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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-10 Committee on the Status of Women Minutes COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN Friday October 19, 2012, 10:00 a.m. Office of the Prosecuting Attorney – Hilo & Kona via video conference PRESENT Hilo Kona Nancy Kelly, Treasurer Kimberly Schneider, Chair Dawn Pung, Secretary Katie Nova, Vice Chair Linda Ugalde Kathleen Peters Farrah Gomes (new member) Carol Kitaoka GUESTS Hilo Kona Jewel Castro – Hawai‘i Island HIV/Aids Hazel Beck – Hawai‘i Small Business Foundation (HIHAF) Development Center Breze Hyatt – HIHAF EXCUSED ABSENT Molly Lugo Elena Cabatu (ex-officio) Renee Schoen available by phone for Molly Lugo CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. ROLL CALL A quorum was present. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Comments: Budget for next year – we’ll do it under Treasurer’s report. Carol Kitaoka mentioned that Essay Contest 2013 & Mentoring should be recurring items so it should be listed under reports. It’s noted that these two items will be recurring agenda items. Nancy Kelly moved to approve the agenda; Linda Ugalde seconded the motion. The motion was passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Before the approval of the minutes, Farrah Gomes was sworn in at the Mayor’s office as a new committee member then attended today’s meeting. Dawn Pung presented her with a lei and the committee welcomed her onboard. Linda Ugalde moved to approve the minutes; Dawn Pung seconded the motion. The motion was passed. 1 TREASURER’S REPORT Nancy Kelly reported that $358.86 was expended with a total of $600.08 in expenditures which is 3% of our budget so far. There is no Hall of Fame expenditure and we saved on mileage. We need to submit the budget for FY 2014 (2013-2014) which is due November 1. She suggested that we keep it the same; we’ll have flexibility to adjust the budget along the way. Hall of Fame does not carry forward since we didn’t use it; however, we can reallocate it for this year. It was voted at the last meeting and was passed that we not do Hall of Fame this year and revisit it again in the future. Carol Kitaoka reported that she had submitted the Essay Contest 2013 budget proposal. Lee Watanabe read the proposal as it was not distributed to the members (attached is the written proposal). Carol Kitaoka requested that money be reallocated from the Hall of Fame to the Essay Contest 2013. Nancy Kelly reported that $200 of the budgeted amount for facility expenses can go towards the contest. Nancy Kelly moved that we approve the new budget; Dawn Pung seconded the motion. The motion was passed. Dawn Pung suggested that Hall of Fame be appropriated more money. Katie Nova mentioned that we will be revisiting the Hall of Fame in 2015 – will look at it at that time; we should shelve Hall of Fame for now. We should discuss now what we want budgeted. The new member can discuss and present new ideas – we’re open to that. Dawn Pung moved that we fund Carol’s proposed budget for the $3,085 for the essay contest. Linda seconded. The motion was passed. Nancy Kelly commented that this budget will allow us to continue the essay contest in the format as it is; however, we may need to scale back in the future. Carol Kitaoka mentioned that she discussed with Kim Schneider that since we will not have the Hall of Fame that the Hall of Fame money could be used for the Essay Contest 2013. Nancy Kelly asked if it’s ok for the budget allocation to be the same. The Hall of Fame will be deleted from the budget and will be reallocated. We don’t have any budget in the equal pay so how much should go into Equal Pay. Carol Kitaoka stated that we should put the same as before. Nancy Kelly is to research if it is allowable to put it in the budget. Carol Kitaoka suggested that we could put the money in Mentoring Kathy Peters asked if we have to put it in there? Nancy Kelly stated that for our information, it is good to know how we are allocating it. The original amount of $1,900 is for Mentoring, which leaves $600 left; we could give $300 to Mentoring and $300 to Equal Pay if we readjust. Kathy Peters moved that we keep the two line items of equal pay and mentoring and allocate $408 to each. Kathie Nova seconded. Discussion: Farrah Gomes stated that the Hall of Fame of $1900 and Essay of $3085 giving the Essay Contest an additional $1085; leaving $815 left. Nancy Kelly suggested $408 each to Mentoring and Equal Pay; we can take the $2 from somewhere else. The motion was passed. 2 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Jewel Castro - she just started HIHAF and is doing women’s group. They have a program called the Sista Program; they provide women group sessions re: HIV, empowering women, etc., bringing awareness and prevention on both sides of the island. She’s here to find out what we’re about and to gather information. Kim introduced guest, Hazel Beck. She is a guest of Katie. She owns Hawai‘i Small Business Development Center. It is a business consulting firm on the islands; promoting issues of concern to women regarding business, employment, etc. Breze Hyatt introduced herself. She works for HIHAF and will be leaving the agency soon; Jewel will be taking her place. CORRESPONDENCE Lee Watanabe reported that we received information on the Family Violence Interagency Committee regarding the Domestic Violence Vigil scheduled for today. Lee read the information to the group. It was noted that an e-mail was sent to Chair Kim Schneider regarding this event since there was a deadline. Dawn Pung reported that in the past, we participated in the walk. Kim Schneider suggested that we have a correspondence secretary who would distribute correspondence to the Vice Chair and correspondence secretary. This will ensure that the correspondence is sent to the committee members. Nancy Kelly mentioned that this procedure would be effective particularly since we don’t have meeting every month Kim Schneider stated that the secretary’s description and duties will change. Dawn Pung suggested we check with Corporation Counsel on the legality of doing so. It was suggested that Lee send all correspondence to everyone on the Committee. REPORTS Lee Watanabe reported that she received a resignation letter from Ernelle (Doodie) Downs; she read the letter of resignation which is effective September 14, 2012. It was received on October 12, 2012 (letter is dated September 14, 2012). A. EDUCATION 1. Urgent Services Directory Nancy Kelly reported that the directory is being printed now and should be done in a couple of weeks. She’ll distribute the directory at the next meeting in December. 2. Equal Pay No report. B. Health 1. Women’s Health Month No report. 3 2. Ads No report. It’s indicated in previous minutes that Elena Cabatu and Cyd volunteered. C. Liaison 1. State Commission’s strategic planning No report. 2. Legislative Update No report. D. Community Reports No report. UNFINISHED BUSINESS A. Hawaii County Women’s Hall of Fame – Committee At the last meeting it was discussed that we would address the Hall of Fame in couple more years. We’re reorganizing our focus and we should do it in 2015. We need more advertising. Farrah Gomes reported that we should target the Polynesian culture – Hawai‘i. B. Mentoring Lee Watanabe distributed the Mentoring Form created by Kathie Peters. Kathie Peters reported that the form was based on what the Konawaena girls expressed they want on the form. Carol Kitaoka reported that she’s in contact with the girls in Konawaena. They took the girls to the career fair in September. She’s in touch with Kelly Dahl for another event where they will meet the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Katie Nova mentioned that we should not have select girls from one school; need to do more than one school. She mentioned that Cyd is interested in being a mentor. Carol Kitaoka suggested each member take a school to promote mentoring. Breze Hyatt reported that they have the Sista Group and the contact person in Kona is Bernie Halemau. They have a mentoring program where they go to different schools offering their program. Kathy Peters suggested that we can utilize her program; we don’t have to do the group and that we can give them the resources and disseminate the information to the girls. Breze Hyatt will take that information back to HIHAF and suggest that one of their board members be on the mentoring committee. Kathy Peters mentioned that we can promote this to every school on the island (private, charter, etc.) Katie Nova reported that she sent each member copies of the mentoring form. We need to look for a chair person for this committee. We need a fact sheet of what this project is about; Farrah Gomes reported that we need to have the agenda posted on the County website. Lee Watanabe to check into it. 4 Nancy Kelly reported that the mentoring project is in its development stages. Kathy Peters reported that Konawaena was selected as a test project. We need to look into resources that the girls will be interested in and that the mentors provide one on one contact. Farrah Gomes suggested that the mentors be screened. Kim Schneider explained the program and reported that Konawaena had good responses and everyone is excited about it. We can now expand to other schools. C. Essay Contest Carol Kitaoka reported that everything was sent out and the entries are due th December 14. She also explained the process of the essay contest. March was selected because it ties in with Women’s History Month. In the future, we may need to tweak the essay contest procedures due to lack of funds. Katie Peters suggested that we should have fliers made available to pass to teacher friends. It was noted that although the packets are sent to the Administrators of the schools, it doesn’t get passed on to the English teachers so packets should also be distributed to the English teachers. We could e-mail the fact sheets to CSW members who can send them to their teacher friends. Kim Schneider and guest Hazel Beck requested essay contest packets; Lee Watanabe to e-mail it to them. NEW BUSINESS A. VOTER REGISTRATION No report. B. Membership Kim Schneider reported that Brooke Derby will be filling out an application. She is from the Hāwī area. Dawn Pung reported that Mele Spencer will be filling out an application. She is from Hilo. Per Diane Noda from the last meeting, there is no geographical restrictions; however, the committee tries to get someone from different districts. There are two vacancies now and there will be two in January. Katie Nova reported that Kathy Peters and Dawn Pung can be held over for 90 needs (until the end of March 2013) if the positions are not filled. Breze Hyatt reported that someone from the Zonta Club, Sheila and her daughter, may be interested. She will ask if anyone on the HIHAF board of directors would be interested in becoming a committee member. Kim Schneider reported that the requirements are that they attend six meetings during the year; this is a hard working committee and that everyone shares the responsibilities. Elena Cabatu had invited Darcy to our last meeting. Dawn Pung offered to contact Elena to ask if Darcy submitted an application. 5 Committee Clarification Katie Nova mentioned that it has been announced that we are now under the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and it gives a negative connotation by having our letterhead indicating the names of the Prosecutor and First Deputy. She mentioned that we are under the Mayor’s Office so it shouldn’t have the Prosecutor’s names on the letterhead. She suggested we check with Molly Lugo. Nancy Kelly explained that the Mayor’s office was redirecting some of the committees to other agencies and because by charter it authorizes the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office the responsibility of community education outreach that it was appropriate for the Prosecutor’s Office to obtain this committee (it wouldn’t be appropriate for Public Works or some other department to have this committee). She will check on whether we need the names of the Prosecuting Attorney next to the logo. Farrah Gomes said she’ll contact Darcy and ask if she submitted an application to be on the committee. ANNOUNCEMENT A. Next Meeting nd Kim Schneider reported that the meetings be consistent, every 2 Friday, every rd 3 Friday, etc. Nancy Kelly reported that our meeting day in October was changed to accommodate Carol Kitaoka’s schedule. The next meeting will be held on Friday, December 7, 2012, 10:00 a.m. in Kona. Lee Watanabe will secure a place and notify the committee. Thereafter, the meetings will be held on the second Friday every other month. NOTE: December 7 is a County furlough Friday. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:49 a.m. APPROVED BY DAWN PUNG, SECRETARY RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, LEE S. WATANABE, STAFF SECRETARY 6