HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 - Womens Commission - Annual ReportCity of Fort Collins
Women’s Commission
2011 Annual Report
For the year 2011, the Commission members were: Ginny Carroll, Catherine Douras, Lea
Hanson, Jan Hawn, Sara Hoffman, Merry Hummell, Catherine Kelley, Randi Nelson, Deborah
Young and Annette Zacharias
In 2011, the Women’s Commission was able to accomplish and/or make strides in the following:
> We held our second annual retreat in February, creating a strategic plan for the year and began
structuring how the Commission would function in 2011.
>We established subcommittees for our three focus areas as: Poverty, Safety, and Health.
> The Commission planned and compiled a brochure to provide an overview of our focus areas
and list community resources available in those areas. (Next step in 2012 is to build our website
with a more comprehensive list of these community resources.)
>The Commission purchased a table top display and carrying case.
> Decided to concentrate on one issue each month in relation to our three focus areas, and
present this issue to City Council. Catherine D., on behalf of the Safety committee, spoke at City
Council April 19 on the issue of sexual assault.
> David Roy was the Women’s Commission Council Liaison until May. Commission members
met with David Roy a couple times to bring our Commission back to the table and work on
making the connection between City Council and the Commission stronger.
Wade Troxell is the 2011-2012 liaison.
>Several members of the Women’s Commission met with Wade Troxell on June 30, 2011.
> Partnered with Human Relations Commission (HRC) to present the Marcile N. Wood award in
2011. The winner, Valerie Mauksch, was announced at the HRC Award breakfast on Friday,
April 29, 2011. The Women’s Commission conducted the review process and assisted in the
presentation at the breakfast.
>We presented the International Women’s Day Proclamation in March and National Women’s
Health Month Proclamation in May at City Council meetings.
> Sara and Catherine D., members of the Women’s Commission Safety subcommittee, met with
Slavin Management Consultants, the headhunters for new police chief, regarding issues
important to the Women’s Commission.
>Catherine D. and Annette attended the Anti-Bullying summit in October with the HRC, Youth
Advisory Board, and Senior Advisory Board.
> Continued to discuss on forming a cohesive message and image for the Commission,
beginning with a motto that sums up the Commission’s work.
> We continued the dialogue with other Boards and Commissions, holding a second breakfast on
March 1, 2011. We also had members of the HRC attend our meetings, and we reviewed all of
the Boards and Commissions work plans to stay informed of their efforts.
> We have put in a request to City Council to increase our Commission member seat number by
two and to designate two member seats as youth seats, but still haven’t heard back.
> Agreed to be a presence at City Council meetings in 2011, trying to have a Commission
member attend each one.
> Continued our membership with the National Association of Commissions for Women
(NACW).
> Guests to our meetings included:
-Kent Bryans – Human Relations Commission
-Students from CSU Journalism, Kyle and Zuzu
-Ben Smith – SAVA Center Community Outreach Coordinator
-Jen Johns – Crossroads Safehouse and SAVA Center victim advocate
-Gerry Horak – City Council member
- Anne Kirkner – SAVA Community Outreach
- Cynthia Ryk - Circles Initiative
- Joyce Devany – citizen
The Commission was able to meet the goals of our 2011 Work Plan. We’re proud of our
accomplishments and believe we’ve been successful in laying a strong foundation for 2012 and
beyond.