Ethnic Community Committee

City of Sterling Heights ETHNIC COMMUNITY COMMITTEE Official minutes of the Thursday, January 5, 2012 regular meeting. MEMBERS PRESENT: Omie Brooks Susan Kattula Doug Najor Steve Naumovski Linda Preka Andrew Pulford MEMBERS ABSENT: Sharron Allen Redelia McLaurine Betty Rush Iqbal Singh OFFICIALS PRESENT: Neighborhood Liaison Specialist Sue Giallombardo Community Relations Director Steve Guitar 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda: MOTION by Steve Naumovski, SECONDED by Doug Najor. Approved 6-0 4. Approval of Minutes: MOTION by Steve Naumovski, SECONDED by Doug Najor. Approved 6-0 5. Communication from Citizens: · Christine Sauve attended the meeting as a visitor. Sauve is the Southeast Communities Coordinator for Welcoming Michigan. She will be working with leaders in the community to set up events and activities to help bring new residents together with other members of their community. · Sauve is looking for volunteers to be a part of a planning committee that will create and organize events that bring everyone together in a positive way. · If any members are interested in learning more about Welcoming Michigan, please call Christine Sauve at 734-845-8695 or e-mail her at csauve@lsscm.org. · Kattula mentioned that the Chaldean Community Foundation, located on 15 Mile Road in Sterling Heights, is also a great resource for refugees moving into the area. · Ying Wan and two associates from the Michigan Falun Dafa Association also attended as visitors to introduce Chinese culture to the Committee members. · Wan is the Special Events Coordinator at MFDA and presented a video titled “Reviving 5,000 Years of Chinese Civilization”. · Wan passed out brochures outlining an upcoming performance at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and offered a 10% discount. 6. Communications from the Sterling Heights Police Dept. – Sgt. Jim Selewski: None 7. Agenda A. 2012 Cultural Exchange · Giallombardo noted that there are still several spots available in the entertainment line-up and encouraged Committee members to pass the word around to their contacts. · Committee members need to submit participation forms as soon as possible. · Giallombardo stated that members should arrive at the Senior Center at 5:00 p.m. in order to greet guests. Also, members are to report to the staging area at 6:00 p.m. for introductions. · Kattula said she is available to MC the event. · Kattula asked members to encourage more groups to have display tables in order to incorporate a better variety of cultures into the event. · Najor asked if the donation box will be at the entrance to the event. · Guitar stated that donation boxes will be located at the main entrance, at the entrance to the food line, and near the entrance to the gym. B. MLK, Jr. Holiday Celebration · The table purchased by the Ethnic Community Committee is full. Giallombardo asked that members unable to attend please call her as soon as possible so that she can try to fill the seat. C. Election of Officers, Chair and Vice Chair · Kattula asked members if anyone would like to make a motion to renew Chair and Vice Chair from 2011. · Preka stated that members can nominate someone else if they would like to. · Naumovski asked if it was OK to renew Chair and Vice Chair even if Allen is absent, since she is the current Vice Chair. · Guitar stated that it isn’t an issue because Allen could announce at the next meeting that she is not interested in continuing as Vice Chair, if that is the case. · MOTION by Naumovski to retain Susan Kattula as Chairperson and Sharron Allen as Vice Chairperson. Motion SECONDED by Pulford. Approved 6-0. 8. Receipt of Correspondence: None. 9. Old Business: · Naumovski stated that he enjoyed the Diversity Awards ceremony (during the December 6 City Council meeting) and added that he received many compliments. Naumovski praised the Community Relations Department for their work. · Kattula added that she also enjoyed the ceremony and the format. Kattula said that the ceremony was not as much work as the diversity dinner, but noted more people were able to see the ceremony since it was televised. Kattula thanked all the Committee members that contributed food for the reception. 10. New Business: · Kattula stated that 80 families (more than 500 people) will be arriving to the area from Turkey and Jordan, and most will reside in Sterling Heights. Kattula said there hasn’t been any resettlement in the city in the last eight months. · Kattula said that perhaps her organization can work with Welcoming Michigan. · Guitar said to contact the city to help promote future events with media releases, etc. · Kattula thanked the members for re-electing her as Chairperson. · Naumovski stated that he has been unable to deliver and donate an electronic microscope to Macedonia and has sent letters to several politicians to help him get a license needed to deliver the microscope. 11. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.