Mar. 11, 2019
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Sales at 7:25 p.m.
Attendance
Commissioners in attendance: Jane Materna, Mason; Emily McCoy, Lee; Helen Cole, Hunter Mill; Nancy Hopkins, Dranesville; Charlie Brown, Braddock; Vice Chair Lisa Sales, Mount Vernon; Elise Helgesen Aguilar, Providence; Kayla Rothstein, Student Representative
Commissioners absent: Vice Chair Barbara Lippa, Sully; Michelle Russell, Springfield; Mattie Palmore, Minority At-Large; Sondra Seba Hemenway, At-Large
Staff in attendance: Toni Zollicoffer, Michelle Mueller
Visitors: Justine Evirs, President and CEO of Paradigm Switch
New Commissioner
Newly appointed Mason District Commissioner Jane Materna introduced herself.
December 2018 Minutes
ACTION: Ms. McCoy moved to approve the December 2018 minutes. Ms. Brown seconded the motion. All Commissioners voted in favor except Ms. Rothstein and Ms. Materna, who abstained.
February 2019 Financial Report
ACTION: Ms. Helgesen Aguilar moved to approve the February 2019 financial report. Ms. Rothstein seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Chair Election Planning
In accordance with the bylaws, the Commission will elect a Chair to complete the term ending in June 2020. Ms. Hopkins and Ms. Brown volunteered to form a Nominating Committee to generate a slate of nominees to present at the April meeting, with a vote at the May meeting. Ms. Mueller pointed out that any Commissioner may be nominated at any time until the election. Ms. Mueller will forward the bylaws.
ACTION: Ms. Materna moved to approve the Chair election plan. Ms. Rothstein seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
NACW Membership Renewal
ACTION: Ms. Brown moved to renew the Commission membership in the National Association of Commission for Women for $100. Ms. Hopkins seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
NACW Conference Attendance
The 2019 NACW Conference will be held July 22-24 in Chicago. Ms. Mueller reported that the Commission for Women usually send two representatives, and it usually costs about $1,700 per attendee.
ACTION: Ms. Brown moved to sponsor two people to attend the 2019 NACW Conference. Ms. Hopkins seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Commissioners planned to discuss in April who would attend on behalf of the Commission.
Board of Supervisors FY 2020 Budget Hearings
Commissioners discussed whether to testify at the BOS budget hearings in April. Ms. Mueller pointed out that one issue the Commission had previously considered, the number of County employees classified as part time (since so many are female), was being addressed in the budget. Ms. Brown asked about the issue of training additional counselors to serve domestic violence victims, and Ms. Zollicoffer explained that it was in process. Ms. Materna expressed interest in exploring gender equity issues with Karla Bruce, director of the One Fairfax initiative. Ms. Zollicoffer said that she would meet with Ms. Bruce and invite her to a Commission meeting.
DECA Conference
Ms. Mueller asked if Commissioners were interested in assisting with the DECA Girls’ Conference. Ms. Brown said that she would contact them for more information.
Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services
Ms. Zollicoffer reported that Ms. Russell and Vice Chair Sales had volunteered to sit on the Liaison interview panel. She suggested that the second interviews be with the entire Commission. Several Commissioners offered to research how to close the meeting during the interviews. Ms. Zollicoffer also announced that the office name has changed to Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.
Turning Point Suffragist Memorial
Ms. McCoy reported that they are reaching out to the Hearst family, a funder of the original National Woman’s Party. TPSM dedication is scheduled for August 26, 2020.
DVPPCC
Vice Chair Sales reported that the DVPPCC is working to institutionalize a direct link with the DV Network. The DVPPCC Social Impact Committee plans to include members from the faith community and the DV Network. They are also working with the Athletic Commission and adapting the Make the Call campaign.
Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Ms. Mueller reported that Supervisor McKay presented a proclamation to Liz Payne of FCPS at the Just Ask conference as the Commission requested.
Women’s History Month
Ms. Cole reported that the School Board and the Board of Supervisors marked Women’s History Month with proclamations, and channel 16 had created a short video. Ms. Mueller agreed to forward the link to the video.
Young Women’s Event
Ms. Rothstein reported that the event planning committee had met three times and had seven members. They have formed committees and are reaching out to panelists. The event will take place September 21. She will bring a budget request in April for at least $1,000.
Policy Committee
- ERA Update: Vice Chair Sales described the efforts to pass ERA in Virginia this year.
- Legislation: ERA and protective order bills are likely to come up again in the next legislative session. Legislative proposals are due to the Board of Supervisors by August.
- Protective Order Panel: ACTION: Ms. Helgesen Aguilar moved to put the issue of a protective order panel back on the table. Ms. Rothstein seconded the motion, which was supported by all Commissioners except Ms. McCoy, who abstained.
- Commissioners discussed educating judges, professionals or community members about protective orders.
- ACTION: Ms. McCoy moved to ask the Policy Committee to work with Legal Services of Northern Virginia on their CLE Protective Order training as a way of implementing protective order education. Ms. Cole seconded the motion, which passed unanimously
Advisory Social Services Board Meeting
Ms. Mueller reported that she and Ms. Zollicoffer made the presentation about the Commission for Women at the ASSB meeting. She distributed the summary that was provided to ASSB.
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Ms. Mueller thanked the Commission for sponsoring the prizes for the TDVAM art awards. Ms. Russell was able to attend the ceremony.
County BACs Strategic Planning Meeting
Vice Chair Sales reported that BAC representatives met on March 7 and generated a list of priorities for the County.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Ms. Mueller inited Commissioners to attend the Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation on April 9 and the Walk on April 11 at George Mason University.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Next Meeting
The Commission will next meet on April 8, 2019 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.