Multicultural Affairs Committee

Minutes of Meeting

Elm Street Building
Jefferson City, MO
July 5, 2000

Attendees (per sign-in sheet)

Clarice Morgan, Jannette Booker, Angelo Logan, Jeff Jaquess, G. Lawson Penny, Gary Heimericks, Saundra Farrow, Tanya Black, Patricia Pride, Rachel Griffin, Jeff Staake, Terry Sheffield, Ramona Huckstep, Michael Warrick, Scott Totten, David Brothers, Gail Conley, Valerie Johnson, Cynthia Bowser, Steve Mahfood, Walter Pearson, David Bahadori, Al Plummer

Meeting opened at 10 a.m. with the introduction of Al Plummer from the Office of Administration. Mr. Plummer was invited to facilitate our meeting during which we discussed MAC’s roles and goals. We could not complete our discussion in the time allowed, so Mr. Plummer was invited to return to our next meeting. A summary of our discussion follows.

Comments regarding where members see the focus of MAC to be:

The following comments were made by MAC members not in management positions:

Foster respect for others
Associate with people from diverse cultures
Promoting cultural diversity
Deal with minority issues
Education/Information
Input into DNR policies and procedures
Bring equality to Department
Recruitment and retention
Raise awareness and problem solving
Safe place for discussion

The following comments were made by MAC members in management positions:

Affect lasting change – (Inclusion)
Reflecting pulse of DNR (think tank)
Help understanding
Develop strategies and overcome barriers
Advocacy

The following comments were made by Steve Mahfood:

Providing tolerant leadership
Set actual goals and measures
Guiding leadership

After the roundtable, wherein each member had input regarding MAC’s direction or vision, the group was asked to list three items that MAC should give priority in it’s direction. The following were the three main topics with related items associated under each:

ASSIST WITH RECRUITING AND RETENTION:

Mentorship
Opportunity (promotion)
Assist with interviewing
Events – state fair, job fairs, etc.
Assist in developing strategies
Advise recruiter

EDUCATION/INFORMATION:

Define MAC
Orientation Materials
Diversity Conference
Annually
Training
Diversity
Suggestions
Outreach
Internal/External
Assist with development of department communication plan

ADVISORY:

Policy and procedures
Develop strategies

The process to get the plan from ideas to implementation was laid out as follows:

Present to DNR Executive Staff
Complete roles, plans and priorities
Send back to Executive Staff to gain approval
Implementation of plan upon approval of Executive Staff
Continue generating new ideas and communication - link is MAC liaison

Before adjournment, G. Lawson Penny advised the members that MAC officer elections were to be held before the end of the month.

These minutes were recorded by Terry Sheffield, secretary.