HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-11-08 Human Relations Advisory Commitee MinutesHUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
November S, 2001
Reading Police Station Community Room MASS.
7:30 p.m.
Present: Robin D'Antona, Paul Kelley, Emily Maughan, Margaret Soli, Sum Sinnatairi y
1. Meeting called to order by Margaret S.
2. Minutes of October 11 approved. Emily M. to call Phil M. re: minutes from Sept. 13th
meeting.
3. Carol R. reported on Conflict of Interest speaker. State Ethics Commission bulletin
available to anyone interested. Margaret S. passed around thank you from Ron
Boucher, PFLAG, a guest at our last meeting.
4. Need to determine three interviewing questions. Possibly acquire input from
Reading clergy and Metco Coordinator.
5. Discussed last meeting's guest presentations. Positive feedback. Robin D'Antona agreed to
serve as liaison to Birch Meadow re: bullying program. Barrows Elementary is in Year 2 and
Birch Meadow is in Year 1 of state grants for bullying programming.
6. Where do we go from here? Committee. decided to proceed with three items.
a. produce a Resource and Referral booklet including the committees operating information from
the town, a brief synopsis of civil rights law, hate crimes bill, etc. Paul Kelley to draft legal
portion. Emily M. will research similar guides from Anti-Defamation League, other towns
with similar committees, etc. for ideas on content. Sumi S. will discuss same with contacts in
Winchester and Melrose as well as invite speaker from Winchester to our January meeting.
b. Reinstate "Dialogues" in Reading. Topic: Tolerance. Robin D. will call the Justice
Department (needs names and phone numbers from Carol R.). June Kilmarx, a facilitator for
the dialogues will be contacted as needed. Time frame: refresher for trainers will be in
February, 2002. Dialogues themselves will be in March, 3-5 sessions. Emily M. and Sumi S.
to find meeting spaces, including large space for first and last meetings.
c. Emily M. and Carol R. to investigate how we can hold a competition for a logo for HRAC.
Will use on resource book, press release about MLK Breakfast, etc.
7. Martin Luther King breakfast discussed. Margaret S. suggested we ask Selectmen to issue
proclamation in support of the event. HRAC to collaborate with Reading clergy and in some
way. Possibly prepare press release for event.
NEXT MEETING December 13th, 2001.
Meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Maughan, Secretary