HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2008-08-12 - WOMEN'S COMMISSIONCITY OF LYNWOOD
LYNWOOD WOMEN'S COMMISSION ~, -~~ ~~j1
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
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August 12, 2008
10:00 AM Q(J~ O 6 2008
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
AGENDA
Margaret Araujo, Chairperson
Sylvia Herron Gloria Jaimes
Commissioner Commissioner
I. Call to Order
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Roll Call
Olga Real
Commissioner
IV. Certification of Agenda Posting
V. Minutes Approval for July 8 Regular Meeting
VI. Review of Vice Chair duties
VII. Health Fair
VIII. Board Orals
IX. Public Orals"
* limited to two minutes per speaker
CITY OF Ll'I''Jl+\i%.IO[}
C,I~TgY CLE!~ 5 OFFICE
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Martina Rodriquez /~`J
Vice Chair
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn to the next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday,
September 9, 2008 at 10 AM in the City Council Chambers located in City Hall, 11330
Bullis Road, Lynwood, CA 90262.
City of Lynwood
Lynwood Women's Commission
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
10:00 A.M.
Lynwood Council Chambers
Call to Order:
Chairperson Margaret Araujo called the meeting to order at 10:05 A.M.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Commissioner Martina Rodriquez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call:
Chairperson Margaret Araujo -Present
Commissioner Gloria Jaimes -Present
Commissioner Sylvia Herron -Present
Commissioner Olga Real -Present
Commissioner Martina Rodriquez -Present
Attendees
Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison
Serena Coulson-Johnson, Minutes Clerk
Certification of Agenda Posting: Agenda was duly posted.
Chairperson Araujo called for a motion to approve the June 10 minutes. Commissioner Herron
noted corrections in the minutes. The minutes were approved with the necessary corrections.
Motioned by Commissioner Herron and seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez.
Chairperson Araujo called for a discussion on the review of the Vice Chair duties. The discussion
was tabled for the next meeting.
Planning for Outreach:
Chairperson Araujo reviewed the "Objectives" for the Women's Commission. Commissioner
Jaimes stated she would like to speak, Chairperson Araujo asked Commissioner Jaimes not to
speak in Spanish. Commission Jaimes stated that she does not like it when someone tells her she
can't speak in her language. Chairperson Araujo asked Commissioner Jaimes to please not
speak until Board Orals on this matter.
Chairperson Araujo continued to review the objectives for the upcoming year. Chairperson Araujo
gave an overview of each objective and what each objective means. The topics of interest are
health/nutrition, parenting, grandparents caring for the grandchildren, family planning, finances,
education/school, cooking healthy meals, sewing, balloon /floral arrangements are to be make at
home to sale for donations. For entertainment she stated there is a program at Plaza Mexico and
on every Friday one of the coordinators have artistic children come out and do karaoke and other
fun activities. She went on to say that another thing they are trying to do is to get someone to
donate tickets for the mothers of these artistic children so they will be able to go to a restaurant
that will give the mothers an opportunity to go out and have fun. Chairperson Araujo stated that
the objectives are some of the things the Women's Commission hope to accomplish this year and
a packet will be given to council for approval. Chairperson Araujo also stated that these
Commissioners have a lot of resources because they all belong to other organizations.
Chairperson Araujo asked for a motion to approve the Objectives for the coming year motion by
Commissioner Herron and seconded by Commissioner Real. The National Association of
Commissions for Women (NACW) newsletter in their packet was also reviewed.
Board Orals:
Commissioner Herron stated that in the minutes from the previous June 10 meeting, on the last
page under general intentions one of the goals stated is fundraising. She stated that the
Commissioners can not fundraise nor raise money for any event or program. Commission Herron
stated, "that is why in July 1990 there was a membership drive headed by Ms. Elizabeth Dixon"
and also that is when the Women's Commission started having friends. She stated that this went
to the City Council at that time and it was approved so the friends could fundraise for the Women's
Commission. She stated that the Women's Commission started the "Gifts of Love" program and
Health Fair and other programs. Commission Herron stated that she is just informing the
Commission that they can not fundraise because it is against the law.
Commissioner Real had no remarks.
Commissioner Rodriquez stated that she would like to invite the Commissioners and friends to a
festival for parents. She stated that there will be a lot of recourses for the community and this
special festival will take place on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 11:OOam to 3:OOpm at the Community
Transit Center. This festival is also for children with special needs and she would like some
information from the Women's Commission. Commissioner Herron stated that in order for the
Women's Commission to have information at this event, they will need the council's approval.
Chairperson Araujo stated that she did not think the council would have a problem if the Women's
Commission had a booth at this event. She stated that the only problem she sees is that it is not
on their calendar. She stated that hopefully by the next meeting they will have their calendar and
handouts.
Commissioner Real asked Commissioner Herron, "When did the council approve to have the
friends to fundraise?" Commission Herron stated that it is in ordinance #1324 on May 16, 1989.
She stated it was around that time between that date and the membership drive. She stated that
they are still looking for that ordinance and that Betty Jackson, a member of the Women's
Commission at that time, suggested to Carol De Jesus, who was the Liaison, to take this item to
Mr. Byrd. Mr. Byrd in return took it to the Council and they all approved it. Ethel Pacheco was also
on the Commission at that time and she confirmed it.
Commissioner Jaimes stated that things are changing and it is very rude to say that the
Commissioners can not collect donations for the Women's Commission. Commissioner Herron
stated again that for the Commissioner to fundraise is against the law. Commissioner Jaimes
stated that she thinks the Commissioners should talk to council because she knows a lot of people
she can get donations. She is being trained on how to ask for donations from different
organizations. Commissioner Real asked, "Where did the Women's Commission get the money
for the previous event?" Chairperson Araujo stated that staff used their division budget.
Chairperson Araujo stated that since we are going in a new direction and we have new council,
we are going to put a packet together and in that packet we asked what we are allowed to do in
the way of fundraising. Commissioner Real stated that she would like to keep busy and work with
Commissioner Rodriquez at her event on the Saturday, July 12, 2008. Chairperson Araujo stated
to Commissioner Real that she can work with Commissioner Rodriquez at her event on Saturday,
July 12, 2008. She stated the problem is that the Commission does not have any information to
have a booth at the festival, but in future events the Commission will have information for a booth.
But right now the Commission can not set up a booth until we get council's approval. Chairperson
Araujo stated that some of the council already know what the Women's Commission is trying to
accomplish.
Public Orals:
Irene Garcia:
Ms. Garcia stated that with regards to the item mentioned in the previous minutes around
donations, she asked if they have an enclosed form that reads who gives the donations. She
stated that the credit should be given to the donors, not the Women's Commission. Ms. Garcia
also stated that she would like to see an African American on the Women's Commission so that
there will be a balanced representation for the city.
Lein Stringfield:
Ms. Stringfield stated to Chairperson Araujo, that she has worked with and has been a friend of
the Women's Commission for years, and she feels that Chairperson Araujo does not want to have
them as friends.
Lorene Reed stated that she would like for her statements to go on record.
Ms. Reed stated that she was a friend of the Women's Commission for over six years. She stated
to the Commissioners "you are new." Ms. Reed went on to say to the Commissioners that "when
you three Commissioners, Chairperson Araujo, Commissioner Real and Commissioner Jaimes,
walked into the chambers you made a remark: "Why are they here?" She stated, "I was insulted
by that remark and you turned and walked out of the chamber." Chairperson Araujo stated that
she did not make that remark "Why are they here?" She stated that the reason she turned and
took the two Commissioners outside was to instruct them not to speak Spanish in the meeting so
as not to offend Commissioner Herron.
Ms. Reed stated that we are not trying to argue, we all heard the remark. Ms. Reed stated that
there is an ordinance in place that prohibits any Commissioner from fundraising and it can't be
changed until council changes it. Ms. Reed stated to the Commissioners that the friends have
been proving to be a benefit to the Women's Commission. She also stated to the Commissioners
that they do not have to have them as friends; the Commission can pick the people they want to
help. She stated that if you have resources, and because you are a Commission it would be in
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violation of the law for you to fundraise, but you can send a friend to go to that resource so the
Commission will not get in trouble with the District Attorney because of conflict of interest.
Ms. Reed stated that the reason she came to the meeting today was to invite the Commissioners
to a HIV/Aids training workshop. She stated that in the Latino and African American communities
aids are on the rise. She stated there is a workshop that will be held in Compton at the YWCA
and she came to invite them to one of these workshops. She stated that she did not come here for
problems, but that remark, "Why are they here", was offensive. Ms. Reed stated to the
Commissioners that they should not be against anyone who is trying to help. She said these
ladies are here because they would like to help you, not hurt anyone. She continued to say to the
Commissioners that "some of you have been around long enough to know what Commissioners
can and can not do so don't believe everything you are being told. Research it for yourselves so
you will not get in trouble." Ms. Reed proceeded to pass out information to the Commissioners on
the HIV/Aids workshop.
Chairperson Araujo stated that at the previous Women's Commission meeting/retreat there was a
discussion regarding the friends and fundraising and other issues. She stated that the
Commissioners know they need friends and they are going to recruit more friends. She stated
that it was not her idea to do away with the friends, but that everything will be taken to council.
She stated that the Commissioners researched and could not find the ordinance regarding
fundraising. She called the ex-City Clerk and she was told that there is an ordinance, but no one
could find it. She also stated that they were told by members of the council that the Women's
Commission did not have to include friends because none of the other Commissions have friends,
so we chose not to keep the friends. Chairperson Araujo continued to say that she is not telling
the new Commissioners what to say or do because each one of them is close to council members
and they talk to the council.
Chairperson Araujo stated that if they get donations from an organization, they will recognize that
organization as the one who gave the donation. But it will be presented by the Women's
Commission. She stated an example: If a donation was given by Commissioner Rodriquez, we
would say this item was donated by that person to the Women's Commission. Chairperson Araujo
went on to say that the council selected these Commissioners, and if anyone thinks there should
be an African American on the Women's Commission, that person should go and speak with the
council regarding that issue. Chairperson Araujo stated that she took Commissioner Real and
Commissioner Jaimes out of the chamber to ask questions before the meeting. If they had any
and to remind them not to speak Spanish in the meeting. She stated she spoke to Councilman
Rodriquez and asked about members speaking Spanish in the meeting. She said she asked him
because of what transpired in their previous meeting and he said that the council never said that
one could not speak Spanish, if it is to correct someone and that is what Commissioner Rodriquez
did.
Ms. Stringfield stated that she had listened to these Commissioners when they speak and they
speak English well enough, "I don't think there is a problem to the point where you had to take
them back outside and tell them not to speak Spanish."
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Commissioner Rodriquez stated that this is the first time she has ever been on a Commission and
she felt that the council elected them because they believe that they can do something other than
just come and have meetings and that South Gate has a lot of activities going. And by sitting on
this Commission, it would help other women to become empowered and to realize they can
become leaders. She stated, "no disrespect to the previous members." She stated that the
Women's Commission can do a lot of things in the community. She stated that she respects the
friends and she has learned a lot from them and they are roll models to her and they are welcome
to come to the Women's Commission meetings.
Commissioner Jaimes stated that it is good to have friends. She stated that Ms. Garcia said that
she thinks the Women's Commission needs an African American on the board. She stated that
each time the friends come to the meeting there is an argument. She stated, that it could be said
that maybe the council needs an African American on their board too. Commissioner Jaimes
stated that she does not feel bad because everyone is free to say what they feel but try to act like
grown ups, and not like children. She stated to the friends that anything the Commissioners does,
someone feels bad. Commissioner Jaimes stated that we are all adults and "like you say we
speak Spanish, well most of the community is Spanish people. How are you going to work with
someone Hispanic if you do not speak Spanish? Grow up we need to build something not destroy
it."
Commissioner Herron stated to Chairperson Araujo that this is Public Orals and you let two
Commissioners speak under the Public Orals. These are not Board Orals. She stated, I thought
once you spoke under the Board Orals that was it for the Commissioners, you are letting the
meeting get out of hand.
Chairperson Araujo stated that she understands her roll felt that Commissioner Jaimes needed to
clear up some things. She stated that as mentioned before, Commissioner Jaimes does not really
have the command of English to say what she need to say. Chairperson Araujo thinks that now
that all the cards are on the table and everything is out in the open, hopefully the Commissioners
and friends won't act like children and, from this day forward, we will have productive meetings.
Chairperson Araujo reminded the Commissioners that in July they are going to start planning for
their Health Fair for October. Chairperson asked Ms. Alderete if she had any comments she had
none.
Commissioner Rodriquez made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Real and approved. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 am.
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