Auburn Human Rights Commission
Minutes from meeting June 4, 2003
Members: Present (P; Absent, (A); Excused (E)
No quorum. General meeting of members.
Minutes June 2003
· Monthly intakes (70) consisting of questions and complaints dealing with eviction/housing matters, employment/termination, and questions/responses to the upcoming Juneteenth Day program. Members discuss.
· Juneteenth Day UPDATE: As of this report, HR has a great response to our upcoming program with Vanessa Johnson at the BTW Community Center. Her accompaniment will be available for our program and will provided a good deal of interaction with the students in the audience. We’re expecting around 400 attendees – a good majority are students from the Auburn School District. An other good note includes the support and attendance from NYS Governor Pataki’s regional representative, Babette Younis. The Governor supports our programs with attendance throughout the year. Wegmans agrees to sponsor our reception but budgeted for only 250
people. They suggested having a co-sponsor for the latter half of our program. If necessary, HR may have to purchase a few additional items for the reception as gaining a co-sponsor at this late date is not feasible. As previously stated, all media/promotion is complete with additional coverage as the date draws near. Members discuss any last minute details. This will also be a good opportunity to present an engraved plaque and $50 appreciation gift to John Liberatore. He has been an Auburn High School student volunteer for the Commission during every fall awards program. Discussion over amount to give from our limited petty cash. All agree upon the amount mentioned earlier. Although the Commission would like to give a greater dollar gift, doing so would deplete the petty cash fund.
· HR Scholarship and the HR Fundraiser Raffle UPDATE: Auburn High School Senior, Thomas Keegan, is this year’s recipient of our $500 scholarship. The AHS Awards program is scheduled for June 9th. Businesses and individuals that donated funds toward the scholarship were mailed letters of thanks. A newspaper Letter to the Editor will also be published and include the winners of the raffle drawings. At this time, we have $100 raised toward HR Scholarship 2004. This is a result of the bulk mailing effort. Additional printed pieces have been ordered and are ready to use in our next mail effort. Notified
raffle winners are as follows: Tom Falichio – Merry Go Round tickets; Karen Tarr – Liberty Store certificate; Rebecca Phillips – Elderberry Pond country gift basket certificate;Carolyn Cresco – York Jewelers women’s gold ring certificate; Steve Poole – Curleys dining certificate. These certificates will be mailed to the winners. Awaiting on a few merchants to send in their donations after receiving a friendly reminder from HR. Members discuss and are pleased with the selection process of this year’s scholarship recipient. Also pleased with the funds raised for next year’s award 2004. Commission expects the fund to grow somewhat after the TomatoFest information booth.
· Budget: See current budget attached. All appropriation lines equal $1989.37 with current claims and encumberments totaling $1716.18. (Printing fees and the new printer for the laptop are encumbered.) The total amount left for purchases equals $273.19. Line appropriation .46 totals $537.50. Although HR has permission from the HR Commissioner to use line .46, we have been notified that it must be approved through the City Manager’s office. While this is just a matter of additional “red tape” it revives the question on who’s authority the Commission rests. The city General Municipal law states
all authority is with the Commissioner. This issue needs to be revisited.
Also, see Budget 2003-2004. HR was not at the final budget meeting due to lack of adequate notification. Members discuss budget and encumberments.
· Attended NAACP program
· Attended the United Way workshop for non-profits
· Attended Salvations Army program
· Attended Options for Independence program.
Members discuss the importance of supporting other community programs noted above. It shows support for their efforts while bringing visibility and awareness to the Human Rights Commission and our mission.
NEW BUSINESS: Member discuss/agree:
NO COMMISSION MEETING DURING JULY
OLD BUSINESS: J. Liberatore award – previously discussed
General meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm
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