Interior GLOBE - Meeting Notes 6/9/99

Interior GLOBE
Meeting Notes

June 9, 1999

Teleconferencing with Field Offices

A new GLOBE member in Albuquerque has contacted Jay and wants to be included in the meetings by teleconference. Jay will send out an email to GLOBE members asking whether there are other members in the field who would like to be included by teleconference, and saying that GLOBE would look into the availability of such a hook up. The technical requirements of needing more than three lines and a "bridge" to connect the field offices were discussed, as were concerns about the cost of such a teleconference. It was suggested that EEO might provide funding, but that would need to be looked into.
It was suggested that HQ members should also focus their efforts on increasing membership in the D.C. area.

Pride Month Events

It was estimated that there were approximately 180 people, including 15 DOI GLOBE members, in attendance at the Pride celebration with Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday June 8. It was agreed that Baldwin’s speech was inspiring, but several members wondered why more G/L/B/T Interior employees were not out at work, and why only 6 - 9 people were active in GLOBE.
Maria mentioned that she set up the information table with GLOBE and general G/L/B/T materials near the cafeteria for 4 days last week, and many of the materials were picked up, possibly indicating an interest in GLOBE and/or G/L/B/T issues. Jay received many unsolicited positive comments about the Pride celebration.

Increasing Membership

Jim is working with the NPS to raise awareness of G/L/B/T issues within the NPS. For example, the NPS should be sensitive to including partners when moving employees to new assignments, and should extend partnership benefits to employees. Jim will continue to work on these issues through NPS rather than making this a GLOBE issue at this time. It was suggested that if the NPS adopts such policies, the Department might as well.
OSM put lots of work into the Pride celebration, and much was accomplished because OSM was acting in its official capacity, and because there was funding available to OSM for the celebration.
Issue: Should GLOBE lobby for staff in the Department’s EEO office who would have the authority to act as an ombudsman for G/L/B/T issues? There was a Gay man in the office who unofficially acted in such a capacity, but he is no longer in the EEO office. Would such a position would be better suited for the Human Resources (HR) office or the EEO office? Should GLOBE lobby for more active recruitment of G/L/B/T staff in the EEO office.
G/L/B/T are not included in DOI hiring goals. It is unclear whether this was an oversight or intentional, but it was suggested that EEO may be more willing to do so now. It was suggested that Jay, as President, should talk to John Berry about getting an upper level staff person in EEO or HR. Jay will follow up.

AIDS Ride

Jim wants to get pictures of GLOBE members who are riding at the closing ceremony. Jim will pick a spot to meet. Jay, Chris, and John Berry, as well as other DOI employees, will be riding.

GLOBE Accomplishments

It was noted that GLOBE has accomplished much in the last year, including last year’s Pride Celebration which was well attended, working with EEO to implement the new EEO procedure of complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation, the listing of Stonewall to the National Register, and this year’s Pride Celebration with Tammy Baldwin.

Negative Emails Regarding Pride Celebration

Jay discussed a complaint he had received that there were no people of color in the program. Responses to this person from Jay and John Berry, and others, noted that there was an Asian Pacific American woman in the program and several people of color were introduced from the podium, but acknowledged that increasing diversity is a continuing GLOBE goal.