HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/12/2009SOUTHOLD TOWN ANTI-BIAS TASK FORCE
Minutes, January 12, 2009
Attendance: Edana Cichanowicz (734 6166), Marjorie Day (477 24 23),
Eleanor Lingo ( 765 3982), Jeanne Merkel (298 8604), Cindy Smith (477 2476),
Peter Bel (724 7528), Mike Domino (477 0843), Val Shelby (463 2843),
Carolyn Peabody ( 323 3824), Merle Levine (477 1013)
Absent: Rev. Nathaniel Heyward (477 01 44 or cell 646 567 6426);
J~an Le Pre (734 4143), Betty Murphy (298 4975), Elaine Breese
Corrections of the Minutes for Dec. 15, 2008: Marjorie Day was in attendance.
Rev. Heyward's name was misspelled. The reference to Tom Wickham
in relation to a possible donation for the Martin Luther King Program
where he has been very generous in the past, was a question about
whether the farm stand was still open (it wasn't).
Martin Luther King, Jr. Program: status of planning
First, thanks to Linda Cooper of Town Hall for providing the stationery
used in sending letters of invitation to all the Southold Town clergy,
schools, and dignitaries.
Thanks to Jeanne Merkel for providing the data base and labels for the
Mailings, and for creating the Flyers and having them printed. Motion
offered by Merle Lcvine, seconded by Val Shelby
Thanks, too, to Marjorie Day for her work in finding names of the clergy,
correcting addresses, where necessary, and finding P.O.Box numbers.
In relation to the cost of postage, etc. there was a motion to provide a
Petty Cash Fund for conducting Anti-Bias Task business in the sum of
$100. the money to be held by Merle Levine and provided to members
as needed. Motion offered by Mike Domino, seconded by Marjorie Day.
Refreshments for the Program will be provided by the Board members:
Cookies will be provided by Marjorie Day and Peter Bel; Cake by Jeane
Merkel, Fruit by Cindy Smith and Val Shelby; Cheese and crackers by
Eleanor Lingo and Merle Levine; Jeanne Merkcl will speak to people at
The church about our making coffee; Eleanor Lingo has ail the
Accoutrements. I G A in Grcenport has provided 4 gallons of cider; IGA
In Southold will probably also donate cider. MacDonalds always
provides an urn. We seem well-supplied.
Greeters at the door. ABTF members will wear name tags
6 ushers to collect Free Will Offerings - Edana, Marjorie, Mike, Peter
OD Lingo, and Val.
Jeanne Merkel provided a model program for review:
Welcome: Rev. Lorraine D'Armitt, Pastor, Southold Methodist Church
Greetings from the Task Force: Jeanne Merkel -& into of members
Invocation: Rabbi Myron Fenster, Tifereth Israel, Greenport
Negro National Anthem "Lift Every Voice & Sing" - everyone join in
Reflections: Scott Russell, Supervisor of Southold Town
David Nyce, Mayor of Greenport Village
Reading: "I Have a Dream" excerpts
Music: Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church
Rev. Malcolm Byrd, Keynote Speaker; Intro by Val Shelby
Offering: Frank Le Pre Memorial- tribute by Dade Patrick LePre
Choir: Senior Choir and Male Chorus
Acknowledgement of Guest religious, school, and other leaders
"We Shall Overcome" - Chorus, Choir, and Everyone
Benediction: Father Thomas Murray, St. Agnes Church, Greenport
Please join us for refreshments after the program as a way of continuing
Our joy and hope, and getting to know one another.
Thank you for helping to make ours a loving community.
Clarification of concerns re accepting all religions. ABTF is a secular organization.
Although we hold the Martin Luther King, Jr. Program in a church, we accept all
people who are committed to justice and equity, regardless of religion, race,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age or disability.
Marjorie Day provided a flyer announcing the Inaugural Gala to be held on
January 24, 2009, at 8 p.m., at Peconic Landing. Tickets cost $25, to benefit
Eastern Long Island and the Greenport Fire Dept. Marjorie can provide tickets.
Edana Cichanowicz contacted Poppy Johnson of the Greenport Library concerning
the program last Sept. 26 whereby artists declared Greenport a Sanctuary for all
immigrants. Sept. 26 was the anniversary of the Immigration and Customs
Enforcement raid against 12 Greenport residents.
Cindy Smi-ih reported that The Eastern Farmers Assoc. also aims to protect
immigrant 7arm workers and provides information and material support.
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A motion was offered by Carolyn Peabody, seconded by Marjorie Day, to look to
taking part in a program next year. Thanks were expressed to Edana for her efforts
on our behalf.
Edana also offered to work on Web links for the ABTF
Carolyn Peabody reported on the School Forum Committee: The committee is
pursuing the idea of reaching out to schools individually, with 2 people from the
committee to contact each principal and to invite them to be decision-makers for
their schools and to be participants in the process of putting together a forum.
Thc purpose is to develop long-term relationships with the schools, re issues of bias.
We will prepare a letter to all principals rc our ideas, what we want to set up, and
what wc w~mt from them. Peter Bcl suggested that it would bc helpful to role-play
thc prospective meeting with the principals so that wc are aware of what w want to
say.
The next meeting of the Committee will be Monday, Jan 26, at 10:30 a.m. at Mike
Delano's
Mike Delano reported that he had spoken to Principal Mike Comanda of Greenport
High School. He relayed the concerns expressed by Rev. Heyward that there were
bias conflicts after volley ball in the building - a child was slammed against the
lockers and called "nigger." These are 12 -13 year old students. Cindy Smith told us
that she heard that they are now working on the issue in the high school.
Because of the holiday, the next meeting of the ABTF will be Monday, Feb. 9
Adjourned, 12 noon.
Submitted by Merle Levine