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Multicultural Affairs Committee
Minutes of Meeting
Southwest Regional Office
Springfield, MO
Dec. 29, 1998
Attendees (per sign-in sheet)
Samuel Knox (Unite of SWMO, Inc.), G. Lawson Penny, Jeff Jaquess, Bruce Martin, Ed Sears, Gale Roberts, Kenny Seeney, Walter Pearson, Charles Krueger, Kevin Johnson, Terry Sheffield
Meeting began at 10:20 a.m. with introductions of those in attendance. The minutes were read, but a quorum did not exist to allow approval.
Sam Knox spoke to us about Unite of SWMO, Inc., a community non-profit organization targeting the African-American population in the Springfield area. The group publishes an informative monthly newsletter, and members serve on advisory committees in the area. They are the coordinators for the Multicultural Opportunities Festival that members of MAC participated in last year and in which we plan to have a booth this Martin Luther King's birthday holiday. There was discussion regarding our agency working with Unite in recruiting employees and students to work at the Southwest Regional Office. Also discussed was reaching minority vendors in the area.
Walter Pearson expounded on the Minority Purchasing Initiative stating the governor wants a minimum of 5 percent participation, but state agencies are currently using minority vendors 3 percent. There are a lot of minority and women vendors in the state, but many are not registered with OA. We can still use those vendors, but there is no way to track purchases. The governor has issued another executive order to increase participation to 10 percent minority and 5 percent women. Everyone agreed we need vendors from which we can purchase items to help us reach these goals. It was also mentioned that DNR could perhaps create its own directory for purchases not having to go through OA.
Pearson talked about several other items, one being that he is working on the committee for internships and summer employment. Pearson also commended the MAC Budget and Planning Committee for the theme and topics of the upcoming Diversity Conference. He also proposed some items we may want to consider as 1999 goals - develop a MAC Web page, look for alternative funding (taping conference, selling calendars, etc.), work with the Jefferson City Boys and Girls Club, focus outreach efforts (especially in the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City).
Kenny Seeney talked about the Cultural Diversity Conference, mentioning we will advertise via posters, fliers, Inner Resources, e-mail and perhaps Channel 8. We have confirmed Justin Orr as a speaker for the Friday morning time period. Five facilitators and eight resource persons are currently scheduled. We will video Track A on Thursday and Track B on Friday. The director's office and division directors will select individuals to attend.
Kevin Johnson discussed the 1999 MAC Calendar, which came in under budget and on time. One thousand (1,000) calendars were initially printed, and if other agencies desire copies, more will be quick-printed and charged to their accounts. The software "Calendar Creator5.0" was used to produce this year's calendar, and Johnson would welcome the opportunity to use any other software if someone has another calendar package.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
These minutes were recorded by Terry Sheffield, secretary.
