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Roseville Human Rights Commission <br />Meeting Minutes – October 13, 2009 <br />Page 6 of 7 <br /> <br />Chair Singleton opined that each brought their own ideas and/or stereotypes, but that the <br />purpose of the HRC and the diversity forums was to open dialogue to bring people <br />together and allow them to work through their issues. Chair Singleton further opined that <br />each of us was brought up differently, but that this didn’t mean that a person’s intent was <br />to discriminate and that care needed to be given before accusing anyone of <br />discrimination. Chair Singleton advised th at he would review the Student Handbook <br />before making an informed assessment. <br /> <br />Member Yates opined that the current situat ion would indicate that the HRC may have <br />inadvertently listed a sponsor whose inclusion made an unintended message to others that <br />all are not welcome. While not having a recommendation resolution at this time, <br />Member Yates suggested further review and po ssible development of criteria for future <br />events and potential sponsorships. <br /> <br />Member McKenzie opined that the HRC needed to provide a welcome to all human <br />beings in the community and to find a way to avoid segregation of groups that develop <br />into crises. Member McKenzie further opine d that it was important that anyone at the <br />HRC table provide a welcome for all, and individually and corpor ately work through <br />their issues. <br /> <br />Member Grefenberg provided examples of anot her call he’d received from a recipient of <br />the flyer, also a gay resident in the comm unity, related to sponsorship by Northwestern <br />College and their apparent expulsion of any gay students. Member Grefenberg suggested <br />the potential inclusion of a representative organization of the G LTB community as a <br />sponsor for future events to avoid perceptions that those events and promotional materials <br />related to them are not intended as welcoming to all. Member Grefenberg expressed his <br />frustration in the continued lack of civil ri ghts and laws to protect and provide equal <br />rights for all citizens. Mr. Grefenberg expr essed appreciation that one of the four <br />speakers at this year’s Forum was a gay man. <br /> <br />Member Oftelie suggested that this sounded lik e a perfect topic for consideration by the <br />City’s Ethics Commission to provide assistan ce to the HRC, given the ramifications and <br />issues involved. <br /> <br />Member McKenzie opined that this was a much bigger issue that need ed to be the topic <br />of future forums and suggested that thos e representing gay right s and representatives <br />from Northwestern College sit down together to find a level of agreement from which to <br />build. <br /> <br />Member Kennedy opined that she had not joined the HRC to take on Northwestern <br />College, Boy Scouts, or other groups having le ss tolerant viewpoints. Member Kennedy <br />echoed those comments expressed by Member Yates and supported Member Oftelie’s <br />suggestion to refer the issue to the Ethics Commission. Member Kennedy said if the <br />HRC promoted inclusion, they needed to think about accepting donations from <br />exclusionary groups; however, clarified they needed to be included at the HRC table.