May 14, 2018
Federation of Citizens Associations Award for Barbara Lippa
Vice Chair Lippa thanked the Commissioners who attended the awards dinner on her behalf.
Dinner Meeting with City of Fairfax Commission for Women
Commissioners enjoyed the joint meeting and look forward to working with the City of Fairfax Commission. Ms. Mueller distributed the Areas of Focus document they reported on at the meeting.
Supervised Visitation Reception
Ms. Mueller, Vice Chair Hemenway, Ms. Sales and Ms. Palmore planned to attend the event, sponsored by the Commission for Women.
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Lippa at 8:05 p.m.
Attendance
Commissioners in attendance: Emily McCoy, Lee; Mattie Palmore, Minority At-Large; Lisa Sales, Mount Vernon; Vice Chair Barbara Lippa, Sully; Elise Helgesen Aguilar, Providence; Kayla Rothstein, Student Representative; Helen Cole, Hunter Mill.
Commissioners absent: Nancy Hopkins, Dranesville; Vice Chair Sondra Seba Hemenway, At-Large; Charlie Brown, Braddock; Chair Cynthia Bhatnagar, Mason.
Staff in attendance: Michelle Mueller
Introduction of Visitors
There were no visitors at the meeting.
April 2018 Minutes
ACTION: Ms. Sales moved to approve the April 2018 minutes. Ms. Helgesen Aguilar seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
April 2018 Financial Report
Ms. Mueller presented the FY2018 expenses to date. After accounting for encumbered funds, the Commission has $3,690.72 remaining for the fiscal year.
ACTION: Ms. Palmore moved to approve the April 2018 financial report. Ms. Rothstein seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Commission Retreat
The Commission retreat will take place at the South County Center on June 9. The planning committee of Chair Bhatnagar, Ms. Sales and Ms. Hopkins drafted an agenda. The agenda and the biography of facilitator Liz Weber were distributed to Commissioners, which were approved without objection.
ACTION: Ms. Sales moved to expend up to $200 for a hotel room and lunch for the retreat facilitator. Ms. Palmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Ms. Mueller will forward a link to the lunch menu so Commissioners can inform her of their lunch choices. Commissioners will pay for their own lunches.
Turning Point Suffragist Memorial
Ms. McCoy asked Commissioners to thank their Supervisors for the Board’s approval of the $200,000 allocation for the memorial. She also reminded Commissioners about the Putting Women Back into History fundraiser on May 24.
ACTION: Ms. Palmore moved to purchase three tickets to the Turning Point event, at $102.35 each. Ms. McCoy seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Standing Committees
Women’s History Month
Commissioners discussed the 2019 national Women’s History Month theme, Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence. Ms. Rothstein reported that she had won second prize for her State History Day presentation and would go on to the national event.
Policy Committee
Commissioners received the revised Policy Committee Guidelines.
ACTION: Ms. Helgesen Aguilar moved to approve the Guidelines as amended. Ms. Palmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Media Committee
Ms. Mueller explained that the shortcut link to the Commission webpage would be eliminated in December, and printed materials would have to be reprinted.
ACTION: Ms. Sales moved to write a letter stating that the new web addresses would be challenging for victims needing services. Ms. Sales made an amendment in the nature of a substitute to invite the County Public Information Officer or his representative to a Commission meeting to discuss the changes in County web addresses. Mas Palmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Administrative Committee
Vice Chair Lippa reported that the committee did not meet.
DV/Mental Health Services
Ms. Mueller distributed the report on the research on text and chat hotlines that the Committee produced.Ms. Sales reported on the additional 36 shelter beds coming to South County.
OFWDSVS
Ms. Mueller reported that the new OFWDSVS Director Toni Zollicoffer would start on May 25.
Community Reports
Ms. Mueller provided materials from ElderSafe’s Tier II presentation to the DV Network.
NACW Annual Membership Dues
Ms. Mueller reported that NACW had asked for annual membership renewals.
ACTION: Ms. Sales moved to renew the NACW membership at a cost of $100. Ms. Palmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
NACW Annual Conference
Ms. Mueller reported that it would cost about $1,800 per Commissioner to attend the NACW conference in Los Angeles. Ms. Lippa explained that as Treasurer the NACW Board expected her to attend the meeting. Ms. Sales and Ms. Rothstein expressed interest in attending.
ACTION: Ms. Pamore moved to pay for two Commissioners to attend the NACW conference in Los Angeles. Ms. Sales seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Virginia Women Veterans Summit Tabling
Ms. Sales reported that the Commission had been offered a free exhibit table at the Women Veteran Summit. Ms. Mueller reported that OFWDSVS staff had agreed to help staff the table. Ms. Sales reported that the purpose would be engagement and offering resources to individuals.
ACTION: Ms. Sales moved to accept a Commission exhibit table at the Virginia Women Veterans Summit. Ms. Palmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Just Ask Fundraiser
Ms. Mueller and Ms. Palmore reported on the Just Ask fundraiser plannned for June 8.
Springfield Commissioner Update
Ms. Mueller reported that Supervisor Herrity had not yet appointed a Springfield Commissioner.
Youth Outreach
Ms. Rothstein reported that she would meet with Ms. Mueller and OFWDSVS Youth Outreach Specialist Helen McDonald on May 29 to discuss reaching out to girls in Fairfax County high schools. Other Commissioners were invited to join them.
DFS Presentation on Framing
Ms. Mueller reported that Ms. Hopkins had agreed to attend the presentation on issue framing on May 30. Ms. Sales and Ms. Palmore were also interested in attending.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
Next Meeting
The Commission will next meet on June 11, 2018 at the Fairfax County Government Center at 7:15 p.m.
If you have any concerns, issues or thoughts that you would like to share, please send an email to Commission for Women. Your concerns and observations are important in helping the women and girls in Fairfax County.