2/28/2012 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Minutes

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Mashpee Affirmative Action Committee Meeting Minutes February 28,2012 at 5:00 pm Meeting Room 2, Mashpee Town Hall Present: Co-Chair Maryanne Wray, Co-Chair Kay Brown, Deborah Vaughn, Marilyn Farren Also Present: Selectman Carol Sherman CALL TO ORDER The meeting opened at 5:07 p.m. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES—Decearnber 20, 2011 Ms. Wray made a motion to accept the meeting minutes from December 20. Ms. Farren seconded the motion. All voted unanimously. DIVERSITY DAY Ms. Farren reported that Diversity Day had taken place but that there had been miscommunication regarding the Affirmative Action Committee's involvement. Ms. Farren had been in contact with Effie Purdy of the Human Rights Club and coordinated a diversity speaker for the event. Despite repeated emails to Ms. Purdy to confirm the speaker, there was no communication so Ms. Farren cancelled the speaker. Ms. Farren reported that the speaker would be willing to speak at another time. Ms. Farren expressed disappointment and was unsure about the reasons for the breakdown in communication. Selectman Sherman noted that she had seen Yamna at the high school, but who did not confirm or deny the Committee's involvement in Diversity Day. Ms. Vaughn recommended contacting Celeste Reynolds, who served as Yamna's advisor. Ms. Farren expressed her disappointment by email to Ms. Purdy but had received no response. It was agreed that Yamna should have followed up if plans to involve the Committee had changed. STATUS OF GRANT RECOMMENDATION Ms. Farren reported that she was in receipt of a January 5 letter from the Cultural Committee regarding the grant request to reimburse the Mashpee Public Library for the "Ooch" activity. Preliminary approval had been received, but the request must now go to the State to issue reimbursement. The final status of the grant should be known in early April. The amount requested was $500. Ms. Farren noted that Kathy Mahoney had expressed interest in working together in the future. POSTPONEMENT OF NO PLACE FOR HATE DINNER PRESENTATION Ms. Farren announced that the dinner would be postponed to a future date in the spring. The dinner was expected to feature Timothy Cruz, of the Plymouth County District Attorney's office,who would discuss responses to hate crimes. Ms. Farren will forward details when she receives them. 5"ANNUAL"A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS" COMMUNITY SEDER Ms. Farren also announced that the 5h Annual Community Seder would take place on March 11. DISCUSS PLANS FOR FUTURE ACTIVITIES Ms. Farren distributed copies of NPFH activities. There was discussion about the positives and negatives of potluck meals. It was recommended that the library be contacted about collaborating on a joint activity involving books. It was suggested that a walk or run for respect be established with the Recreation Department. It was noted that Oktoberfest featured a run and it was suggested that the Committee focus on that event with the possibility of tying in with a Walk of Respect as well as