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Human Rights Commission Minutes September 18, 2013 Page 2 of 9 Chair Grefenberg commented in the future this calendar could serve the Commission as a planning tool, adding that it would be distributed to the Commission members on a monthly basis. Committee Assignments Chair Grefenberg reviewed the current committee assignments. He requested feedback from the members on current committee placements; and specifically asked whether newly- appointed Commission Courneya would like to serve on the Program Planning Committee.. Commissioner Courneya agreed to serve on the Program Planning Committee. There were no other requests for committee assignments. Chair Grefenberg therefore noted for the record that committee assignments would be as stated in the document distributed, with the addition of Commissioner Courneya to the Program Planning Committee. Reports on Community Events and Meetings Attended by Commissioners Falcon Heights HRC Community Conversations with Immigrants August 19: Chair Grefenberg indicated Vice Chair Brisbois had attended the Community Conversations with Immigrants program. In her absence he explained what he understood was the purpose of this event: to gather information for a report that would be given to the governor on the position and status of new immigrants in Minnesota. He recommended the Program Planning Committee consider sponsoring a similar program in Roseville. He suggested this event be held in collaboration with the Advocates for Human Rights in November of this year. Chair Grefenberg said his reasons for this recommendation were two -fold: it was included in the Commission's Work Plan and last month's report to the Council, and it would be a low- energy consuming event for the Commission since the Advocates would organize and implement the format. He did note, however, that every commissioner would be expected to play a role during the actual program. Commissioner Thao thought this was a great idea, and was something for which the community had been asking for quite a while. She asked what the cost of such a program would be. Chair Grefenberg indicated that he had just very recently been in contact with Advocates for Human Rights, so he could only preliminarily estimate the event would cost approximately $250 -300. He anticipated the Karen community could be invited to the event. He was in favor of directing the Program Planning Committee to pursue an immigrant forum in November. Youth Commissioner Thomas questioned how the information gathered from this event would be used. Chair Grefenberg stated the data gathered could be passed along to the legislature and governor, and could also be an event to welcome new immigrants to the City of Roseville.