Dual State Civil Rights Committee

Massachusetts & Rhode Island
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, MA

Present: Christine Clarke, State Conservationist, Louise Legouis, Civil Rights Chair, Bill Taylor, Black Emphasis Program Manager, Karen Regish, Federal Women Program Manager, Melissa Boak, Advisor, Massachusetts, Michelle Moore, Disabled Emphasis Program Manager, Peter Bonome, Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager, Jeanne Comerford, Asian Pacific Islander Program Manager, and Rena Shaw, Member

The meeting opened at 10:10.

Introductions: Louise introduced the new Massachusetts State Conservationist, Christine Clarke. Introductions and a short bio from committee members were made.

Outreach Report: It was agreed to table discussions on the outreach report until the next CRC meeting as the new report only included a two-month period.

KSA’s: Melissa stated that KSA’s will no longer be used and there is no longer a need for training as we talked about at the last meeting. Instead, there is a new quick hire system and Melissa is going to be trained in February on the new process. At this training, she will learn how to use this system and once she is proficient in the system, will train the Civil Rights committee. Louise collected a handout from Sharyn Alvarez at the EEO training that is available to any who would like to borrow or copy it until the direct hire process is in place.

Budget: Roylene and Cecil indicated at the last meeting they would put $1,500 toward our Civil Rights budget. Chris will check on the Massachusetts budget to see if this is still feasible, and will get back to Louise in the next two weeks.

Web site update: It was agreed to table discussions of the web site update until the next CRC meeting. Louise will send to Michelle a list of items to be implemented based upon discussions at the last CRC meeting.

Training: Louise reported on GBFEB Diversity Training Session attended by several members of the CRC on 9/14/06.

Louise distributed a summary of the key learning’s from the “Roles and Responsibilities of the EEO Advisory Committee” training she attended 12/6-12/7/07. In particular, she suggested all CRC members visit the http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/md715/index.html web site to familiarize themselves with Management Directive 715.

The date for the CR in Program Delivery training needs to be verified.

CR/Workforce Diversity Award: It was agreed that criteria would be developed for the RI/MA Diversity Award.

Diversity Day 2007: Louise presented a draft program for Diversity Day for CRC comments and budgetary options for the event. Some of the topics proposed were gender communication, cross-cultural communications, intergenerational communications, and new assistive technologies.

Reena proposed putting together a packet of handouts for distribution at DD including a list of derogatory terms or phrases. She will circulate an email to collect words of interesting origins from all employees.

Others ideas for handouts included: recommended book list, poster contest information, basic CR/EEO fact sheet and contact information.
Chris recommended the focus be on commonalities rather than differences. We all as NRCS employees have the same goal, the agency mission. Make everyone understand that everyone is different but all have the same goal.

SEPM Update

APIO: Asian Pacific Islander Program Manager, Jeanne Comerford had a teleconference with the other APIOs and they will be putting together a library of translated fact sheets, brochures, etc.

HEPM: Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager, Peter Bonome attended the HEPM Conference in Florida where he found out that Astrid Martinez former HEPM is now Acting National HEPM. At the meeting, they discussed developing a database of students for summer interns and moving some SCEPS between states to help them gain more experiences. They are still working out the details with the SCEPS.

BEPM: Black Emphasis Program Manager, William Taylor discussed the poster committee for Black History Month and the winning entry getting a $300. spot award. He also stated that he was going to e-mail the National BEPM to get information regarding the BEPM conference.

FWPM: Federal Women Program Manager, Karen Regish said that when the FWPMs had their quarterly teleconference they discussed the upcoming women’s history month. The contest for the poster for women’s history month comes with a $300. spot award. To increase participation in the contest they discussed having a $100. state spot award.

DEPM: Disabled Emphasis Program Manager, Michelle Moore attended the DEPM Conference in Bethesda, Maryland. There are a big number of targeted disabled employees that have the potential for retiring this year. They are looking to use new hiring authorities. There are also new guidelines for who will be recognized as a targeted disabled employee. In Addition, Michelle stated that being part of the poster committee was worthwhile.

Action Items:

• Chris will inform Louise about the Mass. budget.
• Louise will forward a copy of outreach report format to Jeanne.
• Melissa will check to see if CR training is being covered by what we do on diversity day.
• Reena and Jeanne will compile a book list, and vocabulary list of derogatory phases or words
• Louise will forward to Reena and Jeanne a list of word origins from Teaching Tolerance.
• Jeanne and Reena will send out an e-mail on solicit input from other NRCS employees on derogatory terms or phrases.
• Michelle will send out an e-mail to compile a list of books recommended by employee’s, focusing on improving cultural understanding and communication.
• Melissa will revise the by-laws and business plan.
• Melissa will check with Mark for the CR in Program Delivery training date.
• Civil Rights Award: Reena will put together criteria for the award.
• Michelle will update the Civil Rights Web Page (Minutes, By-laws, & Business Plan) also change the entrance page.
• Melissa will send documents to Michelle to post on the web (CR policy and Non-Discrimination Policy)
• Michelle will link to National Page & Organizations for SEPM’s.
• Louise will email an updated program draft for Diversity Day reflecting the items discussed in the meeting.
• Louise will contact Gail Brant of the Social Sciences division of NRCS for feedback on potential Diversity Day speakers.

The next committee meeting will be held on March 7, at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, from 9:30 to noon.

Meeting adjourned at 12:15.


/Recorder/
Michelle A. Moore
DEPM

/Approver/
LOUISE LEGOUIS
Chairperson Page Content

Last Modified: 04/16/2007

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