mr. Stanfil first oriented the commission members relative to his position at CSU and his background with the community in which he is now a resident. He also stated that he was in Fort Collins while a student at CSU. He then went on to say, "there is a core of bigotry in Fort Collins as real and runs as deep as that which exists in Selma, Alabama." He then spent considerable time in developing his understanding and the definition of the term, "bigotry". He stated that Ault, Eaton, and Greeley also were involved. He went on to say that Fort Collins must be concerned and become involved with those conditions that exist in the rest of the country. "The colored people here are not Colorado people --much less Fort Collins. If we can't solve the problem here, as simple as it seems to be, then we can't hope to see it solved in the rest of the country." He further stated that race conditions in general are nearly all worse today then they were in 1962, especially with the negro. Mr. Stanfil related a series of statistics concern- ing civil rights activities in this country in recent years -- integration of schools, housing, unemployment, school drop -outs, and the part played by the blemishes of the past. Eugene Smith asked Stanfil for the nature of the complaints that had been given on campus. He replied that they had complaints concerning housing to negroes, barber shops, beauty parlors, and restaurants all of which were very minimal. Tom Wilson asked whether CREE would like help from the City Commission. Stanfil replied that the students seemed very skeptical of anyone over 30 years of age and were distrustful of most everyone including James Reynolds from the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. If the City Commission came forth with a very active and meaningful program the students might join in with us in our activities /s/ S. R. Schneider, Secretary, Fort Collins Human Relations Commission