HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2010_12_09Brookings Human Rights Committee
Minutes of Meeting
December 9. 2010
Present: Committee Members: Steve Bayer, Shari Thornes, Patty Bacon, Penny Hauffe, Ann Marie Bahr, Lawrence
Novotny, Angela Hatton (via teleconference hookup); also present – a student from a SDSU journalist class reporting on
the meeting as a class assignment
Absent: Dwivedi Chandradhar, Christine Fabian, Jay Vargas, George Hamer
1. Call to Order at 12:05 pm
2. Adoption of Agenda moved by Bacon, seconded by Hauffe
3. Approval of Minutes of November 18 meeting --moved by Bahr, seconded by Hauffe
4. Schedule next meeting – January 10, 2011 at 11:30 am
New Business
5. Diversity potluck location – Novotny reported on several possible locations he checked into
a) Brookings County Resource Center – advantages are it is cheap to rent ($50) and has kitchen. Disadvantage is it
is a long way from campus which would make it difficult for students without transportation to attend
b) campus and downtown churches such as Lutheran Student Center, Methodist Church, and United Church of
Christ – advantages are within walking distance of campus, have kitchen and rent would be a donation.
Disadvantage – BHRC members were not in favor of holding an event in a church since a church location may
discourage some people from attending.
c) Parks & Rec Building – disadvantage rent is high ($125) and not handicapped accessible
d) Brookings Library – disadvantage Cooper room is to small
Novotny was asked to check into the HyVee Community Room and the SDSU Student Union. This topic was
then held over to the February agenda.
6. Human Rights Award Selection –Thornes and Novotny received an inquiry about the nomination process
but a nomination was not submitted. Bayer then nominated Dr. Tim Nichols, dean of the SDSU Honors
College, because of his work on the SDSU Common Read Program for the past two years. Hauffe moved
that Dr. Tim Nichols will be the human rights award recipient for 2010. Hatton seconded and motion passed.
Bayer will contact Nichols and arrange a date for the presentation (which will be January 26). Bahr will order
the plague.
7. King Event – It was decided to use the same prize award schedule as last year. Due to an inquiry, it was
decided to add an adult essay category which adult being defined as someone being 19+ years of age and a
resident of Brookings County (this would include SDSU students). Novotny moved (Bacon seconded and
motion passed) that the theme for the essay contest be “A Right Delayed is a Right Denied.” Novotny moved
(Bacon seconded and passed) that the theme for the poster contest be “Bring Your Dream.” January 7 was
set as the deadline for receiving submissions with judging occurring at the January 10 BHRC meeting.
Hauffe will check with the Children’s Museum as a possible location for displaying the posters and Novotny
will check with the Brookings Library.
8. Financial Report Review – Bayer stated he is not in favor of spending money just to spend money. Bayer
recommended that in the future we ask teachers to submit a grant application asking the BHRC to provide
human rights resource materials.
Background info:
The BHRC will have excess funds leftover at the end of this fiscal year which will revert back to the City.
At the November meeting, it was suggested that we use some of the funds to purchase books and videos
that focus on human rights issues for the libraries. BHRC members were asked to compile listings of
materials we deemed appropriate. Novotny submitted his list (GLBT materials for the Brookings Public
Library) by e-mail last night to the Committee. Bahr brought her list (comparative religion books for the
Brookings Public School Library) to the meeting today. The BHRC cannot give funds to another agency. We
have to purchase the materials directly ourselves. It was suggested that we consult with the librarians and
let them determine what resources they would like to select from our lists (or have them recommend other
human rights resources that they would like to have). BHRC would then purchase the materials. The
urgency for this is that the materials need to be physically delivered to Brookings by Dec 31 in order to use
this fiscal year’s funds.
Since Hatton had disconnected her teleconference hookup during the discussion, we lost quorum. An e-mail
vote will be conducted on this proposed motion: The Brookings Human Rights Committee authorizes
Lawrence Novotny to work with Elvita Landau, director of Brookings Public Library, and authorizes Ann
Marie Bahr to work with Dorothy Zuiderhof, curriculum director of the Brookings Public Schools. Landau
and Zuiderhof will recommend educational and outreach resource materials related to human rights to be
purchased (up to the amount of $500 for each agency) by the BHRC. Those voting aye by e-mail were Bacon,
Chandradhar, Bayer, Hamer, Hatton, Bahr, Vargas, Novotny and Fabian.
9. 2010 Annual Report to City Council tabled to Feb meeting
10. Goal Setting for 2011 tabled to Feb meeting
Project & Issue Updates:
11. Public Awareness Initiatives Bacon had previously submitted the Website & Social Networking Sub-
committee report by e-mail to Thornes who did not receive it. It will be re-submitted.
12. Annoucements/Correspondence -- none
13. Calendar – Dec 9 is Mayor’s Annual Holiday Party. Bayer succeeded in having the Mayor name it a
“Holiday” instead of “Christmas” Party.
13. Election of Officers – tabled to January meeting. The current officers are willing to serve again. Hauffe
volunteered to send an e-mail to BHRC members seeing if anyone is interested in becoming an officer.
14. Adjournment – 1:05 pm
Lawrence Novotny, acting recorder