Diversity & Equal Opportunity Board Meeting Minutes

                                                         June 15, 2005   

 

 

   

                       

Meeting convened at 0900:

 

Stan Newberry lead a brief roundtable welcome of the participants attending the Diversity &

Equal Opportunity Board (DEOB) meeting. Attendance was primarily comprised of individuals who were designated to attend the meeting by their Directorate heads. It was noted that all “Advisory Group” chairs were present during the meeting. There were 23 people in attendance.

 

Old Business:

 

1.  Sylvia Longchamps, MD-715 project coordinator provided a presentation on the “MD-715 Center Monitoring Matrix for FY05.” Her review included a brief discussion on the self-assessment overview and a chart reflecting the barriers/deficiencies identified in the Center’s previous submission to HQ.  Participants asked questions and gained valuable insight regarding this new EEOC reporting requirement.  Lewis Braxton clarified that Center senior management, legal counsel, human resources, and equal opportunity are the primary work centers responsible for resolution and oversight of the identified barriers and deficiencies. Sylvia has plans to meet with work center designees. Handouts were provided to participants for their review.

 

2.  Stan addressed the role of the Executive Council in the overall process of resolving MD-715 deficiencies and barriers and its involvement in any future concerns discussed at DEOB meetings.  He assures the group that the council will take an active role in reviewing, approving, and addressing decisions or recommendations made by the DEOB.  He reiterated his desire to have each advisory group chair provide their answer to his question, “What should management do to promote diversity at the Center?”

 

New Business:

 

1.  Stan led the open discussion by each advisory group chair. Daryl Wong, Asian/Pacific Islander chair, briefly spoke on his attendance at the recent FAPAC conference. He relayed concerns about the apparent glass-ceiling for Asians in management at the Center and this group comparison at other Centers. He went on to address the impact of full cost accounting on EO activity attendance by employees at the Center. Employees may not attend due to an inability to account for their time with an EO related WBS charge code.  He relayed that there should be active outreach and recruiting at schools with a high Asian population.

 

Anita Abrego, representative for the Native American group chair, indicated that the group does not meet on a regular basis, but there will be future meetings to organize events and discuss issues around Ames. Kevin Jones, African-American employee chair, relayed that his group works closely with the Education office to provide welcoming activities for summer students and other Center activities to educate employees and raise awareness regarding African-American employee concerns.  Dana Bolles, Disabled employee chair, disclosed that attendance is low at group meetings, it is still forming and soliciting membership, but the group was involved with the Mentor Day activity. There is a group proposal to conduct an excess equipment survey, and the group actively addresses accessibility concerns. She raised a concern about the previously identified location for the meeting that turned out to be inaccessible for wheelchairs. Mary Ellen Eglington, co-chair for LGBTAG, spoke on her group’s increased attendance, the issue with carrying a banner in the gay pride parade reflecting the NASA logo, and other Center activities in recognition of Gay Pride Month during June. Eric Kristich, Hispanic group chair, discussed the need for an active recruitment program to hire Hispanics and minorities for management training programs at Ames, he spoke about the group’s outreach activities and the annual scholarship golf tournament to be held October 15th.  It was stated that Center management should be mindful of the impact on minority representation during proposed RIF procedures.  

 

2.  Paul Davis, the Union representative, raised a question about seniors or an older-person’s group formation to represent those who are older at the Center. Adriana Cardenas encouraged him to form the advisory group. Advisory groups are not affiliated with the OD&EO office.  They are a separate Center entity with their own by-laws and mission.

 

3.  Stan concluded the roundtable open discussion by stating that the Center is going through tough times and management is actively trying to mitigate problems to lessen impacts during next year.  He encouraged the advisory group chairs to participate on the board and eagerly speak up and share ideas, concerns, and issues that might impact the Center.  It was determined that Board meetings should occur more frequently than once per quarter. A recommendation was made to hold the next meeting during the 1st week in August.

 

Action Items:

 

1.  MD-715 critical barriers meeting between Adriana, Joan, Lew and Stan.

 

2.  Sylvia will send out the MD-715 Stoplight worksheet and matrix to responsible work center designees for status updates.

 

3.  Sylvia will send a request to Advisory group chairs to identify EO barriers and deficiencies. Preliminary MD-715 barriers and deficiencies will be provided to the Executive Council. EC response and recommendations should be received no later than mid-July. 

 

4.  Sylvia will monitor Center compliance with MD-715 deficiency H-21. Stan does not think there will be resolution due to the scheduling conflict between the proposed cycle for completion of the Agency Strategic Implementation Plan and end of year submission for the MD-715 report.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:30