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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-20 Committee on the Status of Women Minutes MINUTES COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN Thursday, March 20, 2003, 10:00 a.m. Kailua Trade Center Law Office of Strance and Nakoa Conference Room, Suite 208 PRESENTEXCUSED Cindy Hara, ChairBeryl Iramina, Treasurer Mary Andrews, Vice-ChairSuellen Tanaka Shawn Nakoa, Secretary Deborah DavisGUESTS Paradise NewlandMargaret Masunaga, HSCSW Susan Shirachi Gonsalves Commissioner Pat O'Toole, Corporation Counsel CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. ROLL CALL A quorum was present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA P. Newland moved to approve the agenda as submitted. D. Davis s The motion was passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES M. Andrews moved to approve the January 17, 2003 minutes. P. Newland seconded the motion. The motion was passed. TREASURER'S REPORT The treasurer's report was circulated. D. Davis moved to accept the treasurer's report. M. Andrews seconded the motion. C. Hara stated that upcoming expenses include the First Female Booklet and travel to Oahu for the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women (HSCSW) meeting. The motion was passed. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None. CORRESPONDENCE A. Thank you letter from State Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu C. Hara reported that the Office Manager, Baron Gushiken, sent an e-mail of the House and Senate distribution lists, address labels, data bases, office managers list, and listing of committee clerks. B. Thank you letter from House Representative, Sylvia Luke C. Thank you letter from Governor Linda Lingle D. Thank you letter from State Representative, J. Kalani English E. Thank you letter from State Representative, Russell Kokubun F. Thank you letter from State Representative, Ken Ito G. Thank you letter from State Representative, Suzanne Chun Oakland th H. Invitation to attend the 34 Annual Convention of the National Association of Commissions for Women on July 16-20, 2003 in Wilmington, Delawar I. Thank you card from Tutu's House for the Women's Health Month reimbursement J. Thank you letter from Allicyn Hikida Tasaka, Executive Director of HSCSW, regarding the "Real Women" Creative Writing Competition Awards Ceremony K. Brochure on National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund REPORTS A. Education 1. Urgent Services Directory M. Andrews reported that distribution is ongoing. She will start revising the next directory in June. She calls every agency listed and ask if the number, and name are still the same. S. Nakoa offered to distribute the directories at a per diem judges' training. D. Davis offered to distribute them to the realtors. C. Hara explained how the directory started as a directory for battered women and eventually evolved into a directory for families. P. O'Toole stated that their women's law group at one time put the directories in women's bathrooms as a means to give battered women access to the information without their abusers knowing. 2. First Female Booklet D. Davis offered to assist S. Nakoa in opening up the file since difficulty with her computer. After some discussion, CSW decided to print a lavender cover on card stock paper, glossy ivory paper for the inside, and saddle stitched. The booklet shall include first edition and the year 2 The First Female Booklet will be available for Women's Health Mo September. The booklet could also be CSW's gift to the guest sp agencies that plan an event. CSW could promote it next March du History Month. D. Davis suggested printing a second edition since she has the o do it. C. Hara agreed since CSW has received comments about why include a female who meets our requirement of being a "first." Therefore, CSW should begin making a file on the second edition. CSW agreed to send the booklet out to bid instead of having it r internally. It was suggested to print 1,000 copies with a total $3,000. M. Andrews suggested that the county print 20 extra copies as a keepsake. Secondly, CSW should list the current committee members and a blurb on the back page that says CSW will be doing this in the future and if anyon about someone they would like to include to call the Mayor's Office. M. Andrews made a motion that CSW allow S. Nakoa to make the decision making on the booklet with a printing limit of $3,000 and assistance from D. Davis. The deadline to publish the booklet is this fiscal year. P. Newland seconded the motion. The motion was passed. 3. Essay Contest C. Hara thanked committee members for judging the essays this year. On each of the four judging panels, she included one repeat judge who is the control person. She wanted one male judge for each category because they have a different perspective from a female. However, she was able to get only one male judge (Jim Kelly) this year. CSW received 73 essays this year. Out of the 73 essays, about 2 follow rules of submission. The majority of the essays followed the rules, were easy to read, and they got the concept of the essay contest. M. Andrews suggested having a judge's choice award next year for a student who wrote about something that was very heartfelt and in its own way that could inspire somebody to become a better structural writer. D. Davis agreed since she had one essay that the punctuation and the grammar was terrible, but the essay had some heart that garnered high scores. C. Hara mentioned that this is her last year as essay contest coordinator. The coordinator for next year will be S. Tanaka. In addition, this year was the first time that the Mayor and P. O'Toole attended the awards luncheon. 4. Equal Pay Day C. Hara reported that the Equal Pay Day Press Conference will be held on Tuesday, April 15, at 11:00 a.m. in the Hawaii State Capitol. M. Andrews, D. Davis, 3 and P. Newland expressed an interest in attending the press conference. C. Hara explained that we usually have one representative, not more than two but would consider sending three members to Oahu only if there is a HSCSW meeting following the press conference. 5. Mentoring C. Hara reported that M. Masunaga submitted a proposal to request funding for a young girls project of no more than ten young girls with several adult mentors. The project is to teach them about hygiene (using deodorant, cleansing your face), how to be fitted properly for a bra and underwear, etiquette in a restaurant (what all the utensils are for), manners, and issues facing young teens. Two one to a department store, and one to a restaurant for lunch or dinner. Waivers will be provided to the young girls in order to participate. The budget is as follows: Cost of dinner or lunch at a restaurant$330 (10 girls and 5 adult mentors) x $22 10 bras/underwear x $20$200 10 deodorant/facial cleansing soap x $10$100 Total budget$630 D. Davis and S. Nakoa have expressed interest in being a mentor for this project. P. Newland stated that she would like to bring a copy of a book called "Dress to Kill" to share with CSW at the next meeting. The book is about the relationship between bras and breast cancer. She would like to make it available for Women's Health Month including a campaign for "drop your bra day." The evidence is very strong in Hawaii where we have the highest rate of breast cancer anywhere in the world, especially Hawaiian women. It is largely attributed to very tight bras and wearing them long hours a day and even at times sleeping in them which is considered to slow down, stop, block circulation and have toxins sitting and accumulating. She would like CSW to include this information for completion so that young ladies know that they do have a choice and that wearing bras for attractive reasons is something they can take another look at. S. Nakoa made a motion that CSW authorize $630 for the mentoring program requested by M. Masunaga and to be completed by this fiscal year seconded the motion. The motion was passed. P. Newland suggested a mentoring program for East Hawaii. She felt there is a need for young girls in Puna. C. Hara recommended that P. Newla concrete proposal for CSW to consider. 6. Dress for Success/Fashion Furlough C. Hara reported that she would like a status report from B. Iramina on the fashion furlough program. M. Andrews and M. Masunaga have donated a lot of items to her 4 and because we are promoting this we should be provided information measuring its success. B. Health 1. Women's Health Month S. Shirachi Gonsalves reported that she will be unable to spearhead Women's Health Month this year. P. Newland volunteered to coordinate an event. C. Hara stated that the Women's Health Month meetings will begin soon on Oahu. She would like a CSW member to attend all the meetings on Oahu and report back to CSW and other organizations on the theme, focus, events, etc. M. Masunaga reported that she has already scheduled a seminar on September 16, 12 noon, at Oodles of Noodles Restaurant for Women's Health Month. The speakers are Kim Jackson who will be talking about estate planning updates and Dale Suezaki who will be doing a refresher course on financial planning. C. Liaison 1. HSCSW The HSCSW January 15, 2003 minutes were distributed to CSW membe C. Hara reported that the HSCSW budget for this year is safe. However, funding may be in jeopardy for next year and the following year. 2. Legislative Update C. Hara reported that A. Hikida Tasaka provided a listing of bills that crossed over and passed. Many of the bills that we are supporting will go to committee and probably be watered down. A. Hikida Tasaka's concern is that we are probably going to lose the bite of the intent of the bill. S. Shirachi Gonsalves asked if CSW members could provide testimony as private citizens when submitting letters in support of a bill. C. Hara counting on CSW member's involvement with other organizations and connections to other people to garner support for bills. D. Marketing 1. Newsletter C. Hara thanked P. Newland and S. Shirachi Gonsalves for working publication. She stressed the importance of printing the newsletter because CSW listed this item as an objective in the committee's budget requests. The next publication should include the introduction of new committee members. Photos would be good. S. Shirachi Gonsalves is in the process of searching for a new editor for the newsletter. The Adobe Software is available for use from J. Viernes. 5 S. Shirachi Gonsalves suggested that each CSW member write an article that impassions you about woman's issues and pertains to the goal of the committee. The deadline to submit articles and bio of new members are April 30 to S. Shirachi Gonsalves. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Resignations and appointments C. Hara reported that CSW still has a vacancy and would like to fill it with someone from West Hawaii. The administration asked that CSW submit recommendations based on the committee's decision. Applications are available from J. Viernes. Hopefully CSW could have a list at the next meeting for review. NEW BUSINESS A. New Committees 1. Equal Pay S. Shirachi Gonsalves reported that she would like to research whether she could get support from an organization called Oxfam. Oxfam is a private non-profit organization that does national and international campaigns. She will contact Oxfam and see if they have information relating to pay equity. She will orchestrate i all the financial support and training. B. Sponsorships and Co-Sponsorships None. C. Guest Speakers S. Shirachi Gonsalves distributed an article from May Lake, UHH Women's Center about women supporting each other. C. Hara asked if Dr. Alton Okinaka would be willing to be a guest speaker during lunch after the May 16 meeting. S. Shirachi Gonsalves will confirm with him. ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Next meeting The next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17, at 10 a.m. in Waimea. Location to be announced. B. Schedules M. Masunaga reported that she will be speaking on a panel to the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 26, at 8 a.m. in Kopiko Plaza. Her topic will be for employers on the basis that one of their employees may be the victim of domestic violence. C. Other P. Newland raised a concern about her friend who had trauma in court with a female judge. She asked what is CSW's position or how to proceed when people in our community come to the committee for issues like this involving the state. C. Hara 6 responded that CSW is not in any position to offer advice and su P. Newland offer her friend the Urgent Services Directory. M. Masunaga recommended that the woman write to the judicial conduct committee because they take complaints about the conduct of judges in the state. Secondly, any member from the public can write in to the judicial selection commission when the judge is up for retention. M. Masunaga circulated a flyer of a Domestic Violence Awareness Fundraising Dinner scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, at 6 p.m. in the Royal Kona Reso sponsored by the Soroptimist International of Kona. S. Shirachi Gonsalves reported that the UH-Hilo is celebrating Women's History Month by co-sponsoring a workshop today at 3:00 p.m. in the Campus Center called "How Women Are Changing the World Through Art, Business, and Communit Economic Development." ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, _______________________________ JEAN VIERNES, STAFF SECRETARY 7