girls_committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 Girls Committee
Monday, August 6, 2007
5 pm – 7 pm
City Hall, Room 421
San Francisco, CA 94102
Minutes
Chairperson: Ms. Melissa Padilla
Members Present:
Melissa Padilla (July Chairperson)
Eileen Li
Dawn Liu
Commissioner Andrea Shorter
Members Absent (excused):
Madeline “Maddy” Ing
Staff Present:
Kim-Shree Maufas, CEDAW Policy Analyst, Department on the Status of Women
I.CALL TO ORDER /ROLL CALL ACTION
Meeting called to order by Chair Padilla at 5:29 pm. Roll call taken by Chair Padilla.
II.ADOPTION OF AGENDA ACTION
Action: To approve the agenda for the August 6, 2007.
m/s/c (Li/Shorter/unanimous)
III.ADOPTION OF MINUTES ACTION
Action: To approve the minutes from the July 2, 2007. Ms Li indicated a correction. Ms. Maufas noted correction.
m/s/c (Shorter/Li/unanimous)
IV.INTRODUCTIONS & GIRL COMMITTEE BUSINESS DISCUSSION
A. Introductions & Committee Paperwork
Ms. Maufas introduced the email listserv that she was building from attending various youth and girl-focused tabling opportunities in San Francisco. Ms. Liu remarked about a list member that didn’t want to be emailed continuously throughout the month. Ms. Maufas informed members that an email of the committee activities would go out once a month to the list. Ms. Li commented that it would be beneficial for the public to know about committee activities. Commissioner Shorter inquired how many were on the list to date. Ms. Maufas replied that the list contained about 30 names/organizations.
The committee reviewed Girls Committee applications in English and in Spanish. Commissioner Shorter inquired about application’s online availability. Ms. Maufas indicated that she’d have department staff place the application online. Ms. Li commented that she liked the application. Ms. Liu commented that the application was very thorough.
B. A Report on Girls: Benchmarks for the Future
1. Health topic discussion.
Ms. Liu inquired with Ms. Li about private school’s sex education. Ms. Li responded that topics
were taken subject by subject and that the school supported the practice of abstinence. Commissioner Shorter inquired about the term STI. Members clarified that Sexually Transmitted Infection “STI” (versus Sexually Transmitted Disease “STD”) was the terminology used in their respective schools because a person had to acquire the infection before it could qualify as a disease.
Commissioner Shorter commented on the level of seriousness of the group discussion, noting that
years ago this type of discussion was unlikely amongst young women because of social constraints.
Commissioner Shorter inquired with members about why the health topic, particularly sexual
education was taken so seriously. Ms. Liu commented that because health diseases have caused
death in the past and teaching abstinence didn’t serve girls in education. Ms. Li commented that
although teaching abstinence was important it would be unlikely that a girl or young woman in the moment of a sexual encounter would not think of all the health repercussions if she hadn’t been taught what they are in a comprehensive sex education/health class.
Members also discussed drug use amongst girls and young women, noting the prevalence of “Crystal ‘Meth’ (-amphetamine)” usage. Commissioner Shorter indicated the need for member to have more information about the abuse of the drug and its dangerously harmful affects.
Members commented on the possibilities of updating the Girls Report, particularly the health component with relevant issues. Commissioner Shorter advised members to review the report and note the various issues of today for young women, especially what the report can teach young women, what was missing, and encouraged members to really think about incorporating complex issues as well.
2. “Alcopops” Anti-Girlie Drinks Campaign Report.
Chairperson Padilla and Ms. Li recapped their experiences at the rally and press conference. Both Ms. Li and Chairperson Padilla were interviewed by television crews present at the event, which was held at the California on August 18, 2007.
V. OLD BUSINESS DISCUSSION
A. Summer Interns
The interns wrote brief memoranda to the Girls Committee denoting what their activities were at the Department and any activity that they had done to support the Committee over the summer.
B. Girl Fest Bay Area Review 2007.
Members shared their activities throughout the festival. Commissioner Shorter inquired with members as to whether they felt that their ideas were considered in the GiRLFeST planning and if they had advice for the next class of members. Ms. Li and Ms. Liu thought that the festival wasn’t promoted as well as it should have been. Within their circle of friends, there was a great deal of confusion about who the target audience was for the festival. Ms. Liu felt that the festival was geared towards young women that were 19 years or older. Ms Li indicated that a friend thought the festival was only for members of the LGBT community due to the advertising. Members didn’t see the art and music and health connection clearly but thought that the music events were well publicized to those over 21 years of age.
C. A Girl’s Services Directory.
The update was provided by Ms. Maufas. She stated that the directory was on hold because of the California State budget impasse. No printing or labor could occur until the budget was passed. Ms. Maufas also indicated that the legislature was about to leave for summer break and that she’d keep the committee members posted.
Commissioner Shorter indicated that she’d like Ms. Maufas to set up appointments for the members to meet with Mayor Newsom and District Attorney Harris as soon as possible. Ms. Maufas informed member that they already have a meeting set up with Assemblywoman Ma to discuss the Girls Service Directory and other topics.
D. 2007 Girls Committee Projects.
Chairperson Padilla encouraged them to review and add to their brainstorming sheets or to forward ideas to Ms. Maufas.
VI. NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION/ACTION
A. CONSENT AGENDA. 10 min. (6:50)
“All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Agenda and are considered to be routine by the Commission on the Status of Women Girls Committee. They will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as a separate item. Members of the public may speak on each item listed on the Consent Agenda.”
Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.
m/s/c (Shorter/Liu/unanimous)
1. Letter of Appreciation from the Girl’s Committee to the University of California at San Francisco’s Center of Excellence in Women’s Health Young Women’s Health Summit, Attention: Nancy Milliken, Director, for work at GiRLFeST Bay Area
2. Letter of Appreciation to the San Francisco Unified School District , Attention: Carlos Garcia, Superintendent of School, for work at GiRLFeST Bay Area
3. Letter of Appreciation to the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and their Families, Attention: Margaret Brodkin, Executive Director, for work at GiRLFeST Bay Area
4. “Alcopops” Resolution to support AB 346 and the Marin Institute’s general legislative efforts to reclassify "Alcopops" type flavored malt beverages from a beer/wine product to a distilled spirit product.
VII.PUBLIC COMMENT DISCUSSION
This item is to allow members of the public to comment generally on matters that will fall within the Girls Committee’s purview as well as to suggest new agenda items for the Committee’s future consideration.
Chairperson Padilla informed members that the powerful female activist Hazel Grossman (from the Mission District) recently passed away in San Francisco.
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS DISCUSSION
A. Upcoming “Girl-Focused” Events
1. Beginning of School (2007-08, Fall Session)
a. San Francisco Independent Schools – August 20, 2007
b. San Francisco Parochial Schools – August 20, 2007
c. San Francisco Public Schools – August 27, 2007
2. Press release for Commission on the Status of Women’s Girls Committee’s Girls Services Directory – August 29, 2007
3. Commission on the Status of Women’s Girls Committee’s “Girls Services Directory” release and press conference with Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Commissioner Andrea Shorter and Girls Committee Members (exact date and location – to be determined)
B. Upcoming Commission on the Status of Women Meetings
1. Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 5:00pm – City Hall, Room 408.
C. Next COSW Girls Committee Meeting
1. Monday, September 10, 2007 at 5:00pm – City Hall, Room 034.
IX. ADJOURNMENT ACTION
m/s/c (Shorter/Liu/unanimous)
American Sign Language interpreters and a Sound Amplification System provided upon request with 48-hour advance notice to 415-252-2570. Translation into languages other than English is also available with 48-hour notice. Limited accessible street parking available. Accessible MUNI Metro station in the Van Ness Station and lines are J, K, L, M and N. Accessible MUNI Lines are the 6, 7, 9, 42, 47, 49, and 71 lines. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available. Meeting proceedings available in alternative formats. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals. To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at least two business days before the meeting at 415-252-2570 (Voice) or 415-252-2550 (TTD). The Board of Supervisors has amended the Sunshine Ordinance by adding provision 67A.1. The provision is effective as of January 21, 2001. The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices. Explanatory documents: For copies of explanatory documents listed in this agenda, and other related materials received by COSW, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at 25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 130, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575. Also, to the extent possible, documents will be available on the COSW website at http://www.sfgov.org/cosw.
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Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 2200, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-3100, fax: 415-252-3112 and web site at http://www.ethics.commission@sfgov.org.
