EEO Advisory Committee
Southwest Region
Minutes: February 6, 2002

Chairman Tim Price called the meeting to order at 1:35p.m.

In attendance: Rob Bisodeau, John Clancy, Rosalie del Rosario, Eleanor Domalaog, Carlos Garza, Marty Golden, Wende Goo, Kathy Jones, Shella Merritt, Dawn Messersmith, Tim Price. Members Absent: Maura Eagan,  Rosemary Troian. In Attendance: Maria Harris.

Tim reviewed the purpose of the committee under the bylaws and NOAA Administrative Order. A complete version of the bylaws is located on the EEOAC website.

He also discussed that the EEOAC reports to the EEO Program Manager Natalie Huff, Regional Administrator, and Science Director and that we are required to submit a list of our accomplishments on a quarterly and annual basis. The EEOAC should focus its efforts on a regional basis and develop work plans to enhance EEO and affirmative action.

The January 2002 minutes were approved with slight revisions.

Tim reported that he has prepared letters of appreciation for departing EEO advisory members. They are in for signature by the Acting Regional Administrator and will be sent out this week.

He met with Rod McInnis and reported that the High School Intern Program has been approved by McInnis. The program was announced at the Southwest Region Board Meeting. Tim is currently drafting a letter to Dr. Tillman expressing the EEOAC’s recommendation to encourage Center participation.

Vice Chairperson Marty Golden mentioned he participated in an outreach session for Protected Resources and the NMFS Ethical Angling Program where 30 school teachers were briefed. The event received local press coverage.

He is also working on a presentation to give an overview of NOAA to give to low and mid-level managers.

Program Subcommittee:

John Clancy reported the Program Subcommittee met on January 22 and he was elected to chair and Rosemary Troian was elected to Secretary.

They are currently reviewing four draft work plans for potential projects. One of the work plans includes speaking engagements in which employees would be polled to see what types of training/topics they would be interested in. Also mentioned were work plans on cash awards and the High School Internship Program. They are also working on the David Star Jordan Open House work plan to see if there’s enough interest to organize the event and gather volunteers. Rosemary Troian will be following up.

Administrative Subcommittee:

Rob Bistodeau reported the group meet on January 30 and reelected him as the chair. Said the group reviewed their responsibilities. Both Dawn and Wende are working on completing on-line FrontPage courses to enable them to maintain, update, and enhance the SWR EEOAC Web Site.

Personnel Subcommittee:

Rosalie del Rosario reported she is Acting Chair and said they need more information on what personnel activities were and they are reviewing last year’s efforts. They are going to met on February 13^th to finish up delegation of duties. Carlos Garza gave an update on the 3 existing work plans including the website regarding job vacancies and training for proposed hiring procedures. Since the group has all new members there is a lack of continuity within the subcommittee. Wende Goo, who participated in the subcommittee last year, offered to provide assistance. There are two draft work plans from the personnel subcommittee; human resources training - website resources address list and the list server that Tim will send out to the Subcommittee.

Tim said he would send out an inventory of the existing work plans and mentioned he is available for guidance. He said the work plans from last year might not be what the EEOAC wants to pursue now so that the EEOAC should identify the work plans that are important to them and focus their efforts on their development and implementation. He will send out a work plan template to provide an outline and format to be used.

Carlos Garza suggested having guest speakers participate at some of the future EEOAC meetings to help provide direction and information on EEO activities. Tim suggested having Natalie Huff as the first guest speaker to give us information on what’s new and hot in EEO from NMFS’s perspective. The EEOAC approved the motion. He said he will contact her and see when she is available. John Clancy recommended we give her an overview of what we are working on. He also mentioned that Jerry Deat from the NOAA Office of Civil Rights might be a good candidate for a guest speaker in the future.

None.

The next meeting will be held on March 6, 2002 at 1:30pm.