Attendees
- Dee Dee Simon, Commission Chair
- Lolle Boettcher, Commissioner
- Sam Devinki, Commissioner
- Devy Goldenberg, Commissioner
- Dana Humphrey, Commissioner
- Tyler Janke, (designee) Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Brad Prager, (designee) President of the University of Missouri System
- Leah Strid, (designee) Commissioner of Higher Education
- Rabbi Yosef Landa, Commissioner
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Commission Chair, Dee Dee Simon, who welcomed everyone and asked for a quiet moment to remember those who experienced and those who were lost during the Holocaust and may the lessons of the Holocaust never be forgotten.
Dee Dee introduced the new designee for the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Tyler Janke. Tyler shared his background and Commissioners introduced themselves.
Dee Dee explained the purpose of the Mission Moment before Lolle Boettcher shared the Mission Moment on things non-Jewish people can support and help Jews on a daily basis. Devy Goldenberg will have the next Mission Moment.
Minutes from the July 7, 2025, meeting were approved with Sam Devinki making the motion, seconded by Lolle Boettcher.
Old Business
Follow Up on Holocaust Education Week at Capitol
Dee Dee reported that Scott Biondo determined there was no report filed by the Capitol police regarding the incident with the Commission display in the Senate Rotunda. She indicated that in the future if we have similar events, we will need to be more proactive regarding security.
Commission Retreat
Dee Dee reminded everyone of the Commission retreat with Filament on July 31, 2025, and announced that all commissioners will be present.
Intern Update
Dee Dee shared that the Commission intern, Scott Manuel, has completed his semester internship with us. Scott helped created materials for use in our teacher trainings on Missouri survivors. Dee Dee stated that she will not be applying for an intern for the upcoming semester and thanked Scott, Drew Bergerson and UMKC for the opportunity.
Commission Technology Update
Dee Dee shared Absolute Computer Solutions is currently working on Phase 1 of our cloud storage which includes a shared drive and emails for each commissioner. This will provide a secure network to house all Commission business. She indicated each commissioner would receive training on how to use the network and to be looking for an email to set a time to meet with Absolute Computer Solutions for individual sessions. In the future after all have received training, all correspondence will be through the “official” commission email addresses. Dee Dee said we will continue to use our current website through Studio 2108.
Budget
Dee Dee announced we closed our 2024-2025 budget with a zero balance. Our beginning balance for 2025-2026 is $118,683.00 after the 3% governor’s reserve was taken out. Our contract with Education Plus is currently in the system at DESE but has not yet been executed.
2025-2026 Professional Development Update
Dee Dee reported that we lost all the scheduled contracts with hotels for the dates we scheduled our professional development sessions in Columbia and Chesterfield due to waiting for our contract with Education Plus to be signed. She is currently working on resubmitting the proposed dates. In addition, we are hoping to add an additional training session in September when the Kaplan Feldman museum is having a special exhibition, Hate Ends Now where we will focus on survivor testimony and highlight Missouri survivors.
New Business
April Events
Dee Dee asked the Commission what it wanted to do in regard to April 2026 concerning Holocaust Education Week and Yom HaShoah. Bayer is bringing Luigi Toscano’s Lest We Forget exhibition to their campus in Chesterfield and wants to keep any public exhibition in the Chesterfield area. There is still the possibility of the Commission partnering to take the exhibition to a school, where students would take the lead in informing other students and the community about the individual portraits. After several ideas were brainstormed Dee Dee asked for volunteers to explore the possibilities and report back at our next meeting. Lolle and Leah will co-chair the committee with commissioners Sam and Devy.
Expiring Commission Terms
Dee Dee explained that the current terms for commission chair and commission secretary are up for reelection. She stated that Dana is not seeking another term as secretary and we will need someone to replace her in this position. Anyone wanting to run for one of these positions should inform Dee Dee before our September meeting. Voting will occur in November, and terms will begin in January.
Website Calendar of Events
Dee Dee asked the commission for thoughts about having a state-wide calendar of events on our web-site which would include events from our partners, the Midwest Holocaust Education Center and the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. Studio 2108 can create the calendar for $500-$600 dollars; Dana agreed to manage the calendar. No action was taken.
Comments/Announcements
Dee Dee mentioned that she would like for the Commission to work on a policies and procedures manual in the future so that when new commissioners are appointed there is something to provide background and context for the work that has been and is currently being done.
Brad reported that he and Rabbi Landa have been working closely with the PBS station in Warrensburg to sponsor two Holocaust related films for 2,000.00 per film. Everyone agreed and asked them to continue working on the project.
Dee Dee stated she would not be available for the September meeting, so the date was moved to August 29, 2025. Dee Dee requested any items for the agenda be sent to her a week before the meeting.
Meeting Adjourned.
Next Meeting
Friday, March 7, 2025
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.