Youth Commission

APPROVED MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION VILLAGE OF NORTHBROOK COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS March 20, 2013 “Lead, Serve, Shine” Adult Commissioners Present (5) Carla Slawson-Martens, Chairperson Gary Moriello Michael Shore Kay Ellen Stein Sharon Weingarten Student Commissioners Present (3) Ethan Kirshenbaum, Co-Chairperson Ethan Matlin Adam Wagner Commissioners Absent (17) Zainab Ahmed Grace Elisco Andy Han Allison Kaplan Casey Luc Harrison Marick Danny Martens Amanda Mawrence Lauren Schifferdecker Emily Schwandner Maddie Serota Kent Steinberg Ross Steinberg Peter Szemraj Josh Tolmatsky Ryan Wagner Village Staff Present Jason Batalden, Youth Commission Staff Liaison Stacy Seiden, Recorder 1. Call to Order Co-Chairperson Kirshenbaum called the meeting to order in the Terrace Room of Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane, at 7:10 PM. A quorum was present. 2. Review of Minutes  Page 2 Minutes of the March 20, 2013 Youth Commission Meeting Commissioner Moriello moved to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2013 Youth Commission meeting without corrections. The motion was seconded and, on a voice vote, unanimously carried. Commissioner Moriello moved to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2013 Youth Commission meeting with the following corrections: the minutes should reflect that Allison Kaplan and Ethan Matlin were present at the February 20 meeting. The motion was seconded and, on a voice vote, unanimously carried. 3. Public Comments There were no public comments. 4. 2013 Quiz Bowl Debrief Commissioner Stein commented that the 2013 Quiz Bowl went “really well.” Commissioner Moriello had suggestions for the bowl next year that he will send to Liaison Batalden. Chairperson Slawson-Martens noted that the score keeper blocked contestants and a better scoring mechanism was needed. She recalled that former Youth Commission Liaison, Kendal Maltas, researched different scorekeeping options and suggested that the commission consult the notes of former Liaison Maltas. Commissioners agreed to the following four suggestions for the Quiz Bowl next year: 1) keeping score and broadcasting the score on a computer, possibly using a tally app, 2) while the bowl was recorded this year, commissioners preferred the event to be live streamed. Liaison Batalden thought this was possible since Village Board of Trustees meetings were live streamed, 3) introducing staff present from participating schools at the bowl, and 4) Commissioners Weingarten and Stein will actively recruit the Solomon Schechter Day School to participate in the 2014 Quiz Bowl. 5. 2013 Calendar of Events A. Film Festival – Monday, June 10, 7 pm Chairperson Slawson-Martens noted that she and Commissioner Martens will not be available for the Youth Commission-sponsored Film Festival on June 10. After discussing alternate dates, commissioners agreed to keep the scheduled June 10 date. Chairperson Slawson-Martens commented that she will need assistance organizing the festival, particularly since she will not be attending, and asked commissioners to “get the word out” about the event. Commissioners discussed ways to simplify the voting process for film entries. Commissioner Weingarten suggested that the commission partner with Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook for the festival. Chairperson Slawson-Martens will send Liaison Batalden a write-up about the event for commissioners to circulate. Liaison Batalden will include relevant information about the festival in an upcoming Village newsletter and share this information with the Community Relations Commission. Commissioners agreed on the importance of offering cash prizes as an incentive to participate in the festival. Accordingly, Commissioner Stein moved, seconded by Commissioner Moriello, to award Film Festival prizes in the amounts of $300, $200, and $100 for the first, second, and third place winners, respectively. On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. Commissioners also agreed that the AMC movie theater at Northbrook Court was their first choice venue for the festival. If Commissioner Luc cannot secure the movie theater, other possible locations  Page 3 Minutes of the March 20, 2013 Youth Commission Meeting included the Northbrook Public Library or Village Hall. Unlike the library, food may be served at Village Hall, which also has a connection to the Village Youth Commission. Chairperson Slawson-Martens will follow-up with Commissioner Luc and reserve space at the library. Liaison Batalden will reserve space at Village Hall. Commissioner Weingarten suggested showing the winning film as a preview during the Northbrook Park District-sponsored Movie Night at Village Green Park this summer. Her idea was well-received. Commissioners clarified that non-Northbrook residents and college students were welcome to participate in the festival. At their meeting next month, commissioners will determine which adult and student commission members will host this event. 6. Youth Forum Chairperson Slawson-Martens reported that no progress had been made on the Youth Forum since the commission last discussed the topic at its January 2013 meeting. 7. Old Business Commissioners reviewed the commission terms for adult Youth Commission members, noting that the terms of Commissioners Huberty and Weingarten ended this year. It was noted that Commissioner Huberty recently resigned from the Youth Commission after serving on the commission for approximately 10 years, commission terms were three years in length, and there were no limits on the number of terms that commissioners may serve. 8. New Business Liaison Batalden suggested that the Village issue a formal proclamation honoring the Youth Commission service of former Commissioner Huberty to be read at an upcoming Village Board meeting. The suggestion was well-received. Accordingly, Chairperson Slawson-Martens requested that commissioners send to Liaison Batalden their comments about the Youth Commission service of former Commissioner Huberty for the Village President to share at a Board meeting. Commissioner Moriello will secure a card for former Commissioner Huberty. Commissioner Moriello commented that the Youth Commission needed to fill the adult vacancy left by the resignation of former Commissioner Huberty. Commissioner Shore knew someone who might be interested in the position. Commissioners agreed that the vacancy should be announced in local newspapers. Chairperson Slawson-Martens encouraged commissioners to inform their relatives, including parents of student commissioners, and neighbors about the vacancy. Chairperson Slawson-Martens requested that student commissioners describe their experiences that day with Spartans Connect. Commissioner A. Wagner explained that, as part of Spartans Connect, Glenbrook North (GBN) students signed up for 45-minute and hour-and-a-half long “interest” or “hobby”-related workshops. A keynote address was given by retired television journalist Mike Leonard on pursuing one’s passions. Chairperson Slawson-Martens asked student commissioners if they found the experience to be helpful. They described Spartans Connect as “fun” and “enjoyable,” however, according to them, the event was not well publicized, particularly among freshmen. Commissioner Kirshenbaum agreed to serve as the student Co-Chairperson at the next Youth Commission meeting on April 17, 2013.  Page 4 Minutes of the March 20, 2013 Youth Commission Meeting 9. Student Hot Topics Commissioners reported that the GBN Spartans Hockey team will play in the state championship on March 24, GBN students will perform West Side Story for the spring musical, and Prom was the last dance of the GBN school year. Commissioner Stein noted that Collin Wehr, an eleven-year-old Northbrook boy who suffered from cancer, passed away today. She and other commissioners commented on the outpouring of support that Collin and his family received from GBN students, specifically, and the community at large. 10. Adjournment There being no further business, Commissioner Matlin moved, seconded by Commissioner Stein, to adjourn the meeting. On a voice vote, the motion unanimously carried. Co-Chairperson Kirshenbaum adjourned the meeting at 8:10 PM. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Stacy J. Seiden Recorder