The agenda passed out at the meeting listed the nominees for GLOBE officer positions. There was one nominee for each position. It was moved and seconded that there be a call for additional nominations from the floor. No new nominations were made.

It was moved and seconded that, due to the interruption of e-mail service in the Department, procedures in the by-laws be suspended to allow for the completion of the election process. It was unanimously voted that the final vote for GLOBE officers be held with those in the room participating.

It was moved and seconded that those present vote on the whole list of candidates in one vote. The vote for the slate of candidates was unanimous. The newly elected officials are:

It was noted that Maria would continue to be the editor for the Newsletter, Bob Veltkamp would continue to maintain the Interior GLOBE web site, and Ike Kelley would continue to be the GLOBE representative on the Department’s Diversity Council, should they become active again.

After the election, the meeting was turned over to our new President, Jerry Bock. He started by again thanking the outgoing GLOBE officials for their hard work and accomplishments over the past year.

Location: Future meetings will be held in the John Muir Room (formerly the small buffet room) in the Main Interior Building. It can be reached on the basement level down the corridor with the Post Office and IDRA store. At the end of the corridor, turn right, and use the last door on the right..

Dates: Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month. (March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13 and December 11)

Time: 12:15 to 1:30 PM

It was suggested that we go around the room and discuss why we chose to participate in GLOBE meetings. Responses included continuing with past activist tendencies, meeting other gay and lesbian Interior employees socially, receiving personal invitations to attend, and wanting to contribute to an Interior work environment that was comfortable for all gay and lesbian employees. Asked why people choose not to participate, responses included fear of exposure, no time, lack of interest in the group’s activities, and the feeling that we don’t have it so bad, so why "rock the boat."

Suggestions for increasing membership and attendance, and for future activities included:

• More involvement in planning for the Washington, DC gay pride celebration
       
• Ask minority gay people to come to discuss issues for them as members of two minorities
       
• Bring in speakers on a variety of subjects of interest to us - financial planning, etc.
       
• Encourage field people to join us for meetings when they are in town
       
• Invite field members to present their thoughts on being gay or lesbian employees in the field
       
• Send out a survey to the GLOBE mailing list (when we are all back on e-mail systems) asking people to suggest ideas that would attract them to meetings, possibly providing a short list of ideas from across the spectrum of possibilities
       
• Do some activities with other GLOBE groups
       
• Do some activities with other employee groups, like NAABFE
       
• Bring in speakers to discuss the activities of their Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) organizations to encourage giving to help charitable organizations in our community

Ike said that the Council has asked repeatedly when they will be able to become more active, and the answer has been that the new officials have not yet determined how they will work on diversity issues in the Department. The Council has not been meeting, although several members have expressed an interest in continuing their activities.

An Asian / Pacific Island group may be starting up. The new administration seems to have no problem working with the separate employee groups. It was noted that the GLOBE employee group was officially recognized by a previous Director of Interior’s Office of Personnel Policy.

• Change the GLOBE officials list on the GLOBE web site (Bob)
       
• Change the GLOBE contact information on the Department’s Diversity web site and at FedGLOBE (Bob)
       
• Draft a letter from outgoing officials to go to various Departmental officials introducing the new GLOBE leadership. Recipients to include Mike Trajillo, Carolyn Cohen, Bob Faithful, Melodee Stith, Lynn Scarlett, bureau HR directors, the Chair of the Diversity Council (Maria)
       
• Set up a meeting to introduce GLOBE officials to Mike Trajillo - the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Diversity. Ask him to meet with GLOBE and look into Diversity Council issue. (???)
       
• Begin thinking about Interior’s June Pride Celebration

• Find out which organization is sponsoring the celebration this year
       
• Find Jay’s list of what other agencies did for pride last year (Andy?)
       
• Submit nominations for the New Millennium Human Rights Award to given at the June Pride Celebration