Community Relations Commission

APPROVED MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m., in the Civic Room, at the Northbrook Public Library, by Chair Ray Wehr. Members Present: Nafisa Choudhury, Dale Duda, Scott Gertz, Sue Huang, Jim Hyun, Kamyar Jabbari, Chris Kosla, Bob Lozaro, Ron Mantegna, Rochelle Singer, Nancy Stoddard, and Chair Wehr. Also Present: Liaison Jason Batalden and Recording Secretary LeeAnn Artstein. Excused Members: Bruce Doughty and Linda Goldsher. Welcome Chair Wehr welcomed everyone to the meeting. Approval of the August 2, 2012 CRC Meeting Minutes Member Lozaro moved, seconded by Member Singer to approve the minutes of the August 2, 2012 meeting, with the following revisions: Page 1, SSC/CRC Sub-Committee Update, 4th line, change “over 65 years of age” to “65 and over.” Page 2, Trivia Night Planning Updated, last line, add, “Member Goldsher was requested to solicit the Clergy Association to help promote the Trivia event.” Page 3, BHM, last bullet, change to “A straw poll was taken with the majority determining that BHM will be planned for 2013.” Page 3, e. Other Topics to be discovered, 2nd line, change “needs” to “need.” On voice vote, the revised minutes were approved. Approval of the August 2, 2012 Trivia Night Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Member Lozaro made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by Member Mantegna. On voice vote, the motion passed. Approval of the July 26, 2012 Village to Village Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Member Lozaro made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by Member Mantegna. On voice vote, the motion passed. Approval of the July 25, 2012 Trivia Night Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Member Lozaro moved, seconded by Member Mantegna to approve the minutes with the following revisions: 3d bullet, 4th line, change “numbers” to “number,” and 5th line, change “other” to “others.” On voice vote, the motion passed. Approval of the May 29, 2012 Trivia Night Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Member Lozaro moved, seconded by Member Mantegna, to approve the minutes with the following revisions: 2nd bullet, at the end of the second sentence, remove the closed parentheses. On voice vote, the motion passed. Hear from the Audience There were no comments. Senior Services/CRC Sub-Committee Update Member Lozaro stated that no further suggestions had been submitted by the CRC members to Chair Wehr following the last CRC meeting when the draft white paper was reviewed and suggestions were made. Member Lozaro reported that the subcommittee will meet next week with the Senior Services Commission (SSC) to go over the draft white paper before it is finalized. The CRC and SSC will need to determine if anything else needs to be done. Trivia Night Planning Update The Northbrook Community Trivia Challenge event is set for Sat., October 13, 2012. The CRC is sponsoring it, and is in partnership with the Y to hold the event at the NSYMCA. Member Lozaro provided the following update:  Flyers are available to take and pass out.  Members Kosla and Singer have prepared the trivia questions  Member Lozaro has secured tables and chairs  Ramsay Wehr has volunteered to be the scorekeeper.  Village Communications Mgr. Cheryl Fayne-dePersio has been working on publicity for the newsletter and sending out publicity to her contacts  Member Lozaro has passed out flyers and personally invited: UL, GBN administration, Allstate, Police and Fire Departments, Park District, and St. Norbert (included in their Sunday bulletins)  Member Singer has invited the Village Board Members and all Village Commissions.  The following will also be contacted: Crestwood Place, Northbrook Senior Center by Member Mantegna, North Shore Senior Center by Member Mantegna, Clergy Association by Member Goldsher, GBN faculty, District 225 Board of Education, and to reach out to the GBN high school students  The Y has provided publicity for the CRC in its Fall brochure.  The subcommittee met with the Y to discuss publicity, food vendors, decorations and setup.  A suggestion was made to videotape the event to use as a psa for next year. Commission Review Discussion a. Event Agenda Black History Month Member Singer reported that Black History month is scheduled for February, 2013, at the Northbrook Public Library. A date will be selected once the Library’s auditorium renovation schedule is in place. Members Singer and Mantegna have agreed to be on the committee. Asian Heritage Celebration Member Huang reported that the subcommittee discussed plans to have the event at the Y on Sunday, May 5, 2013, between 12 noon - 3 pm. The subcommittee also discussed and decided not to have the educational pre-event for 2013 which in the past had been either a discussion or a movie. It appeared that it did not attract a lot of non-Asian people to the event which was one of the goals for the event. As a result, the subcommittee will be able to focus more attention to the Sunday event. It was suggested that an educational segment be entered into the Sunday event. More volunteers need to be recruited to help at the event. Member Hyun has already recruited a couple of teachers, who will help get kids involved in the event. The subcommittee is open to any suggestions. A question was raised whether it would be appropriate to have sponsors for CRC events. A discussion followed. Another question was raised regarding sharing expenses with business partners for CRC 2 events. Liaison Batalden will meet with Village Manager Richard Nahrstadt to discuss the Village’s position on sponsors and expenses. Welcome to Northbrook/Flamingo Friday Member Duda reported that the combined event is set for Friday, May 24, 2013. Member Duda informed everyone that she was recently contacted and interviewed by a professor in the UK, who was interested in how Flamingo Fridays worked. The professor was putting together a book on the cultural aspects of flamingos. Interfaith Walk The Clergy is targeting an April, 2013 date for the Interfaith Walk. NCRC Award Member Singer is seeking members for the NCRC Award committee. She is waiting to hear if Members Gertz and Goldsher will again be a part of the committee. Members Kosla and Stoddard expressed an interest to be on the committee if needed. Publicity will begin in December. The award applications will go on line in January, with a deadline date in February. The committee will make its choice in March. On April 23, 2013, there will be a reception at 6:45 pm prior to the Board Meeting at 7 pm when the award will be presented. Liaison Batalden will notify the Board, enter the date on the calendar, and prepare a proclamation. Trivia Challenge The event is scheduled for Sat., October 13, 2012. See Trivia Night Planning Update on page 2. Community Forum There was a brief discussion concerning the possibility of having a forum. The Village expressed an interest in the idea. b. Gap Analysis A discussion was had regarding the different types of things the CRC does. The following were discussed:  What areas should we focus on as a commission to enhance the community relations in the Village of Northbrook?  Are there other groups and commissions that are promoting community relations that may be similar to what we are doing?  Is our mission statement consistent with combining intergenerational matters for youth and seniors in our community?  Are we looking to broaden our representation by adding different ethnic and cultural groups? It was suggested that the CRC channel all resources and energy into one large event. It would combine as many ethnic and culture groups within the community that would come together at one time. It was suggested that a large event consider having a museum setting or a lecture room. The discussion continued with concerns that a large event would provide less focus on particular aspects that our individual events offer. Other events, such as Nbk Trivia Challenge would be kept as a separate event. There was concern that what the commission now has in place took several decades of work to achieve by the commissioners, and it should not be put aside for some new formula. A discussion followed where it was noted that the schools offer their own versions of international festival events, which focus on food and music. 3  c. Commissioner Roster Chair Wehr discussed the role and expectations of the commission’s appointed members. The commission sought suggestions to find ways to increase the attendance at the monthly meetings, to have members come and share their opinions, and to have them participate in the events that take place throughout the year. The commission also discussed creating broader representation by inviting people from different ethnic and culture groups to become a part of the commission. It was also suggested that liaisons from the Youth and Senior Citizen Commissions attend our meetings. It was noted that Our Lady of the Brook is currently without a representative when Dale Duda had to give up that position when she became an appointed commissioner. d. Other Topics to be discovered The CRC mission statement was discussed at last month’s meeting, and Liaison Batalden was asked to do some research. Liaison Batalden reported tonight that at the June, 2008 CRC Meeting, the mission statement was read and discussed. The constitutional rights issue had not been brought up for discussion. An Ordinance was passed at that meeting to change the wording of the mission statement which remains our current mission statement. Following this report, a discussion was had. Hearing no motion for changes, Chair Wehr stated the mission statement remains as is. News from Clergy Association and Houses of Worship  Thanksgiving Service will be at Beth Shalom, Wed., Nov., 21, to include prayer service to honor teachers & first responders.  Discussion of the summer tragedies and what clergy can do to continue to help youth and let them know they are not alone.  Discussion to invite Marcia Doniger of NCDAA to next meeting to discuss resources and what services are available to youth in the community.  Discussion was had and continued to next meeting about the Domestic Violence/Elder Abuse issues and the Nbk Senior Ctr. as a valuable resource.  Discussion about tentative date for Interfaith Walk in April, 2013  St. Giles will host a Harvest Celebration Oct. 13, at 6 pm. All are invited.  United Methodist Church is hosting a Community Spaghetti Dinner Sept. 15. All are invited.  Discussion about Trivia event Oct. 13 and an invite to have a table. Pdf flyer was sent.  Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is hosting a lecture about the Book of Revelations, “The End of the World” by Dr. Barbara Rossing on Sept. 30, 12 noon.  Crop Walk is scheduled to meet at the Church of Ascension, Northfield, on Oct. 21.  Need to confirm a January, 2013 Clergy Assoc. meeting date with President Sandy Frum. News from Schools There were no reports from the schools. Old Business There was no old business to report. New Business There was no new business to report. Eyes & Ears on the Street  Chair Wehr officially commended and thanked Dan Kaup, our previous Assistant to the Village Mgr., for his hard work while here in the Village of Nbk. He had served as a temporary liaison to 4  this Commission. We wish him nothing but the best in his new position as Dir. of Public Works for the City of Brookfield, IL. We know he will continue to be successful in his endeavors.  Liaison Jason Batalden is moving to a new position at the Police Dept. The CRC liaison position will be taken over by Kendal Maltas. Jason will become the liaison for the Youth Commission. Chair Wehr thanked Jason for his hard work directing and guiding the CRC programs for the past 5 years. He will be missed. Jason thanked everyone and will miss working with the commission.  Farmers Market continues at the Nbk United Methodist Church for another 5 Wednesdays.  Flamingo Friday party at Chris Kosla’s residence on Sept. 7.  Jr. Spartan Football kicks off this weekend  See “News from Clergy Association & Houses of Worship” section for add’l upcoming events. Next Meeting – October 4, 2012 The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 4, 2012. Adjournment At 8:37 p.m., Member Gertz made a motion to adjourn, and it was seconded by Member Lozaro. On voice vote, the motion passed. Respectfully Submitted, /s/LeeAnn Artstein Recording Secretary 5