SPIRIT Council Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: 
Monday, December 7, 2020

 

SIMSBURY SPIRIT COUNCIL
Minutes

December 7, 2020

6-8 pm

Via Google Meets Live Feed

 

ROLL CALL

In Attendence: Cheryl Cook, Nicole Kodak, Chris Kelly, Tenesha Grant, Diana Yeisley, Gene Ott, Lisa Grant, Lloyd Huie, Nkosi Lee, Rebekah Hatch, Sara Batchelder, Mary-Margaret Girgenti, Annalise Febus-Barlow

Absent: Dana Albrycht, Carol Clark-Flanagan, Meg Evans

Staff Liaisons in Attendance: Todd Kushman, Kristen Formanek, Lyndsay Neffinger

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

CALL TO ORDER: 6:17 pm

 

PUBLIC AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: None

 

UPDATE FROM THE CHAIRS: Martin Luther King Memorial will be revealed January 18. More information can be found at www.mlkinct.org. BOS will be receiving a quarterly report from SPIRIT in January, April, July, and October.

 

ACTION ITEMS

  1. Review and approval of minutes from November 2, 2020. Were adopted and approved.  Sara made the motion, Diana seconded it.
  2. Appointment of committee historian, Carol Clark-Flanagan. Diana Yeisley made the motion, Gene seconded it, and it was adopted.

 

SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS

  1. Events sub-committee had their last meeting 12/7/20.  Last event was on Dec 3 for World AIDS Day and it can be viewed on Simsbury Public Library website. The next “Let’s Talk” event will be about Human Trafficking on January 7.  Currently brainstorming ideas for Black History Month. Annalise joined the sub-committee.
  2. The Data sub-committee has their meeting calendar set. There will be a special meeting in December and then the fourth Monday going forward. Each of the members has committed to being available to attend the Let’s Talk Events. Spoke with Rick Brush and Mark from Data Haven. Both can help the sub-committee and SPIRIT with resources needed. Sub-committee chair reached out to the Montgomery OH Diversity and Inclusion Committee and there will be a meeting soon. Final deadline for budget request to Kristen is December 23, 2020.
  3. The Outreach sub-committee will continue to provide outreach. Simsbury Chamber to partner with SPIRIT. Lloyd will send out an email to the members of the sub-committee within two weeks so that they can have a special meeting in December to set the calendar for the next year.
  4. Volunteers can attend sub-committee meetings; they just will not be able to attend the steering committee at this time and they would not be able to vote.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

  1. Review proposed new member appointment: Open seat appointment will be filled with Rick Brush. This will be presented at the next BOS meeting. Student seat has not yet been filled.
  2.  Commission/Board Liaison reports:
    1. Diana Yeisley: Aging and Disability Commission sent out social stories about Halloween and COVID-19 and delivered snacks to the participants. Have individual time slots to have a visit with Santa and deliver goodies from Santa to the participants. There will be an Aging presentation for Seniors in the Spring. Continue to work on housing issues and any needs during COVID-19.
    2. Cheryl Cook: Housing Authority has been keeping housing COVID free. It’s hard to get them to be a part of socialization activities. 140 families are currently being served. Simsbury Social Services has been continuously involved in the Senior Center and providing different opportunities for them to socialize.
  3. Goal setting: Each of the sub-committees to 1) review each of the items on the goal setting handout and be prepared with 3 and 6 month action steps/deliverables supporting equity and 2) coming up with any budget requests by December 23. There were 3 new items on the goal setting handout that weren’t identified before and we need to at some point address these.
  4. Marketing discussion: There is a need for someone to volunteer to assist with marketing/public relations. Kristen will find out if it is ok for a volunteer to help with social media if they are not on the steering committee.
  5. Chris Kelly raised that this committee should be treated differently so that it could include volunteers to the conversation of the steering committee so that we are able to engage more people.

 

LIAISON REPORTS

  1. The Equity Council: Developing two subcommittees that will have meetings looking into climate data in the district and ask the question “Why?” Erin will be retiring and they are looking to fill the role. BOE approved equity statement that can be shared.
  2. The Library: The partnership is working really well. The resource list is very helpful and adds great value to the community. Suggestion that resources be grouped by topic. Sent an email about a grant for a funding opportunity being offered by the American Library Association as a community engagement grant and funding to support antiracist theory and practices for library led community engagement projects and up to $2000. Due date is 2/5/2021. Library will take the lead along with Kristen in submitting to BOS.  

 

OLD BUSINESS: None

 

NEXT MEETING: Monday, January 4, 2020

 

Diana Yeisley made a motion to adjourn.  Motion was seconded by Gene Ott.  All present voted in favor and the vote was unanimous.  The motion passed.

 

ADJOURNMENT: 7:30 pm