CALVERT INTERFAITH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES February 11, 2014; All Saints Church Present: Gerry Headley, President (Chaplain, Hospice); Rev. Ken Phelps, Vice President (All Saints Episcopal); Marianne Roberts, Paul Rhodes (Jesus Divine Word Catholic); Anne Harrison, Vicki Rhoades (Patuxent Friends), Dick Hu (Solomon’s UMC), Rev. Jim Swecker, Rev. Julie Wilson (Trinity UMC); Rev. Sandra Smith (Coopers UMC), Rev. Sandy Taylor (Mt. Harmony/Lower Marlboro UMC), Rev. Betsy Van Auker (Community Ministry of Calvert County), Mary Ann Zaversnik (St. John Vianney Catholic), Marie Andrews (Calvert Collaborative for Children and Youth, Inc.), Pat Ullberg (Calvert Recorder), Sergio Espana, Liam Fletcher, Brandon Johnson, Cory Johnson (Health Care is Human Right). Opening and Welcome: President Gerry Headley called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Ken Phelps, pastor, offered an opening prayer and introduced all to the Project to Reconcile our Past, beginning with Thomas Clagett, rector of All Saints, as the first Episcopal bishop consecrated in Maryland. The 150th Anniversary of the Maryland issued “Emancipation Proclamation” will be celebrated by All Saints on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 ending with a tour of historic sites. THEME: “JUSTICE AND PEACE” PRESENTATION: Rev. Julie Wilson, Closing the Gap Coalition The Coalition is focusing on 3 areas: Diversity in teacher hiring, Special Education, and Discipline. African Americans are under represented among teachers and over represented in special education and discipline referrals. The Coalition has met with the Board of Education and Interim Superintendent, and a current goal is greater parent involvement. PTAs tend to focus on fundraising rather than communication. A diversity specialist has been hired, and diversity training is being provided to administrators and teachers. All are invited to the next Coalition meeting on Saturday, March 1, 10 AM, at the Prince Frederick Library. PRESENTATION: Sergio Espana, Health Care is a Human Right (HCHR) Health Care is a Human Right – Maryland is a grassroots movement supporting publicly funded/privately provided universal health coverage. A for-profit system results in thousands of medical bankruptcies yearly, including of people with medical insurance, and an inefficient system with layers of middlemen. In Maryland in 2012, 802,000 residents were uninsured (13.8% of population) and 370,000 will remain uninsured under the Affordable Care Act. Other countries and the state of Vermont currently provide publicly funded universal health care. “Financing the Maryland Health Security Act” and more information are available at www.mdsinglepayer.org; Also see https://www.facebook.com/groups/HealcareNowofMD/ Calvert HCHR meets every other Tuesday at 6:30 pm at All Saints Church. Next meeting February 18. The movie “Inequality for ALL” and follow up discussion will be on Monday, March 24, 6:30 pm at the Prince Frederick library. PRESENTATION: Rev. Ken Phelps, TRUST, Minimum Wage Bill TRUST, formerly the Southern Maryland Action Coalition, seeks ways to address SYSTEMIC issues, rather than SYMPTOMATIC ones. Foci are Education (which led to Closing the Gap Coalition), Housing (HOME Act) and Transportation. Current emphasis is on fostering relationships, such as at the recently held second AntiRacism Workshop – Seeing the Face of God in Each Other. RAISE MARYLAND is a diverse coalition seeking to pass a statewide minimum wage increase and index minimum wages to inflation. Rev. Phelps seeks signatories to a letter to the Maryland House of Delegates in support of an increased minimum wage. More information available at http://raisemd.org/. Next TRUST meeting Monday, March 17, location and time to be determined. Legislative Nights: Monday, Feb. 17 – Md. Catholic Conference; Tuesday, March 11 – Episcopal Conference. PRESENTATION: Rev. Julie Wilson, HOME Act The HOME Act prohibits landlords and other property owners from discriminating against persons seeking housing based solely on their “source of income” (SOI). SOI discrimination impacts tens of thousands of seniors, retirees, veterans, and families in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Over 60,000 families in Maryland that are recipients of federal housing choice vouchers are impacted by this discrimination which dictates where they may or may not live. Landlords have submitted their proposal, asking for a compromise. Current bill number is HB1098. Support may be requested from CIC when final bill is ready. OLD BUSINESS/UPDATES: MOTION: Vicki Rhoades moved that the October minutes be accepted as written. Rev. Sandy Taylor seconded and the motion carried unanimously. Pre-Thanksgiving Service Held at the Islamic Center in Prince Frederick on the Monday prior to Thanksgiving and with the collaboration of Daughters of Abraham, the service included the local rabbi and well attended. The evening’s collection amounted to $586, which was donated to the World Food Program for the Phillipines. It was suggested that Concerned Black Men and Women be invited to future services. Hallowing Point Mobile Home Park Betsy Van Auker reported that Community Ministry of Calvert County (CMCC), in addition to Calvert County Government, the Md Department of Social Services, and local churches have supported the families involved. CMCC is located at 440 Main St, Prince Frederick, and is currently open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 1-5 PM. Donations are needed to provide the security deposits for apartments. NEW BUSINESS CIC bank account: President Headley reported on recently discovered issues. Several checks have never been deposited, and several bills have never been paid. President Headley has written checks to pay the bills, and will return the checks to the originators with a letter of explanation. Those present collected their undeposited checks, promising to reissue them. The account balance as of January 31, 2014 is $2409. Rev, Swecker advised an annual audit with a specific deadline. The Executive Committee will recommend action in April. Election of Officers: President Headley presented the proposed slate of officers for the next 2 year term: President: Gerry Headley, Vice President: Rev. Ken Phelps, Secretary: Marianne Roberts, Treasurer: Richard Hu. He solicited other nominations from those present, and received none. Anne Harrison moved that the slate be accepted as presented, Rev. Sandy Taylor seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Rev. Taylor moved that Richard Hu, Treasurer, and Gerry Headly, President, be the signatories on the CIC bank account, Rev. Julie Wilson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Course of Action: President Headley suggested that going forward the CIC highlight what local churches are doing, and become more collaborative. Improving the website to enable churches to publicize their events should strengthen CIC and provide publicity. He also proposed distributing CIC funds to local groups. Rev. Taylor suggested supporting the HealthCare is a Human Right presenters at this meeting, and Rev. Phelps suggested making HCHR support, and TRUST, line items in the CIC budget. CMCC and Battle Buddies were also suggested recipients. The CIC Executive Committee will meet in March to draft a proposal for the April CIC meeting concerning the distribution of funds. (Ad in Empty Bowl Supper program will be paid for before then?) ANNOUNCEMENTS: Food Distribution: Free food Friday, March 7 3-5 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, on Friday, April 11 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Proposed Monthly Distributions invite other churches to host. Contact Joel Davis ([email protected]) to arrange a distribution or for more information. Calvert Collaborative for Children and Youth:lMarie Andrews shared information about 5 current issues: 1 Understanding IEPs (Individual Education Plans) Workshops at Board of Ed, PF, Feb, 20 + 27, 6:30 pm. Register/info: [email protected]. 2.”American Promise” , 14 year documentary provides a rare look into the lives of two middle class Black families, will be shown by the Diversity Institute at CSM, La Plata Feb. 25 6:30 pm FREE trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfA939LmPbU 3. Value of Program Evaluation (Mentoring) Training, Baltimore MD. Feb. 21, 10am – 2 pm. $45 www.biglittle.org/YPT 4. Marie reported that over 100 local children are in Foster Care because of drug addicted parents. She recommended the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the federal government as a resource. 5. Importance of educational accountability: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/student-test-scoresdepend-on-accountability/2013/12/26/66bab856-6cba-11e3-a523-fe73f0ff6b8d_story.html Concert: Middleham/St.Peter’s requested announcement of a PING concert, Feb. 23, 4 pm in their Great Hall, to support their Community Garden and SMILE. Hear PING SMCM on youtube. Visit www.calvertinterfaithcouncil.org/announcements for these and additional events. Thanks were given to the All Saints Church for their hospitality and delicious food and beverages. Ken Phelps moved, Betsy Van Auker seconded, and the motion to adjourn was approved at 12:35 pm. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, April 8, 2014 Hospitality 9:30 a.m.--Meeting 10:00 a.m. Location: TBD – St. John Vianney? Topic: Respectfully Submitted, Marianne Roberts Secretary