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Attending: Bob Stephens, GC OCYF; Henry Brown, GCDSS; Erica Mowbray, GCDSS; Donna Shafer, Interested Party; Edgar Harman, Rep. Garrett Co. Commissioners; Carol Bass, GCHD; Lisa Thayer Welch, Garrett Co. State’s Attorney’s Office; Larry Gnegy, Garrett Co. Sheriff’s Department; Elizabeth Biser, Lucia Ayers, Community Rep’s.; R. Samuel Wachter, Clergy Community; Linda Spassil, DVSARC; June Heseslbach, AAoA; Jodi Finkelstein, MNADV; Carolyn Taylor, Observer
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be September 8, 8:30 a.m. at the Garrett County Department of Social Services.
Lisa Thayer Welch called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.
The July 14 minutes were amended at the request of Elizabeth Biser to reflect the Safety Safari will be August 25 not August 21 as previously stated, it will be at 1:00 p.m. at GCSO, not 4:00 p.m. Please note the attachment of the Mettle Workers statistics to the meeting minutes at the request of Elizabeth Biser.
The Women’s Commission has submitted Phyllis Trickett’s name as their representative to the Family Violence Coalition.
Committee Reports:
The Public Awareness Team reported the Silent Witness Exhibit is on displayed at the Garrett County Fair.
Data Management – Lucia Ayers stated that she is requesting 5-year data collected by agencies relating to Family Violence. Lucia reported the results of a telephone survey indicated that there is a perception that domestic violence is a problem, but the perception by the public is that child sexual abuse is not as much of a problem as providers perceive it to be.
Strategic Planning – the committee has been working on the Strategic Plan for the Family Violence Coalition. Discussion has been leaning toward placing children in a priority position because of their limited means to access services. Henry Brown mentioned the State’s focus on Managing for Results and felt this could help direct the Strategic Planning Team. Next meeting of the Strategic Planning Team will be August 24, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. in the GCDSS Conference Room. Anyone who has input is invited to attend.
Lisa Thayer Welch passed around a sign-up sheet for any interested members/attendees to be part of the Standing and Ad-hoc Committees. Linda Spassil inquired whether others outside the membership of the GCFVC could serve on the Ad-hoc Committee (such as interested parties in the community.)
Old Business:
Bob Stephens stated that a grant opportunity was available for Child Safety and Child Abuse Education in the amount of $10,000. Bob inquired if a grant could be submitted from the GCFVC. A motion was made that if a grant were written in the name of the GCFVC the Executive Committee would first need to review and approve it.
In the last month 3 families have been housed in the Shelter with a total of 7 children. The Shelter has also provided services to rape crisis clients. Linda Spassil stated the Shelter has been extremely busy and is in need of additional staff, funds, and volunteers. Linda has a plan to develop a DVSARC newsletter in an effort to increase community awareness.
GCSO received a computer last week through the HotSpot Grant. Linda inquired if it would be possible for a staff person from DVSARC to spend additional time in the Grantsville area due to the proximity to clients.
Larry Gnegy reported that the GCSO received 12 domestic complaints, 9 domestic assaults, 6 arrests for domestic assaults, 15 domestic violence exparte/protective order, and 1 arrest for violation of order in the month of July. These statistics have been forwarded to the Republican Newspaper for publication.
Jodi Finkelstein will provide information about a Montgomery County project where offenders are educated about available treatments. Jodi passed around Pro-prosecution information to attendees and a pocket guide to MD D.V. Laws. Anyone with ideas regarding new training possibilities or activities relating to Pro-prosecution should contact Jodi.
The deadline for receiving applications for the GCFVC Coordinator position was August 10, 1998. Jodi advised that to her knowledge GCFVC might be the only county receiving an award to hire a coordinator (a new position.)
Lisa Thayer Welch has received two letters of interest for the
community representative position on the GCFVC. Carolyn Taylor will
be the name submitted to the Commissioners for approval.
The Strategic Planning Team will meet on Monday, August 24 at
8:30 a.m. to discuss a public relations plan for the FVC.
Erica Mowbray reported that approximately 20 attendees from law enforcement, medical (nursing), child protective services, and domestic violence agencies attended the Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner training Workshop held at GCDSS. Cumberland Memorial Hospital is in the planning stages of developing a program.
New Business:
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Crime Prevention Month. A discussion followed about activities GCFVC could sponsor to increase public awareness. Larry Gnegy will coordinate the placement of ads in the Garrett Cinema complex relating to Family Violence. June Hesselbach mentioned a fundraising opportunity in which the money collected would be donated to the DVSARC. The fundraiser would involve the raffle of an egg similar to a Faberge’ egg done by Mitzi Purdue, who sells her eggs worldwide for approximately $2000 each. She will be donating the egg.
Jodi Finkelstein advised the coalition of an upcoming training in Gaithersburg, MD. The conference is the Biennial State Conference on Domestic Violence “Harvesting Peace for the Future” to be held October 16 – 17, 1998. More information will be available next month.
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