Nov. 19, 2018
The meeting was called to order by Chair Bhatnagar at 7:20 p.m.
Attendance
Commissioners in attendance: Emily McCoy, Lee; Vice Chair Barbara Lippa, Sully; Kayla Rothstein, Student Representative; Helen Cole, Hunter Mill; Nancy Hopkins, Dranesville; Charlie Brown, Braddock; Michelle Russell, Springfield; Mattie Palmore, Minority At-Large; Chair Cynthia Bhatnagar, Mason
Commissioners absent: Vice Chair Lisa Sales, Mount Vernon; Elise Helgesen Aguilar, Providence; Sondra Seba Hemenway, At-Large
Staff in attendance: Michelle Mueller
Visitors: None
October 2018 Minutes
ACTION: Ms. Lippa moved to approve the October 2018 minutes. Ms. Hopkins seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
October 2018 Financial Report
ACTION: Ms. Lippa moved to approve the October 2018 financial report. Ms. McCoy seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Human Trafficking Awareness Month
ACTION: Ms. Lippa moved to present a human trafficking proclamation at the February 2 Just Ask conference and ask Chairman Bulova to present it. Ms. Palmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Ms. Hopkins volunteered to draft the proclamation and Ms. Mueller offered to send her sample proclamations from previous years.
Women’s History Month
Ms. Cole described the plan developed by the Women’s History Month committee. They proposed submitting short statements about suffrage and suffragists to schools, to be read during morning announcements. Commissioners also wanted to have a presentation at the March 5 Board of Supervisors meeting, with no reception before the meeting.
The announcements would include alternate versions of different lengths, as well as resources for additional information. The announcements could be read each Friday in March. March 8 is International Women’s Day, so the Commission can suggest that the announcement be read that day.
Ms. Palmore will check with the School Board Chair about ways to encourage schools to read the announcements. It was suggested to consider a School Board resolution.
Young Women’s Event
Ms. Rothstein discussed the plan and timeline for the event, the “It Starts Now” Summit: Young Women Empowered to Build Equitable Futures, to take place in September 2019. It will cover three important issues, economic, political and cultural equity. Each will have interactive, educational and panel components. Ms. Rothstein will draft a letter describing the project.
Human Trafficking Policy Paper
Commissioners discussed how to release the trafficking paper.
ACTION: Ms. McCoy moved to approve the human trafficking paper with minimal edits and to create a letter and talking points for Commissioners. Ms. Russell seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Ms. McCoy suggested presenting the paper at a Board of Supervisors meeting, in addition to one-on-one conversations with Supervisors. Chair Bhatnagar stated that she would draft the letter and talking points.
Board of Supervisors Protective Order Resolutions
Vice Chair Lippa stated that the Policy Committee had not met, but wanted to recommend a panel discussion or educational seminar on protective orders.
ACTION: Ms. Brown moved to table the discussion. Ms. Palmore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
ERA Update
Ms. Russell stated that she and her daughter, as well as Ms. Hopkins, Ms. Mueller and Vice Chair Sales had attended the ERA Bus event at GMU. It was well-attended and had media coverage.
DVPPCC
Ms. Palmore reported that the next DVPPCC meeting would take place on January 17.
Turning Point Suffragist Memorial
Ms. McCoy will be honored by the Board of Supervisors at their November 20 meeting for her generous donation to TPSM. She reported that she is currently reviewing permissions for photos to be used in the memorial, and volunteers are needed to help with that effort. They are also preparing the site plan and are on track for the August 25, 2020 completion date. Ms. McCoy asked the Commission to consider contributing an additional $1,000 to TPSM.
Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services
Ms. Mueller reported that the new County-wide Domestic Violence Coordinator had been hired, and she would start soon.
Community Reports
Ms. McCoy reported that she had met with Ms. Zollicoffer and had shared the history of the Commission and its county-wide mandate.Ms. Brown announced that she and her husband had donated many handmade wood crafts to Bethany House fundraiser which raised $2,300. She also reported that her Supervisor is not running for re-relection, but he explained to her that Commissioners are entitled to finish their terms.
Ms. Palmore trained several churches and the Gum Springs Community Center Advisory Board on domestic violence.
Meeting with Advisory Social Services Board
Chair Bhatnagar reported that the ASSB had invited the CFW to make a presentation at their December 19 meeting. The ASSB wants to learn about the CFW and see where the CFW’s goals align with theirs. Commissioners reported that they would not be able to attend on that date. Chair Bhatnagar asked Ms. Mueller to request a different date and to request the ASSB goals for comparison.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Next Meeting
The Commission will next meet on December 17, 2018, 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.