Monday, March 23, 2020 – DPCAC 30th Anniversary
The Deer Park Community Advisory Council’s 30th anniversary celebration was put on hold as dictated by COVID-19 restrictions on social contact. To recognize the efforts of the many participants over the years, facilitator Diane Sheridan sent members the story of the first meeting (see below) on the anniversary date.
On Monday, March 26, 1990, Deer Park Community Advisory Council held its first meeting. There were 23 attendees (19 Deer Park community members and 4 plant representatives. An additional 3 community members and 2 plant members were unable to attend.) They were joined by the first DPCAC secretary, Anita Johnson, and DPCAC facilitator Diane Sheridan.
Current members and well-known Deer Parkers Norma Hysler and Ken Donnell were charter members of DPCAC. They attended the first meeting and most of those since, an admirable commitment to the community-industry forum that DPCAC provides for those who live or work in Deer Park.
The meeting was held at the Shell Gatehouse Training Building. Some kind of steam release occurred during the meeting in a nearby unit, giving Shell the chance to explain what the loud noise and vibrations were. When discussion opened, the first question asked by a community member came from Hysler, who excels to this day in helping plants understand what interests and concerns the public. Her question was, “If Shell blows, does the whole ship channel fall like dominoes?” Though a different plant may be named, the question still arises in organizations like DPCAC when the group is new, or it brings in new members.