Post by Michael Yue on Mar 23, 2006 18:05:50 GMT -5
Richmond Civic Network (RCN)
Thursday 26th January 2006
Richmond City Hall
7pm-9pm
In attendance
a) Dale Pitts, Resident
b) Rick Beardsley, Resident
c) Jack Harrison, RCMP
d) Michel Yue, Civic Education Society
e) Hala Kapani , Iman School
f) Sadika Mohamed, Iman School
g) Anne Mckitrick, RIAC
h) Rania Tantawy, Iman School
I) Philip Fung, Richmond Resident
j) Alan Hill, City of Richmond
k) Maha Abdelhamid Iman School
1. Confirmation of working group /steering committee
a) The group discussed who would chair meetings. It was agreed, that if possible, meetings should be chaired by a Richmond resident.
b) Rick agreed to be acting chair and Michael agreed to assist Rick in this regard. Rick (as the acting chair) will also be part of the network steering committee
c) Current membership of the steering committee: Rick Beardsley (Resident and Acting Chair), Parm Grewal (Multicultural Concerns Society) , James Musgrave (Family Services of Greater Vancouver) Michael Yu (Civic Education Society), Heather Fleming (Volunteer Richmond)
d) It was agreed that the RCN steering committee would continue and work with the chair to provide guidance and support to the network between meetings. Membership of the steering committee is flexible and any member of the RCN can volunteer for the steering committee if they wish (either on a full time or temporary basis) or step down at any point.
e) A permanent chair, and other officers as needed, will be appointed at a future date (to be decided) when the group is larger and more developed.
2. Terms of reference/ objectives
a) It was agreed that the RCN be totally non partisan, clearly not linked to any political party or groups and be grass roots, citizen focused and action orientated with an emphasis on advocacy … but not campaigning. The main focus of the network will be thus to remove barriers and Increase opportunities for civic engagement
b) The group agreed that a major objective of the network will be to increase levels of understanding and break down barriers between different cultural groups and that this Is an Important aspect of Increasing general civic participation.
c) Alan agreed to devise a draft "terms of reference" and bring this to a future meeting for discussion by the group. This document will continue in draft form and change, be revisited and revaluated, as the focus of the network becomes clearer over the next few months. The group agreed the Importance of having clearly stated and transparent aims and objectives
d) The group decided to keep the RCN open and flexible in its structure. Membership will be informal and open to all who live and work in Richmond. The group decided that the RCN would be more likely to be successful and popular if it keeps issues based, immediately starts to focus on practical issues that are important to the community in Richmond.
The RCN will to attempt to facilitate genuine involvement from Richmond residents around the issues that Richmond residents themselves have identified as being important.
e) As discussed at the previous meeting the group decided to have a definition of civic engagement to be wide and inclusive (not just getting people to vote) based on looking at ways to get Richmond residents more involved in all aspects of community life...both at Neighbourhood and City wide level.
f) The group decided that the name of the network will be Richmond Civic Network (RCN) and meetings are to be held every six weeks
3. Possible activities for the Network
The group held a discussion to identify possible issues that could be taken forward by RCN. This will be an ongoing process as RCN gets larger and more organised. Ideas /issues to kick start the network included…
a) The issue of Richmond's Muslim community not being able to have prayer space in public and commercial buildings. A priority here was identified as lack of prayer space in Richmond's public schools. The group identified particularly the need for multi-faith quiet rooms.
This issue was raised in the context of the perception of a rapidly growing Arabic and also Muslim population in Richmond with particular cultural and language needs...a community that has often slipped "under the radar".
The group agreed that the next meeting would be partly focussed on exploring a solution to the issue of prayer space in public schools. A School Board representative will be invited (By Anne and Rick) to the meeting so that a dialogue on this issue can be started and avenues for taking this issue forward explored.
b) Issue of need for greater communication between City 'block watch' coordinators, the public and the RCMP
c) The group discussed a role for itself in being involved in City of Richmond initiatives . The group discussed being involved in consultations and having input into the City of Richmond access policy. This policy will set the principles for the Cities recreational and cultural services being delivered in ways suitable for all the community and based on what all communities in Richmond would like. The group discussed that 'access' should not only be about physical access but cultural access and access for people on all incomes. It was also reported that the City will be reviewing how it conducts its public consultations and RCN could have a role in helping to provide public input in to these debates.
4. Resource needs
a) While this issue was not fully addressed the group would like ongoing assistance with the City with administrative and publicity support. Resource needs of RCN to be more fully explored at later meetings.
5. Agenda Items for the next meeting
Agenda Items for the next meeting Include:
a) continued discussion on communication Issues relating to "Block watch"
b) continued discussions on questions about receptivity of Richmond schools to Richmond's Arab Muslim community.
c) terms of reference for the RCN
d) continued discussion around City access Initiatives and how the RCN could Involve Itself In these.
e) publicity
6. Date of next meeting
To be confirmed (depending on availability of School Board)
Thursday 26th January 2006
Richmond City Hall
7pm-9pm
In attendance
a) Dale Pitts, Resident
b) Rick Beardsley, Resident
c) Jack Harrison, RCMP
d) Michel Yue, Civic Education Society
e) Hala Kapani , Iman School
f) Sadika Mohamed, Iman School
g) Anne Mckitrick, RIAC
h) Rania Tantawy, Iman School
I) Philip Fung, Richmond Resident
j) Alan Hill, City of Richmond
k) Maha Abdelhamid Iman School
1. Confirmation of working group /steering committee
a) The group discussed who would chair meetings. It was agreed, that if possible, meetings should be chaired by a Richmond resident.
b) Rick agreed to be acting chair and Michael agreed to assist Rick in this regard. Rick (as the acting chair) will also be part of the network steering committee
c) Current membership of the steering committee: Rick Beardsley (Resident and Acting Chair), Parm Grewal (Multicultural Concerns Society) , James Musgrave (Family Services of Greater Vancouver) Michael Yu (Civic Education Society), Heather Fleming (Volunteer Richmond)
d) It was agreed that the RCN steering committee would continue and work with the chair to provide guidance and support to the network between meetings. Membership of the steering committee is flexible and any member of the RCN can volunteer for the steering committee if they wish (either on a full time or temporary basis) or step down at any point.
e) A permanent chair, and other officers as needed, will be appointed at a future date (to be decided) when the group is larger and more developed.
2. Terms of reference/ objectives
a) It was agreed that the RCN be totally non partisan, clearly not linked to any political party or groups and be grass roots, citizen focused and action orientated with an emphasis on advocacy … but not campaigning. The main focus of the network will be thus to remove barriers and Increase opportunities for civic engagement
b) The group agreed that a major objective of the network will be to increase levels of understanding and break down barriers between different cultural groups and that this Is an Important aspect of Increasing general civic participation.
c) Alan agreed to devise a draft "terms of reference" and bring this to a future meeting for discussion by the group. This document will continue in draft form and change, be revisited and revaluated, as the focus of the network becomes clearer over the next few months. The group agreed the Importance of having clearly stated and transparent aims and objectives
d) The group decided to keep the RCN open and flexible in its structure. Membership will be informal and open to all who live and work in Richmond. The group decided that the RCN would be more likely to be successful and popular if it keeps issues based, immediately starts to focus on practical issues that are important to the community in Richmond.
The RCN will to attempt to facilitate genuine involvement from Richmond residents around the issues that Richmond residents themselves have identified as being important.
e) As discussed at the previous meeting the group decided to have a definition of civic engagement to be wide and inclusive (not just getting people to vote) based on looking at ways to get Richmond residents more involved in all aspects of community life...both at Neighbourhood and City wide level.
f) The group decided that the name of the network will be Richmond Civic Network (RCN) and meetings are to be held every six weeks
3. Possible activities for the Network
The group held a discussion to identify possible issues that could be taken forward by RCN. This will be an ongoing process as RCN gets larger and more organised. Ideas /issues to kick start the network included…
a) The issue of Richmond's Muslim community not being able to have prayer space in public and commercial buildings. A priority here was identified as lack of prayer space in Richmond's public schools. The group identified particularly the need for multi-faith quiet rooms.
This issue was raised in the context of the perception of a rapidly growing Arabic and also Muslim population in Richmond with particular cultural and language needs...a community that has often slipped "under the radar".
The group agreed that the next meeting would be partly focussed on exploring a solution to the issue of prayer space in public schools. A School Board representative will be invited (By Anne and Rick) to the meeting so that a dialogue on this issue can be started and avenues for taking this issue forward explored.
b) Issue of need for greater communication between City 'block watch' coordinators, the public and the RCMP
c) The group discussed a role for itself in being involved in City of Richmond initiatives . The group discussed being involved in consultations and having input into the City of Richmond access policy. This policy will set the principles for the Cities recreational and cultural services being delivered in ways suitable for all the community and based on what all communities in Richmond would like. The group discussed that 'access' should not only be about physical access but cultural access and access for people on all incomes. It was also reported that the City will be reviewing how it conducts its public consultations and RCN could have a role in helping to provide public input in to these debates.
4. Resource needs
a) While this issue was not fully addressed the group would like ongoing assistance with the City with administrative and publicity support. Resource needs of RCN to be more fully explored at later meetings.
5. Agenda Items for the next meeting
Agenda Items for the next meeting Include:
a) continued discussion on communication Issues relating to "Block watch"
b) continued discussions on questions about receptivity of Richmond schools to Richmond's Arab Muslim community.
c) terms of reference for the RCN
d) continued discussion around City access Initiatives and how the RCN could Involve Itself In these.
e) publicity
6. Date of next meeting
To be confirmed (depending on availability of School Board)