Normal & Bloomington Human Relations Commission
Joint Meeting
August 15, 2006 at 5:15 PM
Normal City Hall

1. Call to Order:
   Chairperson Evelyn Young called the meeting to order at 5:17 pm.
    
   1. Present: Chairperson Evelyn Young, Commissioner Terry Brown, Commissioner, Commissioner Michael Pullin, Commissioner Tim Harshbarger and Commissioner Ramesh Chaudhari
       
   2. Absent: Commissioner Laurie Bergner
       
   3. Others Present: Staff: Jennifer Hanna and Jose A'. Garibay
      Bloomington Commissioners: Chairperson Otis Evans, Commissioner Neal Shah, Commissioner Dave Bentlin, and Commissioner Anthony Jones
      
       
2. Old Business
   1. None
       
3. New Business
   1. Minority Low Powered Radio Station for the Bloomington/Normal Area
      Tracey Spears requested to speak before the commission concerning the efforts of the Black Business Alliance to start a low powered radio station in the Bloomington/Normal area money is needed by November of 2006 for start up costs. The Alliance is requesting funds from both commissions to help pay for equipment needed to get the station running. This station will have jazz, blues, gospel, church services and talk shows broadcast on their station. They are a 501 c 3 organization. Chairperson Young thanked Ms. Spears for her information and told her that both commissions will consider putting her request on the next agenda for a vote.
       
   2. MLK Committee Selection
      Commissioners selected chairpersons, co-chairpersons and members for each committee. The Co-Chairperson will be Chair next year. Commissioner Bentlin requested an updated listing of contact information for both commissions.
      1. Awards
         Commissioner Shah volunteered to Chair this committee and Commissioner Bentlin volunteered to Co-Chair. Commissioner Chaudhari is a committee member
      2. Program
         Commissioners Jones and Brown volunteered to chair and co-chair the committee respectively with Commissioner Harshbarger volunteering and Commissioner Bergner was volunteered to be a member.
      3. Public Relations
         Chairpersons Young and Evans volunteered to be the committee.
      4. Decorations
         Commissioner Ahart was volunteered to be chairperson and Commissioner Pullin volunteered to be co-chairperson with Commissioner Thornton being volunteered as a member.
          
   3. MLK Tickets
      1. Sell start and end dates
         Commissioners decided to start selling tickets on November 27, 2006 and end on January 6, 2007.
      2. Ground Rules (regular/veggie meals)
         Commissioners decided that there will be no exchanging of meals at the event. Staff will inform the Interstate center that they are to inform the wait staff that to receive a vegetarian meal the patron must present a veggie meal ticket. If the patron does not except this the wait staff is to get staff or one of the chairpersons.
         The tickets will have this information clearly printed on them.
          
   4. MLK Award nominations
      1. Start Date/End Date
         The commissioners decided to have the nominations start right away and end on November 22, 2006.
      2. Approval of Nomination Form
          
   5. MLK Sponsorships
      1. Inclusion of sponsorships in the 2007 King event was discussed and decided against by both commissions.
          
   6. MLK Budget
       
4. 4 Concerns
   7. Other ideas discussed by the commissions and agreed upon:
      1. The MC to make an announcement about guests taking the flowers from their table home with them.
      2. Have dialogue with the coliseum about holding the event in 2008. The contract with the interstate center ends with the 2007 event.
      3. Instead of a paid ad in the Pantagraph get the newspaper to do an interview for a feature.
      4. Write a letter to the ISU president to thank them for hosting the event last year.
          
5. Adjournment
   Commissioner Michael Pullin moved to adjourn the August 15, 2006 meeting of the Normal and Bloomington Human Relations Commission at 6:40 PM. Commissioner Tony Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.

Respectfully submitted

Jennifer Hanna
Human Resources Generalist

This page last modified 05/14/08.