WV NRCS Civil Rights Committee

FY 2006 2nd Quarter Meeting
February 8, 2006
10:00 AM

Present:
Carlos Cole, Civil Rights Advisory Committee Co-Chairperson
Casey Shrader, Civil Rights Advisory Committee Co-Chairperson
Barbara Broxterman, Federal Women’s Program Manager
Bryan Lee, General Member from the State Office
Mike Jones, American Indian/Alaska Native Program Manager
Larry Sargent, Advisor
Charlotte Wertz, Advisor
Rex Gardner, Hispanic Program Manager
Ray Carr, General Member from the East Area
Ray Crager, Veterans Emphasis Program Manager
James Dodson, African-American Program Manager
Leslie Sears, General Member from the South Area
Corine Broomall, West Area Representative
Marvin Kerr, Disability Program Manager

Teleconference Meeting opened at 10:04 a.m.

Committee minutes were reviewed and Barbara Broxterman moved that the minutes be approved. Ray Crager seconded the motion.

Carlos noted that a Vice Chair needed to be selected. Barbara volunteered for this. No opposition to this. Carlos moved that Barbara be nominated, Mike Jones 2nd the motion. She was made the Vice Chair.

The committee reviewed the 2006 Business Plan. Many items were discussed in detail:
Area reviews—

• South Area—James Dodson and Leslie Sears completed reviews in Marlinton and Huntington
• East Area—Need to do Romney on February 13, Wes-Mon-Ty RC&D on March 20, and Philippi at a later date.
• There was a discussion on how to conduct FO reviews—Ray Crager and Ray Carr will talk to Pat about the scheduling of the review in the East Area.
• West Area—Need to do Cross Lanes FO and Great Kanawha RC&D

Awards Review 05—
Larry will add the awards given for the FY-05 year to the spread sheet so the CRAC can check them for consistency.

Amend the CRAC bylaws to add veterans SEPM—Casey and Carlos will do this.

Carol Lagodich has done a very good job maintaining the Civil Rights Website.

The SEPM’s need to submit articles to News and Views and or sending information directly to employees by e-mail.

Discussion of who should attend the next principle staff meeting for fiscal year 2006. The following SEPM’s should attend the succeeding meetings:
1. James Dodson – 2nd Quarter
2. Marvin Kerr – 3rd Quarter
3. Rex Gardner – 4th Quarter

Need to develop a Power Point Presentation on Civil Rights; Carlos will send power point examples to Barbara Broxterman. The subcommittee appointed to work on this is Barbara Broxterman, Casey Shrader, Ray Crager and Carol Lagodich as advisor.

At this point there are no nominations for civil rights awards. Rex Gardner suggested that SEPM’s present information on the civil rights awards at area meetings.

Larry Sargent stated the new AEP Plan is not out to WV yet—it should be here in 2 to 8 weeks. Larry will report to the CRAC probably by e-mail on how the committee can help with this report, we may have to have a special meeting or the committee may just sending comments back to Larry.

Outreach/Recruitment—Larry passes out a Group Recruitment Plan. CRAC will individually review this and provide comments back to Larry before March 1, 2006.

CRAC review of training requests—to make sure there is equal distribution around the state, within disciplines and in regard to any civil rights types of discrimination. Charlotte Wertz reports that all non-mandatory job related training is cancelled for 2006.

Mentoring Program was discussed. Information on the program has been presented to all three areas. We need to give mentoring training as soon as we receive enough mentors. We also need to develop guidelines for the mentoring program. So far we have applications for one mentor and three protégées. The SEPM’s need to talk with the service centers about the mentoring program.

Each SEPM had $500 at the beginning of FY 06 to spend on matters related to their program. A discussion was started about the possibility of pooling the SEPM’s money to use for mentoring training.

SEPM Reports
Ray Crager reported that flags were requested at certain service centers. He purchased several flags and has four left. If buildings/Service Centers need a flag the CRAC will let Ray know.

Marvin Kerr reported that he attended a disability mentoring day in Princeton in October. Marvin joined agrobility, a disability organization. He also attended a disability meeting in Bethesda.

Barbara Broxterman will distribute a one page Federal Women’s Program Fact Sheet asking for comments. March is Federal Women’s month. Mike Jones suggested that Barbara go out and talk to school groups. Barbara informed us about an essay and poster contest coming up.

Mike Jones—Went to Las Vegas in December for the Conservation Alliance Conference—this meeting dealt with how federal agencies relate to American Indian Tribes.

Rex Gardner is trying to recruit Hispanics to WV. He may join a Hispanics group to post job openings.

James Dodson informed us of a Black History month luncheon on February 22 at 11-1 in the state office. James, also noted that the states are trying to hire more minority women.

OTHER NEWS:
Barbara Broxterman also made a motion that Carol Lagodich receives a spot award. Rex seconds the motion. All voted in favor.

Larry notes that all temporary employees will be eliminated. There will be no student hires this summer. Both of these decisions are totally budget driven.

Barbara requested a current list of all women employees and a notification of new women employees. Carlos makes a note that some states have a welcome package for new employees and the CRAC puts these packets together.

Carlos notes the mentoring program needs to be promoted more, as we do not yet have a pool of mentors. At large members of CRAC need to encourage employees to sign up.

Next Meeting will be Wednesday, May 10 at the Mt. Clare Service Center.

Barbara moved to adjourn the meeting. Mike seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.

< Back to Civil Rights