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Minutes from Alabama Civil Rights Advisory Committee Meeting

July 24, 2007 - Alabama Power Company in Clanton, Alabama

An Oklahoma tribal artist was selected to create the 2007 American Indian/Alaska Native poster, a $10,000 project to be published in mid October.
Mr. Elliott will serve a one year term as the NRCS East Team Region representative for all states in the Eastern Region.

At the quarterly AAPI teleconference, program managers were informed progress reports are to be submitted quarterly, with emphasis on specific accomplishments: outreach, training, recruitment, communication, projects, and youth activities.
Ms. Daniel created an AA/PI Heritage Month display at the Auburn State Office in May.
The Asian Pacific Islander Training Organization Conference is scheduled in Miami, Florida on August 20-24, 2007.

The National Hispanic Conference is scheduled in Minneapolis, MN for August 6-10, 2007
Pictures of Omayra Ortiz-Santiago, Soil Conservationist, (Student Trainee), working in the Guntersville, Alabama fields, will be displayed at the NRCS Career Fairs scheduled in September and October.
The Hispanic Heritage Poster Contest winner to be selected in August will receive $300.

In April Mr. Andrews had an Outreach Program for farmers, attended by 75 people, to inform them of the NRCS and USDA programs.
Mr. Williamson reported their success story from Pickens County, can be seen on our Alabama NRCS "Success Stories." Three landowners learned success with vegetables that nobody else was able to do because of drought. The landowners gave all the produce to a local nursing home.

State Office employees were informed who their Civil Rights representatives are.
A link to the national bulletin was transmitted that issued the national civil rights committee issues and their responses for 2007.
A link to a "Concern Form" was posted to our website which employees can use to submit their concerns to the committee.

Term expires in September.
Larry Holmes, who works with the national outreach program and MANRRS, and Gilbert Guerrero, the National Hispanic Program Manager, have a list of eligible applicants, their resumes´, GPA’s and the degree they are majoring in.
Maine’s CRAC hosted the National Civil Rights Committee with 2 "Breakfast and Learn" sessions: "Writing KSA’s" and "Working with the Media."
OPM is still studying the issues about the GS-0401 and GS-0457 series.
Office of Civil Rights’ will be re-named Office of Adjudication and Compliance. They will require quarterly 715 Reports in FY08.
MyNRCS website will have a list of available temporary details to other states. Details may give an employee the out of state work experience that some states require to qualify for leadership positions.

Training will be a priority.
Priority to find qualified applicants to work for NRCS..
Misuse of Government Credit Cards
- Penalty for using government credit cards/travel cards when not on official travel.
- The State Conservationist will be notified when payment is 60 days late.
- Cash advances for travel must not exceed what is due to the employee.
- Employees are required to use their government credit cards for travel.

In FY08 NRCS Outreach staff will work with the United Cherokee Tribe and Agriculture Business Chair Person to assist Tribal members with Agricultural Business Enterprises.
Mr. Williams assisted the National Outreach Division with a proposed grant - Request For Proposal (RFP).
Ms. Gotcher is presently working with Tri-State Rabbit Association in relation to understanding EQIP Policy and Procedures, etc.
Mr. Williams will attend a National Partnership Outreach meeting in Virginia to share what they have learned in Alabama.

Committee positions rolling off:

Thomas McDaniel, Member (Central) will be replaced by Jody Burdette.
Terry Williamson, Member (West) will be replaced by Carl Pennington.
Mr. Elliott, AI/AN SEPM may be rolling off - Gary had not yet made a decision.
Christopher Ford’s term as President and Evelyn Bostick’s term as Recorder will expire in September.

Attending the 2-day "EEO-Roles and Responsibilities": Tim Albritton, Evelyn Bostick, Kathy Gotcher, Randy Hale, Carl Pennington, Herbert Ross, and Julie Yates. Enrolled in the 3-day Special Emphasis Program Manager Course: Evelyn Bostick, Charlie Ramsey, and Herbert Ross. A request will be submitted to enroll Jody Burdette.

Next CRAC meeting is scheduled 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 16, 2007, at the State Office in Auburn, Alabama.

If full-time Alabama NRCS employees have comments or suggestions for the committee to take under advisement, please use the Comment/Suggestion Form below and submit to any CRAC member.

The following document is in Adobe Acrobat.

Form to Submit Concerns/Suggestions to the Civil Rights Advisory Committee