Human Rights and Diversity - 03/09/2004 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION
Tuesday, March 9, 2004 7:00 PM—Prairie Room, City Center
8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie MN 55344-4485
Commission Members: Harry Moran (Chair), Jeff Strate (Vice Chair), Holly Clynch, Balu
Iyer, Gerry Beckmann, Larry Piumbroeck, and Cari Maguire
Student Representatives: Kian Missaghi, Molly Moroski, Jackie Beutell
Commission Staff: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison
Tanya Whitsitt, Recording Secretary
I. Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm. Roll call was read by Whitsitt. Staff Liaison
Koivumaki was scheduled to arrive late due to another meeting. All members were in attendance
except Student Representative Missaghi. Beutell arrived late.
II. Approval of Agenda
Strate moved, seconded by Beckmann to approve the agenda.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0
III. Approval of Minutes from February Meeting
Piumbroeck said he had a change on pg. 2, item VL C. He was not the member who found
donations for the Youth Scholarship fund;rather Maguire got people to donate. Also on pg. 3,
item VI. E. he stated that Maguire wrote the March Human Rights article for the Eden Prairie
News and that he would write the one for April.
Piumbroeck moved, seconded by Strate to approve the minutes as amended.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0
IV. New Business
A. Youth Scholarship Award voting process
Moran said hopefully the members had time to review the student applications they received
for the Jean L. Harris Youth Scholarship Awards. He stated we did not get as many as last
year(23), but more than other years when we received only one or two. The members were
asked to review and score the applications before the meeting. Moran said it is the
Commission's job to select 0, 1, or 2 scholarship recipients, depending of the quality of the
applications.
Whitsitt drew a grid on the whiteboard and recorded everyone's top three choices.
Piumbroeck said he threw out#1 because the essay was weak and the volunteer activities
were interesting, but not overwhelmingly committed to diversity. Moran said he struggled
with the essays; he thought the instructions for the students were clear,but the writing was
not great. Moroski said#F s use of Eagle Vision News for a volunteer activity is not really
volunteering,because one gets class credit for that. Maguire said she had a problem giving
the award to#4 because he/she wasn't doing it out of a passion or awareness for Human
Rights.
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Beckmann said she read some "terrible writing", especially in the letters of
recommendation. One letter from a teacher was "abysmal",putting the student in a bad
position, she said.
Maguire said they need to decide if they are giving two scholarships as in years past.
Piumbroeck said he saw only one clear winner, #2. Beckmann asked why throw out#7.
Piumbroeck replied that many applicants are certainly not undeserving, but he felt this one
"fell off the wagon with the volunteer activities." Strate said we should remind ourselves
who we awarded last year and who the scholarship is named for." Moran stated the
Commission needs to present to the Council outstanding students they are really proud of
and not hesitant about. Beckmann stated she thought#2 was well-organized and her
involvement with diversity is good.
MOTION: Strate moved, seconded by Piumbroeck to consider#2 worthy of acceptance of
the Jean L. Harris Youth Scholarship Award, and discuss other possible applicants who
meet the criteria.
Discussion: Iyer said the other ones were not as close as #2 and do not measure up.
Beckmann said she agreed and Clynch said she is comfortable with#1 or#2. Maguire said
she would support awarding just one award to#2. Moran stated he had a difficult time
differentiating one application from the other,but still thought#2 was a little better. He said
he would like to give the award,but still maintain the standard. He stated he also respects
Tom Halloren's opinion, and noted Halloren wrote#2's recommendation letter.
Clynch said if we don't give any awards, we would have to look at the requirements of the
application to be certain students understand what the Commission wants. Maguire
suggested adding the City's Mission Statement so students can see what the City is doing
and what the goals are. Piumbroeck agreed we could perhaps do better.
After discussion Strate moved, seconded by Piumbroeck to award the Jean L. Harris Youth
Scholarship to applicant#2 only (Catherine Wang), and elect not to award a second
scholarship, as amended.
MOTION CARRIED: 6-0
V. Reports of Staff
A. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) - Nothing to report.
B. Bias Crime Activity Status - Nothing to report.
VI. Old Business
A. Immigrant Festival Update
Maguire said they have had some meetings, however not too much has been done yet. They
are at the point where people need to be contacted and recruited to help with the festival.
Moran stated they have had four meetings total and are somewhat struggling to move
forward. The group is trying to get names of key people who will lead groups and activities.
The planning group is also working with Mary Keating and Nanette Missaghi. It was
suggested that someone contact Tom Halloren at the high school for assistance.
Moran brought up the fact that his term is up as a Chair/member of the Human Rights and
Diversity Commission and he is trying to determine his appropriate role in such events as
the Gatherings and the Immigrant Festival. The City of Eden Prairie is planning the festival
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with the support of this Commission and he does not think it is right for him to represent the
Human Rights and Diversity Commission (HRDC). He said some people are asking him
about the Gathering and he feels awkward; he stated he needs to decide how to move
forward. Maguire said she would like to see Moran still involved if he has the time to
participate. Beckmann agreed and said she is comfortable with Moran continuing an active
role in these projects since he started them and people know his name as part of them.
Maguire stated that as long as other Commission members participate too, it should be ok.
Strate encouraged Moran to stay on at his pleasure and said he is an "excellent ex-officio to
the Commission." Moran said he will continue to go to the meetings and that perhaps he
would just stay on until the Festival.
VII. Reports from Commission members
A. South Hennepin Immigrant Services Group (SHISG)
Beckmann said she was out of town and did not attend the latest SHISG meeting.
B. Any Commission Member may report
Koivumaki joined the meeting and gave an update on the new members appointed to the
Human Rights and Diversity Commission. She said the Council had just confirmed the
appointments and was happy to announce Pamela Miller and Linda Chung as the newest
members. Also, Larry Piumbroeck was appointed Chair and Jeff Strate will remain the
Commission's Vice Chair.
C. Any Commission Member may report
Maguire said the article for the Eden Prairie News did not show up in the last edition as
expected and she will contact the editor to find out why.
Beckmann suggested the Commission should always have a booth at the high school's
Diversity Fair. Moran agreed and said we need a banner and color brochures for better
promotion.
Piumbroeck noted that Susan McKenna is no longer at Pax Christi. He also expressed
sorrow for a family who are members at Wooddale who lost their son in a car accident.
Koivumaki reported that we received $50 for the scholarship fund. Beckmann said it would
be nice to send a letter of thanks to those to donate.
VIII. Future Meetings/Events
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 131h at 7:00 p.m.
The new member orientation is scheduled for March 25`h.
This meeting was the last for Chair Harry Moran and Member Holly Clynch. Moran thanked
everyone for letting him serve. He said it has been very rewarding and that he feels good about
what is being accomplished for the community. Moran said the Council selects top notch people
to serve on Boards and Commissions and he is happy to see that. Clynch said she learned a lot
and it was an interesting experience. Strate thanked both of them. He said at first the group was
"kind of quiet", but gradually picked up speed. He said Clynch had a clear vision for the tasks
of the Commission and he's happy that Moran was around to lead and guide the group.
IX. Adiourn
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Piumbroeck moved, and Maguire seconded to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED: 6-0.
All ayes. The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
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