Interior GLOBE - Meeting Notes 2/9/99

Interior GLOBE
Meeting Notes

February 9, 1999

New Treasurer

It was announced that Tom is departing Interior to take a position with the USDA. Maria Wiseman accepted the position as Treasurer of Interior GLOBE.

Sexual Orientation Policy Training

Sexual Orientation Policy Training will be held on February 16, 1999 in Room 7112 at 9:00 AM. Jim will send out a notice.

EEO Counselors

Melodee Stith has asked Jim about nominating gay and lesbian employees to be EEO counselors. Jim will ask Melodee 1) how many people are needed and 2) how much time will be required of counselors for training and for counseling.

Matthew Shepard Memorial

Jay discussed hearing from Krystal, an employee from BLM. Krystal was looking into finding out if the land that Matt Shepard was killed on was BLM land. We would organize a drive to put a plaque on the road side if that were possible. Tom suggested we could name a park near the site after Shepard, as was done for Dr. Martin Luther King. Stephen suggested a tree be planted in memory of Shepard. Tom said that Pete Williams (CBS news), former Pentagon Spokesperson in the Bush Administration, is from Wyoming and has been a major source of information about the Shepard Case in Wyoming. Jay will think of ways to follow up on the idea of supporting the Shepard family and the foundation.

Interior Gay and Lesbian Pride Month Activities

Andy spoke of the OSM sponsorship of this year’s Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. He suggested that we suggest to OSM in writing that they invite Congresspersons Baldwin and/or Frank. Chris will contact the Baldwin office this week to see if she is available. There was a discussion about the timing of the OSM-sponsored event with a speaker. Stephen will get information on when the DC Gay Pride events are this year. Jay will get a letter via e-mail from Andy suggesting OSM invite the speakers and Chorus from the Gay and Lesbian Chorus for the event. The message should be sent to Jim Joiner -- EEO head of OSM. Andy will also prepare a letter of invitation to the event speaker.

Stonewall Inn

Chris discussed the Stonewall Inn application to the National Register in New York State. The application is completed and sent in. A State legislator and State Senator are already supporting the nomination.
The listing will be accomplished by the June 30th anniversary of the Stonewall event. There was a discussion of the State and NPS process.
There was a discussion of the idea of putting an interpretive sign in the park opposite the Stonewall, but it is a City Park and that would take more time than is available now. We may look into this possibility sometime after Stonewall has been added to the National Register.

Department’s Policy on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation

Since A/S Berry’s December 14, 1998, memo sending the Department’s Policy on Prohibiting Discrimination Against Sexual Orientation out to all offices and bureaus, the results have been mixed. USGS has had the policy sent to all employees electronically from the Division level; OSM has sent the policy out electronically as well. The NPS does not even have a central board to post the new policy and has done nothing to send it out to all employees. GLOBE members are asked to look at their EEO offices bulletin boards to see if it is posted. We will provide Melodee Stith with a report on this policy visibility as soon as possible. Jim was asked to see if Melodee has the brochures on the Policy ready.