Multilingual Initiative (MLI) Committee Meeting Minutes

June 24-25, 2005
Face to Face Meeting
Washington, DC

Program Owner

• Toni Cross, Chief MLI
• Sharese Stevens, MLI Senior Policy Analyst
• Marilyn Correa, MLI Policy Analyst
• Ray Mills, MLI Policy Analyst
• Yolanda Myers, MLI Administrative Assistant
• Carrie Schaffer, MLI Contractor

Designated Federal Official

• Nancy L. Ferree, TAP Program Manager, Plantation, FL

Committee Members Present (These attendees count for quorum)

• Jerald Fireman, Edmonds, WA
• José Irizarry, San Juan, PR
• Delford Jones, Griffith, IN
• Steve Kreisler, Potomac, MD
• Mary Ann Lawler, Dearborn, MI
• Paul McElroy, Winston-Salem, NC
• Clifford McKenzie, Del City, OK
• Joseph Meissner, Cleveland, OH
• Theodore Perros, Washington, DC
• Lovella Richardson, Knoxville, TN
• Iris Sosa, Fontana, CA
• Robert Stokes, Kemp, TX
• Bruce Twomley, Juneau, AK, Chair

Committee Members Absent

• Dorothy Havey, Lincolnville, ME
• Helen Curol, Lake Charles, LA

TAP Staff

• Inez E. De Jesus, TAP Program Analyst
• Laverne Walker, Secretary
• Martha Curry, Analyst

Guests

• Allan M. Goldberg, LITC Director Rep.
• Anita Soucy, Latham & Watkins, LLP. Washington, DC
• Daniel K. Hsiung, Harlem Community Law Office

Welcome
Chair Bruce Twomley opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.

Roll Call
Quorum was met.

Review Agenda
The committee accepted the agenda.

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
The minutes of May 17, 2005 were approved and accepted by all.

National Office Representative Comments
Martha Curry welcomed everyone on behalf of Bernie Coston, TAP Director.

Nomination for Vice Chair
Chair Twomley reminded panel members that a vice chair is needed and welcomed nominations. Ballots were distributed and the election will be held Saturday at the beginning of the meeting.

Meeting Objectives
Sharese Stevens provided an overview of the meeting objectives. Guests were introduced to the panel.

Guests input
Allan Goldberg spoke on LITC’s and how they work with IRS and the multilingual initiative. Attorney Anita Soucy spoke on her involvement with a LITC clinic, as well as adult education, citizenship, and ESL populations. Attorney Daniel Hsiung spoke about his involvement with the Chinese population thru the LITC. He states ESL classes are a good outreach opportunity since the classes are well-attended. A handout was provided. All guests answered questions from the panel.

Agenda Items- Team Breakout Sessions
Sharese explained where each breakout team would meet. Team 1 Needs Assessment Room 516, Team 2 Education Room 515, Team 3 LITC Communications Zenith room. The teams were advised to return to the main meeting room at 4:15 for day one wrap-up.

Day one Wrap up
The teams returned for Day 1 wrap up.

Day Two- Saturday, June 25, 2005

Opening Day Two
Sharese Stevens opened day two with a welcome to all.

Vice Chair Election
Robert Stokes was elected by consensus to Vice- Chair.

Chair Message
Bruce Twomley announced that each team leader is responsible for providing him with a draft of the final report by the end of August 2005. Bruce will produce a consolidated draft by first part of September 2005 to each team, and will produce a final report by the end of September 2005.

Teams continued breakout groups to finalize presentations.

Teams’ final report out
Each team provided a report of the breakout groups.

Team 1- Needs Assessment- Lovella Richardson reported on team activities and stated that their goal is to have a final report by end of September 2005.

Team 2 – Education – Robert Stokes provided team report on ESL activities.

Team 3 – LITC Product Team- Steve Kreisler provided update on LITC products and activities.

Each team prepared flip charts which will be reduced to typed pages for future reference.

Closing Remarks:

Program Owner Message
Toni Cross provided comments. Her expectation is that each team will take at least one step to complete one activity on their team strategy plan. Toni thanked all panel members, guests, and TAP staff for the cooperation and hard work that everyone accomplished prior to and during this two day meeting.

Chair Closing Message
Bruce Twomley thanked everyone for their dedication, hard work and contributions to this process. He added that Delford Jones should be kept in mind as a political organizer in the event that any of us (as private citizens- not TAP members) ever wished to take an issue beyond TAP to our Congressional delegations. Bruce also thanked the program owners for the support they provided throughout this working year.

The Meeting was adjourned at 10:30am.

The next MLI committee meeting will be July 12, 2005 at 2:30pm eastern time by teleconference.

*These minutes were approved by the TAP MLI Issue Committee on September 13, 2005, by consensus.