HISTORY
The New Jersey Affirmative Action Officers’ Council is an inter-departmental professional organization established to advise the Commissioner of the Department of Personnel (formerly the President of the Civil Service Commission) and the Director of the Division of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action (EEO/AA). A central function of the Council is to make recommendations that improve process efficiency and provide professional development, support, and training for EEO/AA practitioners throughout the state of New Jersey. Regular membership consists of EEO/AA designees from State of New Jersey Departments, Divisions, Offices, Agencies, Bureaus, Colleges and Universities, and authorities or instrumentalities thereof.
The Council is the outgrowth of an informal group of affirmative action officers who began to meet in the summer of 1982 to discuss common concerns and exchange information. It was the conclusion of the officials that a Council should be established. Subsequently, a task force was formed and met regularly over several months to develop the organization and its Bylaws. In July 1983, Commissioner McCaffrey, President of the Civil Service Commission, formally established the Council. In November 1983, interim officers were elected and on January 24, 1984, the Council approved the Bylaws of the organization.
First Elected Officials
Chairperson – Shirley Bridgewater
Vice Chairperson – Renee Herron
Founding Members
Shirley Bridgewater, Department of Human Services
Geraldine Derry, Division of Mental Retardation
Renee Herron, Department of the Public Advocate
Lorraine Spencer, Department of Education
Gloria Taylor, Department of Community Affairs (Deceased)
Joyce Williams, Department of Civil Service
Prince Wooten, Public Broadcasting Authority
Lorraine Aldridge, (Deceased)
Paul Smith, (Deceased)
Current Officers (2009-2011)
Chairperson - Hattie E. Smith, Department of the Treasury
Vice Chairperson - John I. Sims, Esq., William Paterson University
Secretary - Dr. Charlie Williams - Kean University
Treasurer - Jennifer Payne - Department of Banking & Insurance
Current Committee Chairpersons (2009-2011)
Bylaws - Marvin Askins
Legislation, Regulations & Procedures - Jim Sims
Membership - Dorinda Sapp
Program - Mable Williams
Public Relations/Information - Deborah Boykin-Greenberg
Sunshine Committee - Renee Herron-McKithen
Paul M. Smith Award - TBA
