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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/31/1981 Board of Directors Meeting p LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS • Board of Directors Meeting October 31 , 1981 Roseville, Minnesota MINUTES I The meeting was called to order at 9: 30 a.m. Present: Thomas Kuster Brenda Thomas Connie McGeorge Tom Johnson Gary Palmer •Kristi Birch Tony Saber Barb Kehrberg Kathleen Speggen Geri Evans Fern Arpi Guest: Peter Lewon, State Dept. of Human Rights II Approval of Minutes. Kuster moved, Thomas seconded, the approval of the minutes of the September 26, 1981 Board Meeting. Motion passed. III Officers ' Reports A. President: Kuster had no report. B. Vice President: Birch said Newsletter will go out four times a year with occasional special editions. C. Secretary: Thomas had no report. D. Treasurer: Palmer gave an accounting of League funds as of October 31 , 1981 : In checking: $738. 35 In savings: 1302. 13 • TOTAL $2040.48 . Palmer reported that 1982 dues notices will go out shortly. Dues are based on population--$3. 25 per 1000 people in city. IV Kuster moved to item V on the agenda and introduced Peter Lewon from the State Department of Human Rights. Lewon is in the Intake Unit of the State Department of Human Rights , and is coordinator of of the No Fault Greivance Process. (The Chair recognized Evans at this point. Evans explained why Earl Craig of the Urban Coalition, couldn 't serve as guest speaker on state voting rights. Evans said that after Minutes of 10/31/81/cont.-p. 2 repeated calls to various contacts , she received very little information or cooperation. Evans suggested that the League may not have a good image in the black community. ) Lewon presented an overview of the State Department of Human Rights, its organization and procedure. The Department employs 50 to 52 people , including the Commis- sioner, the Assistant Commissioner, approximately 20 people engaged in case processing, 5 in the Intake Department, and support staff. The Intake Unit . processes about three dozen calls a day and six to eight interviews. Greivances are handled in the following manner: 1. Call comes into Intake Unit 2. Interview is set up 3. Greivance gets docketed 4. Greivance is sent to respondent by certified mail 5. Investigator assigned to look into charge 6. Investigator makes recommendation to Commissioner 7. Commissioner determines whether there is probable cause. Sends decision to greivant and respondent. Lewon stated that referals to local commissions for the No Fault Grievance Process was hampered because of a reorgani- zation of the Department. As Coordinator, Lewon said he will emphasize the role of the local commissions, and will establish a closer relationship between local commissions and the Department. Lewon said that closer contact with the League would facilitate his efforts to promote the NFGP, to which end he will serve as liaison to the League. Discussion followed. Thomas reported that three NFGP referrals to the Roseville Commission had been received in the past month. Birch suggested that the Roseville Commission write an article for the Newsletter on their experience with an actual No Fault Grievance. Saber distributed copies of South St. Paul 's Human Rights Commission brochure. V Old Business A. McGeorge reported on the progress of the ERA Task Force. Information for the Newsletter was submitted. Responses to inquiries McGeorge made to other states concerning the number of Human Rights Commissions in those states was distributed to members of the Board. McGeorge suggested that a list of organizations in other states be printed in Newsletter so that local commissions can write to those organizations. McGeorge recommended the following League strategy: - League writes letter to local commissions , matching it with an organization in in an unratified state . - Local commission then writes to designated organi- Minutes of 10/31/81/cont. -p. 3 - League writes letter to local commissions, matching it with an organization in an unrati- fied state. - Local commission then writes to designated organization, asking if they are promoting ERA ratification, and how assistance can be offered. Speggen reported on the ERA Message Brigade , sponsored by NOW, and distributed Brigade envelopes. B. International Year of the Handicapped. McGeorge re- ported that information was submitted to the Newsletter and items will continue to be submitted as they develope. C. High School Education Package. Kuster asked for response. Lewon noted that the package should say "Complaint can be filed with local commission up to 4 months after alleged act. Lewon also suggested that the League contact businesses and present the package to their management. Johnson reported that he has contacted his school admini- stration, and will be meeting with teachers in the social studies department. Saber reported that his commission will present the package in local schools in South St. Paul. ` e Suggestion was made that the package should include an evaluation sheet for participants to fill out. Kuster stated that requests are being made for the package from non-League members. The cost of producing and mailing the package is S6.00. Henceforth the League will furnish the package free to League members , and charge $7. 50 to non-members. D. Membership Task Force. Saber reported on the progress of the Task Force. It was determined that a permanent file be created listing member commissions , non-member commissions, and communities where no commission exists. Discussion followed. Chair appointed Palmer, Birch, Johnson; Grau, and Thomas to act as advisors to the Membership Task Force, in assisting with setting up the file. E. Brochure. Evans reported that costs for the initial run vary from $200 to $600, depending on quality of paper, number of colors, etc. Following discussion, it was decided that Palmer and Evans proceed with the printing of the brochure. Minutes/10/31/81/cont. -4 VI New Business A. Mid-Winter Conference . Kuster asked if there was interest in sponsoring a mid-winter conference. The Board voiced its approval. Thomas moved, Saber seconded, that a mid- winter conference be held. Mid-Winter Conference Committee : Kehrberg, Chair Johnson Birch Evans Thomas Kuster B. League Human Rights Award. Kuster distributed his working paper for a proposed Human Rights Award. Discussion followed. The Award should be open to any citizen of Minnesota, for submitting nominations or being nominated. The Award would be presented at the Annual Meeting. A nominating committee outside the League should be established. Further discussion of the Award was deferred until the next Board meeting. • VIII Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 2: 30 p.m. 1981-82 LEAGUE mailing address : c/o Gary Palmer, Robbinsdale Hu. Ri. Com. Robbinsdale City Hall 4221 Lake Road Robbinsdale , MN 55422 phone : 537-4534 DECEMBER 10th IS UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS DAY