Delaware Commission for Women

DRAFT

Delaware Commission for Women

Regular Monthly Meeting Minutes

May 22, 2013 -- 4:00 p.m.

Carvel State Office Building Videoconference:

Commissioners: Barbara McCleary

Staff: Romona Fullman

Cannon Building Video Conference:

Commissioners: Becky Evaristo

Teleconference: Commissioners: Sherese Brewington-Carr, Tes del Tufo, Raetta McCall. Judith Taggart

Absent: Commissioners: Brian Bartley, Lynn Ingersoll, Belinda Criddell, Valerie Driscoll, Robin Fisher, Charlotte King, Tizzy Lockman, Kathleen Jacobs, Sally McBride, Kathleen Matt, Alisa Moen, Farzana McCormick

The meeting was open by Chair Brewington-Carr at 4:05 p.m.

I.  Chair’s Report (Sherese Brewington-Carr)

a.  Chair Brewington-Carr apologized for not attending in person. She is out of town caring for her mother.

b.  FOIA Compliance – Commission and Committee meetings must be posted on the state public meeting calendar 7 days in advance of the scheduled meeting. An agenda of items to be discussed at the meetings must also be posted. Compliance is expected.

c.  Sister In Success Conference sponsored by female judges and lawyers and held at Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution was a success. First Lady Carla Markell did an excellent job as keynote speaker. The DCW sponsored the conference breakfast. Recommend that consideration be given to the diversity among speakers - should better mirror the diversity of the target population.

d.  DE Agents for Change recently held a forum for candidates running New Castle County School Boards. The forum was a civic engagement initiative to inform candidates and the public on responsibilities of school boards.

e.  NACW National Conference will be held in July in San Jose, CA. Any Commissioner interested in the conference should contact the office by May 24th.

f.  Chair Brewington-Carr expressed concern over the absence of a quorum for the meeting indicating that the regular meeting date and time was recently changed to accommodate Commissioners schedules.

II.  Approval of Minutes – Chair Brewington-Carr deferred approval of February, March, and April minutes until the June meeting due to the absence of a quorum.

III.  Director’s Report (Romona Fullman)

Director Fullman – invited everyone can read the written report and ask questions. She highlighted the following:

DCW regular meetings are scheduled through November 2013. Question was raised as to whether meetings will be held in June, July and August. Commissioner Taggart recommended not meeting over the summer. Chair Brewington-Carr tabled the decision for the June meeting.

FOIA Guidelines are being drafted by DAG Paula Fontello and will be distributed to Commissioners. All meeting including committee meetings are public meetings. Meeting dates, time and detailed agendas must be posted on the state public calendar in advance of the meetings.

Film & Discussion forums were suggested as a strategy for DCW to work collaboratively with other organization on topics of mutual interest. The DCW has had success with this format in the past.

Commissioners were reminded of the opportunity to contract with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) for research on the status of women in Delaware. Commissioner Barbara McCleary advised that she downloaded the IWPR’s report for North Carolina and found it eye-opening, well-done, and potentially useful to a range of organizations.

Project Planning and Committee Report forms were distributed to all DCW members as tools/templates to facilitate and provide consistency in planning and reporting.

Commissioners were advised that community outreach opportunities are typically abundant in the summer and that joint (Commission/office) participation is necessary to register for space. Several Commissioners confirmed that participation in community-based events enable is an effective means for DCW to connect with women in the community. It was agreed that the office and commission work together to select events to attend. Chair Brewington-Carr recommended that a group meet to determine a goal as to the type, number and location of events at which the DCW will have a display table. Commissioners Taggart, McCall, Evaristo, delTufo and Brewington-Carr agreed participate in the group.

IV.  Committee Reports

a.  Employment (Judy Taggart) At the June 3rd meeting the Committee will discuss whether to continue to focus on employment or refocus its priorities.

b.  Education Committee (Barbara McCleary): Representatives from three organizations attended the May Education Committee meeting to describe their programs and services. Speakers included: Mary Beth Crafts and Wave Starnes, co-presidents of AAUW-DE; Malik Stewart, Manager of Federal Programs, Red Clay School District; and Kathy Herel, Coordinator, Parent Information Center. At the July 16th meeting the Committee will discuss partnership opportunities and potential policy recommendations.

c.  Health (Raetta McCall) No report. The Committee did not meet in May

d.  Hall of Fame: (Becky Evaristo) No report. There was no meeting in May.

Director Fullman reminded Commissioners that committee meetings are public meeting and must be accessible to the public. She cautioned against meeting in restaurants and via teleconference only.

V.  Old Business- None

VI.  New Business

a.  Chair Brewington-Carr recommended looking at by-laws to assure compliance and determine if any adjustments are needed.

b.  Summer meeting schedule will be determined at the June meeting

Meeting adjourned at 5:16p

Upcoming 2013 Commission Meetings:

June 26

July 24

August 28

September 25

October 23

November 27

The 4th Wednesday in December will fall on Christmas Day…an alternate date is needed.