Present: Lily John, Laurence
While waiting for participants to join Laurence raised a question about self-assessment within Haitian groups with the purpose of learning to communicate better. The group discussed terms that have different connotations in Haitian experience: evaluation (positive and negative), assessment (generally positive), debrief (generally positive). Lily suggested using assessment tools that let people self-evaluate as well as evaluate the group. John recommended resources at http://touchstones.org.
Online registration- John has been researching this – identified one site that will offer a good discount when we combine this activity with others. Should be confirmed in a few days.
The dates, May 5 and 6, for HS in 2007 look good at Bklyn College.
Feedback from John’s meeting with Philadelphia group: 8 or 9 people at meeting. 3 weren’t sold on Open Space so it won’t go forward that way. John had concerns because there were no Haitians in that group.
Jean’s friend Theo has offered to do graphic design for a brochure, promotional piece, and logo. He can do it at no cost with the understanding that if money comes through, he will be compensated. Our group is very participatory and we will need to confirm with Theo that he is willing to do more than one revision.
Enlarging the planning committee? John and Lily suggest two additional members of BC HASA (Valery and Meylyn). Lily also suggested two people – both have the same values and can enhance the group’s work, if it is not too late: Menes Dejoie (NY), Serge Madhere (Wash DC, Howard Univ)
Next meeting agenda item: expanding our planning group.
Event duration: Just Saturday and Sunday? The whole event can encompass additional activities on Monday and Friday evening as well. Music is an important outlet for Haitians to say things that are hard to say. Who should we try to get for a concert? A variety of acts – something popular for different age groups/tastes. Wyclef would be good if we can get him. Mosiac. blues, Voudou jazz.
Committee members are invited to propose musical groups, and to try to contact Wyclef Jean
Inclusion of planning committee in brochure with or without an affiliation: Laurence suggested it as a way to help people see that the planners have a connection to the values Haiti Salon is promoting (the names alone would not help people understand the goal). The “affiliation” does not need to be an organization, but just a phrase describing the person’s relevant activities.
Next meeting agenda item from Lily – discussion of material she has on statistics on Haitian immigration and census data. She will send the document to the committee members.
Next meeting will be May 5 via conference call. Click her for agenda HaitiSalonMay506
Learn more about Haiti Salon at http://haitisalon.com