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Home My WebLink AboutOCW minutes 021298 r f ranOge oun omimssion for Women Box 8181 110 North Churton Street Hillsborough , NC 27278 FEBRUARY 12, 1998 MEETING MAR 2 3 1998 Government Services Center , Hillsborough Minutes k"Managars Ot I � Present : Deborah Van Dyken , Chair , Winnie Morgan , Martha Oxenfeldt, Kristen Dunivant , Louinga Groves , Jacky Philips , Sally Feather Hendrickson , Judy Woodall , Kay Singer , Kit Gruelle , Ruth Ledesma, Melissa McGill , Lorraine Hoyt, Debbie Taylor , Aimee Dubois Absent : Bev Scarlett Staff Present : Lucy Lewis , Director ; Oliver Melvin , Acting Director WELCOME Deborah Van Dyken welcomed members . The minutes were corrected to reflect that the Career Clothing Closet Advisory Committee would meet on February 13 , not 14 , and approved as corrected . INTRODUCTIONS All members introduced themselves , including new members Ruth Ledesma, Lorraine (Lori ) Hoyt , Kit Gruelle , Debbie Taylor and Melissa McGill . Chair Deborah Van Dyken said that she was very pleased to once again have a full Commission , and particularly to have such a wealth of experience and interests represented . Lucy introduced Oliver Melvin , Civil Rights Specialist for the Department , as Acting Director . Lucy noted that Oliver has been an active advocate for the Commission for Women since starting work with the County two years ago , including attending and helping with set up at the First Women and 20th Anniversary events , and promoting the Career Clothing Closet at different community workshops . She said that she knew that he would enjoy working with the Commission , and that they could rely on his support and leadership . REPORT FROM PRESENTATION TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Deborah Van Dyken reported that she had reported the revised goals and objectives , recommendations , and updated Status Report on Women at the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC ) work session on February 10 . Lucy said that the Chair of the BOCC had noted the Commission ' s support for welfare reform . She noted that the BOCC members had not seemed to realize that they were receiving an updated Status of Women in Orange County report , and suggested that Deborah write a clarifying letter to the Commissioners . Status Reports will be sent to public and non-profit agencies working with women , similar to the 1996 process , as well as letters encouraging them to disaggregate by gender the data that they collect . Hillsborough 732 - 8181 + Chapel Hill 967 - 9251 Mebane 227 - 2031 Durham 68 & 7331 1 COMMITTEE REPORTS Family Law Jacky Philips said that the speaker series has been finalized ( see attached flyer) and asked everyone to help publicize the programs . Commission members Deborah Van Dyken , Bev Scarlett , and Melissa McGill will be among the presenting attorneys . Women and Children Winnie Morgan reported that the mentors program is going very well , with 5 active matches . She explained that the biggest barrier to the mentoring is the mentee ' s lack of a telephone , which makes it difficult to arrange meetings , etc . This , of course , is also one of the barriers to successful employment for the Work First participants . But the matches that are working are going well . Winnie said that the Career Closet is full of clothes . She personally worked with several women , who were thrilled to have the opportunity to select the clothes that they needed . She gave an example of one woman who had not bought new clothes for herself for a number of years so that her children would have the clothes that they needed . The next Advisory Committee meeting is on February 16 . Winnie discussed a proposal to consider sponsoring or cosponsoring a Candidates Forum on women and children ' s issues , similar to the Forum that the Commission cosponsored in October 1996 . She will talk to Sue Russell , director of Day Care Services Association , to discuss whether they would like to work on a forum. Martha Oxenfeldt and Louinga Groves will meet with the Director of Social Services , Marti Pryor- Cook , on February 13 , to discuss ways to improve coordination of services to women and children , based on the recommendations of the 1996 Human Services Reform Task Force and the Commission for Women November 1997 recommendations to the County Commissioners , Advocacy Kristen Dunivant said that in the past the Advocacy Committee has been one of the Commission ' s most active committees . Committee activities have included spearheading the Women ' s Legislative Agenda Assembly (held every 2 years before the long session of the General Assembly) , helping with the Status Report on Women , township meetings , advocacy training workshops , and Women ' s Equality Day and Women ' s History Month . Committee Volunteers Lori Hoyt , Ruth Ledesma, and Kay Singer volunteered to join the Advocacy Committee . Debbie Taylor , Melissa McGill , and Kit Gruelle volunteered to join the Women and Children Committee . Members asked staff for an updated directory of new Commission members , and committees . WOMEN ' S HISTORY MONTH mit a proclamation asking the County Commissioners to recognize March Members agreed to sub as Women ' s History Month at the March 4 County Commissioners meeting . Deborah will present the proclamation , and all Commission members are invited to attend . The meeting will be held at the F . Gordon Battle Courtroom ( the addition behind the newer County Courthouse ) in Hillsborough , and begins at 7 : 30pm . Proclamations are one of the first agenda items . FY 1997 = 98 BUDGET Lucy Lewis presented a proposed budget for next year , including a part- time , 20hour a week Administrative Assistant I position and a full -time program assistant . She believes that the Admin . Assistant position request is overdue ; she said that she had not made it earlier because Judy Messenheimer has done an excellent job for over 10 years , but is unable to work 40 hours a week . This request would provide for full office coverage , as well as 10 additional hours for filing , copying , database management , etc . The Program Assistant position was originally requested in 1994 when the Department was reorganized to include the Human Relations Commission ( and the Civil Rights Ordinance) . The primary purpose of this position would be to assist the Director in furthering human relations and promote the status of women throughout the County through assistance with research , working with task forces and committees , and departmental programs . One member expressed her support of the Administrative Assistant position , but said that she has concerns regarding the need for a Program Assistant , including questions for Lucy about this position . Members asked if copies of the County ' s budget are available to the public , and Kay Singer told everyone that copies are placed in the public libraries , among other locations . This budget reflects a 2 % lncrease due to inflation , which the County Manager has approved for all budgets , but does not yet reflect the expenses which would be associated with the new positions . A motion was made to approve the budget as presented . The motion passed 13 - 1 . Lucy said that she would provide Oliver and the Commission with a copy of the upcoming budget deadlines and dates . DIRECTOR ' S REPORT Lucy distributed a written copy of activity highlights since the last meeting , noting that much of her focus has been on insuring as smooth a transition as possible in the department . She completed the Status on Women Report , which Deborah distributed at the BOCC work session . The meeting adjourned at 9 : OOpm . Minutes submitted by Lucy Lewis min298