Commission for Women

1 MINUTES OF MICHIGAN CITY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING Thursday, July 19, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. City Hall West Conference Room 100 E. Michigan Blvd., Michigan City, IN 46360 Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chair Kathy Dennis at 5:05 pm. Present were Commissioners Kathy Dennis, Faye Moore, Dalia Zygas, Jo Ann Engquist, Kay Hill, Bonita Schaaf, Sharlene Livesay and City Council Liaison Pat Boy. Present by phone Kristina Isabelle and Albertine Allen. Approval of Minutes of the Prior Meeting: Minutes of the May 17, 2018 meeting were reviewed with motion to approve by Engquist, second by Zygas. Motion carried. The meeting scheduled for June 21, 2018 was cancelled and the Annual Meeting was held on June 2, 2018. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Faye Moore reported a balance of $36,874.45. Old Business: a. Celebrating Women in the Arts 2018: Dennis recommended that we not hold this event until 2019, and reported that the Michigan City Public Arts Committee agrees with this recommendation. Dennis suggested that next year’s theme be the collection of Underground Railroad Quilts which was owned by the late Maymie Davis. Also suggested was creation of a community quilt, perhaps with help from local quilting groups. b. Dennis announced that the issue of minimum wage might be considered in the Michigan City Strategic Plan Committee, and she will ask Livesay to share with this committee the research she did on equal pay. New Business: a. Request for Donation. The League of Women Voters of LaPorte County submitted a letter requesting funding of $500.00 to be used for expenses related to candidate forums. Livesay moved to approve the league of Women Voters of LaPorte County’s Request for Donation of $500.00 to be used for expenses related to candidate forums. Seconded by Allen. Motion carried. Commissioners Engquist, Schaaf, Zygas and Moore abstained from voting due to their conflicts of interest as members of the board of League of Women Voters of LaPorte County. b. Women’s Access to Health Care in Michigan City. Dennis suggested that the Commission help the Women’s Care Center with promotion and marketing, specifically helping to get it included in United Way’s 211 referral service. Zygas will contact Women’s Care Center and Open Door  2 Adolescent Health Care Center at Michigan City High School for more information about their services. c. International Women’s Equality Day. Our annual luncheon to celebrate Women’s Equality Day will be held at Lubeznik Center for the Arts on Wednesday September 5, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The cost for use of the facilities will be $200.00. One hundred attendees can be accommodated at that location, which we have used in past years. Scartozzi is available to cater that day but we still need to choose the menu. Program presenters who were suggested include Amy Black from Dunes Arts Foundation; activist Dana Black; Liz Watson, candidate for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District in the general election in November. Invitations will be sent via email with a request for RSVPs. Livesay suggested using Google Doc for the RSVPs since there will not be a charge. Livesay will contact former Women’s Commission Chair Deborah Chubb for a list of email recipients of the invitation in prior years. d. Speakers at future meetings. Nancy Smith, Director of Promise Scholarship, will be a guest at our August meeting to request a donation. Barbara Eason-Watkins, Superintendent of Michigan City Area Schools, will attend our meeting in September or October to request a donation. Council Liaison’s Comments: None. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm. Our next meeting is July 16, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at City Hall - West Conference Room. Submitted by: Bonita Schaaf, Secretary Michigan City Commission for Women