Alert 17

A special note to our members:

The NDHRC Board of Directors will be filling 4 positions on the Board in the next few months. The Nominating Committee of the NDHRC Board includes two Board Members and two members of the NDHRC.

If you're a member of the NDHRC and would like to serve on the Nominating Committee, please contact Cheryl Bergian at cherylbergian@ndhrc.org or (701) 239-9323 (Fargo) by Friday, March 7, 2003. (If you are not a member but would like to participate, you can become a member to be considered immediately) The Nominating Committee can meet by conference call for NDHRC members outside the Fargo area. The time commitment would be several meetings over two or three months to develop the process to select new board members and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors on appointments of new board members.

2.) ND State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to Conduct Planning Meeting (Bismarck)

6.) (Reminder) “Coffee with the Legislators” Sessions hosted by the Dickinson Chamber of Commerce (Dickinson)

7.) (Reminder) Women Leaders to Receive First Annual Awards (Bismarck)

8.) (Reminder) The Gandhi Peace Network of North Dakota Sponsors “A Season for Nonviolence” (Bismarck)

9.)(Reminder) NDSU Sponsors Black History Month Events and Intercampus Powwow (Fargo)

10.) (Reminder) Sisters of the Presentation at Sacred Heart Convent Presents “Peace Studies” (Various Locations in ND and MN)

11.) (Reminder) Legislative Forums – Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and F-M Chamber of Commerce (Fargo and West Fargo)

A resolution has been introduced in the North Dakota House of Representatives that begins the process to create a state constitutional amendment against "preferential treatment" based on gender, race, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, public education or public contracting (also known as "affirmative action" policies). The resolution is HCR 3067.

The NDHRC has taken a position against this resolution; our testimony is attached to this PAUR Report. The first hearing on the resolution is on Wednesday, February 26, 4 p.m., before the House Joint Constitutional Revision Committee. Information on the membership of that committee is at http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/58-2003/house/standing-comm/.

Please vote against HCR 3067. Preferential treatment policies can be needed to remedy a history of discrimination against a group of people based on gender, race or color. A constitutional prohibition against preferential treatment policies would remove this remedy for that history of discrimination and would decrease the quality of life for North Dakotans.

2.) ND State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to Conduct Planning Meeting (Bismarck)

The North Dakota State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will conduct a planning meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2003 from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Best Western Doublewood Inn, 1400 E. Interchange, Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 258-7000. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss followup activities concerning the committee’s report, Civil Rights Enforcement Efforts in North Dakota, hear from representatives of state and local human relations committees, update Committee on Commission and regional activities, and plan future activities. The general public is invited to attend.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding agency of the Federal government. Its members are appointed by the President and the Congress.

The Commission has appointed Advisory Committees in the 50 States and District of Columbia to assist it in its efforts. The chairperson of its North Dakota Advisory Committee is Carole Barrett of Bismarck. Other members of the Committee are: John M. Olson of Bismarck; David A. Meier of Dickinson; Audrey J. Henderson-Nocho of Emerado; Crystal Dueker, Dr. Won W. Koo, Refugio “Pete” Padilla, Kristen S. Rohde, Mark G. Schneider, and Jeannette L. Stanton of Fargo; Erich S. Longie of Fort Totten; Holly A. Marion of Grand Forks; Harold Iron Shield of Mandan; and Marc S. Bluestone of New Town. The work of the North Dakota Advisory Committee is supervised John F. Dulles, Regional Director of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office.

For further information, please contact Carole A. Barrett, Chair (701) 255-7500 or Malee V. Craft, Civil Rights Analyst (303) 866-1040.

Advocates charge that legislative budget cuts would mean hundreds of elderly and disabled North Dakotans will find it more difficult to remain in their homes.

Linda Wright, state director of the division of aging services, said Monday that the $4.6 million the Senate trimmed from home- and community-based services mean an estimated 346 recipients would be ineligible in the 2003-05 budget.

The program provides homemaker services, respite care and adult day care, among other services to enable low-income elderly and disabled residents to remain in their homes.

In essence, the Senate rejected a funding increase proposed by Gov. John Hoeven, whose budget gave greater emphasis on home care. The program has been closed to new clients since December, and there is a waiting list of 200, including 20 in Cass County.

“It’s doubtful anyone in the new biennium would be able to get on the program,” said Janis Cheney of AARP North Dakota, which has 73,000 members ages 50 and over.

Hoeven administration officials have said they want to increase funding for home-based services because of greater public demand and because they cost less than long-term care to provide.

In spite of overwhelming support for home services, the Republican-controlled Senate rejected Hoeven’s proposed increase.

“It just seems to me that (the Senate) completely turned their back,” Cheney said.

Now the battle moves to the House, which will take up the human services budget.

We will meet at 5:15 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 at Juano's, 402 Broadway, Fargo, (back meeting room). Please mark your calendar!

We will prepare for the legislative forums in Fargo and West Fargo the next weekend, plus more. Good time to talk, share ideas and support each other. TOGETHER -- we can make positive change happen!

Don Morrison
North Dakota Progressive Coalition
410 E Thayer Ave Suite 2
Bismarck ND 58501
Phone: 701-224-8090
Fax: 701-255-0848
Email: NoDakPC@aol.com

5.) NDHRC Seeks Part-Time Assistant Director

Part-time Assistant Director (telecommuting possibilities) to work with the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition (nonprofit).

Duties include website maintenance, weekly e-newsletter, maintenance of database & membership information and coordination of meetings and events.

20 hours per week, starting at $8.50 per hour. Send resume & cover letter (e-mail preferred). To Lesa Caskey, NDHRC, P.O. Box 1961, Fargo, ND 58107-1961, (701) 365-2012, (701) 478-4452 (fax), LesaCaskey@NDHRC.org

6.) (Reminder) “Coffee with the Legislators” Sessions hosted by the Dickinson Chamber of Commerce (Dickinson)

The Dickinson Chamber of Commerce is hosting several “Coffee with the Legislators” sessions during the 2003 Legislative Session. All Legislators from Districts 36 & 37 are asked to attend. The upcoming sessions will be on Saturdays February 22, March 8, March 22. All sessions will be held at Dickinson City Hall. Anyone who misses a session can view replays of the most recent session on Cable Channel 19 in Dickinson at 1:00PM and 10:00PM each day unless preempted by other special programming.

7.) (Reminder) Women Leaders to Receive First Annual Awards (Bismarck)

Carol Reed, Chairman of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women announced today that the Commission is receiving nominations for North Dakota women of inspiration in five categories: Leadership, Personal Development, Advocate, Role model, and Managing Work and Family. These are presented to North Dakota women who inspire others to loftier achievements and serve as role models to other women-young and old. These awards will be presented in conjunction with The AAUW "Women in Charge" conference to be held at the Bismarck Kelly Inn, March 8, 2003.

Nomination forms and criteria are available at Women and Technology (Center for Technology and Business) at 1022 East Divide Avenue, Bismarck or online at www.trainingND.com. The deadline for nominations is February 27th. For further information, please contact Carol Reed at 701-530-2059 or Tara Holt at 701-223-0707.

8.) (Reminder) The Gandhi Peace Network of North Dakota Sponsors “A Season for Nonviolence” (Bismarck)

“Nonviolence should mean a complete freedom from ill-will, anger and hate and an overflowing love for all.”

“The nonviolence I teach is active nonviolence of the strongest. But the weakest can partake in it without becoming weaker.”

9.) (Reminder) NDSU Sponsors Black History Month Events and Intercampus Powwow

10.) (Reminder) Sisters of the Presentation at Sacred Heart Convent Presents “Peace Studies”(Various Locations in ND and MN)

Sr. Yvonne Nelson has begun a Peace Studies program at Sacred Heart convent and lectures will take place at Presentation Center through May 30:

11.) (Reminder) Legislative Forums – Sponsored by the League of Women Voters and F-M Chamber of Commerce (Fargo and West Fargo)

The League of Women Voters/Fargo-Moorhead Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring legislative forums on the following dates. This is your opportunity to let your state legislators know what is important to you on the laws that they are considering in this legislative session and to find out what is important to them. Mark your calendars; we'll have questions ready for you to ask on support for the proposed North Dakota Commission on Human Rights and other progressive issues!

Please keep us in mind for your group or church social action/social justice meetings! We’d be happy to provide a presentation at a meeting or provide newsletter articles for your organizations.

Do you have a Program, Announcement, Update or Resource that you would like shared on our weekly PAUR report? If so, please send an email to LesaCaskey@NDHRC.org and we will do our best to accommodate you.

If you are not a member of NDHRC yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up now! On-line or by mail, it's all set at: http://www.ndhrc.org/membership.htm

Not getting the PAUR Report directly in your email? It's so easy to be added to the PAUR mailing list! Email HumanRights@NDHRC.org

If you have received this email in error, or would like to be removed From the PAUR Report mailing list, please send an email to LesaCaskey@NDHRC.org for immediate assistance.

5.) NDHRC Seeks Part-Time Assistant Director

9.) (Reminder) NDSU Sponsors Black History Month Events and Intercampus Powwow