WV NRCS Civil Rights Committee

FY 2007 1st Quarter Meeting
November 8, 2006
10:00 AM

Present:

Barbara Broxterman, Civil Rights Advisory Committee Chairperson
Rex Gardner, Hispanic Program Manager
Leonard Jackson, African-American Program Manager
Marvin Kerr, Disability Program Manager
Carol Lagodich, Federal Women’s Program Manager
Mike Jones, American Indian/Alaska Native Program Manager
Bryan Lee, General Member from the State Office
Corine Broomall, West Area Representative
Leslie Sears, General Member from the South Area
Larry Sargent, Advisor
Charlotte Wertz, Advisor
Karen Fitchett, Human Resources Advisor

Meeting opened at 10:08

Committee minutes were reviewed and approved. Discussion of mentoring bulletin status. Barbara emailed Ron Hilliard about the new guidelines and has not received feedback at this point in time. The guidelines are posted on the website.

Marvin nominates Bryan Lee to be the recording secretary. Carol seconds the motion, approved.

Carol is going to reorganize the website.

Barbara nominates Marvin as Vice Chair—Leonard seconds the nomination, approved.

The committee reviewed the 2007 Business Plan. Many items were discussed in detail:

• Barbara Broxterman developed the business plan and kept some items from last year’s state business plan.
• Discussion of making the following a bylaw: The leaving chair and committee will create the business plan for the following year, before they leave.
• Civil rights compliance reviews need to be scheduled for each area. Bill O’Donnell and the other assistant state conservationists are working on a Civil Rights Compliance Review Schedule. Charlotte Wertz will provide us the schedule.

Under Goal 2 on the Business Plan:

• Maintain website
• Barbara reminded the committee that each SEPM needs to submit at least one article to news and views. Carol suggests that Mike send an article as part of American Indian Month.
• CRAC will attend Quarterly Principle Staff Meetings, as the meetings are re-instated.
• Charlotte is working on getting a Civil Rights training session for a state wide presentation, and for SEPM’s, sometime in January or February.
• Barbara will email the new acting state conservationist, welcoming him on behalf of CRAC.
• A SEPM will need to attend at least one area meeting each quarter if possible.
• Create a committee for the “New or Transferring Employee welcome to WV NRCS Information Packett.”
• Need to annually update the CRAC Power Point presentation.

Under Goal 3:

• There are two civil rights awards nominations to review. One is for Casey Shrader, the other is for Carlos Cole. Charlotte notes that only one entry can be entered for a Civil Rights award. The committee recommends that Casey/Carlos be recommended for a group award, so they can split the award. Marvin moves to nominate Casey/Carlos, Mike seconds the nomination.
• A sub-committee on the Mentoring Program needs to be formed. Carol, Corine, and Bryan volunteer to be on the committee. Bryan will be the lead.
• A sub-committee for the new employee welcome package needs to be formed. Barbara, Rex, and Karen volunteer. Rex will be the lead.
• Those needing SEPM training: Carol, Ray Cragar, Leonard, and Mike. Barbara concurred that Charlotte may recommend to the State Conservationist that OPM come to WV and provide SEPM training, at the earliest date possible. This should save some money for this years training funding.
• Barbara asks that each SEPM provide her with dates of special dates related to their SEPM, so she can post these on the calendar. This would provide Civil Rights added awareness.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Carol asked that web updates be sent to her in word for HTML formatting. Unless created according to guidelines, PDF’s may not be assessable to those needing screen readers.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 14, 2007 at 10:00 am, in Mt. Clare.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:55 am.

Action Items:

• Barbara write letter for WV CRAC award.
• Charlotte Wertz will provide the 2007 office schedule for CR compliance review.
• Mike will write a news article for News and Views and submit to Carol.
• Charlotte will provide information at the next meeting (or before) on the “State Wide Civil Rights Training Session” and the collective SEPM’s Training Session sometime in January or February.
• Barbara Broxterman will send a letter of welcome to our New State Conservationist.
• All SEPM’s provide BB with special interest dates or months related to their particular SEPM.
• Barbara will post information on WV NRCS calendar.

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