Minutes Sept 28, 2006 - OK Commission on the Status of Women

Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women

Regular Meeting Minutes

September 28, 2006, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Office of Personnel Management, Room G91

The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women met in Room G91 of the Office of Personnel Management on September 28, 2006. Chair Jennifer Paustenbaugh called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m.

Commissioners Present: Bob Darcy, Catherine Haynes, Kathryn Jones, Denise Kinzie, Lou Kohlman, Debbe Leftwich, Pat Martin, Bernice Mitchell, Chris Morriss, Jilda Motley, Anita Norman, Jennifer Paustenbaugh, Claudean Reynolds, Marlene Smith, Valerie Thompson, Mary Walker, Ginny Wilson, Latasha Wilson (Staff)

Commissioners Excused: Sally Frasier, Vicki French, Rebecca Kennedy, Lou Kerr, Patricia Presley, Christie Woodson

Commissioners Absent: Betty Boyd, Marilyn Ehlers, Rowena Ogden, Sheila Sheaman, Renita Shofner, Margaret Swimmer, Janelle Walker

Advisory Council Members Present: Amy Bahora, Leslie Thomas, Marilyn Capps, Greta Stewart, Kathy Huston, Jean Warner

Visitors Present: Pat Potts, candidate for the Oklahoma Senate, Deena Fisher, Dean of the NW OSU campus at Woodward, Gloria Burdine, coordinator of women’s programs through the institutional diversity program at OSU.

Roll Call: Secretary Lou Kohlman called the roll and noted that seventeen (17) Commissioners present constituted a quorum.

Women’s History Moment: Amy Bahora, Advisory Council, using the theme of women changing history, talked about Harriet Beecher Stowe and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Minutes of August, 2006 Meeting: The Minutes were approved as amended; Commissioner Motley was excused in August.

Advisory Council member Jean Warner noted that her website, Oklahomawomen.blogspot.com, which features Oklahoma women, links to the Commission. Ms. Warner was featured in Oklahoma Today and said good things about the Commission. Advisory Council member Greta Stewart invited the Commissioners to the upcoming Women of Color Health Fair and Forum at MetroTech on October 14^th. Advisory Council member Leslie Thomas discussed the Heart Association’s Go Red for Women events, including the Wear Red Day in February, and the May 4^th 2007 luncheon and day devoted to women’s health. Ms. Burdine invited Commissioners to upcoming women’s diversity events at OSU.

Reports:

Chair: There was no report.

Secretary: There was no report.

Advisory Council Chair: There was no report, bur the Advisory Council Chair welcomed Advisory Council members to the meeting. The Chair noted that the Vice Chair position, filled from the Advisory Council, is open, and called for expressions of interest from Advisory Council members.

Unfinished Business:

Topical Committees: The Chair passed around Topical Committee assignments lists to Commissioners and Advisory Council members. Patricia Presley currently chairs the Women Incarcerated committee. Chris Morriss chairs the Women in Leadership committee. Vicki French chairs the Women’s Health/Eldercare committee. The Chair noted current member assignments to committees and called for each Commissioner to accept assignment to a committee. Advisory Council members were also asked to review the assignments and encouraged to volunteer.

November Date: The Commission noted that the November meeting date, November 16^th, is Statehood Day and the day Senators are sworn in. Bob Darcy moved to reschedule that meeting for November 9, and Anita Norman seconded. The motion passed with none opposed. Ms. Wilson will inform the Secretary of State’s office about the meeting date and place change.

Topical Committee Reports: The Health committee met today. Bernice Mitchell delivered a report of that meeting. The committee discussed the Proctor & Gamble sponsored Healthy BONES project, introduced during the NACW national conference. Advisory council member Dr. Adeline Yerkes has offered to assist the committee with women’s health issues. Last year, the committee had a health forum focusing on women’s health in Oklahoma. The Committee would like to repeat the forum before the November meeting, focusing the forum on the Healthy BONES project and an update on women’s health, focusing on eldercare services. The committee hopes to have an osteoporosis testing machine available. The committee is considering venues. The Commission suggests the History Center, if it is available. The committee hopes to keep the cost below $500. Bob Darcy moved that we authorize the committee to arrange for a November 16^th Commission meeting at the History Center or some other appropriate location. Marlene Smith seconded. The motion passed with no dissent. Bob Darcy moved that the Commission authorize expenditure of up to $750. Marlene Smith seconded. The motion passed, none opposed, Senator Leftwich abstaining.

Financial Report: Marilyn Capps presented the financial report as of August 31, 2006. The money available to the Commission is $30,593 with general encumbrances. The budget request for the next fiscal year has not been finalized.

Projects:

Hall of Fame Report: Vice Chair Haynes reported on the Hall of Fame event status. The Hall of Fame committee includes Jennifer, Bernice, Kathryn Jones, Patricia Presley, and Latasha Wilson. A letter was sent requesting approval for reservation of the House chamber and rotunda for Thursday, March 22. That request is awaiting approval. The facilities request from Department of Central Services has been prepared. The committee is researching caterers. The Nomination Form has been prepared, and nomination packets were distributed at today’s meeting. The Selection Committee was formed at today’s meeting and includes Chair Paustenbaugh, Advisory Council Chair Jilda Motley, former inductee Bernice Mitchell, Former Chair Leftwich, and Rebecca Kennedy.

After any corrections, copies of the Nomination Packet will be distributed to members of the Legislature. Commissioners suggested requiring a current photograph, suitable for publication, in the nomination packet, to facilitate press releases and publication in the Almanac. Rather than the “additional information” category, Commissioners suggested including in the “information on nominee” area an optional category for endorsement letters (limited to three), newspaper articles, etc. The postmark deadline for applications is November 9^th. The form will be linked to the Commission website, available to fill out online and print to mail.

The committee noted that the current projected date falls during Spring Break and agreed to consider moving the date to March 29. Bob Darcy moved and Catherine Haynes seconded, to move the March meeting date to Thursday, March 29^th, 2007. The motion carried with no opposition. During the meeting, Ms. Wilson asked the Sergeant at Arms to reserve this date for the Commission.

Bob Darcy moved to authorize the Hall of Fame committee to spend up to $5000. Lou Kohlman seconded. Motion carried with no opposition, Senator Leftwich abstaining.

SWIPS conference report: A steering committee was formed to explore bringing the conference to Oklahoma in April, 2008. Pat Martin reported on the SWIPS steering committee efforts. The steering committee includes Marsha Bennett, Denise Bode, Laura Boyd, Pat Fenell, Marti Ferritti, Connie Johnson, Kathy Jones, Lou Kerr, Lou Kohlman, Debbe Leftwich, Pat Martin, Angela Monson, Patti Presley, Brenda Reneau, Cindy Simon Rosenthal, Susan Savage, Greta Shepard Stewart, Kathy Taylor, and Susan Winchester. Steering committee members have agreed to get commitments for $150,000 from area & statewide individuals and organizations for sponsorship, by December 31. The committee is dividing up personal contacts and will send letters and personally contact each prospect. Commissioner Martin asks Commissioners and Advisory Council to offer more donor suggestions or offer to make any personal contacts. Secretary Kohlman will send Commissioners and Advisory Council members a list of the potential donors.

New Women Legislators: The Commission has several vases remaining, and proposes to give them to newly elected women legislators and continue to fill those during Session in 2007. Bob Darcy moved that the Commission authorize up to $100 to provide and fill vases for elected women officials. Jilda Motley seconded the motion. The motion passed without opposition. Senator Leftwich abstained.

Location and Date for December meeting: Commissioners agree that meeting should be left in Tulsa, as the only regular meeting held there. Mary Walker offered to explore venues and report at the next meeting. Lou Kohlman offered to ask Dean Butkin whether the group can meet at the Tulsa law school. Other Tulsa Commissioners will also explore venues. Bernice Mitchell moved the December meeting/luncheon be held in Tulsa on or prior to Friday, December 15 at a place to be determined. Bob Darcy seconded the motion. The motion passed with none opposed.

Next meeting: October 26, 2006, 1:30 p.m., at the Office of Personnel Management Room G91. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Month.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m. Kathy Jones moved to adjourn, Bob Darcy seconded.