HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/07/1994MAPLEWOOD HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes of June 7, 1994
Present at meeting: Gordon Heininger, Shelly Strauss, Sherrie
Le, Pat Williamson, Karla Sand, Mike McGuire, Carol Cude.
I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7: 04
p.m. by Gordon Heininger.
II. Agenda Approval: The agenda was approved as read.
III. Approval of Minutes: The minutes were approved with one
change.
IV. Old Business
A. Item one on the agenda was tabled (update of contact
with L.E.O. - Gail) due to Gail ' s absence.
B. Carol reported on her conversation with Sharon Cox,
School District 622 Special Education Supervisor,
about the status of joint integration activities.
1. All principals have begun making contact with St.
Paul schools.
2 . The level of contact and participation varies
depending on the building.
3 . About half a dozen principals have been actively
involved so far.
4 . At this point, there has been no exchange of
students, but only visits for activities such as
music, jump roping demonstrations, etc.
5. Experiences have been positive, but are still in
the preliminary stage.
Carol will contact Mrs. Cox to get answers to
questions that were asked at the meeting.
C. Critique of Open House. Comments made: few people
stopped by, except for directions to other areas;
seemed to have too much on the table and the board;
most people were seeking free gifts; weather was too
nice; driveway access problems; maybe next year pick
one theme (diversity, crime, etc. ) ; kids enjoyed the
puppets; we need to send some money to the puppet
group (Sherrie will look up what was sent last year) ;
we need a list of members, meeting times, and an
emphasis on our volunteer status on next year's board.
D. Poster contest: Sherrie passed out a packet of
information on past contests. We need to establish
criteria so we can get a letter out to the schools in
September. A discussion was held on the purpose of the
poster contest. Items mentioned were: using art
classes to show awareness of diversity, to increase
awareness, and to give educators another way to
incorporate diversity into the classroom.
There was confusion on who would be eligible to submit
entries. It was felt that more emphasis was needed on
the diversity awareness award. Marie did a nice job on
making a letter outline for a base from which to work.
It was suggested that Marie take another look at the
letter, and some items were mentioned for study:
double check the dates, no bigger than 11 x 17,
subjects to cover (we could not find the Human
Relations law in our annual report. At this point we
will use age, gender, race, disability, culture,
religion) . We need a list of schools and addresses.
We could use the format from the Diversity Awareness
Award. A sentence needs to be added about us keeping
all entries, and possibly using them in city
buildings.
V. New Business
At the September meeting we need to set plans for our
next open house. We need to get creative, and get out
of a "rut" . We may try brainstorming to get new ideas
and goals. Gordon mentioned he feels that we are not
serving our community as well as we could.
VI . Other Business - none
VII. Reports
A. League - at the last meeting they were finalizing
details for the annual conference. The League hopes
to broaden participation. The meeting will be held
Saturday September 24, 8: 30-4 : 30, at the Brian Coyle
Community Center in Minneapolis. Pat feels that it
would be valuable for us as members to go.
B. At the Equal But Different conference, speaker Bruce
Christopher from Energy Resource spoke. Humor was
used, at there was much participation from all that
were there. He also does re-energizing the workplace.
Recently the posters and letters were mailed out, but
no response has been received yet.
C. Grievances
An old one from last year was dismissed by the
Department of Human Rights. A short discussion was
held about past grievances.
D. Agenda items for next time
1. Carol will contact Sharon Cox.
2 . Marie will list schools so people can be assigned
to call and visit concerning the poster contest
and diversity award.
3 . Work session in September will start at 6: 30 p.m.
4 . Gail - L.E.O.
5. Sherrie - how much was sent to the puppet group
last year?
VIII . Adjournment - 8 : 33