North Dakota Human Rights Coalition

Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights

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~NDHRC PAUR Report~

Visit our Website at www.ndhrc.org

June 24, 2003

Programs ~ Announcements ~ Updates ~ Resources

Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition!

In this week’s PAUR Report:

NDHRC Announcements

1)     North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Service Opportunity

2)     Save the Date! North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference

3)     North Dakota Human Rights Coalition’s Request to Governor Hoeven, June 23, 2003

Newspaper Articles

4)     Bismarck Tribune Article, Where are all the women in local government?

Reminders

5)     North Dakota Fair Housing Council Workshops, June 10 – July 16, North Dakota and Eastern South Dakota

6)     Peace Rallies for the Near Future

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NDHRC Announcements

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1.) North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Service Opportunity

Please forward freely.

The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition is looking for four (4) people to join the NDHRC Board of Directors.  The NDHRC Board sets the policy direction of the NDHRC, including the goals and initiatives of the NDHRC.  The NDHRC Board is supported in its work by the full-time Director and half-time Assistant Director.  Information about the NDHRC is available at www.ndhrc.org.

The NDHRC is committed to the development of a Board of Directors which includes representation from across the state and from those most likely to experience discrimination, including people of color, people of diverse ethnic origin, people with disabilities, people of varying age, people of diverse religions, those who have been or are on public assistance, and people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.  The NDHRC encourages all who are interested in the Board of Directors to apply; consideration for selection will include the commitment to diversity in membership on the Board of Directors.

The NDHRC Board of Directors encourages all who are interested to join them in continuing to chart the course for the NDHRC.  Please consider joining us in the development of a human rights network and cadre in North Dakota!

Time commitment: 

Two-hour board meetings every other month by conference call

One-day in-person board retreat each year (travel to this meeting may be necessary & travel costs would be covered)

Participation in board committee(s) by telephone conference call (time commitment and duration of commitment would vary by committee)

Respond to e-mail communication from Director or Assistant Director as possible

The "NDHRC Board Member Position Description" and “Application for NDHRC Board” is available on the NDHRC web site at www.ndhrc.org.

Interested?

Return the "Application for NDHRC Board" to:

Cheryl Bergian

Director

North Dakota Human Rights Coalition

P.O. Box 1961

Fargo, ND 58107-1961

(701) 239-9323

(701) 478-4452 (fax)

cherylbergian@ndhrc.org

Deadline for consideration of application:  Friday, July 11, 2003

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2.) Save the Date! NDHRC North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference

NDHRC Fall Conference

Saturday, October 25, 2003

Fargo

Ideas & suggestions for topics are welcome, contact Andrea at andreadeegan@ndhrc.org

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3.) North Dakota Human Rights Coalition’s Request to Governor Hoeven, June 23, 2003

Message to NDHRC Members & Friends:

The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition will continue to encourage the Division of Human Rights in the Department of Labor to establish an Advisory Committee made up of people likely to experience discrimination (those from the "protected classes" in the North Dakota Human Rights Act) to assist the Division of Human Rights in its efforts to investigate and enforce the North Dakota Human Rights Act, and provide information to residents of North Dakota about discrimination and the law in North Dakota.

The NDHRC is also renewing its request that the Division of Human Rights issue regulations that will govern how it makes decisions when complaints are filed by those who believe they have experienced discrimination in North Dakota.

Because of the NDHRC's efforts, the 2001 Public Perception Survey on Discrimination in North Dakota was released by the Division of Human Rights in January, 2003.  The NDHRC has been asking for an Advisory Committee and regulations since June, 2001 (see letter to Labor Commissioner Bachmeier at http://www.ndhrc.org/dev_03.htm).  We'll continue to press for the Advisory Committee and regulations.

A letter from the NDHRC to Governor Hoeven requesting a meeting with the NDHRC Board of Directors is at http://ndhrc.org/request_to_governor_hoeven_June%2023.htm.

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Newspaper Articles

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4.) Bismarck Tribune Article, Where are all the women in local government?

Where are all the women in local government?
By Angie Buckley

Bismarck Tribune – 6/15/2003

When the Mandan City Commission sat down to its April 1 meeting, a new face joined them. Sandy Tibke was appointed to fill the shoes of commissioner Mark Bitz and became the first woman since the 1980s to join the men ruling the city.

Tibke joins just two others on the list of women who serve Bismarck, Mandan, Burleigh and Morton county commissions. Bismarck commissioners Connie Sprynczynatyk and Sandi Tabor bring their city commission to a 3-2 split.

The Bismarck-Mandan area isn't alone in this distinction. Of the 1,764 mayors and council-commission members in North Dakota, the League of Cities estimates only about 250 of them to be female. Thirty-three of the state's mayors are women, and of the 221 county commissioners serving the state's 53 counties, 17 are women.  
School boards often have more women serving on them, but city and county governments are generally looked at as a man's world. Area women who sit on commissions are faced with the same challenges that keep many women away from the table. Although the answer as to why more women don't run is unclear, these leaders know why they should run.

Sprynczynatyk is the seasoned veteran among the three. In 1978, she was one of six candidates running for two spots on the Bismarck Park Board. She won the office by 26 votes. She's served as a city commissioner since 1990 and said she's only the third woman to run for the office and the first to serve on it.

"Being a woman is an advantage because I'm usually one of the few feminine voices in a discussion. In 25 years, there's not been a single time I felt put down because I'm a female," she said.

Tibke's entrance into public service was one of circumstance. When Bitz resigned, the city accepted applications to fill his spot. She decided that it was something she wanted to try.

"I've always been involved in some capacity, and I saw the opening and thought, what the heck, I'll apply. I never thought they'd pick me."

Tabor's decision to run for the City Commission was more premeditated. After spending time in California, she returned to the state and made a promise to herself.

"Almost from the get-go, I was trying to figure out a way to get back to North Dakota. I thought I was in the wrong place. (When I got back) I promised myself I wouldn't complain about the weather, and I would try to give back to the state," she said.

At first, Tabor was interested in a state office. But when she heard they needed people at the city commission level, she decided to run. She's been on the commission since 1996 and says it was the right choice.

"I like what I'm doing at the city level. It's interesting, I've learned a ton of stuff, and I get to meet wonderful people who want to make this a better place."

Sprynczynatyk said public service wasn't so much of a choice as it was a way of life for her. She doesn't think it's genetic but notices people who serve in a public office are more likely to have a family history of service as well. Her parents and grandparents were active in politics -- her father, Pete Naaden, served 28 years in the North Dakota Senate -- and looks to her own children, just babies when she began her career as a politician, as examples.

"I was pregnant with (son) Tom when I ran for the Park Board, so my kids grew up with me in public office. I was pregnant with (daughter) Cat when I ran again. They both deal well with being in a public setting or government. If you grow up with the idea that it's OK to say 'I want to try that,' you're more likely to do so."

Wendelin Hume, director of women's studies and a professor in the criminal justice department at the University of North Dakota, says it's important for women to have role models who can encourage them to run for public office. Even though it's not "totally frowned on for women to be leaders," Hume says it's still outside the norm. North Dakota, she says, is unique in its support of women to take leadership roles.

"Sometimes, what we see with a lot of women is a sense of insecurity or inferiority, so when it comes to any kind of leadership position ... women are hesitant," she said. "Many women who become leaders talk about someone important in their life that told them they could do anything they put their mind to. As they were raised, they got messages that encouraged them to believe in themselves, and that really comes into play later in life."

Tibke and Sprynczynatyk work together at the North Dakota League of Cities, but Tibke said she had just started when she decided to apply for the commission seat, not leaving much opportunity for Sprynczynatyk's influence to make much difference. But even though Sprynczynatyk didn't have anything to do with her applying, Tibke is glad she is there to answer questions she has now.

"I've just applied my own life experiences to my work on the commission," Tibke said. "Everyone should participate at some time, and it was my time."

Time is something that worries Sprynczynatyk. As people become busier and busier, they have limited time to donate to worthy causes, and with so many of them out there, she is concerned that government won't top the list of ways to serve. She said she thinks it's not a matter of competence holding people back from running, but a lack of time.

"I'm not surprised when people tell me they don't have time to serve an office. I hope people place value on taking the time."

She admits to running life like a juggling act but says there is no magic to what she does. She credits her marathon training for her mental stamina and realizes not everyone is "wonder woman," as Tabor describes her.

Tabor said women often question how she is able to make time for everything. People tell her they'd like to serve in local government but just don't have the time.

The reasons more women aren't running for local government positions, especially city and county boards, aren't clear. Some proposed explanations were lack of time, other commitments, not knowing how to run a campaign and no one encouraging women to run.

Mary Kweit, chair of the political science department at UND, says the superhero image is part of what keeps women and men from serving an office. She has seen first hand the decline of women serving in public office in her city of Grand Forks, where Mayor Pat Owens helped rebuild the city after the flood of 1997, and the city council traditionally has a few women on it. But the city trimmed its council from 15 to eight members, reducing the opportunity for women to serve on the board. Kweit says fewer women serving results in fewer women running, as there aren't as many peers mentoring and encouraging them to serve.

"Women are working several jobs. They're responsible for their homes and families in addition to their career, so it takes out a lot of time available for other things. It would be helpful if people would reach out to women ... it can be very intimidating, and we need to reach out and give some help to get more people in general interested," she said.

The timing was right for Tibke to serve on the commission. Her husband is staying home with their two young children, making it possible for her to pay so much attention to the office.

"I'd have a lot more time if I didn't do this, but it doesn't bug me too much."

(Reach reporter Angie Buckley at 250-8255 or angiebuckley@ndonline.com.)

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Reminders

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5.) North Dakota Fair Housing Council Workshops, June 10 – July 16, North Dakota and Eastern South Dakota

In 2003, the North Dakota Fair Housing Council (NDFHC) will sponsor a number of fair housing workshops across North Dakota and eastern South Dakota.  The workshops will focus on: Learning what Federal and State Laws say about Fair Housing; learning about the complaint filing process; what’s illegal and what’s not; and more…  They will be informative for tenants, users of housing services, non-profit organization and housing providers to learn how to end housing discrimination and what happens when discrimination occurs.  Take home materials will be provided.

These workshops are open to the public and free of charge; however, seating may be limited. Please RSVP in advance to the NDFHC to ensure adequate seating and hand-outs.  The following workshops have been scheduled to date:  

Contact the NDFHC with any questions about the workshops or to register.  Toll Free:  1-888-265-0907.  Bismarck area:  221-2530.

For more information visit their web site here

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6.) Peace Rallies for the Near Future

The North Dakota Peace Coalition and the Red River Anti-War Coalition (RRAWC) sponsors pro-peace demonstrations in Fargo in front of the Federal Building (657 2nd Ave N) at noon.

The RRAWC has moved the rallies to once a month during the summer to accommodate vacation schedules and avoid diluting the rallies.  The rallies will respond to events as they unfold and will be on the first Saturday of the month.

The RRAWC will continue to have weekly organizational meetings, which are expected to evolve into planning/strategy meetings in preparation for the monthly rallies for the fall and for the beginning of the political season.

The RRAWC meetings are Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm.

For more information visit the Red River Anti-War Coalition's website here

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***Member Reminder***

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.

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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 AndreaDeegan@NDHRC.org and we will do our best to accommodate you.

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