HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/02/1984 MAPLEWOOD HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
August 2, 1984
To: Maplewood Human Rights Commissioners
From: Pat Williamson, Chair
Following our telephone calls to each of you last month concerning the best
time for meeting over the summer months, it appeared prudent to cancel the
July meeting. As I am not aware of any,essential items of business which need
attention at this time, I am not planning a meeting during August.
I would like to share several items of information with you:
(1) Sue Hoyt and I attended the Annual Meeting of the League
of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions held at The College of
St.Thomas on June 23rd. Although total attendance was low we
both found the sessions we attended to be well worth our time.
Opportunities to discuss accomplishments, goals, and methods
were appreciated. An interesting strategies/activities exchange
session was remarkably productive, and Matt Stark, executive director
of MCLU, was an inspiring luncheon speaker. During the business
session, Maria Larsen and I were both elected to the League Board.
Lt. Governor Marlene Johnson presented the 1984 Minnesota Human
Rights Award to the St. Cloud Area Council for the Handicapped in
recognition of their accomplishments. Following the dinner,
Dr. Linda Johnson, commissioner-designate of the Mn Dept of Human
Rights, gave a presentation.
(2) I attended the City Council meeting on June 21st when boards and
commissions met to make any statements they felt appropriate. I
discussed three issues: (a) inaccessibility of city hall to
handicapped persons; (b) lack of a staff liaison to work with our
commission, and (c) selection process of commission members.
(3) Today I had lunch with Maplewood Review reporter Peg Gislason who
called about writing an article on our commission for next week's
paper. I gave her a copy of our most recent Annual Report and our
poster and we spent an hour reviewing our activities. All articles
are edited before final printing, but hopefully we'll get some
good press.
Please keep me informed of any contacts any of you receive, and I'll share
mine with you. Each of the items listed above will be on our September agenda
for further discussion, in addition to another important one: reviewing the
City Ordinance under which we operate. Not only does it need updating but we
might want to consider incorporating some changes. There is a copy in the
Annual Report—please look this over prior to our next meeting.
I hope you all enjoy the rest of the summer. I'm heading out to the Seattle
area within a week to meet my new grandson. . . .
See you on September 4 at our next meeting.