Community Relations Commission

APPROVED MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS MAY 3, 2012 The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m., in the Civic Room, at the Northbrook Public Library, by Chair Ray Wehr. Members Present: Elliott Bruckman, Nafisa Choudhury, Dale Duda, Scott Gertz, Linda Goldsher, Sue Huang, Jim Hyun, Kamyar Jabbari, Chris Kosla, Bob Lozaro, Ron Mantegna, Rochelle Singer, Nancy Stoddard, and Chair Wehr. Also Present: Liaison Jason Batalden, and Recording Secretary LeeAnn Artstein. Excused Member: Bruce Doughty. Welcome Chair Wehr welcomed everyone to the meeting. Approval of the April 5, 2012 CRC Meeting Minutes The following items were changed: Page 1, the last paragraph, the last sentence, last name should be: “…contact Member Huang.” Page 3, New Business, 2nd paragraph, 2nd sentence, change Sheila Singer to Rochelle Singer. Member Gertz made a motion to approve the minutes with the changes, and it was seconded by Member Lozaro. On voice vote, the motion passed. Approval of the March 21, 2012 Asian Heritage Celebration Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Member Lozaro made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by Member Hyun. On voice vote, the motion passed. Approval of the April 4, 2012 Asian Heritage Celebration Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Member Lozaro made a motion to approve the minutes. It was seconded by Member Hyun. On voice vote, the motion passed. Hear from the Audience There were no comments. Asian Heritage Celebration Planning Update (Theme: Taste of Asia—A Celebration of Asian American Heritage) May 6 (Panel Discussion—The Role of Korean Women, Past and Future in America) April 30 Member Huang reported that everything is ready for the Taste of Asia which will be held at the North Suburban YMCA on Sunday, May 6, 1 – 4 pm. The event will be open to the public and will feature music, dance, storytelling, and other performances. There will be arts and artifacts on display. Food vendors will be selling food. Member Huang appreciated all the help the CRC received from Exec. Dir. Howard Schultz, Donald Langley and everyone else at the Y; the Allstate Asian American Network; the Filipino American Assoc.; and all the event sponsors and donors. The Y and the Village prepared the publicity. The posters and banners are up. Liaison Batalden helped with the flyers. Flyers were passed out and Member Goldsher sent one to the Clergy Association to get the word out. The event was listed in the Village newsletter and they put together a psa with Member Huang. A TV crew from KBC-TV will be at the event. Member Lozaro reported that the stage, speaker system, tables and chairs will be set up on Saturday. The decorating will take place on Sunday morning. Member Hyun reported that Trivia Challenge is ready which will be taking place between the performances. There are many donated prizes that will be given out. Members Huang and Hyun each gave a recap of The Asian Heritage Celebration Panel Discussion, “The Role of Korean Women, Past and Future in America”, which took place on Monday, April 30, at 7 pm, at the Northbrook Public Library Auditorium. Member Huang reported the event was well attended. The panelists represented Korean American women in philanthropic work, business, religion, culture, and medical fields in America. The presenters were well prepared. Member Hyun felt the topic was very good. The event allowed the first- and second-generation Korean-American women speakers to share their experiences with the mainstream Northbrook audience, as well as with the Korean-American members in the audience. The audience enjoyed hearing the Korean Women’s Choir perform. Village President Sandy Frum, Northbrook Chamber President Tensley Garris, and NSYMCA Director Howard Schultz attended the event. Many Korean dignitaries were present, including representatives from the Korean Consulate and the Korean American Association. The event was covered by the Korean media, including Korean TV and radio. A discussion followed with suggestions for next year’s event. It was suggested that the next panel discussion should have more time available for interaction. A new idea was presented that instead of a panel discussion next year, try to bring together two generations of Asian Americans representing, for example, Japanese, Chinese and Korean cultures, to share their different perspectives and experiences. Chair Wehr thanked the subcommittee for doing an excellent job and encouraged the CRC members to attend and support the event. Senior Services/CRC Subcommittee Update Member Mantegna gave a report on the Senior Survey. Thanks to Cheryl Fayne de-Persio, the survey is in the May Village newsletter and also on line. Member Goldsher sent a pdf of the survey to the Houses of Worship. Everyone on the commission should encourage seniors in the community to look at the survey and reply to it. It is important to receive as many responses as possible to determine how valid this is as an issue. Survey replies are due June 15. Senior Services Member Marshall Gardner will be the survey statistician, and Member Lona Louis will prepare the white paper for it. The Senior Services/CRC Subcommittee will share the responsibility of assessing the survey process. Northbrook Trivia Planning Member Lozaro will meet with the subcommittee in the near future. WTN/Flamingo Friday Planning Update Members Gertz and Duda are ready for the combined Welcome to Northbrook and Flamingo Friday kick off event on May 18, 5:30 – 7 pm, at the Village Hall. Member Duda confirmed that Sunset Foods will be there with the hot dogs and the popcorn truck. The NSYMCA, Library, Park District and Police & Fire Departments representatives will also be there to help all residents learn about services they provide to the community. The Fire Department will have one of their trucks on display. Plastic flamingos will be available to pass out. A Village map will be on display with pins marking the Flamingo Friday neighborhoods already signed up. Member Gertz reported that the combined May 18 event will be festive with a lot of cross referencing between Welcome to Northbrook and Flamingo Friday. Liaison Batalden reported that 400 invite post cards for the event will be mailed out on May 4 to new residents. Cheryl Fayne de-Persio is handling the publicity. It is hoped that a psa for Channel 17 can be made for viewing in July and August promoting Flamingo Friday night for the remainder of the summer. There was a discussion concerning whether or not businesses can participate in Flamingo Friday. Businesses may do so on their own since all that is required is a plastic flamingo and a piece of paper. Businesses need to know that the Village and the CRC do not sanction anything for Flamingo Friday. News from Clergy Association and Houses of Worship 2 Member Goldsher reported that the Clergy Association had their wrap up meeting yesterday and discussed:  Fr. Bob Hines from St. Norbert is tentatively up for president next year.  Beth Shalom is tentatively scheduled to host the Thanksgiving celebration.  An Asian Heritage Celebration pdf was sent to the Houses of Worship  A Senior Survey pdf was sent to the Houses of Worship.  A Welcome to Northbrook and Flamingo Friday pdf was sent to the Houses of Worship.  Gloria Dei hosted four homeless families for a week in March. The families stayed together while looking for employment and attending school in Evanston. It was very successful. Gloria Dei will be doing it quarterly. Other congregations in Northbrook are interested in doing it.  Covenant Village is planning to build a new building called The Evergreen.  St. Peter’s Church gave an update. They have no definite plans yet since they sold their building.  The next Interfaith Walk will be in 2013. Discussions will start in September. News from Schools There were no reports from the schools.  Member Gertz reported that the Greenbriar School renovation looks fantastic.  GBN musical “Phantom of the Opera”, May 2-5. Great reviews. Ramsay Wehr is in the chorus, and Austin Doughty is one of the stage directors. Old Business Chair Wehr stated that appropriate forum topics are being looked at and may be revitalized in the next few months. It is that time of year when we are finishing up with the majority of our events. Now is the time to take a look at everything we have accomplished, and look at some of the changes going on with the membership in our commission. Sheila Bass has left a large void with Black History Month which needs to be addressed. We will also need to work towards better representation from our schools and houses of worship. Liaison Batalden stated that the May Village newsletter mentioned the CRC Commission vacancy, and four applications have already been submitted. The Village Board and CRC Chair Wehr will review all applicants and make a determination. New Business There was no new business to report. Eyes & Ears on the Street  St. Giles will have a Hunger Resource Benefit Network Concert on May 5, 7:30 pm., with their Choir and the Campanella Children’s Choir.  Ryan Goldsher was re-elected President of his GBN class for the upcoming sophomore year.  St. Norbert’s Fr. Francis will be ordained this weekend and next weekend will have his first mass at St. Norbert.  St. Norbert’s Fr. Bill is moving to St. Joan of Arc in the Evanston/Skokie area and will be missed.  Temple Beth El will be losing Assistant Rabbi Jeffrey Weill on July 1. He will become a Sr. Rabbi at Ezra-Habonim in Skokie. He will leave behind a great legacy which included supporting our commission.  Temple Jeremiah on May 5, will host the 2012 Golder Interfaith Lecture, “Religion and Politics, An Impolite Conversation” with speaker Mara Liasson, from NPR and the Fox News Channel.  Jim Hyun will have a meet and greet for President Sandy Frum and the Korean Community. 3   Nbk Farmers Market (Dale Duda), the Nbk Community Gardens & a health supportive chef – “Farm to Fork-Why Local is Better” panel discussion-- at the Library on May 16.  Glenkirk plans to grow vegetables to sell at their booth at the Nbk Farmers Market this year.  Liaison Batalden attended on behalf of President Frum, a Glenkirk benefit luncheon. They are looking for funds and volunteers to help with programs & jobs.  The North Suburban Genealogical Society meets monthly at the Nbk Historical Society.  Northbrook Park District is looking for volunteers to help with their ice skating show in May.  Check out Asst. Village Mgr. Phil Kiraly on Channel 17 explaining Electricity Aggregation. Next Meeting – June 7, 2012 The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 7, 2012. Adjournment At 8:05 p.m., Member Gertz made a motion to adjourn, and it was seconded by Member Singer. On voice vote, the motion passed. Respectfully Submitted, /s/LeeAnn Artstein Recording Secretary 4