January 24 Civil Rights Summary Minutes
 

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January 2008 Teleconference Civil Rights Summary Minutes  (PDF, 91 KB)

IDAHO STATE CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEETING
Teleconference Meeting
January 24, 2008
Summary of Minutes

Members

Meeting called to order at 10:04 AM Mountain/09:04 AM Pacific

KIM GOLDEN:        

Kim welcomed everyone to the Idaho Civil Rights Committee teleconference meeting. 

1. Career Fairs

Two Career Fairs are scheduled in Northern Idaho at the end of January, 2008.  They will be at Washington State University and the University of Idaho.  Idaho NRCS employees, as well as Washington State employees will attend these two career fairs. There will be a sign in sheet for students visiting the booth.  This list will be used by Human Resources to respond back to any student’s questions.  The new Idaho NRCS recruiting DVD will be used to educate the students NRCS careers. 

Other Career Fairs or recruiting opportunities:

• Idaho State University on February 19th, 2008 and at BYU Rexburg, February 21st, 2008.
• Jerome High School sometime in February (Terry Edwards will attend).
• Leah Juarros will attend the Idaho FFA meeting with Legislators in Boise on February 4th, 2008.  This helps get the word out about our agency, Idaho NRCS.  Leah will be attending this meeting.
• Brendan Brazee, State Range Conservationist will be attending the National Society of Rangeland Management Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.  Brendan will take our current SCEP and Career Intern announcements with hi.  This is just another avenue or opportunity to get the word out about Idaho NRCS.

The SCEP position announcement has been extended from 1/30/08 until the middle of February.

2. Quality Assurance Reviews (QARS)

Committee members will be notified by Susan Tharp, the Area Conservationist, or Mark Weatherstone if they are to participate in a particular QAR. 

Denis Feichtinger suggested that an email go out to the Area Conservationists, Susan Tharp and Mark Weatherstone to inform them that the Civil Rights committee members are willing and available to participate. 

3. National Civil Rights Issues

The deadline to submit issues of concern to the National Civil Right Committees is February 4th, 2008. 

Question:  What issues does Idaho NRCS have to submit to the National Civil Rights Committee?  Issues will be developed in Issue Paper format with a draft to the State Conservationist for review.  Kim will be responsible for follow through with this action.

This is also be an opportunity to identify issues that can be possibly addressed more appropriately at the state level.

Issue #1:  Consistency in requests for reports and planning documents from the National SEPM’s to the State SEPMs and the requirements from the State Conservationist to the State SEPMs.  Kim will draft this issue.

Issue #2:  Identifying barriers and recruitment options when there are no applicant pools? Leah, Dee and Denis will work on this issue paper.

4. On-going Anonymous Web Based Input

Dee found that NRCS Tennessee has an anonymous input link on their Web Page. This link allows employees to send their ideas and concerns anonymously to their Civil Rights Committee.  All issues are brought before the Committee and the State Conservationist for discussion and appropriate action.  This is a tool to get feedback from employees on Civil Rights issues.  Dee recommended Idaho consider implementing this type of communication tool.  Committee members will review the Tennessee site and discuss at our next face-to-face meeting.

5. FY2008 Civil Rights Performance Report  

State Conservationist is to provide a Quarterly report to the National Civil Rights Division.  Human Resources (Sue Ellis) is responsible for report completion using available information including that provided by the SEPM’s and committee members.

6. Business Plan/Civil Rights Budget Approval

State Conservationist approved the Civil Rights Committee Business Plan and SEPM Business Plans for this year.  The Civil Rights budget has not been approved pending receipt of agency budget.  

7. Posting of Business Plan on “S” Drive

The State Conservationist would like the CRC Business Plan to kept on the “S” Shared Drive for the Civil Rights Committee Members to constantly update.  This would allow the State Conservationist to view the most current and updated information that happens throughout the year. Each member would be able to access the folder and annotate any accomplishments  and progress completed.  Jackie will follow-up to see that this happens and notify Committee members with instructions.   

8. Developing ONE, all inclusive, Business Plan

The State Conservationist would like to see all SEPM’s and Civil Rights Committee Business Plans consolidated to one plan.  More discussion is needed during a face-to-face meeting. SEPMs should determine if this is an option considering expectations of National SEPM.

9. Discussion on exceeding EO/CR Element 

There was a discussion on employees’ efforts to exceed EO/CR performance elements and how sharing information with all-employees via email may need to be coordinated with SEPM e-mails.  More discussion required on this subject.

10. Discussion on Training Needs

There is a possibility that training for Civil Rights members and SEPM’s will be held sometime in April 2008 (possibly 2nd or 3rd week).  Tentatively, the training would be held in conjunction with a face-to-face Civil Rights Committee meeting the same week as the Leadership Team meeting. Susan Tharp will keep Committee members informed of this training.

11. Discussion on Civil Rights Library

Frank Gariglio (“gatekeeper” for Civil Rights Library) updated the Committee on recent entries from employees.

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