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Committee Meeting Minutes

Subject: EOP - Civil Rights Action Committee Teleconference Date: February 07, 2008
To: Pacific Islands Civil Rights Action Committee
Lawrence T. Yamamoto, DEOO		File Code: EOP 230
 
Meeting called to order at 1:00 p.m. Guam Standard Time
Attendees:
  Title Name
1) Federal Women's Program Colleen Simpson
2) American Indian/Alaska Native Program
Acting for Hispanic Emphasis Program		 Athena Pratt
3) Disability Emphasis Program Michael Hashimoto
4) Asian American/Pacific Islander Emphasis Program Cheryl Morton
5) Veterans Program Dennis Kimberlin
6) Human Resources Manager Eileen Winkle
7) CRAC Chairperson Kurencio B. Ngowakl
Non Attendees:
  Title Name
1) Ethics Advisor Keith Harada
2) Black Emphasis Program Sherman White

Old Business

  • Meeting minutes from December 6, 2007
  • Read by Chairperson
  • Kurencio moved to approve
  • Cheryl Seconded
  • Majority voted to approve
  • As of this summer we will have 4 Student Career Employment Opportunity (SCEPS), and 2 Student Temporary Employment Program (STEPS). Which will be all the “08” budget will allow.

New Business

  • Introduction of new Program Managers:
    • Colleen Simpson-Federal Women’s SEPM
    • Dennis Kimberlin-Veterans’ SEPM
  • Overview as acting HEPM and approved HEPM business plan-Athena
    1. Need to review “08” business plan-Kurencio will reformat to reflect progress.
    2. Need to add budget amounts.
    3. $1,000. determined by committee for civil rights award. Still need the breakdown of how to announce and determine awardees.
    4. New members will create their own individual business plans and incorporate with the Committee’s plan.
    5. Eileen will research the Civil Rights performance report.
  • NB.230.8.4 EOP-Request for CRs Related Issues, Concerns, and Recommendations:
    1. Kurencio processed and turned in the report to Keith Harada (Asst. Director for Administration) and Lawrence Yamamoto (Director for the Pacific Islands Area)
      1. Dennis-is there something we could have done locally before sending to the National Civil Rights Committee?
        1. The National Civil Rights Committee “07” Annual Report lists the issues.
        2. The Chair meets with Administration, Human Resources, and the Director to address concerns.
  • Overview of each SEPM:
    1. APIO-Currently working with the National AA/PI to create a
      committee for the purpose of gathering and sharing information on Students majoring in related fields of study necessary to become employed by the USDA-NRCS. SCEP, STEP, Interns, etc.
    2. Black-Program Manager not in attendance.
    3. Disability-working on obtaining a guest speaker to help inform State Office employees of disability issues relating to the work force.
    4. Federal Women’s and Veterans-Both Program Managers are new and will be working on their business plans.
  • Recruiting under-represented groups
    1. Maintain a list of names as direct email contacts to share Pacific Islands vacancy announcements.
      1. Assistant Director for Operations West, (Bart) has the list
      2. Include Paul Scales on the list
      3. Recruitment video-need to ask about this.
  • Request 30 minutes at the Ops meeting to share the 2007 AEP and collect suggestions for action items that could be pursued for FY 2008-Athena
    1. Athena has been approved for 45 minutes via teleconference for the meeting.
    2. Needs feedback from the field on how quarterly reports are tied into field reports.

Meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.

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