Dual State Civil Rights Committee

Massachusetts & Rhode Island
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, MA

Present: Christine Clark, State Conservationist (MA); Roylene Rides at the Door, State Conservationist (RI), Louise Legouis - Chair (MA); Karen Regish, Federal Women Program Manager (MA); Michelle Moore, Disabled Emphasis Program Manager (RI); Mark Zinan, Advisor (MA); Bill Taylor, Black Emphasis Program Manager, (MA); Peter Bonome, Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager (RI).

Meeting started at 9:40 AM

Review of March 7 minutes: Minutes were approved by email and posted to the MA/RI Civil Rights web site. This process seems to work for all and will be used for meeting minutes.

Web site update: Louise proposed to table discussions of the web update as Michelle is doing a great job and the key updates are completed.

Performance evaluation for SEPMs: Peter had brought up the question of who will review SEPMs with multi-state responsibilities. Roylene and Christine will review SEPMs (with supervisor’s assistance). Performance Development evaluations will be updated. SEPM will be separate element.

Roylene noted that the CR Review was scheduled for 2008 in RI and 2009 in MA. It will be completed over a 1 week period in each state.

Mentoring – Roylene indicated the National office is currently testing a pilot for a very structure national program. The pilot program is led by Joyce Swartzendruber and Roylene is test mentor. The trial will end in September 2007.

While ME has its own mentoring program, the development of other state program is mostly on hold until the conclusion of the national pilot program. Should the pilot be successful, it will be rolled out at a national level.

If a more informal program were to be developed jointly with other New England states, the State Conservationists of MA and RI would have to submit the current MA/RI project to VT, NH, and CT for approval. Michelle will prepare a draft letter and agreement for other New England State Conservationists and submit it to Christine and Roylene. Michelle and others on the committee will put together a package to go with the letter including proposed mentoring documents for the MA/RI program.

Michelle added that a list of mentors is being developed.

AEP Report: Louise inquired as to whether or not AEP reports should be posted on the CR page. It was agreed that the reports would not be posted given the potentially confidential information included in them.

Business Plan and Committee Goals: Given limited time at this meeting, Louise proposed tabling the discussion of the Business Plan. She will prepare a draft plan and circulate it before the next CR meeting. Mark will look into AGLearn Civil rights training opportunities for FY2008. Roylene – American Indian Training Course will be added to NEDS. DC’s will be added to Business plan.

Outreach Report: If this is not already done, the Outreach Report will be circulated to all DCs. It was noted that RI also sends its Outreach Report to conservation Patners. Data is inputted in PRS under “Brief Technical Assistance”. RI currently uses an outreach tracking form and MA uses a spreadsheet. Formats have been exchanged between MA and RI.

List of SEPM Contacts: Louise proposed that a list of current SEPM contacts be developed and kept up to date to avoid doubling up on contacts, excluding important associations or organizations, or loosing the information. SEPMs will forward contact information to Louise who will keep compile, update, and circulate the information

SEPM Updates: The reports were tabled due to lack of time.

Diversity Day 2007: It was agreed that the event will be held on September 5th, 2007 at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster, MA. Louise will email the final program for everyone’s approval and circulate the information to all employees.

Next meeting date – Wednesday September 5, 2007 at the Doyle Conservation Center – time TBC.

Meeting adjourned at 12:05 PM.


Peter Bonome
Recorder

/Approver/
LOUISE LEGOUIS
Chairperson Page Content

Last Modified: 09/20/2007

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