Commission for Women

MICHIGAN CITY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MINUTES OF MEETING OF THURSDAY DECEMBER 16, 2021 AT 5:30 PM Via ZOOM CALL, plus live FaceBook streaming I. Call to order – Commission President Faye Moore called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. II. Roll Call Present: Albertine Allen, Kristina Isabelle, Veronica Martin, Faye Moore, Bonnie Schaaf Absent: Nicole Coleman, Jo Ann Engquist, Sarah Jones, Anna Sharlene Livesay III. Approval of Minutes of November 18, 2021 meeting Motion to approve by Commissioner Allen, second by Schaaf. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. IV. Treasurer’s Report Commissioner Livesay submitted the 2021 report prior to the meeting. The Commission began the year 2021 with a balance of $20,089.75. Only expense of the year was $5,000.00 paid to Unity Foundation to sponsor the Naomi Anderson Project. Only deposit of the year was $135.00 in sales from sashes for Women’s Equality Day. Ending balance is $15,224.75. Motion to approve by Commissioner Isabelle, second by Allen. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. V. Old Business 1. Update on Naomi Anderson Project Commissioner Moore reported that Naomi Anderson was nominated and chosen as a “South Shore Legend”. A plaque will be hung in Hammond, Indiana alongside 49 other important residents of northwest Indiana throughout history. An induction ceremony was held in Hammond Indiana last week. Moore also reported that sculptor Bernard Williams of LaPorte has begun installing the sculpture in Charles E. Westcott Park, and documentary filmmaker Rana Segal is making a documentary about the project. Commissioner Schaaf reported that a Naomi Anderson Archive has been created at Purdue University Northwest Librarian Joseph Coates. The Archive contains newspaper and book articles, suffrage and civil rights history, and Commissioner Allen reported that she was able to obtain some historical information about African Americans in early Michigan City history which will be added to the Archive. The Archive can be found online at https://guides.pnw.edu/celebratingnaomianderson. USB drives of the Archive have been given to Michigan City and LaPorte County Public Libraries. VI. Slate of Officers Commission President Moore announced that the slate of officers will be voted on at our January meeting. Commissioner Moore will not be able to continue as president in the coming year due to other obligations. Commissioner Allen announced that she will no longer serve as vice president. Moore reminded us that at last month’s meeting, City Council Liaison Angie Nelson-Deuitch offered to accept nominations since she will not be voting, and asked that anyone wishing to serve or nominate an officer send the request to her in an email. Commissioner Allen, who represents Minority Health Coalition, announced that she is retiring and the new director will serve as the representative beginning next month. VII. Council Liaison Comments None. VIII. Commissioner Comments Commissioner Isabelle described the 1519 project which could be used in local schools. We might be able to connect with other organizations to bring this to the schools. IX. Public Comments None. X. Next meeting date is Thursday January 20, 2022. XI. Meeting adjourned at 6:05 pm. Respectfully submitted by Bonita Schaaf, Acting Secretary in the absence of Secretary Nicole Coleman