Community Relations Commission

CITY OF WHEATON COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION Minutes - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 I. Call to Order: by Co-Chairs Vickie Miller and Tony Lyons at 7:05 p.m II. Roll Call: Commission Members Present Commission Members Absent Bill Gilbertson Ronnie Gillis Gavin Engel Dan Loftus Bobby McNeily Tony Lyons Erik Miller Vickie Miller Renee Webb III. Citizens to be heard: Gail Forrest attended the meeting and indicated to the Commissioners that she had submitted an application to the City Council to be considered for appointment to the Community Relations Commission. IV. Approval of the minutes: from September 7, 2016. Ronnie Gillis moved, Renee Webb seconded and the motion for approval carried. V. Continuing Business: A. Military Projects -- Bill Gilbertson. Bill updated the status of the project saying we currently had dona- tion boxes in 7 locations to include City Hall, the Library, Wyndemere, Wheaton Sport Center and the 3 Wheaton Fire Stations. He also suggested putting one in the Police Station and Ronnie volunteered to look into that. The Wheaton Women’s Club had advised Bill that they would be raising money at their Novem- ber meeting to support our project. Bill also suggested talking to the Library to inquire as whether they would have any books available to send to the troops. Bill also displayed the various handout pieces and other items to assist in soliciting donations on Saturday Mornings at the French Market. B. Cultural Diversity – Dan Loftus; Dan indicted that he had met with Betsy Adamowski on September 22 to discuss the rescheduling of the World Tour event for spring. They decided to hold the event on Sunday May 21 at a time when school was still in session, there would be no significant sports in conflict with the date and would not interfere with Mother’s Day or Memorial Day weekend. They would run the same theme since everything was already preplanned. They would also have a rain date prearranged. C. Make a Difference Day – Renee Webb; Ronnie Gilles .— Renee and Ronnie updated the Make a Differ- ence Day “Uniforms that Serve Us” Program which will be held in the City of Wheaton Public Works Building on Saturday, October 22, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Several vendors will be providing ice cream, ci- der and popcorn and a DJ will handle the music. Ronnie showed us the Make a Difference Day Medallion that will be presented to the officers and firemen. Large posters have been printed and will be distributed to various downtown merchants and a newspaper ad in the Daily Herald will be running on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during the week leading up to the event. Susan Bishel is giving us exposure in the City of Wheaton newsletter and on the City’s Facebook page. At the event we will be encouraging partici- pants to make donations to our Family Stockings project by giving them coupons that they can use with our vendors when they make donations. D. Serve Illinois/Cities of Service – Tony Lyons. —Tony indicated that the budget stalemate in Springfield was probably affecting this program but that he had been studying the Cities of Service Playbook and thinking about what kind of plan we could take on to qualify for this designation. E. Good Citizens – Vickie Miller. — No report.  F. Treasurer’s Report—Erik Miller — Erik reported that we still had a $5,200 balance but he needed to re- solve the amount of carryover remaining from our escrow in 2015. G. Media Coordinator – Bobby McNeily.— No report VI. New Business: None VII. Commissioners Comments: All of Commissioners extended their gratitude to Gail Forrest for her desire to join the Community Relations Commission. VIII. Adjournment: Renee moved, Vickie seconded, a motion to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Motion passed.