Our Mayor Joe Peel and Councilman Tony Stimat ( The Honorable Joseph W.

Peel, jandcpeel@aol.com ; Second Ward Councilman Tony Stimatz st4stimatz@roadrunner.com)

initiated a collaboration of groups with similar goals. The CRC is among those groups participating in
their long range planning. Councilman Stimatz recommended we move ahead with obtaining feedback
from the community by use of less costly and simpler tools than I had suggested or used in our first
survey. Mr. Stimatz proves himself once again to be an exceptional leader, and he is exactly right. I have
not been successful in finding a grant program or private foundation to fund a replication of our random
survey of 2006, so let us move ahead with what we can do. As Tony suggested, SurveyMonkey can be
used cheaply, and at once. Below I offer a draft of a survey instrument that will allow citizens a voice
about our issues. The survey can be picked up in paper form from a government office or completed on
line using SurveyMonkey. We will have enough funds to cover the tabulation, analysis and interpretation.
In addition to the instrument below, I suggest a letter go to the groups/agencies mentioned in our 2006
recommendations, asking for comments by the agency and telling them what we are doing. I will attempt
to distribute this memo and instrument to CRC members before our next meeting. Reed Adams2/8/15

A MEASURE OF SOCIAL DISTANCE OF RACE AND ETHNIC GROUPS FROM ONE

ANOTHER

INSTRUCTIONS: The ratings below are to apply to the Pasquotank

County/Elizabeth City community at large , rather than to you
personally. Later we ask about your personal feelings, here we need to know
how the public feels.
1. Remember to give your first feeling reactions in every case.
2. Give the community reaction to each category as a group. Do not give reactions to
the best or the worst members known, but think of the picture or stereotype that the
community holds for the whole group.
3. On the line by each group place the number which represents the degree of
closeness (smallest number) personally acceptable to the public with members of each
group.
How would members of the public feel about having members of the groups listed
below:

CLOSER
1. As close kin by marriage
2. In my club as personal friends
3. On my street as neighbors
4. Working alongside me in my job
5. As citizens in my country
6. As visitors only to my country

7. Id exclude them from my country

DISTANT

African Americans

Protestants

Gays & Lesbians

Mexican Americans

Catholics

Blind People

Asian Americans

Jews

People with visible

physical disabilities

European Americans

Muslims

(Anglos)

Native Americans

Atheists

Now about how you personally feel about the recommendations by Community
Relations Commission. In 2006 on the basis of a random telephone survey that
provided an estimate of public opinion in the City / County, recommendations were
made, and appear below. On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high) tell us how well the
recommendations have been followed. Beside your rating enter any personal
comments you may wish about the issue involved. At the end you may make
comments on any topic.
Recommendation #1: We should all openly acknowledge the fundament values of our community as brotherly love
and acceptance, the rejection of racial and ethnic isolation, and the endorsement of social diversity as desirable and
noble. Recommendation #1 has been followed:
None( )
Somewhat( ) do not know( )
Well( )
Very Well( )
1
2
3
4
5

Recommendation #2: The community should establish a method of communication among the major civic, social,
educational and religious institutions so as to advance diversity and extend the resources and rewards of all such
entities to everyone regardless of race or ethnic group. Recommendation #2 has been followed:
None( )
Somewhat( ) do not know( )
Well( )
Very Well( )
1
2
3
4
5

Recommendation #3: The Community Relations Commission should create a permanent research component. That
research body should further explore on an ongoing basis a description of the social structure and the value structure
of the community as they relate to the nature and quality of life. Recommendation #3 has been
followed:
None( )
Somewhat( ) do not know( )
Well( )
Very Well( )
1
2
3
4
5

Recommendation #4: Groups and institutions, especially those civic and religious, may provide protection from
social diversity. The religious and civic groups should revisit their moral foundations and ask themselves if their own
racial and ethnic diversity reflects the teachings of their founders. Recommendation #4 has been
followed:
None( )
Somewhat( ) do not know( )
Well( )
Very Well( )
1
2
3
4
5

Recommendation #5: The CRC and the City and County Governments should continue to emphasize the importance
of the Witherspoon/Harris award to recognize important contributors to the community. Recommendation #5
has been followed:
None( )
Somewhat( ) do not know( )
Well( )
Very Well( )
1
2
3
4
5

Recommendation #6: The two ministerial associations should interacted and interface more so as to eliminate
duplication inconsistent with racial and ethnic diversity. Religious groups should interact more with groups other than
their own. Recommendation #6 has been followed:
None( )
Somewhat( ) do not know( )
Well( )
Very Well( )
1
2
3
4
5