Community Relations Commission

APPROVED MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS JANUARY 5, 2012 The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m., in the Civic Room at the Northbrook Public Library, by Chair Ray Wehr. Members Present: Elliot Bruckman, Nafisa Choudhury, Dale Duda, Linda Goldsher, Sue Huang, Chris Kosla, Bob Lozaro, Ron Mantegna, Rochelle Singer, Nancy Stoddard and Chair Wehr. Also Present: Guest Lee Goodman, CRC Liaison Jason Batalden, and Recording Secretary LeeAnn Artstein. Excused Members: Sheila Bass, Bruce Doughty, Scott Gertz, and Jim Hyun. Welcome Chair Wehr welcomed everyone to the meeting. Approval of the November 21, 2011 Asian Heritage Subcommittee Meeting Minutes As there were no changes, additions or modifications to the November 21, 2011 Asian Heritage Meeting minutes, Member Lozaro made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by Member Huang. On voice vote, the motion passed. Approval of the December 3, 2011 CRC Meeting Minutes Page 2, Northbrook Trivia Planning – The event date is October 13, 2012, at the North Suburban YMCA. Page 2, Black History Month Planning Update, 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence, strike “while earning extra school credit” and insert “via the promotion of the program in specific GBN classes”. Page 2, Asian Heritage Celebration Planning Update. The panel discussion will be held on Monday, April 30, 2012, not Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the Northbrook Public Library. Member Lozaro made a motion to approve the minutes, and it was seconded by Member Singer. On voice vote, the motion passed. Black History Month Planning Update In Member Bass’ absence, Member Singer reported that everything is on track for the program, “Tall, Dark & Handsome: The Evolution of the Black Leading Man”. It is set for February 18, 1-4 pm, at the Northbrook Public Library. Columbia College Professor Vaun Monroe returns again to expand on last year’s program on film and race relations. He will show selected film clips and lead the discussion on how films had an impact on race relations in America. GBN has been very receptive to the subcommittee’s letter inviting students to attend the program. GBN staff are working to have sociology students and history students involved in the event. As Member Singer will not be able to attend the event, she is hoping the program will be taped for later viewing. Expenses were discussed. Professor Monroe’s appearance fee still needs to be finalized. Refreshments will consist of coffee, cookies and munchies. Since attendance is expected to increase this year, more refreshments will need to be ordered. The total cost of these two expenses is not expected to exceed $1,000. Member Singer made a motion that Black History Month on February 18, 2012 be funded in an amount not to exceed $1,000. The motion was seconded by Member Lozaro. Seeing no further discussion, on voice vote the motion passed. Member Mantegna reported that this year the Library and the Village have again helped with marketing the event. The Library will have a display case and bulletin board space available. The event appears on page 1 of the Library’s Jan/Feb. newsletter. They have provided us with some 11x17 size posters and 120 handouts, which commission members can help pass out around Northbrook. Cheryl Fayne-dePersio, Village Communications Manager, has information going out in a myriad of places both on line and in print, including the Village newsletter and website. In response to Member Lozaro’s inquiry about possible duplication of contacts listed from Cheryl’s contact lists and the commission’s list, Member Mantegna will contact Cheryl to discuss it. After a brief discussion regarding the possibility of adding sponsors to the event, Chair Wehr indicated that it is something the subcommittee could bring to the Commission to find out if it is okay to do for next year. Member Mantegna reported that Member Bass has a scratched cornea. They will wait to do the public service announcement until her eye is better. Member Singer recommended reading Suntimes columnist John W. Fountain’s Dec. 22, 2011 article entitled, “The children die, their blood cries under a school-day sun”, which pertains to Black History Month. Senior Services/CRC Subcommittee Update Member Lozaro reported that Liaison Jason Batalden and SSC Liaison Dan Kaup have been making modifications to the draft survey. The next subcommittee meeting will be in a few weeks and plans will be made to get in touch with Cheryl to work on the survey layout in the newsletter. Asian Heritage Celebration Planning Update Member Huang reported that the subcommittee met on December 19 and discussed the Asian Heritage program that will be held at the Y on May 6. Russian and Indian members have been added to this year’s program. The performance will take place in the gym. There is space available in the gym for the displays and the sale items. The event will feature a Taste of Asia. The event will have a fair-type setting. People will be able to eat while watching the performance. Another room called the abc room will be available for food as well. Member Duda offered some helpful advice regarding food vendors. Member Huang stated she is looking for two volunteers to work with the food vendors. The Y is working on publicity for the event. Their publicity goes out to all of their 11,000 members, which goes beyond Northbrook. In addition to the regular promotion done by the Village, there are plans to link the Village website to the Y’s website for this event. Member Lozaro is looking for travel posters and signs that can be used for decorating. The subcommittee is still working with the schools. Member Lozaro is working with St. Norbert. They would like to have Member Hyun come and talk to the students about his experience in China. Member Huang is working with Maple School, and will meet with their Foreign Language Dept. on Feb. 3. Member Huang reported that Member Hyun, who is not here tonight, is in charge of the panel discussion on April 30 at the Library. He is still working on finding a topic. The subcommittee would like permission to publicize the event at the Black History event by making an announcement and putting out some flyers. News from Clergy Association and Houses of Worship Member Goldsher gave a report on the Dec. 7 clergy luncheon meeting held at the Village Hall. The presentation was given by Trustee Buehler, Assistant Village Mgr. Phil Kiraly, and Bldg. Director Tom Poupard. The clergy were very happy with the speakers. We had a scheduling conflict with President Frum attending the Chamber of Commerce luncheon that day. It turned out that both luncheons gave the 2 same presentation. The topics included the state of the Village, storm management, our real estate situation compared with other north shore communities, and the state of the economy. At the January 4 clergy meeting, the Easing program was discussed. Easing is funded by donations from the houses of worship. The money goes to Youth Services located in Glenview that uses the money to help needy families in Glenview and Northbrook. Pastor John Berg from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church talked about the Family Promise project that their congregation is going to participate in this March. Family Promise is a network of congregations that hosts homeless families for one week. The families will be bused daily between Evanston and Gloria Dei. Gloria Dei will provide meals and sleeping quarters. The families will return daily to Evanston so the kids can attend school and the adults can search for jobs. This is the first time a congregation in Northbrook will be involved in this program. Other congregations in Northbrook have expressed interest in the program. There is a new church in Northbrook. Father Fawaz Kako is the Priest at the Chaldean Catholic Church. It is currently sharing the church at 2700 Willow Rd. with St. Peter Community Church. St. Peter is looking for a new space due to a decline in its membership. News from Schools There were no reports from the schools. Finals begin in two weeks for GBN students. Youth Commission Update There was no report. Old Business Member Duda stated that Flamingo Friday is scheduled for Friday, May 18, 2012. She requested that Flamingo Friday and Welcome to Northbrook be included together on the February agenda. New Business Member Mantegna reported that he and Cheryl Fayne de-Persio have discussed televising our events throughout the year. It was suggested that we have our events packaged together. We will work with Cheryl to plan to tape each event’s speaker for a half-hour. The speaker will need to be prepared to do the taping. It was felt that limiting the taping to a half hour would eliminate hours of wild footage that would have to be edited. It will be a great way to have publicity to show what our Commission is doing. Eyes & Ears on the Street a. Violence Discussion at St. Norbert’s Guest Lee Goodman invited everyone to attend a nationwide remembrance event, Victory over Violence, on Jan. 8, at St. Norbert, to learn about the problem of violence in our time. Clergy from area churches and synagogues and experts on the issue of violence will speak. Member Lozaro reported that he did not receive enough responses to have a CRC representation at St. Norbert’s Trivia Challenge on Feb. 11. Member Choudhury invited everyone to attend an Interfaith Action Winter Gathering, “More Alike Than Not”, Stories from Three Americans--Catholic, Jewish & Muslim, on Jan. 8, at Beth Emet, The Free Synagogue, in Evanston, featuring her son Arif Choudhury, Susan O’Halloran and Syd Lieberman. 3 Members talked about home burglaries occurring in Northbrook. Member Bruckman urged everyone on the commission to attend the Northbrook Police Academy. The class enlightens you on how to protect your homes, as well as your person. It enlightens you on what goes on here in Northbrook. Next Meeting – February 2, 2012 The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2012. Adjournment At 8:31 pm, Member Lozaro made a motion to adjourn, and it was seconded by Member Singer On voice vote, the motion passed. Respectfully Submitted, /s/LeeAnn Artstein Recording Secretary 4