HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2013_06_17Brookings Human Rights Committee
June 17, 2013 Minutes
Brookings City & County Government Center, Community Room #300
1. George Hamer called the meeting to order at 11:34 a.m. Present: George Hamer,
Chandradhar Dwivedi, Steve Bayer, Patty Bacon, Penny Hauffe, Shafiqur Rahman, Hanna
Larsen, and Lawrence Novotny. Angela Hatton and Sam Jennings II were absent. Jamie
Nolan-Andrino and Shari Thornes were also present.
2. Agenda - A motion was made by Rahman, seconded by Hauffe, to approve. All present
voted yes; motion carried.
3. Approval of April & May minutes – A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by Rahman,
to approve. All present voted yes; motion carried.
4. Schedule next meeting date – Monday, July 22 at Noon.
5. Community Common Read Promotion Strategy – The Heart and the Fist – Eric Greitens
a. Finalize Promotion Activities, Dates & Budget:
Larsen and Hauffe have been working with the Campus committee. Thornes will work
with Dr. Nichols to obtain artwork for the bookmark.
Events:
• Kick-off September 10
• Student Panel September 19
• Film on September 26th
• November 4 – Hunger banquet,
• Greiten’s talk on November 13
• October events yet to be scheduled: photo exhibit, memorial wall, movie,
health event that addresses veteran’s health issues.
The Committee discussed hosting a community panel at City Hall that would be
televised. The Committee would like to have panel members representing all the
generations in war: Korean, Viet Nam, Desert Storm and the Persian Gulf. Thornes
suggested Oct 17 or 24. October 24th at 7 pm was selected.
b. Assign Subcommittees to plan the panel: Suggested contacts included: Brian
Mahaffey – Veteran’s Affairs; Lou Brown, Daktronics, Keith Corbett as moderator.
There was consensus to seek panel members from the community rather than the
University since SDSU is already hosting several events and the Committee wants this
to be community focused. The Committee discussed having a spouse or family member
talk about the disruptions to the family from the deployments of the National Guard.
Hauffe suggested contacting the Family Support Group for the National Guard.
Larsen, Hauffe and Bacon volunteered to serve on the subcommittee.
The budget needs to be finalized by July. Advertising will include print ads in Register
and Town and Country Shopper, a press release and radio appearances.
Thornes said books will be distributed to some middle school and high school classes.
The donor(s) are also interested in purchasing books for Veterans. Hamer will make the
necessary calls to get those numbers put together.
6. Annual Butler Human Rights Award Selection
Phyllis Cole-Dai was nominated by Chuck Woodard on behalf of several former recipients
of the award. A motion was made by Novotny, seconded by Bayer, to accept the
nomination of Phyllis Cole-Dai for the Butler Human Rights Award in 2013; motion carried.
Novotny and Thornes will be in contact with the winner to coordinate invites and other
arrangements. Thornes suggested September 5 or 12 for the reception. She will work on
the location after the other group winners are announced.
Bayer suggested recognizing the SDSU Wellness Center for offering same sex couples in
committed relationships the “married” rate for membership. Bayer asked that we talk
about it in July.
7. Rental Housing Issues/Multi-Cultural Center. Item tabled until July after Hamer has
opportunity to contact Center officials.
8. Report on Volunteer Leadership Coffee with Mayor Reed. Hamer and Hauffe attended
and shared the BHRC’s focus on community engagement with the Common Read project.
The Mayor shared the City’s 2013 Strategic Plan.
9. Announcements/Correspondence/Calendar
• Budget Report (Enclosed)
• Sept 5 or 12 Combined Award Event
• Oct. 20th Fall Diversity Potluck
• Nov. 13th Community Common Read / Author Presentation
10. July agenda items: Discussion and possible motion on Election Polling Site Location
position statement. Discussion about recognition of SDSU Wellness Center.
11. Adjournment at 12:33 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Patty Bacon