25th Annual Minority Health Conference

Planning Committee Minutes

Tuesday, November 5, 2002

 

 

Meeting began at 4:03 p.m.

I.                   Announcements

·        Publicity meeting scheduled for W 11/20 5-6 p.m. in Ros Student Lounge (2nd floor)

·        Exhibitor meeting scheduled for Th 11/7/02, 5-6 in Ros Student Lounge (2nd floor)

 

II.               Minutes – October 22, 2002 Meeting

·        Reviewed by K. Hanson, and accepted by committee

 

III.            Old Business

 

a.      Conference attendance costs – K. Hanson reported that the following cost fees had been approved: $15 students; $50 faculty; $75 working professionals before deadline and $100 after deadline. B. Holt suggested that the changes for the working professional fees were high and others agreed. The issue will be finalized at a meeting between the conference chairs and A. Shields on Friday at 10:00 a.m.

 

b.     S. Wilson suggested that we may apply for University-funded “Intellectual Life Grants” to support some conference costs (e.g., travel for speakers).

 

c.      B. Holt informed the group that, for those going to APHA, “save the date” postcards have been produced and will be available for pickup and distribution at the UNC SPH booth (#1752 and 1753). Postcards for distribution by MHC committee members will be set aside.

 

IV.            New Business

 

a.      Timeline – K. Hanson reported that for the most part, everything is okay and that we are looking at an end of November deadline for speaker confirmations. The conference structure has been finalized, with keynote in the morning, sessions in the late morning and afternoon, and finishing up with a panel session which all conference attendees will attend. B. Holt stated that November 15th is deadline for the brochure to be finalized as much as possible (e.g., speakers, workshop titles, blurbs); this information needs to be shared with the speakers committee.  

b.     Brochure Illustrations – The Publicity Committee is very pleased with the illustration mock-up provided by OCE. Suggestions for improvement included a collage of three pictures that represent different aspects of racial/ethnic health policy concerns (e.g., state capital, doctor-patient communication, multiracial family). K. Merchant requested the topic list from the speakers committee to make the final picture choices for the illustration.

 

c.      Committee Reports

·        Publicity – K. Merchant reported that R. Medapalli is posting information to the website. The conference will be announced in the Daily Tarheel, but this year the committee will pursue additional coverage. B. Holt will provide the announcements and press releases to use for radio/TV/newspaper outlets. S. Temin inquired about the inclusion of Latino speakers and translators as a hook for Spanish-language media. Possible contacts were shared with the group.

·        Speakers – K. Hanson reported on W. Robinson’s and A. Ireland’s behalf that we are still in the planning stages and are working to finalize the conference topics (7 are confirmed, an additional 5 are up for discussion). For the final afternoon panel session, “where will we be in 2010?”, the idea is to discuss what the media, political, and service provision sectors can do now to affect policy decisions on health disparities in the future. Speakers from earlier workshops will be invited to attend, and the focus will be on dialogue rather than presentation.

·        Exhibitors – S. Temin reported that a meeting was held last week and another is scheduled for this Thursday. She inquired about the fee for exhibitors; K. Hanson stated that the cost can change depending on who’s asking (e.g., returnees versus new exhibitors), amount of space needed, etc. Another question concerned the best mechanism for getting suggestions feedback from the MHC committee; answer was to use the listserv, listing what exhibitors we had last years and ask for additional suggestions and contact information and suggestions for what types of things should be exhibited (e.g., organizations working on current policy issues in the area). If appropriate, speakers will be invited to exhibit, but the contact will be made through that individual’s contact on the speakers committee to maintain consistency. The group discussed the possibility of keeping a copy of the speakers and their contact person on the web, for periodic updates by R. Medapalli.

·        Posters – A. Thrasher reported on Y. Ferguson’s behalf that the “call for abstracts” solicitation has been submitted to OCE for inclusion in the brochure and on the website.

·        Budget/Finance – K. Hanson reported on M. Hickens behalf that the committee is working with External Affairs on the outreach. All 600 SPH donors will be contacted and the letter is being finalized to be approved by External Affairs and A. Shields. MHC members offered potential times they could help with the big mailout.

 

V.                Adjournment – 4:50 p.m.