Commission Meeting Minutes October 14, 2021

First District: Jan Blalock (Chair), Dianna MacDonald
Second District: Trisha Almond, Katie Gordon (Officer-at-Large), Caitlin QuinnThird District: Ofra Isler, Lorena Barrera*
Fifth District: Jessica Wood (Vice Chair), Ariana Diaz De Leon
Staff: Meira Bowcut

Commissioners Absent:
First District: Joanne M. Brown
Third District: Amber Lucas (On Leave of Absence)
Fourth District:Angélica Núñez, Marta Cruz-Concepción

*Commissioner Barrera arrived at 6:13pm.

Meeting held through publicly available link via Zoom Meeting 

1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL
   Meeting called to order at 6.00PM. Roll call was conducted by the Chair.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
   No members of the public addressed the commission.
3. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 MEETING MINUTES
   Motion: Commissioner Almond Ayes: 5 Noes: 0Second: Commissioner Gordon Absent: 5 Abstained: 3
   Commissioner Lucas (on leave), Brown, Núñez, and Cruz were absent. Commissioner Barrera was late to vote. Commissioner MacDonald, Isler, and Diaz De Leon abstained. Motion passed.
4. OFFICER REPORTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
   1. Chair Blalock announced bringing in a speaker next month from Intertribal Council. She is a newly appointed Sonoma County advocate against family violence.
   2. Commissioner Almond’s resignation was announced. Farewell speeches were given and she was presented a certificate of appreciation.
   3. Commissioner Padilla will no longer be a commissioner. She will continue to be a volunteer for the Jr. Commission project. A certificate of appreciation was presented.
   4. Reviewed the attendance expectations as outlined in the bylaws.
   5. November’s meeting is on November 4th because November 11th is a holiday. Commissioner Gordon reminded everyone to submit any agenda items by next Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 5pm.
5. COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS
   Chair Blalock and Commissioner Wood attended the reproductive rights rally and it was a great turnout.
6. OPENINGS AND APPOINTMENTS
   1. Chair Blalock reported three openings in the 2nd, 4th and 5th Districts.
   2. Commissioner Gordon takes the Oath of Office.
7. BUSINESS ITEMS
   1. The Spirit Award winners were announced and speeches were given.
      1. District 1 winner was Larkin O’Leary
      2. District 2 winner was Dennis Pocekay
      3. District 3 winner was Leslie Graves
      4. District 4 winner was Alma Bowen
      5. District 5 winner was Elizabeth (Liz) Quiroz No public comment

         Motion: Commissioner Gordon	Ayes: 8	Noes: 0
         Second: Commissioner Wood	Absent: 4	Abstained: 1

         
         Commissioner Lucas (on leave), Brown, Núñez, and Cruz were absent. Chair Blalock abstained as Chair. Motion passed.
   2. Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women discussed and proposed to adopt a Land Acknowledgement Statement to be added to the CSW website, Facebook page and read at the beginning of their monthly meetings.
      Commissioner MacDonald voiced her concerned to ensure inclusion of all tribal lands in Sonoma County. Chair Blalock ensured that they looked at the map and partnered with Dr. Flyswithhawks to ensure inclusion.
      Commissioner Almond commented on how she loves that it is brief, to the point, covers the county and covers the administration building but most importantly that Dr.Flyswithhawks was involved. Public Comment: Tracy Cunha

      Motion: Commissioner Almond	Ayes: 8	Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner MacDonald	Absent: 4	Abstained: 1

      
      Commissioner Lucas (on leave), Brown, Núñez, and Cruz were absent. Chair Blalock abstained as Chair. Motion passed.
   3. Commissioner Diaz De Leon presented the Junior Commission on the Status of Women Work Plan to ask for approval of the work plan and requested a budget of $1700.
      Commissioner MacDonald asked for clarification on the graduation gift. Commissioner Diaz De Leon clarified that the gifts are presented at graduation and gifts are typically tee shirts, pins, or mugs with empowering message.
      No public comment.  

      Motion: Commissioner Gordon	Ayes: 8	Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner MacDonald	Absent: 4	Abstained: 1

      
      Commissioner Lucas (on leave), Brown, Núñez, and Cruz were absent. Chair Blalock abstained as Chair. Motion passed.
   4. Commissioner Wood presented on the revised Impact of Covid-19 on Women in the Workforce Work Plan and is asking for a $2700 budget. Commissioner Wood rephrased that the stipend was removed.
      Commissioner MacDonald rephrased how important it is to donate to the nonprofits to educate the community on the lack of childcare providers.
      Commissioner Wood added that Parent Voices didn’t get their grant from First 5 and we should continue to support them.
      Public Comment: Tracy Cunha  

      Motion: Commissioner MacDonald	Ayes: 8	Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner Quin	Absent: 4	Abstained: 1

      
      Commissioner Lucas (on leave), Brown, Núñez, and Cruz were absent. Chair Blalock abstained as Chair. Motion passed.
8. AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT COMMITTEE UPDATES
   Commissioners to provide reports and/or updates about the work being done by their ad hoc committee(s) and/or project committee(s).
   1. No updates from CSW Monthly Radio Project.
   2. No updates on Impact of Covid-19 on Women
   3. Commissioner Diaz De Leon reported out for the Junior Commission on the Status ofWomen that they are seeking a new manager that would lead recruitment in January 2022.
      1. Commissioner Gordon asked about the time commitment of the project however Commissioner Diaz De Leon couldn’t provide the number of hours that the work of Junior Commission requires; this was partly due to the new staff support, which may alter the time commitment required to participate on the Junior Commission.
      2. Commissioner Isler voiced her interest and would love to co-manage the program
      3. Commissioner Wood thanked Commissioner Padilla and Diaz De Leon for their work
   4. Commissioner Quin invites other commissioners to join the Spirit Award Project
   5. Voices of Sonoma County Women: COVID-19 Pandemic Edition reported out
      1. Chair Blalock mentioned that they will have an ad in the Bohemian special nonprofit edition
      2. Commissioner Isler reported survey numbers of 400 in English and 40 in Spanish
      3. Chair Blalock reinforces to please share the survey, it will be boosted in social media, a digital ad will be happening later
      4. Commissioner Gordon asked commissioners of other ways to reach the Supervisors besides the one telephone number for all 5 Supervisors.
      5. Commissioner MacDonald shared that Supervisor Gorin has a meeting with leaders and perhaps if all Supervisors had meetings like this, it could be another way of outreach
      6. Chair Blalock wrote a letter and Commissioner Cruz will present it during her meeting with Mayors and Council Members
9. COMMUNITY ISSUES, LIAISONS, AND COORDINATORS
   Commissioners to provide brief updates or ideas on the following:
   1. Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW) didn’t have anything to report.
   2. Human Trafficking Task Force has a location for the billboard and still talking about content. Looking for a positive theme like last year.
   3. The Legislative Advisory Group reported that they will be presenting next meeting on recent bills.
      1. Commission MacDonald would like to know what happened with the Tampon Bill
   4. Chair Blalock didn’t have anything to report for National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW).
   5. Commissioner Wood announced that Its Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Invited the commission to the YWCA, Y I Ran Event on October 23st and it’s a $25 registration fee. If you can’t attend, please still donate. On October 21st is wear purple day
10. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
    1. Commissioner Quinn will request for higher budget for Spirit Award Project
    2. Please email Commissioner Wood with ideas for speakers for upcoming Commission meetings
11. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 7:42PM