WV NRCS Civil Rights Committee

WV NRCS Civil Rights Committee
FY 2006 3rd Quarter Meeting

May 10, 2006
10:00 AM

Present:
Carlos Cole, CRAC Co-Chairperson
Casey Shrader, CRAC Co-Chairperson
Barbara Broxterman, Federal Women’s Program Manager
Rex Gardner, Hispanic Program Manager
Leslie Sears, General Member from the South Area
Larry Sargent, Advisor
Mike Jones, American Indian/Alaska Native Program Manager – note taker in the absence of Bryan Lee
Carol Lagodich, Public Affairs and Marketing Specialist
James Dodson, African-American Program Manager
Corine Broomall, General Member from the West Area
Marvin Kerr, Disability Program Manager

Meeting opened at 10:18 at the Mount Claire Service Center

Casey asked everyone to look over the minutes from the Feb. meeting. Mike motioned that they be approved and was seconded by Rex. – Approved unanimous

SEPM Reports
Rex – July ’06 trip to Florida. Waiting approval for travel
Larry is trying to get student engineer which is paid from HQ – maybe starting Monday – USDA Scholar she will receive housing, salary and travel

Marvin – Working with Agrability. He is on their steering committee He has invited them to the West Area staff meeting. Discussed things that can be and have been done to help those farmers that need special help. Larry was asked to prepare a draft of letter and send to all employees with form attached to update disabilities that employees may have.

Barbara – attended Civil Rights committee, Chief’s work force promoting womens health week, poster display, hosted a movie matinee for all employees, worked on career days, participated in Fed. Women’s Program. Teleconference, requested video conference be available at the annual meeting FEW Conference (July 17-18) due to a number of states budget restrictions, and gave an update on current personnel relocating/resigning/promotions.

James – No new info from the last meeting in Feb.

Mike – Sent emails to all NRCS employees, help Ohio get a library started, participated in archeological site dig in the New River Nat. River during Soils Field week in Fayette Co.

Carlos and Greg Kist talked with the WV State - 1890 school, which is restarting their agriculture program. Name of the school will be the Gus Douglass Institute. Carlos and Casey are going to draft a letter for Ron Hilliard to send to the school stating that NRCS feels it is a very important step for WV and that NRCS supports the school.

There was a discussion by the committee about bringing back an exit poll/survey of employees that leave the agency, are reassigned, or other transition from 1 office to another. This item may want to be added to the business plan next year.

Training of members and SEPM’s probably not going to happen due to budget constraints. Members needing training are; Mike, Rex, Ray. Group decided to just ”limp along” ‘til next year.

Compliance Reviews are completed in the South area. The West Area has 1 left to do, Crosslanes. This is planned to be completed by the end of May. The East area is still needing all of it’s reviews. Carlos will contact Ray and/or Vicki.

PowerPoint presentations about the CRAC – Barbara went over 2 presentations, 1 from Florida and the other Kansas. Asked the committee to review and make comments. Comments should be completed and given to her at least 2 weeks before the next meeting – AUG 9th at 10 am in Morgantown. Discussing with Ron and Charlotte about the presentations will be done by Carlos.

The committee asked for guidance on the WV Outreach Plan. Charlotte is the listed contact. Is this something that the committee needs to be involved in?

Mentoring Program – Barbara - Larry stated that we only had 2 applicants to be a mentor and 1 for a protégé. The committee discussed changing the application and condensing it. There will be no budget to train mentors this FY. Corine had good suggestions for the form which will make it a 1 page application. Carol brought up that a teleconference might be a way around the budget and training issue.

The committee went over the business plan and updated it’s numbers from the last meeting.

Casey asked for other comments – none

Next meeting set for Aug 9th in Morgantown at 10 am.

Barbara motioned the meeting be adjourned. 2nd by the always vocal Leslie. Approved - Unanimous

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