Save the Chatham County Human Relations Office!

On January 3, 2011, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to eliminate the Chatham County Human Relations Office.

"The decision will limit the effectiveness of the Human Relations Commission because there won’t be a staff member who can carry out the things they need to have done." Read more.

The Human Relations Office is needed to assist the volunteer commission to carry out the following duties:

* To serve as a vehicle through which citizens can convey their suggestions/concerns pertaining- to the status of human relations in the area served by the HRC;

* To serve as a liaison/facilitator between the public and the local governing bodies;

* To recommend specific strategies /action steps designed to resolve human relations problems, thus improving the quality of life in the community;

* To act as an advisory body to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on new and emerging, social concerns/cultural diversity issues facing the community;

* To promote equality of opportunity for all citizens in the area served by the HRC;

* To encourage the employment of qualified people without regard to race, gender, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation or economic background;

* To sponsor educational forums, meetings, programs, etc. that promote amicable relations, mutual respect and responsible citizenship;

* To sponsor an annual event that recognizes individuals, persons in business and industry; local organizations and religious organizations for outstanding accomplishments in human relations;

* To render an annual report to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners in October of each year.

By signing this petition, we ask the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to reconsider the decision to eliminate the Chatham County Human Relations Office. We also pledge our support to the board of commissioners for solutions that will make it possible to keep the Human Relations Director working and available to the citizens of Chatham County. This petition supports the Chatham County Human Relations Commission.

The mission of the Chatham County Human Relations Commission is to actively promote harmonious relations and mutual respect among all groups within Chatham County and to discourage all manner and manifestation of discriminatory practices towards such groups; thereby, promoting the general welfare of this community.

Democrats Allen Michael "Mike" Cross and Sally Kost voted in favor of the director of the Office of Human Relations while Republicans Brian Bock, Walter Petty and Pam Stewart voted to eliminate the director of the Office of Human Relations effective immediately.

Please thank Commissioners Cross and Kost for supporting the director of the Office of Human Relations.

Allen Michael "Mike" Cross (District 2) – [email protected]
Sally Kost (District 1) – [email protected]

Please ask Commissioners Bock, Petty and Stewart to support the director of the Office of Human Relations.

Brian Bock, Chair (District 3) - [email protected]
Walter Petty, Vice Chair (District 5) – [email protected]
Pam Stewart (District 4) – [email protected]

This petition supports the Chatham County Office of Human Relations and all of the people of Chatham County.