HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2013_08_20Brookings Human Rights Committee
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at Noon
Suite 230, Room 241 - Brookings City & County Government Center
Attendance: George Hamer, Sam Jennings, Lawrence Novotny, Hanna Larsen, Shafiqur Rahman,
Chandradhar Dwivedi, Penny Hauffe, Patty Bacon. Absent: Steve Bayer. Staff: Shari Thornes
1. Hamer called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m.
2. Agenda. A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by Rahman, to approve. Motion
carried.
3. Minutes. A correction was made to the July minutes to delete Jaime and Rahman from
attending. A motion was made by Novotny, seconded by Dwivedi, to approve as amended.
Motion carried.
4. Schedule future meetings. September 26th at noon. Staff will conduct a doodle survey
to determine October planning session.
5. Recognition of SDSU Wellness Center. Jennings reported the Center would prefer an
internal letter from BHRC thanking them. Novotny wanted to copy the GSA organization;
however, Jennings felt the Committee should not do that at this time. Jennings will draft
the letter to be signed by the entire committee at the September meeting. A motion was
made by Dwivedi, seconded by Hauffe, to ask Jennings to write the letter. Motion carried.
6. Campus-Community Common Read
• Community Veterans Panel – Hauffe reported that the subcommittee met last Friday.
While the list is still long, the group many were needed to represent the various
conflicts. Keith Corbett, Panel Moderator, said he would develop questions, but he
wants input from BHRC. The Committee talked about a focus for the panel questions.
One idea was to ask them what forms of service they focused on when they returned
to the community.
Confirmed panelists:
o Lionel Torgrud artillery in Vietnam)
o Terry Hill (Helicopter pilot in Vietnam)
o Dean Christie (WWll)
o Bob Heesch (Korea)
o Brian Mahaffy (OIF)
o Dawn Back (OEF)
o Rebecca Siemonsma (spouse of a deployed soldier, Operation Iraqi Freedom)
o Rebecca Trygstad (currently a service member, spouse of deployed soldier
and Administrative
o Officer (she coordinates the deployments).
Hauffe will confirm with Corbett if panelists are comfortable with the event being taped.
Larsen will draft a letter to panelists thanking them for agreeing to serve on the panel
and provide specific details for the evening. Questions will be provided in advance.
Campus Kick-off is September 10 at 7 pm at VBR. Larsen will announce Committee
events along with the Campus events.
• Marketing/Promotion:
o Brochure Distribution – Members will distribute to downtown businesses,
coffee shops, libraries, restaurants, bookstores, veterans organizations and on
campus.
o Public Service Announcement
o Press Release
o Newspaper Columns
o Purchased Advertising
o Email Mailing Lists
o Website/Govt Channel/Social Media
o Other
o Radio spots – for Diversity Potluck and Veteran’s Panel (Bacon & Hamer)
o Press Release – Hamer will draft press release and promo language
7. Update on Annual Butler Human Rights Award Event – September 12 at Camelot
Intermediate School at 5 pm – Phyllis Cole-Dai, BHRC honoree. Either Hamer or Novonty
will introduce for Phyllis. She will be given an opportunity to speak, but limited to 5
minutes. Invites going out via email to reduce costs for the budget.
8. Update on Rental Housing Issues/Multi-Cultural Center. No report.
9. State Board of Geographic Names Public Hearing – August 27th. The Committee’s letter
was sent and acknowledged. The Committee was encouraged to testify at the hearing.
Novotny will to try to attend.
10. Human Rights Campaign Foundation Municipal Equality Index Scorecard. Tabled.
Thornes asked members to review the document to identify issues to be addressed by the
Committee.
11. Membership update. Angela Hatton has moved to Sioux Falls and resigned from the
Committee. Thornes is advertising the position with an August 30th closing date.
12. Announcements/Correspondence/Calendar
• Budget Report (Enclosed)
• Sept 12 Combined Award Event
• Sept. 19th Students Veterans Panel
• Sept. 26th SDSU Film
• Oct. 20th Fall Diversity Potluck
• Oct. 24th Community Veterans Panel
• Nov. 13th Community Common Read / Author Presentation
13. Sept agenda items: Election Polling Site Location position statement
Meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Patty Bacon