Attendees: Jeremy Rusin, Jessica Kondel, Nancy Fisher, Jeff McLain, Rick Rogers, Jessica Matson, and Advisor Maria Harris. Absent: Rod Miller, Rick Wantuck, Laura Tezer, Carlos Garza, and Jerry NortonEleanor Domalaog.

Jeremy Rusin, Chair, opened the meeting at 1:05 p.m.

The Minutes from the March meeting were approved.

Officer’s Reports: Jeremy met with some Long Beach staff to discuss issues raised from a personnel standpoint. He made them aware that the EEOAC can act as a liaison between management and feels the EEOAC should continue to publicize who they are and what they do so everyone can benefit.

Subcommittee Reports:

Program – Laura Tezer was not in attendance. Jeremy does not think her subcommittee had a meeting last month.

Administrative – Jessica Kondel had a meeting and sent everyone the minutes. They worked on the Diversity Awareness Work Plan.

She stated that they had an idea to create another work plan that would include diversity with regard to work styles and personalities. She will contact Barbara Marshall-Bailey regarding a possible one-day in-office training with a tool like the Myers Briggs evaluation.

Jessica contacted Natalie Huff and received and distributed to the EEOAC blue folders to review as guidance for the members. Natalie has agreed to participate in our next EEOAC meeting and members should e-mail Jessica and/or Jeremy with what they would like from her during that meeting. If there is a lot of input, Jeremy may arrange for a conference call for all members to get clear on what to present to her prior to the meeting.

Personnel –

Jeff and Nancy met to discuss the List Server Work Plan since the last EEOAC meeting, but did not invite the whole subcommittee because the information they discussed was physically located at the Sacramento office and would not be a good use of time for other members. They reviewed all hard and soft copy materials Nancy obtained from some of the previous members who started working on this plan. Jeff sent an e-mail to Maria asking for guidance on where they might obtain the rest of the pieces to the puzzle in order to have enough information to start working on completion of the work plan. Maria and Jeremy will do what they can to obtain the missing information and will forward it to Jeff.

Old Business:

Discussion of SW EEOAC’s role/bylaws: There was no discussion at this time because of a large agenda and probably not enough time, however, Jeremy reminded everyone to please review the bylaws. Also, this discussion may be more beneficial after the SW EEOAC has met with Natalie Huff in May.

List Server Update: See 4.c.i), above. Also, once the list server database is on track, it can be used for other projects, such as sending hard copies of announcements to targeted groups.

New Business:

a) Draft Work Plan to Follow up on IDP Training: Rick Wantuck was not present, but the committee agreed that the plan looks good and would be a worthwhile effort. The committee decided the next step would be to have the Program Subcommittee create a series of survey questions to attach to the plan, including

a comments section, have the EEOAC Committee members review and finalize it, and then submit both items to Rod McInnis and Bill Fox for approval.

b) Draft Diversity Work Plan: A discussion was held and it was decided to celebrate only the seven nationally-recognized awareness months. If anyone needs posters depicting these groups, contact Jeremy. Jessica Kondel researched the cost of obtaining brochures from these groups and learned that some of them are free and some would cost $1 each. The draft work plan was approved by the committee.

Draft Guidelines for Interview Questions: The committee reviewed the worksheet and a discussion was held as to additional information Rick Rogers felt could be added. Nancy will do research to determine if it can be added, since the source of some of the information is from a private source. The committee agreed to review it one more time after Nancy’s edits and clarification as to its purpose, and then to pass it on to each office’s interviewers for their input. It is still a work in progress, but progress is being made. Announcements: Jeremy announced that we should all take the opportunity to review and comment on the NOAA Strategic Human Capital Management Plan by the end of the day tomorrow. Comments may be sent to either Jeremy or Barbara Boyd.

Next meeting date is May 4th at 1:00 p.m. and Natalie Huff will be attending.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m.

WHEW! This was a full meeting(