Auburn Human Rights Commission
Members: Present (P) Absent, (A); Excused (E)
Karen Sheftic-Burns, Ex.Director P Fred Richardson, Commissioner _P___
Judah Rodriguez-Sierra __A_ Fr. Stephen Mack _A_ Lebertus van der Werff _P_
Gwendolyn M. Jones _E___ Kent Brandstetter__P__ Anthony DeCaro _P__
Members Present: __4_ Members Absent: __2_ Members Excused: _1__
Auburn Human Rights Commission Commission Members – Sept. Meeting 2004
Approve/second May minutes/June general meeting by van der Werff/Brandstetter
· Monthly intakes for July (58) and August (43) consisted of questions and/or complaints dealing with housing matters including condemned housing, security deposits, employment and age discrimination, legal needs and general questions concerning issues pertaining to human rights. Discussion and inquiry from newest member
· Monthly Budget: Members please see monthly activity report attached.
· Human Rights Scholarship: New fundraising drive begins with HR information booth at Tomatofest. Area businesses graciously donated goods toward our fundraising efforts toward our $500 goal. Discussion: tickets are printed for “kick-off” at T-fest. List of donors to follow.
· Tomatofest information/HR awareness booth sign-up needs full board participation to work in shifts. Time sheet provided for the dates of: Sat./Sun., Sept. 11 & 12th
from 11:00 – 6 pm. Members: see circulating sign up sheet for time slots.
· Human Rights Awareness Advertising Campaign: New campaign is scheduled throughout the month of September using encumbered funds from last year’s budget. Discussion.
· Annual Report - Officially published and released during the early summer months is available to Commission Members who did not receive a copy. Mayor, City Manager, and Members of Council received copies as well as area service organizations, churches, etc. Discussion.
· Juneteenth Day: Successful and well attended with attendees totaling around 300. Presenter was professional, educational, and well received. During the program, HR Director and HR Commissioner presented exiting Commission Member Zan Liebowitz with an engraved plaque of appreciation for her years of service to the HR Commission. Discussion.
· HR Commission is in the process of updating its Commission membership and begins with 3 appointment resolutions passed at City Council: A. DeCaro and K. Brandstetter – term expirations 7/07; L. van der Werff – term expiration 7/06. Members discuss potential list of members.
· New Business: Legal Services (Legal Aid Society) invite Auburn Human Rights as well as other community agencies to a roundtable/luncheon discussion on recent Legal Needs Survey results. They request input on how they can best use their limited resources to provide civil legal services to the low-income residents of Cayuga County. Members discuss.
Members also review/vote for HR Award Recipients. Program is scheduled for Oct. 6th with guest speaker Yolanda Rivera, Director of the Hispanic Community Center. Discussion and vote as follows: Charity Brandstetter –Community Volunteer Award, Nancy Sheffield – Community Volunteer Award, Wegmans – Corporate Award.
· Old Business - None
Next COMMISSION MEETING
Wed. October 6, 2004 at 5 pm
Followed by
HR Recognition Awards & Reception @ City Hall lobby/Council Chambers
Please call 255-4122 if you cannot attend.
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