Multicultural Affairs Committee

Minutes of Meeting

Jefferson City Regional Office
Jefferson City, MO
July 28, 1999

Attendees (per sign-in sheet)

Tom Kruse, Bud Pratt, Jeff Jaquess, Walter Pearson, Tom Judge, Keith Bertels, Ramona Huckstep, Leanne Chojnacki, Tanya Black, Kenny Seeney, Robert Clay, Terry Sheffield, Bob Hentges, Bernard Thompson, Crystal Johnson, Carlton Flowers, G. Lawson Penny, and Perry Johnson, Missouri Department of Health, (DOH).

Chair, G. Lawson Penny opened the meeting at 11:05 a.m. Bob Hentges welcomed all to the Jefferson City Regional Office and invited all to make use of the conference rooms available.

Upcoming events were discussed with participation encouraged, including LaLista Latina, St. Louis Community Job Fair, Hispanic Business and Recruitment Show, National Black MBA Association, Inc. Job Fair and Missouri Black Expo.

Kevin Johnson showed slides regarding the 2nd Annual Diversity Conference, and we discussed revisions before the presentation is made to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) executive staff.

Walter Pearson, director of Business and Urban Affairs, thanked Kenny Seeney and Kevin Johnson for the budget presentation to the DNR executive staff and advised the Multicultural Affairs Committee (MAC) budget was approved. The operating budget will be presented and probably approved at the next DNR executive staff meeting. Pearson commended DNR and MAC for efforts he has observed in his first year with the agency. Pearson encouraged us to participate in outreach efforts.

Pearson then introduced the MAC officers for the 1999 to 2000 year: Chairman G. Lawson Penny, Vice-Chair Tom Kruse, Secretary Terry Sheffield, Assistant Secretary Jan Douglas and Budget Officer Tanya Black. Pearson was asked about the progress of filling vacant division representative positions. Pearson was asked about the Employee Advisory Council (EAC) and responded that the delay was probably due to the hiring of the new personnel director. Pearson's observation is that the executive staff is comfortable with the EAC, and the director is striving for the council to exist, but reorganization time is needed.

Terry Sheffield read the minutes from the June 16, 1999, MAC meeting, and with a correction to include the location of that meeting (Elm Street Building), the minutes were approved.

Kenny Seeney discussed the Diversity Conference and passed around pictures taken at the conference. He stated the budget and planning committee has not met yet to discuss next year’s conference.

Penny presented a timeline for MAC committees and functions for the new year. He would like to co-chair meetings with Vice-Chair Tom Kruse, perhaps alternating meetings. Committee participation was discussed, and a list of committees and chairpersons is being assembled.

Regarding new business, Kruse would like to see a survey or poll to address issues. Bud Pratt expressed interest in having representation at the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Conference. Many people would still like to have a MAC brochure. There is also a need for more people to be in the pool for the DEQ Interview Committee. See Kruse for details.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

The next meeting is Aug. 26, 1999, at the Jefferson City Regional Office and begins at 10 a.m. Tentative plans are to have lunch available at this meeting.