2002-05-09 Human Relations Advisory Commitee Minutes

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f'ECEIVED CLERK HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING D 1 N S, MASS. May 9, 2002 Reading Police Station Community Room ZGR DEC --;i A 55 7:30 p.m. Present: Paul Kelley, Phil Maher, Emily Maughan, Carol Roberts, Sumi Sinnatamby, Margaret Soli, and Edward M. Toland Guests: Charlie McDonald, Bullying Prevention Project; Reporter, Reading Chronicle. 1. Meeting called to order by Margaret Soli. 2. Minutes of preceding meeting approved as they stand. Update on Lobby Day and Metco Program made by Margaret S. and Emily M. Letters sent to reps encouraging their support. Rep. Donovan will support funding for the program. Articles on Metco from the Globe circulated. Committee members encouraged to make calls to legislators to support Metco. 3. Report on Bullying Project by Charlie M. Channel 5 has tape on Bullying with an added "wrap- around," the Reading Memorial High chorus singing "Don't Laugh at Me." HRAC will be listed in the credits. Charlie hopes to have the video ready for distribution by the end of school. Shown on 'Channels 5 and 9. Harvard Community Health Foundation also has video on bullying. Charlie had video copies of a bullying skit at Birch Meadow Elementary School available for HRAC members. Wanted to know committee's opinion about whether to offer tape to Birch Meadow families for a small donation. General opinion was that school principal should decide that. Report on cultural differences by Ms Silva postponed. 4. Updates on suggestions arising from Community Dialogues - Report by Terry Jones on possibility of International Festival postponed. Margaret S. recommended that we pass out brochures on HRAC at Summerfest. She will ask festival organizer if we can do this. Committee Members agreed to help out. Emily M. passed around copy of proposed brochure. Will email it to committee for comments (draft to be emailed under separate cover). Committee names will be added to brochure along with the town seal. Carol R. will investigate possibility of phone number on brochure for people to call. Emily will contact Harry Harutunian re: logo contest in Fall '02 (draft to be emailed under separate cover). Margaret Soli reported on the Book Group. Diane Young thought it was a good idea but Library hours are going to be further reduced. This may make using the Library for book discussions difficult. Sadly for HRAC and Reading, Diane is moving out-of-state. Emily Maughan, with input from Robin D'Antona, will ask the school administration and the School Committee if they have plans for trainings on diversity for Reading High and middle school Taculty/staff similar to those trainings given to the Reading Police Department. If so, Emily will invite a representative to come to a meeting and update the committee. If not, Emily will find out how we