HomeMy Public PortalAboutA 2007-07-10 LYNWOOD WOMEN'S COMMISSION MINUTESCity~of Lynwood
Lynwood Women's Commission
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, July lQ 2007
3:00 P.M. City Council Chambers
Call to Order:
Chairperson Lewis called the meeting to order al 3:04 PM.
Pledge of Allegiance:
Lorene Reed, Friend of the Commission Led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call:
Chairperson Mary Sue Lewis-Present
Commissioner Dorothy Plummer-Joues-
Present
Commissioner Ethel Pacheco-Present
Commissioner Margaret Araujo-Present
Commissioner Sylvia Herron-Present
Attendees
Lorene Reed, Friend
Lien Stringfield, Friend
Delores Mathews, Friend
Pearline Calderon
Lawn Alderete, Staff Liaison
Lisset Morales, Interim Minutes Clerk
Certification of Agenda Posting:
Agenda was duly posted.
Chairperson Lewis asked to have minutes from the Junc 12, 2007 meeting read out loud. Laura
Alderete, Stiff Liaison proceeded to read minutes. Chairperson Lewis called for motion to
approve minuses as read. Commissioner Pacheco motions to accept the minutes as read.
Commissioner Herron seconded the motion. Minutes approved.
Chairperson Lewis asked Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison to read Ordinance No. 1324 to the
Women's Commission to provide a clear understanding of the Commission's goals and the
expectations of the members. Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison agreed to read the ordinance.
(Reading of Ordinance No. 1324) Chairperson Lewis stated that there was no need to approve
this ordinance because it has already been approved, but suggested adding some addendums to
the existing ordinance in the near fuhire.
Chairperson Lewis asked to move onto the next order oP business, the voting of the new Chair
and Vice Chair for Uie upcoming year. Commissioner Dorothy Plummer-Jones suggested leaving
this item until all items have been addressed. She referred to various City event material
provided to all commissioners. Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison stated the materials provided to the
Commissioners were simply informational material regarding upcoming City events. Laura
Alderete, Staff Liaison also stated that she did not receive any items of discussion to place on the
agenda. Chairperson Lewis stated that being as there are no other items of discussion the voting
of new Chair and Vicc Chair would move forward.
Chairperson Lewis called for the election of new Chair and Vice Chair. Laura Alderetc, Staff
Liaison proceeded to coordinate the election by handing out separate ballots for Chair and Vice
Chair. Chairperson Lewis made a suggestion to have the Vice Chair be the runner up tar the
purpose of having a faster election process. Election of new Chair and Vice Chair proceeded
with a separate ballot for each position. (Voting by Commissioners) Laura Alderetc, Staff
Liaison tallied the votes and then presented Commissioner Margaret Araujo as the new Chair of
the Women's Commission and Commissioner Dorothy Plummer-Jones as the new Vice Chair.
Results:
Chair:
3 votes for Margaret Aruajo
2 votes for Mary Suc Lewis
Vice Chair
3 votes for Dorothy Plummer-Jones
I vote for Ethel Pacheco
I vote for Sylvia Herron
(Commissioners proceeded to rearrange their seating arrangements to reflect the new leadership)
Chairperson Araujo stated that she is looking forward to working with Vice Chair Plummer-
Joncs as they have worked well together in the past. Chairperson Araujo thanked those members
who voted for her. She stated that she hopes to do a good job and create programs that reflect
the ideals of the Women's Commission. Chairperson Aruajo asked Vice Chair Plummer-Jones if
she would like to make any comments. Vice Chair Plummer-Jones stated that it was Loo early for
her to bring forth any ideas to the Women's Commission. Commissioner Mary Sue Lewis
thanked the Women's Commission for the time that she served as Chair and she is hoping that
everyone will get along.
Lorene Reed, Friend presented the commission with the minutes of the National Women's
Commission. Chairperson Araujo asked Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison to provide copies for all
commissioners at the August meeting. Chairperson Aruajo asked Laura Alderetc, Staff Liaison to
provide the commissioners with an information packet with resources from other cities, Los
Angeles County, state, and national women's organizations. Laura Alderetc, Staff Liaison stated
that she would also include a planning sheet that the commission could use to outline their plan
of action and goals for the upcoming year. Chairperson Aruajo asked that copies be made for the
Friends of the Commission, as well, to include their input in the planning for next year. Laura
Alderete, Staff Liaison suggested having the planning sheet mailed to [he commissioners with
the next meeting agenda but Commissioner Herron stated that she has not been receiving these
items in the mail. Lorene Reed, Friend stated that the Friend of the Commission do not receive
these mailing so they would not have ample time to complete the planning sheet Chairperson
Araujo asked that all items be brought to the next meeting and the entire Commission along with
the Friends would work through the sheet together.
Chairperson Araujo would like to start working on helping the community bccaasc there are
many pressing issue in the community and very few resources to address them. Some of these
issues include such things as foster care, women going back to school, and drug rehabilitation for
women. Chairperson Araujo asked that [his information be a part of their National Night Our
booth. Vice Chair Plummer-Jones stated [hat she has no input on this. Lorene Reed, Friend slated
that the material for the Notior~ol Night Out Booth mull be decided today seeing xs Lhe event will
Lake place before the August meeting. Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison added that the booth would
be a great opportunity for the Women's Commission to gain visibility within the Lynwood
community and could present itself as a resource to the residents. Chairperson Araujo asked
Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison to look into creating a current resource guide for Lynwood
residents on behalf of the commission. The guide should include all meeting dates of the
Women's Commission. Commissioner Mary Sue Lewis asked that recruitment of Friends of the
Commission could take place during National Night Out via a sign up sheet xt the booth.
Chairperson Aruajo suggested that simply being visible at the event would generate new support
for the commission in the community and might encourage more women to attend the meetings.
Vice Chair Plummer-Jones stated that the work of the Commission should be focused solely on
providing information to the community but money for this is limited. Laura Alderete, Staff
Liaison stated that she could provide print material from the Marketing and Grants Budget,
which she oversees. Vice Chair Plummer-Jones stated that she would like to see a resource guide
that points to free services. Chairperson Aruajo added that there are many Tree resources that the
Commission is failing to bring to the City of Lynwood and that this should be one of the goals of
Lhe Commission.
Pcarline Calderon, Friend, suggested grand parenting as another topic that the Women's
Commission could explore due to the fact that many Lynwood grand parents are raising children
on their own..
Commissioner M~uy Sue Lewis stated that she is in contact with Eric Marc who oversees foster
care and is based out of Compton and that he could be a good resource when looking into the
foster care topic. Commissioner Lewis agrees with Pearline Calderon, Friend, on Lhe issue of
grand parenting.
Chairperson Aruajo stated that she would like to look into local resources before branching out
into the national area. Chairperson Aruajo asked if there was a national newsletter that could be
provide to the Commission. Lissct Morales, interim Minutes Clerk stated that Lhe newsletter was
no longer available due to money crunches by the national organization. Instead the national
commission now provides email updates. Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison stated that the sign up
information for this would be provided in the packet al Lhe August meeting.
Chairperson Araujo asked Laura Alderete, Staff Liaison if she could look into a Meet and Greet
event with the Women's Commissions of other cities. Chairperson Aruajo stated that she might
be able to find a sponsor and that this would be a great opportunity to atu'act other women
interested in helping the community.
Lorene Reed, Friend, referred back to the previous discussion regarding money for the
commission and stated that a budget for the commissioner never has existed and that money has
usually been provided by City staff or council member out of their own budgets. Laura Alderete,
Staff Liaison stated that she oversees her own division budget and she has the authority to
allocate funds for the purpose for promoting certain events in the City.
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Lauri Alderete, Staff Liaison asked that a new picture of the Women's Commission be Laken for
the purposes of updating the website. The picture will be taken at the August meeting and will be
taken outside on the grounds of City Hall.
Chairperson Araujo called for the mecCing of the Women's Commission to adjourn ai 4:06 PM.
Commissioner Herron moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:06 PM. Commissioner Pacheco
seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 4:06 PM.
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