Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

December 21, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:31 PM

 

Meeting officiated by Paul Verhagen

 

Prayer was offered by Sam Verhagen

 

The Year in Review - Paul Verhagen

 

Last Year on Dec 23^rd, 2003 we held our first annual Christmas meeting here, enjoyed some good food, had a good time, and talked about plans for the upcoming year. Today we thought it would be fun to review the things we talked about and the progress we’ve made.

 

As a coalition we are not really an action group. We don’t even have a check book or elected officers. We are a group of people from various organizations interested in improving our community. But not being an action group doesn’t mean that we can’t have an affect. In fact through our diligence of meeting together each week to plan and discuss what we might do to improve our community a lot of things have been accomplished. Many of us have attended meetings, returned to the organizations we represent and have implanted the thing we’ve talked about.

 

At our meeting last year we agreed to:

 

Meet weekly to ensure that the momentum continues

Develop a mission statement

Established traditions to follow

Disseminate information

Support each other in our various goals of improving Nenana

Establish new groups in order to accomplish more

Work with groups outside of Nenana

Help increase attendance at city council meetings and,

Discuss and work towards implementation of anything that might improve wellness in Nenana.

 

We’ve done these things and much more!

 

Specifically:

 

1.) We’ve met weekly for almost every single week of the year. This is important because perseverance is an essential ingredient for getting things done.

2.) We assigned a committee to establish a mission statement and they proposed that we develop a simple mission statement by answering the who, what, when, why, where, and for whom questions that people would want to know about our group as follows:

 

Question	Answer
Name	The Nenana Wellness Coalition
Who	representatives from many community organizations, agencies, groups and individuals
What	an alliance or coalition
When	meets weekly
Why	to stimulate, locate, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate and help implement plans for improving the wellness of the community and the quality of life
Where	Nenana, Alaska.
For Whom	community members and the community as a whole

 

We changed the order, adopted their recommendations, and approved the following mission statement:

 

“The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from local organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals, that meets weekly, to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate and help implement plans, for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska”.

 

3.) We established traditions to follow including: organizational structure, meeting format, method of keeping records, how to deal with complaints in a positive manner, etc.

4.) We developed methods of disseminating information and do so via email minutes, newspaper articles, through our website, and directly to the public at our annual wellness dinner.

5.) The various member organizations have written letters of support for each other when grants requests have been submitted. Such letters show broad-based support from the community - which is very important for receiving grants.

6.) We’ve helped foster the establishment of new groups in town to deal with issues that are not currently being address by any of our existing groups. The Nenana Valley Sports Association and a local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous are two such groups.

7.) We’ve worked with various groups from outside of Nenana, many of whom have contacted us because they have heard about what we are doing. These include in-state and out-of-state groups. Two in particular are Partners for Progress in Anchorage, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

8.) We’ve urged our members and others to become more involved locally by attending city council meetings. In order to foster that involvement we hold one meeting a month in the evening just before the regularly scheduled city council meeting. Attendance at many city council meetings has increased substantially.

 

Other things we’ve discussed that our various member organizations or others have helped move forward are:

 

9.) The Nenana Valley Sports Association is close to finishing the ice skating rink that was proposed at our last year’s Christmas meeting. There has been significant support for this project from the community including donations and support from the City, Native Council, the School, GVEA, Woodlawn Farms, TCCC and several individuals including Sam Verhagen, Ray Fox, Ray Leahy, Wayne Walters, Endil Moore, and others.

10.) Through the efforts and generosity of Chuck Hugny, Mike Hill, the Jauhola family and other volunteers, we now have a soccer field here in town.

11.) Through the efforts of Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions in conjunction with the school, the tribe, and Rough Woods Inn, we held 4 alcohol free dances in the community this year.

12.) We are working with the Cambridge Institute and the Boardwalk Group, who are helping us locate funding to buy or build the transitional housing that we agreed is sorely needed here in town.

13.) The Nenana Valley Sports Association is in the process of working with local mushers to re-establish dog mushing as an important part of our community. They hope to help establish a couple of new races with significant purses and also develop a dog-mushing school. A diner and meeting to discuss this will be held on January 5^th at the Nenana Student Living Center at 5:30 PM. A copy of the invitation is attached to the end of these minutes.

14.) The Chamber of Commerce has worked with the city and secure a location for a farmer’s market. They will continue to work to further develop the program.

15.) The Court System has worked with Native Council to provide transportation to and from Fairbanks for those who are court-ordered to attend classes but don’t have a driver’s license or other means of getting there.

16.) The Nenana Valley Sports Association is working with the city and interested individuals to develop a park for 4-wheeler and moto-cross racing.

17.) The court system worked with the school and Railbelt Mental Health to develop a community work service program to monitor kids in order to assure that they get their community work service done and that it proves to be of value to the community.

18.) We have discussed and are supportive of efforts on the part of the city and the tribe to develop a transfer station to which people will be able to bring their trash rather than having to haul it to the borough’s landfill.

19.) The Nenana Valley Sports Association is working with the school, the city and interested individuals to develop a skated board and BMX park for kids.

20.) The tribe has been successful at helping to ease the housing shortage by obtaining grants to build 4 new homes in the community. Several more are planned for next year.

21.) The court system has worked with Partners for Progress and the school and is in the process of developing a community diversion panel and youth court here in town in an effort to reduce minor consuming without resulting in convictions showing up on records.

22.) The Nenana Valley Sports Association is working with Moses Paul, the school and the Department of Natural Resources to chart and document existing trails throughout the area.

23.) The court system continues to work towards development of a wellness court that will help address some of the problems that are not being addressed under the current system - such as getting treatment for those who need it while they are in custody rather than merely incarcerating them over and over again.

24.) The Nenana Valley Sports Association is supportive of efforts on the part of the school and the Lion’s club to establish a program patterned after the successful television show Junkyard Wars that will teach kids how to repair 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, etc. and then reward them by allowing them to use the equipment to compete afterwards.

25.) The court system, in conjunction with Ch’eghutsen, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, the city, and volunteers including Endil Moore and others established the only electronic monitoring program in the state outside of Anchorage and Fairbanks (at the time) so that people can get treatment and continue to work while awaiting trial - rather than be incarcerated and lose their job. It also allows those who are sentenced to undergo outpatient treatment to continue working while they undergo treatment rather than losing their job and the state having to pay for their treatment or them not getting treatment at all. The program requires the person to cover the expense rather than the public.

 

Other progress over the last year has included: the paving of Front street, major improvements to the road leading to the Pioneer cemetery, the opening of K Street, and planning for curbs and sidewalks on Front, Second and Third streets. Erosion control has been approved to stabilize the river bank east of town, the Alaska railroad is moving forward with their plans to realign the railroad south of town and testing for natural gas is currently underway west of Nenana.

Progress is being made, people are excited and Nenana is a great place to live!

 

Comments after the year’s review included the following:

 

Gary Edwin suggested that Harlin Sweetsir might be interested in working with us in developing snowmobile races between the various villages including Galena, Ruby, Tanana, Manley, Minto and Nenana.

 

Miles Martin said that each year Norman Vaughn’s Iron Dog organization keeps the trail open from Nenana to Nome.

 

Lois Law reminded us that DNR has grants for keeping trails open for snowmobiling each year.

 

Mike Anderson suggested that we might want to consider helping someone start a local snow-mobile tour business. He mentioned that he took some of the boarding school kids down to Anchorage to go on a snowmobile tour and discovered that such tours are very popular and were all booked.

 

Miles Martin commented that he, RMHA, and others would like to see even more dances. He commented that we now have people available to put on DJ dances and even some kids who have started their own rock-n-roll band.

 

Robin Campbell pointed out that we also have local instructors who would be willing to teach dance instruction.

 

Gary Edwin suggested that we might consider contacting and working with Habitat for Humanity.

 

Bud Krause said that if the tribe is having a difficult time locating drivers to take people up to Fairbanks for their court-ordered classes that he would be happy to volunteer to drive even if it meant getting up very early in the morning to get them there in time.

 

After the review we enjoyed eating the abundance of delicious Christmas food that was provided and visiting with one another.

 

Next Wellness Meeting

 

Due to the many people being out of town for the holidays, the next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on January 4, 2005 at noon at the Nenana Senior’s Center.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:10 PM

 

There were 21 people in attendance from the following organizations (and various interested citizens):

Nenana Visitor’s Center, Alaska Court System, Nenana Valley Sports Association, LDS Church, Nenana Environmental Program, Ch’eghutsen, KIAM, Nenana Student Living Center, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, Nenana Community Church, Nenana Chamber of Commerce, Nenana Library, Bahai Church, Nenana Senior’s Center,  various community members.

Bud Krause, Paul Verhagen, Sam Verhagen, Laurel McMannes, Robin Campbell, Gary Edwin, Lois Law, Doris Eldridge, Mike Anderson, Kat McElroy, Laura Vance, Carl Horn, Bonnie Reed, Blaine Reed, Russ Sharrock, Miles Martin, Bruce Boschert, Margaret Saunders, Mae Jensen, Merrily Verhagen, Kristi Verhagen  

Nenana Valley Sports Association

Paul Verhagen - President

Box 470

Nenana, Alaska 99760

907-832-5454 (office)

907-378-5454 (cell)

paulverhagen@prodigy.net

 

16 December 2004

 

Dear Dog Mushers and Friends,

 

The Nenana Valley Sports Association has as one of its several goals the re-establishment of dog mushing as a major part of our community.

In order to accomplish that, we will seek sponsorship for several new races each with significant purses. We will also work to establish a school in which many of you will be asked to participate as instructors and/or speakers and be paid for your services.

With this letter we are extending an invitation to the entire dog mushing community to attend a dinner and planning meeting scheduled for January 5^th 2005 at the Nenana Student Living Center to discuss how we can make this happen. Dinner will be from 5:30 - 6:00 PM and the planning meeting will begin immediately thereafter. At the meeting we will talk about new races, routes, purses, fees for lectures and classroom instruction, as well as what should be charged for tuition, etc.

The goal of the school would be for students to graduate with certification that will be recognized and accepted world-wide. Instruction will include lectures from veteran Iditarod, Quest, and other national and international mushers, veterinarians, nutritionists, business managers, clothing experts, bankers, etc. Additional subjects will include race preparation, equipment repair, selective breeding, exercise, trail preparation and maintenance, finding sponsors, etc.

The school will work with the world’s leading musher’s in developing the curricula, instruction manuals, workbooks, charts, etc., and see to it that graduates perform to accepted industry standards. After graduation students will serve internships with those of you who wish to contract with the school to take interns.

This will provide two positive results. You will have the benefit of interns who have significant training, and they will receive the practical training that cannot be taught in the classroom at the hands of some of the world’s greatest mushers. Their certification should make it easy for them to get a mushing job anywhere in the world, not to mention what the training and experience could mean to them if they get into racing (or guiding, etc.) themselves.

Nenana is home to many of Dog-Mushing’s greatest competitors, both current and past, is located on the major highway between Alaska’s two largest cities and has excellent trails and terrain for mushing. It is time for us to step forward and fill a role that will further enhance this great sport and pass on an important Alaskan tradition.

Please pass this information on to anyone you know throughout the state who might also be interested and feel free to contact us with suggestions or for further information.

 

Sincerely,

 

Paul Verhagen

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

November 30, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:17 PM

 

Meeting officiated by Paul Verhagen

 

Prayer was offered by Rose Allen

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

The Agenda was approved with no modifications

 

The Minutes were approved.

 

With one correction and one addition: Sam Verhagen gave the prayer last week and the names of the books referred to in the Financial Wellness presentation were added.

Rose Allen expressed appreciation for the minutes each week.

 

Introduction of Guests:

 

Henry Cole visited again from Fairbanks. Henry has put in a proposal to do the feasibility study and business plan for our proposed racing project and also has information that he wants to share with our group regarding a waste water treatment process that is being used successfully back east. He is waiting on a video and will then ask to be put on our agenda.

 

Speakers/Topics

 

Truancy Conference - Teresa Mayrand

 

Teresa Mayrand informed us that she, Rhonda Coghill, and Ken Eggleston are leaving on Saturday for a three-day Truancy Conference to help us deal with the truancy problem that we have here in the school. Nationally, truancy has become as serious of a problem as has the use of marijuana. Numerically our problem in Nenana is not near as serious. We have a 92% attendance rate at the school. However, the small numbers of students who do not attend or attend late are missing a great deal of school and for them the problem is serious. It is also serious for the school because in an effort to comply with no student left behind it is these students who are likely to be left behind if something isn’t done. Besides the obvious ramifications to the students there is also an effect on the school because the school’s funding counts on full attendance and anything less than that can affect state funding. Ken read the list of classes that will be offered and they cover the entire spectrum and should be very valuable. Ken pointed out that students who have a network of friends and teachers generally do not have the same problem with attendance that kids without that support have.

Henry Cole recommended that those who will be traveling to the conference might want to read the book The Careless Society because it discusses several issues that are closely related to this topic and may be a help to our community on tackling the problem. He gave a copy to Ken to share with those who will be attending the conference.

Teresa Mayrand said that one glance at the detention list indicates that the top problems are tardiness and missing classes.

Gary Edwin pointed out that a big part of the problem is that many kids (and even older “kids” up to the age of 25 or beyond) don’t have an understanding of the importance of putting something off right now for something of more value later. He gave examples of people who walk away from classes or job training that would help them double their income if they would just stick with it through the length of the class.

Theresa Mayrand agreed that we are becoming a “Now” society.

Henry Cole told of an experiment conducted some years ago wherein students were asked to choose between one marshmallow today or two marshmallows tomorrow. Those conducting the test followed what happened to the students for several years and in the end those who were willing to wait for two marshmallows tomorrow did significantly better in many areas than those who were unwilling to wait. He recommended the book in which the story is told. The title of the book is Emotional Intelligence.

Gary Edwin talked about a conference he attended with Roy Smart at which the heads of some of the largest companies in America were asked what they sought in employees. Their response: Employees who show up regularly, who are willing to be taught, and are team players. They said that if they have those three qualities they can teach them everything else.

Paul Verhagen told of an article he read about schools that wanted to ensure that students were taught the kind of things we have been talking about and that the approach they took was to integrate these teachings into every class the students attended, including PE, Science, etc. They did this by having the subject actually taught in certain classes but reinforced in the rest of the classes by including some short one or two minute example at some point during the class. The results were significant. Kids were soon willing to delay instant gratification and worked harder at getting good grades and other things that they then understood would be of significant value to them in the future. This is a topic that could be discussed further as a long-term wellness issue for our community.

Ken Eggleston shared an example from a class he taught where points were given or withheld based on attendance and participation. It took some time for the kids and the parents to understand the importance of the long-term accumulation of points but eventually it became clear to most of them and many worked very hard not to lose even a few points that could never be earned back.

Endil Moore asked about native participation in the upcoming conference. Ken said that Nita was invited but could not attend. However she has remained closely involved with the program. He said that he has also talked to Chief Stevens about someone from the tribe attending such events in the future.

Endil Moore said that it would be important for someone from the tribe to attend as often as possible because they will see and hear things differently and will be able to return and share them differently.

Gary Edwin agreed that it is important because people tend to see things in part according to their culture and educational background.

Tim Horn brought up another point for future discussion. She pointed out that we don’t have any native aides at the school and suggested that correcting that would eventually make a difference in the number of native teachers we have in the school.

Ken Eggleston agreed that the numbers of teachers, who were once teacher’s aides, correlates to be as high as 90% and that it would be a good topic for future discussion.

Endil Moore encouraged us to consider the example of RHMA in that they have produced a “home grown” by hiring people who they saw to it were provided with training to become what was needed.

Gary Edwin commented on the lack of support on the part of native leadership in such things and urged stronger support of such proposals.

 

Operation Ho, Ho, Ho - Rose Allen

 

Rose Allen gave us an update and a little history of Operation Ho,Ho,Ho. The project is in its eighth year. It is a program wherein people in the valley submit the names of people or families who would benefit from a gift box of Christmas type food and Christmas presents. At first it consisted largely of just the same few people including the RMHA staff, together with Traci’s husband, Dan Wiggins and Ray Fox - who drove around delivering the boxes. In recent years a few more people including Merrily Verhagen and her kids have joined in to help. The deadline for name submittal is December 6^th so if anyone would like to submit names please do so right away. Once the names are submitted they will be taken to Santa’s Clearing House (which has been very generous in providing most of the items requested). Once they have the items ready someone will need to bring them here where they will be put into boxes on Thursday, December 16^th at the Senior’s Center. The time has not yet been established but will be announced soon. One of the goals this year is for every member of each family to receive a gift so please talk to your friends and neighbors about possible small gifts that they would be willing to donate - such as gloves, or hats, or disposable cameras, etc. Please come and help pack the boxes. Please come and bring a “team” of helpers with you.

Mike Anderson shared a copy of the recipe for Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies and people are invited to come early, bring some of the ingredients in the recipe and help bake a bunch of these delicious cookies to give away. The recipe is included at the end of this report.

Teresa Mayrand said that they are working on a similar project at the school and suggested that the two projects be combined. It was agreed that the participants of both projects will meet here at the senior’s center and the projects will be combined.

 

Neiman-Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

 

2 Cups Butter

2 Cups Brown Sugar

2 Cups Sugar

2 Teaspoons Vanilla

4 Eggs

5 Cups Blended Oatmeal*

4 Cups Flour

1 Teaspoon Salt

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

24 Ounces Chocolate Chips (Hershey’s Semi-Sweet)

1 8-ounce grated Hershey Bar (Candy)

3 Cups Chopped Nuts

 

*Blended Oatmeal: Measure and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda. Add chips, candy and nuts. Refrigerate for one-half hour. Roll into balls and place 2″ apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 6 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 112 cookies. The recipe can easily be halved.

 

Therapeutic Justice Training Seminar - Paul Verhagen

 

Paul Verhagen reported on a seminar that he will be attending that will explore “Needs and Gaps” in therapeutic courts in Alaska. He will be talking to them about the need for the court system to address therapeutic justice in the rural areas of the state and especially about ways that the state courts could interface with tribal courts or youth courts in an effort to resolve concerns about youth ending up with numerous convictions before they reach the age of 21. During the summer when this conference was being planned he had intended to attend the meeting with a representative of the tribe and the tribal court. Unfortunately, the conference ended up being scheduled for virtually the same time as the tribe’s upcoming election so he will be attending with representatives of the school and Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions - both of which are entities that share similar concerns. They will share with the attendees our plans for implementing a community diversion panel and youth court as authorized under AS04.16.050 and about other efforts that are underway in our community.

Endil Moore suggested that we tell them about the electronic monitoring program that we have put into place.

Roy Smart indicated that student government at the Student Living center has been elected and that they will now begin working on setting up a youth court.

Mike Anderson suggested that it not only include the kids from the student living center but also the kids from the school and the rest of the community.

Tim Horn suggested that it not only be made up of kids involved in student government but that kids not involved in student government could be allowed to participate as well.

Nita Marks suggested that a rotating student government is a good idea because it involves many more kids in the process than would otherwise be able to participate.

 

Old Business

 

Continued Planning for the Community Diversion Panel

- Ran out of time.

 

New Business

 

          None

 

Updates/Announcements

 

City of Nenana - Jason Mayrand

          The city will be sponsoring a Firefighter I class in January.

The state has approved the grant for the feasibility study for racing in Nenana!

The regularly scheduled City Council meeting is being rescheduled to December 7^th at 7:30 PM in order to accommodate other holiday events.

The City’s $6000 projector that hooks up to a computer is missing. It was last used at the senior’s center in conjunction with the Crucial Conversations course offered in August. Here is the pertinent information.

The unit was purchased in December 2000.

It is 3M XGA Projector

Model # MP7760

Ser# 78-9236-6521-6

Original cost $5,762.76

Carry case is for the same model, cost $107.77.

Any leads would be appreciated.

If you have any information regarding its whereabouts please report it to the city as soon as possible. 

 

Nenana Senior’s - Endil Moore

Next Thursday and Friday Margaret Sanders and Endil Moore will be attending an Alaska Council On Aging meeting in Anchorage on behalf of the seniors. They will give a report at an upcoming meeting.

    

Nenana Ice Classic - Endil Moore

There will be the annual Christmas Ice Classic meeting at the civic center on December 8^th at 7:30 PM. There will be an Ice Classic board meeting at 5:30 PM

 

Nenana Library - Jason Mayrand

Jason Mayrand will send a copy of the newly passed ordinance to include in these minutes. Having the ordinance to look at, together with more information regarding proposed modifications will make it less onerous than it sounds by saying that it makes it a criminal misdemeanor offense to not return a library book.

The text of the proposed is included below in it’s entirety without modification:

 

MUNICIPALITY OF NENANA

ORDINANCE 2004-06

 

An Ordinance Amending the Nenana Code of Ordinances Section 2.445 Failure to Return Library Property

WHEREAS, Nenana City Ordinance Section 2.445 establishes the penalties for failure to return library property, and

WHEREAS, These penalties need clarification to properly be administered.

SO NOW THEREFORE BE IT that this ordinance amends the Nenana Code of Ordinance by striking the contents of Section 2.445 in its entirety and inserting the contents of Section One of this Ordinance as follows;

SECTION ONE

(a) Any person who checks out library property, whether for themselves or another, is hereby presumed to be in possession of said property until said property is returned to the library. No person shall willfully retain possession of library property more than 30 days after being notified that such property is overdue. Notification will be sent to the person who checked out said property.

(b)             Any person who fails to return any library property within the 30 days of receipt of the notice provided herein is liable for the cost of replacing said property, and may, at the discretion of the library director, have his borrowing privileges revoked until said property is either returned or paid for. Any person who destroys or causes to be destroyed whether negligently or intentionally, any library property in his possession, is liable for the cost of replacing said property, and may, at the discretion of the library director, have his borrowing privileges revoked until said property is paid for.

(c) Any person who is convicted of theft of library property is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars. A person commits theft of library property if the person obtains the property of the Nenana Public Library with the intent to appropriate said property to himself or to deprive the Nenana Public Library of said property.

 

SECTION TWO: This ordinance is of permanent nature and shall be codified into the Nenana City Code of Ordinances.

SECTION THREE: This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.

 

Local Calendar - Nita Marks

                   Dec 7-9, Conference on At-Risk Youth in Minto

                   Dec 9, Christmas Lunch at School, 11:30 AM

                   Dec 9, Christmas Concert at School, 7:00 PM

                   Dec 11, Christmas Ball at Civic Center, 8 PM - Midnight

Dec 15, Mandated Reporter Class, Fairbanks (See Nita for time and details)

Dec 20, Native Council Gift Exchange at Tribal Hall, 6:00 PM

Dec 23, Lions Club Gift Exchange at Civic Center, 6:00 PM

 

          Nenana School - Ken Eggleston

In-Service Training

The upcoming staff 3-day in-service project scheduled for February 23-25, will further help us in our implementation of federal No Child Left Behind legislation. It will do this by showing us how to appropriately evaluate test results and then take appropriate steps to help kids improve in their areas of weakness. The first step of appropriately evaluating test results is important because in some cases the child knows the material but doesn’t know how to take a test. The second step is important because it does little good to know a child’s areas of deficiency unless appropriate steps are taken to improve upon those deficiencies.

We will also consider whether our curriculum is actually helping us to accomplish our goals. It ties in with what we were talking about earlier - correlating all our classes so that something that we teach in one class, like the importance of delaying instant gratification (or anything else) can be enhanced by having that same subject regularly touched upon even briefly in all classes. Accomplishing these things will help us accomplish our goal of leaving no child behind.

Cultural Awareness

During these same three days we have tentatively scheduled our cultural awareness days for the students. We again plan to bring in skilled trades people from various parts of the state to teach and demonstrate their skills. We hope to bring up a Yupik dance group from Anchorage to kick-off the event at a potlatch on February 22^nd. Not only will we have activities during the day for the kids but will also have activities during the evening so that adults can participate as well.

Murals

We have been successful in getting approved to have murals painted on the walls at the school and they are being painted as we speak.

Christmas Break

Thursday, December 16^th is the last day of school for the kids this year and classes will resume on January 4^th.

School Board Meeting

The next school board meeting is scheduled for December 14^th.

Thanksgiving Support

We’d like to thank the community for their support of the kids at the living center over the Thanksgiving holiday. The community really came forward and opened their homes for meals and for a place to stay. Only three kids remained at the living center during that time.

Spring Semester Vacancies

It appears that the vast majority of the student living center kids will be returning after the Christmas holiday, however, a few (as many as six) may not be returning. Rather than wait until next year to fill those slots we are going to open them for the spring semester - so if anyone knows someone who would like to get in please pass the word on to them.

Basketball Season

The first basketball game of the season will be on January 7^th.

This year’s coaches are:

Dean Overbey - Girl’s Varsity,

Annalee Coy - Girl’s Jr. Varsity,

Ralph Lindquist - Boy’s Varsity,

Steve Stringfellow - Boy’s Jr. Varsity.

         

Nenana Valley Sports Association

The hockey rink construction is moving ahead. We have received approximately 80% of what we need in the way of monetary donations to complete this phase of the project. We are seeking additional funding and could also use the help of a few more volunteers. For more information please contact Endil Moore.

 

          Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions

We are excited to have Bruce Boschert with us and are always glad when Jason Mayrand is able to meet with us.

Annual Wellness Dinner

Our second annual wellness dinner went very well! 125 people signed-in and we know that considerably more people than that were in attendance. We believe it was over 200! It was an appreciative group as evidenced by the over 200 Certificates of Appreciation that were signed and put up on the walls. RHMA will be mailing those certificates out to the people that were appreciated. We know that whenever anyone attempts to express thanks by name that people always end up getting left out, for which we apologize in advance. Nevertheless we wish to thank the kids from TCCC, they were a big help. Special thanks to Jacquelyn Joseph for being the Master of Ceremony. Thanks to Mike Anderson (and all those who helped him) for roasting the pig - it was delicious! Thanks to the school for allowing him to do that during what otherwise would have been school time. Thanks for those who helped with all the other aspects including the preparatory work and the clean-up afterwards. It was a great success and we look forward to doing it again next year!

         

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

None

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on December 8^th, 2004 at 6:00 PM in order to be held in conjunction with the City Assembly meeting that is scheduled for 7:30 PM.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:10 PM

 

There were 18 people in attendance from the following organizations (and various interested citizens):

Nenana School, Nenana Student Living Center, Nenana Environmental Program, Nenana Bahai Church, City of Nenana, Nenana Library, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, Nenana Senior’s Center, Nenana Ice Classic, Yutana Barge Lines, Nenana Valley Sports Association, Alaska Court System, LDS Church,

Ken Eggleston, Teresa Mayrand, Gary Edwin, Tim Horn, Jason Mayrand, Mike Anderson, Traci Wiggins, Bruce Boschert, Mae Edwin, Nita Marks, Rose Allen, Margaret Sanders, Endil Moore, Roy Smart, Henry Cole, Sam Verhagen, Paul Verhagen, Craig Sanders, Sandy Taylor.

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

November 23, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:15 PM

 

Meeting officiated by Kat McElroy

 

Prayer was offered by Kat McElroy

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

The Agenda was approved.

 

Minutes from last week’s meeting approved.

 

Miles suggested that we discuss a comment about inaccuracy in our minutes. He said that the Nenana Messenger has elected not to print our minutes because they have been approached by “more than one person” claiming that our minutes are not accurate. This was discussed and it was pointed out that the minutes are published regularly and that those who attended the meetings are asked to submit any corrections, additions, deletions, etc. at the meeting following publication. After being approved they are posted on the internet where, once again, anyone who was in attendance has an opportunity to submit corrections, additions, or deletions. It was pointed out that changes have been made whenever such corrections have been offered. Consequently, it was agreed that without other corrections being offered there is nothing more that can be done therefore the minutes are deemed correct, and accepted as such, by those in attendance.

 

[For the benefit of those who were not there when we adopted our policy for keeping minutes here is a review:

 

RECORD KEEPING

 

Methods

There are several ways to keep minutes. They range from a word-for-word transcript to a series of very short notes summarizing what was said, and several methods in-between. There are problems with all methods. Verbatim transcripts are very expensive and some people refuse to talk if they know they are being recorded. The short-note method is valuable only to those who were at the meeting and even then for only a short period of time because after a while, when memories dim, those short notes are often insufficient to trigger their memories. They are also of little value in settling disputes because there is usually not enough information to clarify whose memory of what was said is accurate.

 

          Accuracy

 On the continuum of accuracy of what was said the verbatim transcript is most accurate and the short notes method is the least accurate because not only are the notes short but the person keeping the minutes is forced to leave out a great deal of what was said and the more a person must leave out the more susceptible to bias the minutes are.

 

Narrative Style Format

The method that we have adopted lies between these extremes. We have adopted a narrative style format for our minutes wherein the information is put into a flowing form so that even those who were not there can understand what transpired.

 

We acknowledge that our minutes are biased - because they are not a verbatim transcript of what occurred. Anytime anyone has the responsibility of rendering what was said down into something shorter there will always be inaccuracies and they will always be biased because ALL people are somewhat biased (even if they don’t mean to be).

 

By acknowledging bias we do NOT mean to imply bias against certain individuals, what we DO mean is that people are biased by how they are raised, by their culture, by their experience, etc. Therefore, our minutes reflect biases even though we don’t intend them to. However, we’re comfortable that the minutes accurately reflect the gist of our meetings for several reasons. First, because we publish them as DRAFT minutes and always ask those who attended for corrections or modifications to them before they are posted on the website.

Second, we allow for more modifications from those who attended even AFTER they are posted on the website for a short period of time.

Third, we ask for the group to approve the minutes at the meetings.

 

Purpose

Because of these efforts we believe them to be accurate and we believe they are more likely to accomplish their intended purpose - which is

First, to make them more likely to be read (because of their narrative style)

Second, to make it more likely that people who were not there will understand what is going on (which doesn’t occur with short excerpt minutes), and

Third, to apply principles of wellness by being considerate and respectful in how our minutes are reported.

 

In other words, in keeping with the wellness that we are trying to achieve (people are much more amenable to change if they are urged in a constructive and considerate way) we agreed to ’soften’ things that may have been said in a direct way. We don’t always succeed, but we try hard and will continue to do so.]

 

Introduction of Guests:

 

Bruce Boschert was welcomed and thanked for his contribution to the wonderful meal that we enjoyed today.

 

Speakers/Topics

 

Financial Wellness - Paul Verhagen

 

     One of the eight areas of wellness that we agreed to discuss on a regular basis is financial wellness. Financial wellness is closely tied in with several of the other areas of wellness. For example, it is difficult to enjoy physical wellness if a person can’t afford to go see a doctor when they are sick. It is difficult to maintain emotional wellness when a person can’t afford to pay his or her bills.  In preparation for his presentation Paul has read several books on the subject and urges those who are interested to ask the library to order copies so that they are available here locally. One of the books he quoted from was first published in 1926 and has been reprinted numerous times since including again recently. It has sold over two million copies. He pointed out that the information included in that book that made the national best seller list is very similar to the things that are found in books on the same subject in 2004 and that those books are also making the national best seller list. That is because these books teach principles that are timeless. The same information helped people enjoy financial wellness from the time of Babylon to the present. He noted that the principles are simple but require study and persistent application on a regular basis. Some of the books teach general principles while others get into great detail to show a person exactly how to succeed in such things as real estate investments, Stock and bond investing, or establishing and running a successful business. He suggests that a person should begin by reading the books that describe the subject generally, then pick which of the three asset classes are of the most interest (i.e. Real Estate, Investing, Business) and then read the books that give specifics in the area selected.

He quoted a few of the books as saying that things will get much worse financially in our country in the not very distant future because of the very large number of baby-boomers that are just now beginning to retire. By the year 2012 there will be so many of them retiring that the government will need to come up with 82 billion dollars a month just to fund their social security payments! Most reliable people in the government accounting offices do not believe that the government will be able to do that. He quoted others as saying that the private sector will not be able to fund their retirement programs either. At present General Motors is under-funded by 94.7 billion dollars!, Ford by 46.6 billion, IBM by 25.3 billion, and there are many more in similar situations. This is not something the politicians are unaware of. They just haven’t been willing to do anything about it because both parties consider it political suicide to even talk about doing anything with social security. BUT these books are not gloom and doom. On the contrary they teach people, anyone, what to do in order to make sure that whatever happens in the future does not wipe out their retirement (if they have a retirement program), or if they don’t, what to do now so that when it comes time to retire they don’t have to worry about social security or whether the company they worked for will be solvent.

Paul told about a company that offers a written contract (backed by mortgages and insurance) to double or triple the return that people are currently getting at their banks or in the investments. Returns of 6 - 10% are not at all uncommon and many returns are higher. The company works with cash investments or in many cases can work with portions of a person’s retirement account. The company contacts the person’s retirement account administrators, provide them the information about how their program works, and many retirement programs around the country accept their program.

Paul urges us to share this financial wellness information with as many people as we can in the community because it is extremely valuable for anyone from the age of early teen and up.

It was suggested that a ‘club’ might be formed for anyone interested in learning these things at which people could meet regularly to share ideas and encourage each other in their efforts to implement what they learn. Paul said he would be happy to meet with anyone interested and suggested that teaching these things to high-school kids would be particularly helpful.

Miles Martin suggested that the Chamber of Commerce might be interested in hearing this information.

Endil Moore mentioned that some of the information that Paul shared from the books was recently verified when K-Mart negotiated to buy-out Sears in order to obtain the extremely valuable real-estate that they hold all over the country.

 

Old Business

 

Continued Planning for the Community Diversion Panel

- Ran out of time.

 

New Business

 

          None

 

Updates/Announcements

 

RMHA - Kat McElroy

Most of the staff will be gone during the week of December 9^th for training.

Nenana Senior’s - Margaret Sanders

Most of the remodeling of the senior’s center is finished. It turned out very nice and they are very grateful to those who spend so much time helping.    

There will be a fair at the Civic Center this weekend from 10 AM - 5 PM

          Nenana Ice Classic - Endil Moore

                   There will be an Ice Classic meeting on December 8^th at 7:30 PM

          City of Nenana - Endil Moore

There will be a Source Water Protection Meeting open to the public at the school on December 7^th.

Nenana Library - Miles Martin

The city passed a new ordinance that makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1000 fine for those who refuse to pay their library fines.

 

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

Some members felt it was wrong to make unpaid library fines into a criminal misdemeanor case with penalties stiffer than many other more serious offenses and some wondered why it shouldn’t be resolved in some other forum such as small claims court.

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on November 30^th, 2004 at the Nenana Senior’s Center at noon.

A 28 minute video on the new “All Natural” marijuana will be shown at our December 7^th meeting.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:04 PM

 

There were 11 people in attendance from the following organizations (and various interested citizens):

Nenana Valley Sports Association, City of Nenana, Yutana Barge Lines, Chamber of Commerce, Nenana Library, Nenana Ice Classic, Nenana Visitor’s Center, Alaska Court System, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, Nenana Senior’s Center, LDS Church, Nenana Environmental Program.

Margaret Sanders, Bruce Boschert, Miles Martin, Sam Verhagen, Bud Krause, Endil Moore, Kat McElroy, Paul Verhagen, Gary Edwin, Rose Allen, and Mae Edwin.

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

November 16, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:20 PM

 

Meeting officiated by Milt Haken

 

Prayer was offered by Milt Haken

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

Minutes from last week’s meeting approved with corrections.

 

Introduction of Guests:

Mike Walsh - Mike was introduced by Ken Eggleston. Mike is visiting Nenana today from the Foraker Group which is working in conjunction with the Rasmussen Foundation in its efforts to help establish long term funding for the Nenana Student Living Center.

 

Mike said that he is quite proud to be working with the community, the school and the USDA on helping keep the student living center open because he believes that it is providing a very valuable service not only to our community but also to the rest of the state. He described the problem of getting on-going funding as difficult because of incorrect information collected early on about where funding might come from and what kind of funding would be available.

 

He said that if we had the information that we have now at that time that we would have been in a much better situation - but we didn’t so he likened what we have done in the past to toothpaste that has already been squeezed out of the tube - it is difficult to put it back in - so we need to deal with the ramifications of what has already been done while we work to develop a plan using the more correct information that was gained from actual experience. Their goal is to find the very best source of sustainable income that they can. They will do this in part by using a business plan template to help us design a business plan that will clearly show funding sources that we know we are doing.

 

Mike said that he is really excited to not only create such a business plan for us but also to help make it a reality.

 

Miles Martin asked how something like a school can make money like a business does when it doesn’t have a product to sell like businesses have. He went on to clarify that he realizes that some colleges agree to put out students for a particular profession but questioned whether such ideas would be appropriate for high schools because all kids might not want to become whatever field the school chose to specialize in.

 

Mike responded by clarifying that a school is exactly like a business in that in order to remain open it must follow the same principles that apply to keeping a business open. He agreed that no one wants our school to become a trade school for a particular trade but on the other hand pointed out that there are schools who get help from particular industries if they help interested students prepare for careers in their industry, and that although he is not suggesting that we do the same it is an example of many ways of seeking funding that could be considered as we look for ways to keep the student living center open. He said that they intend to help us develop a business plan that will allow us to convince people, or groups, with money that they should spend their money with us because “social return” is what many of them are looking for. In other words we will seek out philanthropic organizations or individuals who care about the future and are willing to spend their money today as an investment in tomorrow - by helping our school give kids the skills and talents that will enable them to contribute to society in important and productive ways in the future. Such groups or individuals will be only some of the sources of money that we will need to go after but they could be an important source of as much as 30% of our operating capital. He pointed out that the key to sustainability is unrestricted funding (funding where there are few, or no strings attached).

 

Tim Horn asked whether there would be a grant writing position funded. Mike responded that those kinds of decisions would be made by the local administration after they have more information and have gotten further along in the process they are just now beginning.

 

He ended by again saying that he believes that the benefits that result from having this boarding school in our community are extremely valuable to both our community and the rest of the state and that he believes they will be able to help us put together the means of securing long term funding that will keep it operating for many years to come.

 

Speakers/Topics

 

Sober House Report - Kat McElroy

 

Kat McElroy began by giving some background information for those who may not be aware of our efforts in this regard. For 18 months now we have discussed the need for a place to help people recover from their addictions. In dealing with people in recovery the staff at RMHA would hear people say that in order to recover they just can’t go back into the environment they came out of because they know they would immediately relapse. When they asked them where they were going to go they would often say to my auntie’s house. She doesn’t drink and doesn’t allow alcohol in her home and she will help keep me from falling off the wagon. Unfortunately not everyone has an auntie who they can go stay with - and as a result many people who came back to the community with intentions of staying clean and sober end up having to go right back into their former environment and in spite of their best intentions very many of them end up relapsing. From these conversations came the idea that such a place for people to come to, where they can begin the process of reintegrating into the community, and to which they can retreat when they face the temptations they are struggling to overcome, and where they can continue to receive follow-up counseling would be a great blessing to those in our community who are returning from treatment. All of the above led to the plan to develop such a place in Nenana and call it Auntie’s House.

 

There are places like those described above in various areas around the country that we can pattern our facility after. None of them are the same. One such facility is called Oxford house. There are more than 1500 Oxford houses in the country including 8 in Alaska. Another such facility is located in Phoenix and is called Hope House. A third was established in Fairbanks by Scotty Bennett who has came out visited us and shared with us how his program works. His facility operates 180 degrees opposite of the Oxford house in that it is not based on principles of democratic rule. In Scottie’s facility he considers himself to be the “benevolent dictator”. He says, No way am I going to let these guys make the decisions. If they were in a position to be making good decisions they wouldn’t need to be living in my facility and as soon as they get well enough to be making such decisions they should get back out there into society and free up a bed for someone else who can’t make such decisions” (or something to that effect). Regardless of the approach each of these facilities is providing an extremely valuable service to those who would otherwise by very likely to relapse and many people have been helped by their programs. One thing they have in common is keeping the people busy by requiring them to work as part of the fee for staying there. That work includes working on the facilities they live in which often times a almost uninhabitable when first acquired. Working to improve their own habitation seems to have a healing effect on people and this principle of keeping people busy, along with the other aspects of the programs they participate in has resulted in success rates of as high as 80%.

 

Kat reported that we have not yet found the “ideal” place for an Aunties House in Nenana, because the ideal place would be free and we haven’t found a place for free yet. On the other hand we have become interested in the possibility of utilizing the Corner Bar as an Aunties House. Of course there are those who say that would be crazy because it is right across the street from Moocher’s bar however, it is believed by many that dealing with such temptations early on, while help is readily available and while living in a place that is alcohol and drug free is more effective at helping people learn to deal with their addictions than waiting for them deal with it on their own whenever and wherever it happens to occur. We have not yet ascertained a way to obtain the facility, although we are asking that it be donated to the community. In the meantime we have passed the word to those who know people with money (and who give to such causes) and hope that perhaps one of them will be interested in assisting us with establishing an Aunties’ House in Nenana.

 

Endil Moore stated that the Corner Bar is in foreclosure and that it is now owned by the bank. The loan, however, was guaranteed by the BIA, which will end up owning it if the property doesn’t sell. If BIA ends up with the property it may choose to dispose of it by giving it to a government agency and could give it to the tribe. If that were to occur the tribe could choose to donate it to become an Auntie’s house so that it really does become the “ideal” or free property that Kat referred to above.

 

Tim Horn asked whether the AA meetings that were going on in town while Alvina was here have continued. Kat said that they have not, and that some people have expressed a desire to have their own place to meet because the various places that are available all have drawbacks. It was agreed that having their own place to meet would be great and that Aunties Place would be a great place for them to meet.

 

[Note: if any readers are aware of assistance that might be available for the financing of an Aunties House please let us know]

 

Nenana Valley Sports Association Update - Endil Moore

 

Endil Moore reported that NVSA members have met with a family that is considering donating a piece of property to be turned into a racing facility for kids. If the donation occurs it will be developed in conjunction with the larger facility but will be located closer to town.

 

Endil reported earlier this summer we applied for a mini-grant and that last month we received a preliminary notification of being awarded the grant but that it was contingent upon us getting bids from organizations that are willing to do a feasibility study and business plan. We have now received two such bids, both of which are from reputable and qualified bidders. They have been turned over to the city for submittal to the state and we expect to receive notification of award from the state soon. When that happens we will begin with the feasibility study and expect it to be completed within two to three months and for the business plan to be ready shortly thereafter. If the feasibility study supports proceeding with the project as we believe it will, it will then be given to Representative John Coghill who has agreed to ask the legislature to finance a much larger feasibility study that would be necessary in order to get the amount of funding that will be necessary for this size of a project.

 

Endil also reported that NVSA has made significant progress towards building an ice skating rink for the community.

 

To date:

·       Nenana School has donated $1500,

·       Native Council has agreed to donate $1500 (or the equivalent in building materials)

·       The city has agreed to donate $2000,

·       C&R pipe has donated the posts for the rink,

·       Yukon Fuel has donated fencing materials,

·       GVEA has agreed to move the light poles and upgrade the wiring if necessary,

·       Woodland Farms has donated the use of its post driving equipment,

·       And the following people have donated many hours of their time:

·       Endil Moore, Ray Fox, Jeff Coghill, Wayne Walters, Shane Shields, Sam, Josh and Elijah Verhagen.

 

[Note: NVSA is seeking more donations and volunteers to help. If any reader is aware of either - please contact Endil]

 

After the NVSA update the subject returned to the need for an Aunties’ House and the need for more to be done regarding the problems with alcohol and drugs in the community.

 

Ken Eggleston mentioned more problems that came up with local kids over the weekend. He described allegations that several of our local kids traveled south and began partying. Eventually two of our local high school kids ended up staggering around looking for a place to sleep. One of them crawled into someone’s car and passed out and the other passed out right on the side of the road. Fortunately, a motorist came across him and called the troopers. When he was picked up he was hypothermic and if he had not been transported when he was he would have died in which case those who provided the alcohol could have been charged with his death. Once again some of our local kids have been charged with minor consuming and others are likely to be charged with providing alcohol to minors.

 

Ken said that not only do we have increasing problems with alcohol, but that because we no longer have local law enforcement more serious drugs are coming into our community now than in the past, including more potent forms of marijuana, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and even heroin.

He said that some of our kids consider themselves “weekend users” but that they don’t realize that there are no weekends for those who get addicted to crystal meth.

 

He shared his experience of working for five years on a reservation where crystal meth had made its way into the lives of the kids. He said that it wasn’t but a few weeks after it arrived before nobody had to wonder who was using it. He described the massive weight loss that occurred within weeks causing the kids to look like skeletons and their inability to control their muscles that resulted in involuntary spasms. He described the huge increase in burglaries that occurred to pay for the drugs, and he very emotionally described having to attend 42 funerals for young people in the community during those five years. He told about kids ending up with life sentences for raping and murdering other kids while under the influence. He described several kids committing suicide by wearing dark clothes and lying down in low spots on the highways. He was emphatic that we do not want things to escalate to that point in our community and that keeping quiet about our problems is not going to help but will instead help facilitate it.

 

Paul Verhagen reminded us of Roy Smart’s comment of the week before wherein he shared the analogy of people having an elephant in their living room and pretending that it isn’t there and that ignoring it never makes it go away.

 

Kat McElroy said that it is not just the cocaine or crystal meth or heroin that should be of concern to us but even the marijuana should be of concern. She recently received a video that explains how modern marijuana has been genetically altered and grown hydroponically in order to produce a drug that is as much as TEN TIMES more powerful than in the past - the use of which produces much more serious consequences than the old marijuana - and the ironic thing is that it is being marketed as “all natural” as if it was more healthy for the user. Kat has offered to show this 28 minute video to our group next week.

 

Ken Eggleston said that educating the kids about this is very important but that one of the biggest problems is that many of these things occur with the kids parent’s knowledge.

 

Tim Horn asked if the courts could require the parents of kids who are convicted of minor consuming or misconduct involving controlled substances to attend alcohol and drug education classes.

 

Paul Verhagen said that unless the parent were charged under a city ordinance that gave the court jurisdiction over the parents it couldn’t be done but that he would make some phone calls to see how other communities are dealing with similar problems.

 

Milt Haken said that as part of risk management training he was taught “If it’s predictable - it’s preventable”.

 

It was agreed that at present we have a really good community with relatively few problems compared to many other communities around the country and that we all want it to stay that way through preventative efforts. It was further discussed that although not everyone will agree about what to do about this problem everyone in the community will agree that we don’t want any of our kids to freeze to death in a ditch - and with that as a common concern we will continue to strive to work together on finding ways to keep that or similar tragedies from happening.

 

Financial Wellness - Paul Verhagen

 

We ran out of time for this presentation - it will be saved for another meeting.     

 

Wellness Thought

 

“Critical Thinkers find problems; creative thinkers find solutions” - John McClung

 

Old Business

 

Continued Planning for the Community Diversion Panel

- Ran out of time.

 

New Business

 

          None

 

Updates/Announcements

 

RMHA - Kat McElroy

          Most of the staff is gone this week for training in Anchorage.

Nenana School - Ken Eggleston

The kids will get out at 2:30 on Wednesday and there will be no school on Thursday or Friday.

As always, the community is invited to join the students for a Thanksgiving meal at the school cafeteria at 11:15 AM.

          Nenana Student Living Center - Ralph Lindquist

Several of the students at the student living center will not be going home for the Thanksgiving holiday and still need homes to be invited to for Thanksgiving dinner or to stay the weekend. If anyone knows of homes they could stay at please contact Ralph.

          Milt Haken

Thursday through Saturday is the Top-of-the-World games for men at UAF and the following weekend for women - at which Milt will be refereeing.

Nita Marks

Nominations opened today for elections at Native Counsel. There are 4 seats open. Nominations will close on the 29^th and the election will be held on December 4^th.

 

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

          None

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on November 23^rd, 2004 at the Nenana Senior’s Center at noon.

A 28 minute video on the new “All Natural” marijuana will be shown at our November 30^th meeting.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:05 PM

 

There were 17 people in attendance from the following organizations (and various interested citizens):

Foraker Group, Nenana School, Nenana Valley Sports Association, Nenana Student Living Center, City of Nenana, Yutana Barge Lines, Chamber of Commerce, Nenana Library, Nenana Visitor’s Center, Alaska Court System, Nenana Bahai Church, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, Nenana Senior’s Center, LDS Church, Nenana Environmental Program.

Mike Walsh, Margaret Sanders, Miles Martin, Ken Eggleston, Sam Verhagen, Bud Krause, Endil Moore, Kat McElroy, Theresa Shields, Nita Marks, Paul Verhagen, Milt Haken, Ralph Lindquist, Gary Edwin, Blain and Bonnie Reed, Tim Horn.

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Modified Minutes

November 9, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:24 PM

 

Meeting officiated by Bud Krause

 

Prayer was led by Roy Smart

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

No Minutes from last week’s meeting

 

Introduction of Guests:

Sherry Modrow, introduced herself and told us a little about Information Insights - the company she works for.

Sherry is visiting with us because she heard about our efforts at improving wellness in Nenana and the state has provided funds to their company to help organizations with efforts like ours. Her purpose in attending our meeting today was merely to familiarize herself with what we are doing in order to better understand how they might help us.

 

Speakers/Topics

 

Community Diversion Panel/Youth Court - Paul Verhagen

 

Paul distributed more information about the proposed Community Diversion Panel. He informed us that a member of our coalition approached Senator Ted Stevens and expressed concerns that some of our local youth might be prevented from entering the military because of convictions for minor consuming.  He asked Senator Stevens if he would be willing push for a change in the entrance requirements of the military so that such kids not be kept out of service. Senator Stevens was emphatic in his response. He said that he would not work to lower the standard of our military to accommodate young people with numerous convictions. He described reports he has received of kids in the fifth grade showing up at school intoxicated and said that Alaska needs to acknowledge that we have a serious problem and deal with the problem rather than lower the standards for the military.

Paul said that in his opinion both individuals are right. We shouldn’t lower the standards of the military and we should deal with the problem so that kids don’t get excluded from military service. He indicated that the proposed community diversion panel will help address this very issue and is already authorized by the legislature and is contemplated under the Alaska Statutes in Title 4. It allows for youth to resolve charges of Minor Consuming without having to end up with a conviction on their record. He said that he just returned from a week of judicial training in Anchorage and that he took time while there to update the court system’s administration on our latest efforts. They were very supportive particularly because our approach is the one contemplated by the legislature - it both addresses the problem and at the same time allows for avoiding convictions on the person’s record - but is not yet being used very much in the rural areas state. In light of our community’s efforts towards developing a wellness court they were also supportive of the proposal that allows wellness principles to be applied even under the adversarial system and felt that we are likely to receive support from various agencies in our efforts. They agreed that many minors will not be ‘rehabilitated’ by just one experience with a diversion panel and particularly liked the idea of being able to deal with even second and third time offenders as part of on-going efforts of a community diversion panel/youth court to further help with rehabilitation, by using creative approaches similar to those being used with people charged with Driving While License Cancelled or Revoked. It was also appealing to them in the sense that instead of requiring more involvement from the district attorney’s office it would allow many cases to be resolved with very minimal involvement on their part with a potential for no conviction to appear on the person’s record. The fact the program is completely voluntary allows for those who don’t like such programs to proceed under the traditional path and those who like the wellness approach to avail themselves of it.

Paul also pointed out that the court system administration has heard of our wellness efforts from more sources than himself and they expressed encouragement and support. They indicated that they are aware of other agencies who are impressed with our efforts and felt that there is a lot of potential for encouragement and support from those agencies because they are all aware of the growing problem and the increasing seriousness of the affects it is having on society.

The most important thing, from his opinion, is that the other agencies are all aware of the difficulty of getting various factions in communities working together and none of them have the expectation that any community will ever obtain complete cooperation among the various groups in a community. They realize that trying to do so can often be very discouraging and that ANY success at all is commendable. They are particularly impressed that our efforts have continued weekly for as long as it has and that we have demonstrable results indicating that several groups in our community have worked regularly with each other in various projects.

Another important point that was brought up was how much better we are at communicating with each other because of our efforts at increasing wellness. There is an expression that “In the absence of communication - suspicion is king”. Because of meeting together each week and getting to know each other better many of us have become friends and as a result much of the former suspicion has been removed. Now, as Ken Eggleston pointed out, when we have questions - we go to each other more often and ask the questions!

 

Bud Krause pointed out that because of our improved communication the Senior’s now know that they are welcome to have dinner each Wednesday at the Student Living Center.

 

Roy Smart mentioned that the kids at the student living center have spent a great deal of time working to establish a student government and that they expect to have elections next week after which it would be a good time to work with them about setting up a youth court.

 

Gary Edwin expressed concern that a very big part of the problem we are dealing with stems from the parents and without some change in their attitude he doesn’t think they will participate. He feels that in order for our efforts to succeed we need to be working at changing the attitude of adults as well as children or they won’t participate in the program. His point was well taken and it was agreed that without buy-in from the parents they won’t be supportive of our efforts.

 

Ken Eggleston pointed out that this is where education comes in because the program is completely optional and no one has to participate in it, but that if parents realize that the whole thing is about helping kids (the alternative is to go through the regular court process that results in a conviction) many parents will want to participate.

 

Gary Edwin commented on the importance of helping get the adults to buy-in because their attitude is so very important in a kid’s life. He also shared a story that when he was coaching last year, and was getting his eligibility list from the teachers, one teacher made the comment, “Let’s see how long he lasts”. This was an example of how we let damaging comments fly off our tongues and aren’t always aware of the damage these comments have. This is a teacher who has been here for years, and it was sad to him that this is the teacher’s perception of our kids. That kind of attitude, Gary pointed out, is what keeps kids in the same situation that has existed for years. He pointed out that in order to break the cycle (that he, himself, was born into) he had to separate his immediate family from his extended family (an option that he is unhappy about but felt was necessary).

 

Mike Anderson expressed his opinion that if the community diversion panel and youth court are successful at helping break the cycle in even ONE young person’s life we will have made significant progress.

 

Paul Verhagen said that he has known Gary Edwin and his extended family for most of his life and that Gary himself is an example of someone who broke the cycle in his own life and suggested that if we can help cause whatever it was that helped Gary to change his life to occur in the lives of other young people it would not only benefit them but their future family’s as well. Gary said that he has spent years thinking about it and that he has come to the conclusion that it was the involvement of five people in his life who gave him encouragement when he needed it that made the difference.

 

Milt Haken said that there are many good people in our community who are willing to help out in similar ways to the way those five adults helped Gary.

 

Gary also pointed out that the resistance to change in our community will make it hard for the adults who serve on the community diversion panel and that it will also be hard for the kids that end up serving on the youth court.

 

Traci Wiggins pointed out that she knows from experience with her present job that it will be hard for both the adult and youth leaders at first, and that that there will be many who will criticize them for what they do, but that over time it will become less difficult and that eventually it will begin to become very rewarding as lives begin to be changed.

 

Roy Smart said that in spite of it being hard it is very important to our community that we begin to really address issues that many people ignore and pretend don’t exist. He likened it to having a very large elephant in the living room. Everyone knows it is there - you can’t miss such a thing - but people get very good at ignoring things that are uncomfortable to deal with and often just walk around it, as it if weren’t there, rather than acknowledge its existence, talk about it, and work to remove it. Some people believe that if they just ignore the elephant for long enough it will go away on its own, but such things don’t just go away on their own. Kids need to know that regardless of how things may have been in their own home (even if it has been for all their lives and regardless of how their parents may view it) it is not appropriate behavior, it is against the law, and is not acceptable here.

 

Ralph Lindquist pointed out that many of the kids at the student living center came from homes where alcohol and drug abuse are ongoing problems, but that after arriving at the student living center and realizing that it is not acceptable behavior there, it has become easier for them to eliminate usage from their lives and many of them now feel the way Gary Edwin does - they don’t want those problems in their future families.

 

Traci Wiggins mentioned that Kat McElroy’s presentation would be very helpful for both parents and children to understand the dynamics that are at work in the lives and homes of people whose family’s are struggling with addictions and suggested that we have her share her presentation with us.

 

Mike Anderson pointed out that sometimes it takes sharing that kind of information several times before people realize that many of their “friends” are not really friends but just drinking buddies and that as soon as they stop drinking together they may not come around any more. A lot of us grow up in that cycle so that what we experience seems appropriate until the cycle is broken. Peer pressure is strong on kids to drink but it can also work the other way to help kids keep from drinking. He said that he’s had some people give him a hard time about being open to wellness but that after he challenged them to 1.) attend some meetings and then 2.) tell him what’s wrong with the efforts of the coalition - they stopped bothering him about it.

 

Ken Eggleston mentioned the progress that they have made at the Student Living Center by pointing out that for the first couple of years dealing with addictions (and other abuses) dominated their time - but that is no longer the case. He pointed out that they have only lost one student to such problems so far this year.

 

Report on visit from Barbara Berry and Joseph Grachek (VP of Costco) - Milt Haken

         

Milt explained that Barbara Berry is the founder and president of WayToWin.com and a well known girls basketball coach. She speaks all around the country and has spoken here in Nenana each year for the last five years. Costco is one of her corporate sponsors and at times Joseph Gracheck travels with her to the locations she speaks at and while she puts on basketball camps he teaches leadership skills. Barbara and Joseph have heard about our wellness efforts and wanted to meet with us and discuss what we are doing. We met with them for several hours on Wednesday October 27^th and had a great meeting. They were particularly interested in our efforts at improving financial wellness in our community and showed great interest in our efforts at bringing racing to the valley. They were also interested in our efforts to help bring in additional funding for the student living center and agreed that it would be well suited for the kind of use that Ted Dodge suggested. Ted has shared with us what is happening at a similar center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Barbara and Joseph expressed similar views that our facility would be very well suited for such use - including soccer camps and basketball camps. They said that they will consider other ideas and get back to Milt with them over the next several months.

 

 

Old Business

 

Continued Planning for our Second Annual Wellness Dinner

 

Traci Wiggins gave an update on the planning and preparation for the dinner.

 

Flyers - RMHA has made up flyers and will mail them to all boxholders.

Radio Announcements - Paul Verhagen will get announcements onto the radio.

Food - Mike Anderson has the meal well planned and will have the help of some of the student living center kids. Coghill’s store donated plastic ware and Ice Classic donated paper plates and the use of the Civic Center.

Set Up - TCCC has agreed to provide a crew to help set up tables and chairs.

Child Care - The Bahai’s of Nenana will have a table for kids to keep occupied at playing with play dough, etc.

Veteran’s Recognition - Bud Krause will share a poem about the contributions of our veterans to the freedoms we enjoy.

Ramona Chrisman will prepare a PowerPoint presentation on the contributions of veterans.

Certificates of Appreciation - will be passed out and posted on the walls and RHMA will collect them and the CWS kids at the school will help get them ready to mail out to those who received them.

Guest Speaker on Wellness - Mike Daku - UAF Professor

Door Prizes - The Alaska Railroad has donated 2 round-trip tickets from Fairbanks to Denali Park, Kat McElroy donated 5 potlatch kits.

Take Down - Paul Verhagen will provide help with taking down the tables and chairs

Much appreciation to the above individuals and groups for their time and donations!

 

New Business

 

          None

 

Updates/Announcements

 

Local Churches - Roy Smart informed us of grant money that is available for faith-based organizations to help with alcohol use prevention among kids and said that his church is applying for a grant and will let us know more about it as he gets more information.

 

School - Ken Eggleston informed us that Mike Walsh of the Foraker Group will attend our next week’s wellness meeting to discuss options of what can be done to help with future funding for the student living center.

Ken met with Diane Kaplan of the Rasmussen Foundation and said that Diane expressed to him that she feels good about the progress that is being made and that she will begin releasing funds from the grant that they awarded. Ken said that we are now “Out of the hole” financially speaking for this year and even ahead to the amount of $300,000, however, we were over-funded for the student count by almost that same amount of money. The good news is that even after the overage is returned to the state we will still be in a positive financial position.

Ken also said that Andre LaTrell has agreed to speak to us about the Assets program at the evening wellness meeting scheduled for December.

 

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

          None

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on November 16^th, 2004 at the Nenana Senior’s Center at noon. (Again, unless the Senior’s center is not ready - in which case it will again be held at the student living center).

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:04 PM

 

There were 14 people in attendance from the following organizations (and various interested citizens):

Nenana School, Nenana Valley Sports Association, Nenana Student Living Center, Chamber of Commerce, Nenana Library, Nenana Visitor’s Center, Nenana Assembly of God Church, Alaska Court System, Nenana Bahai Church, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, LDS Church, Nenana Environmental Program, Information Insights.

Miles Martin, Ken Eggleston, Bud Krause, Traci Wiggins, Paul Verhagen, Milt Haken, Ralph Lindquist, Roy Smart, Mike Anderson, Gary Edwin, Sherry Modrow, Virginia Young, James Brown, Ramona Chrisman.

 

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

 

November 2, 2004

 

Meeting officiated by Traci Wiggins

 

Prayer was led by Rosemary Allen

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

Traci asks if anyone has anything to say before we start discussing the wellness dinner. Bud Krause asks if the city meeting is on the 11^th and is informed that it will be held the following Tuesday. Traci starts discussing the dinner and asks if anyone has heard anything about the speaker. She calls Ken Eggleston to see if he’s been able to get anyone to speak at the dinner.

 

Kat McKelroy wants to know what’s going on with the food, if it’s been taken care of yet. There’s mention that Miles may have donated some salmon but not sure how many. Rose wants to know if she should cook the scallop potatoes. Traci informs the group that Mike Anderson and some of the living center students have volunteered to cook the food in the NSLC kitchen but that coalition members are asked to bring desert.

 

Traci Wiggins is looking for sponsors for some of the food. Roy Smart mentions that maybe Karen Lords grant could help out and Rose suggests that Theresa Mayrand’s might be able to also. Traci suggests calling Theresa Mayrand, Karen Lord and Rita O’brian to see if their grants would be able to donate some money for food. It’s mentioned that maybe the Chamber of Commerce or Tribal Council would be willing. Traci says that she has already spoken to the Tribal Council and that they would not be able to be involved.

 

Discussion starts on who will be able to help set-up dinner. Traci mentions that Jason Mayrand had volunteered his kids and Roy Smart will call TCCC invite them to the dinner and see if they would be able to help with the set-up, clean-up, etc. Traci mentions that we need to see if the school has butcher paper for the tables that could be donated. Roy suggests talking to John Beetle about the paper.

 

Rose Allen asks what a good day to mail the flyer out for the dinner is. It’s decided that on Monday Bud Krause will come to RMHA offices and get them ready and will mail them out Tuesday.  There’s discussion on putting posters up around town. Roy Smart volunteers to make the posters; Traci says she’ll email him the information.

 

Talk about honoring veterans. It’s decided that Bud Krause will stand up and honor veterans after Bonnie Reed says the opening prayer. There’s discussion on who the speaker will be and the topic they’ll speak on. Mike Daku is suggested and Roy Smart is tasked with calling him. It’s decided that there will be a scrawl wall again for this dinner. The tentative agenda is prayer, honor veterans, dinner and speaker.

 

It’s discussed who could donate moose. Rose offers ground moose. Ken Eggleston joins meeting and is asked for butcher paper and if the kids will be able to skip study hall to attend dinner. Ken will talk to Ralph. There’s still discussion on food. Mike Anderson will be tasked with ordering food and Kat will call friend to see if he can donate moose.

 

Traci wonders if anyone wants to have and info table. Ch’eghtsen is suggested. RMHA will, maybe NSLC and the Baha’is will have arts and crafts tables. Traci will put together a list of sponsors. It’s mentioned we should see if the Nenana Dance group wants to perform. It’s reminded that we will need to get a lot of help setting up. Ken mentions some kids have community service work to do.

 

It’s reminded that food is provided but that the coalition brings desserts, to call TCCC for clean up/set up help and suggestions to call Margaret Sanders for fish are made. Estimated about 150 will show up.  Traci asks for anymore sponsors. It’s mentioned to call local businesses. Rose is tasked to get a hold of Marilyn Duggar to see if store can donate plastic ware or cups. Ice Classic is donating plates.  Kat will call Sandy Eggleston and see who needs to do community service. Door prizes are discussed.

 

Gary Edwin talks about recycling grant and the benefits to our community stating that in the next few years a majority of the states landfills will be closed. Discussion takes place on ideas to cut the amount of garbage down. Potlatch kits are brought up to cut down on Styrofoam trash at dinners and other functions where food is served. It’s decided that Gary will give a short presentation at wellness dinner about recycling and the need to look at waste management as a wellness issue. To see how much garbage a function like this produces we will have everyone throw there food in one trash can and there dinner ware (plates, forks, napkins, etc.) in another. Kat volunteers to make up a couple potlatch kits as door prizes.

 

Sourdough starters and two roundtrip tickets to the park on the train are also mentioned for door prizes. Rose will call Marilyn and ask for a roll of tickets. Ken will call railroad.

It’s suggested that we make a list of what NSLC students will be here over Thanksgiving and houses they could go to.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:05 PM

Next meeting on Tuesday November 9 @ NSLC.

 

There were 12 people in attendance:

Traci Wiggins, Kat McKelroy, Rose Allen, Laura Vance, Bud Krause, Blaine Reed, Bonnie Reed, Floyd Terry, Roy Smart, Ken Eggleston, Gary Edwin, Tim Horn

 

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

October 19, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:20 AM

 

Meeting officiated by Bud Krause

 

Prayer was led by Bonnie Reed

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

Diane Carson submitted an email modification to the minutes (as pointed out by Gayle Ramey) regarding Ricky Martin’s comment about the troopers at the September 14^th meeting. The correction was accepted and the minutes were approved.

 

Introduction of Guests:

Amy Solomon and Blossom Davies - are here from the federal government as a part of the Alaska Behavioral Health Intervention Project Evaluation team and are here to evaluate Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions. RMHA was chosen for evaluation specifically because of the fact that our community has an active wellness coalition and they wanted to see how the coalition interfaces with RMHA.

Theresa Hall - is visiting as a member of the Railbelt Mental Health Board of Directors and a newly (again) elected assembly member of the Denali Borough.

 

Updates/Announcements

 

Chamber of Commerce - Miles Martin invited the public to attend their annual Welcome to Nenana Dinner at 6:30 PM at the James Coghill Community Center

 

Local Churches - Bonnie Reed invited the public to celebrate the birthday of founder of the Bahai faith by sharing a dinner with them at milepost 311.8 Parks highway at 5:30 PM

 

School - Ken Eggleston

            The warehouse and the surrounding area are currently being cleaned up to accommodate the new office building that will be built between the school and the warehouse to house the CyberLynx office and 10 other offices such as the various grant program administrators. It is being build by the construction class.

This new office will free up the rest of the living space at the student living center so that next year it can operate at full capacity which should accommodate about 82 students.

Representative John Coghill has pre-filed a bill for the funding the student living center. The bill addressed all the concerns expressed by Senator Wilken last year that kept it from advancing in the senate even though it passed the house unanimously. By pre-filing it should get out there soon enough that if there are still concerns they can be addressed and resolved before the end of the session. The bill anticipates the living center being funded each year in the same fashion as they fund Mt. Edgecombe each year.

Endil Moore from the Nenana Valley Sports Association has asked to be put on the agenda at the school board meeting tonight to discuss the location of the proposed skating rink.

A proposal to provide student busing has been submitted and will also be considered at the school board meeting.

The steam house is very close to finished and should be operational within a week.

A dinner to which the public is invited is provided every Wednesday at the student living center at 5:30 PM

           

Milt Haken - Barbara Barry who has been a consultant to the Seattle Sonics and owns her own consulting firm will be speaking here in Nenana next week. She is bringing with her the Vice President of COSTCO. They will be arriving too late in the day to attend our wellness meeting but we may want to meet with them at another time or hold our meeting at another time. It was agreed that for the sake of consistency we should hold our meeting at the normal time and meet with them at another time. It was agreed that those who are available will meet with them on Wednesday night. Milt will get back with us once he has verified this with them.

Milt also reminded us that next week is red-ribbon week at the school.

 

Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions - Kat McElroy informed us of the passage of Senate Bill 1194 which is entitled Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003. Funding that results from this act could be used to work with expanding court-based programs for the mentally ill, or for providing specialized training to personnel involved in the criminal, juvenile justice, and mental health agencies, or for programs that provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services, etc. This may be a source of funding to help us establish some of the programs that we want to set up.

 

Mike Anderson - Informed us that it looks like the federal government may end up with the corner bar and if they do we may want to contact them about utilizing it for one of our programs.

 

Endil Moore - Seniors Center is just about done. Hopefully it will be finished in time for our meeting next week. We would like the first people who utilize it to be the senior’s themselves.

 

Paul Verhagen - Gave a brief update on the status of progress towards building a hockey rink here in town. It looks like we have commitments for the bulk of the donations that will be needed. One thing that has been holding things up is the orientation of the rink. It has been suggested that perhaps the rink should be built over the existing tennis and basketball courts making it a dual purpose facility (like they have in Anchorage) where it is used for skating in the winter and other sports in the summer. This matter may be resolved at tonight’s school board meeting. After that issue is resolved construction should be able to begin - IF the weather holds. Unfortunately, if it snows or the ground freezes construction may have to be put off.

 

Guest Speakers

 

            None

 

Old Business

 

Halloween - The date for trick-or-treating was discussed. There were compelling reasons for changing the date and good reasons given for leaving it to the families to decide. In the end a consensus was not reached as to what to recommend so the default consensus was to not make a recommendation to the city council one way or another.

 

Wellness Annual Dinner - Traci shared with us the sign she made up for our second annual wellness dinner. Paul will ask for church volunteers for help with setting-up. Ken will check with Andre Lavell and let us know by next week to see if Andre can attend the dinner and speak to us about the state-wide Access program. The school will coordinate community work service (CWS) kids to do the clean-up afterwards. Mike Anderson has agreed to do the cooking! Bud Krause and Rose Vance will do something around the theme of Veterans Day. We will make available blank certificates of appreciation like we did last year only this year they will not only be posted but also distributed or mailed out by RMHA. Ken indicated that the CWS kids could be utilized for mailing them out. Paul will ask the radio station to put notices on the air for a few days before hand. The Bahai’s have volunteered to provide child care during the evening.

           

 

New Business

 

Court - Paul Verhagen - Community Diversion Panel for Minor Consuming. Paul explained that the legislature wrote into the most current legislation regarding minor consuming a means for the community to become more directly involved in helping resolve the problem of minor consuming. It contemplates the creation of a community wide panel to deal with first time minor consuming offenses. Paul suggested that since we are almost out of time that we discuss the subject more next week. He suggested that we each invite people who we think would want to be included not only in the discussion but would perhaps like to serve on the panel. He pointed out that such a panel might then go on to help establish a youth court that could help deal with the issue because often times youth pay more heed to other youth than to adults. It was suggested that after some preliminary meetings during our regular meetings that we might want to set up some evening meetings so that those who can’t be here during the day can also participate. He will put this on the agenda again for next week.

Ken Eggleston pointed out that the issue is a serious one that is having an impact not only on the school but also the student living center. He pointed out that recent incidents have made the newspaper and television news and that they were both reported incorrectly. That is not helpful to our community or to the school. Ken mentioned that Chief Charlie Stevens called and was also concerned about bad press and offered to help in any way he can.

 

Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions (RMHA) - Kat McElroy was volunteered (and graciously agreed) to share a presentation with us that helps people gain a better understanding of the dynamics within families where one or more family members are alcoholics.

 

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

            None - Ran out of Time           

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on October 26^th 2004 at the Nenana Senior’s Center at noon (if the remodeling is finished).

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:08 PM

 

There were 18 people in attendance from the following organizations (and various interested citizens):

Chamber of Commerce, Nenana Library, Nenana Valley Sports Association, Nenana School, Nenana Student Living Center, Nenana Visitor’s Center, Alaska Court System, Nenana Bahai Church, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, LDS Church, Denali Borough Assembly, Alaska Behavioral Health Intervention Project Evaluation Team;

Miles Martin, Ken Eggleston, Bud Krause, Bonnie Reed, Blane Reed, Traci Wiggins, Elder McCoy, Elder Chaprian, Teresa Hall, Amy Salomon, Blossom Davis, Rosemary Allen, Kat McElroy, Sam Verhagen, Paul Verhagen, Tim Horn, Milt Haken, Pia Jensen

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

October 5, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:20 AM

 

Meeting officiated by Traci Wiggins

 

Prayer was led by Sam Verhagen

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

No modifications to the agenda

 

Minutes of September 21^st, 2004 approved without modifications

 

Introduction of Guests:

 

Dan Bockhorst, Staff to the State local Boundary Commission

 

Updates/Announcements

 

          Put off to next week

 

Guest Speaker:

 

Dan Bockhorst - Boroughs

 

     Some time ago Bud Krause and others suggested that it might be good for us to discuss boroughs at one of our wellness meetings. It was agreed that rather than just discuss it amongst ourselves that it would be good to have someone speak to us who had the ability to answer the questions that would inevitably arise over a subject that has been so hotly debated over the last 40 plus years. “Bear” Ketzler had been in contact with Dan for some time prior and agreed to invite him to speak to us. He did so and today’s meeting was arranged.

     Our usual approach to subjects like this is to allow the speaker to finish their presentation before we go to questions and answers. Dan commented afterwards that it is rare for him to be able to make his entire presentation (which lasted about an hour and a half) because he is usually interrupted with too many questions somewhere between 25 and 45 minutes into it and usually isn’t able to get back and finish his presentation.

     The question-and-answer session afterwards was not at all controversial which may have been due to the fact that many of the questions that people might have asked, pro or con, were answered in the presentation.

     It was proposed that between now and our next (or later) meeting we consider dedicating one meeting a month to various topics pertaining to boroughs, that we get the word out as much as possible, that we hold meetings in different locations, and at different times so that views from all sides of the issue are able to be presented and discussed.

     One important point that was made is that no decisions on the matter should be made out of fear. Dan pointed out that he is not aware of any efforts by anyone to force a borough upon us in the near future. He pointed out that one reason that some legislators use to push for the formation of boroughs in certain areas is whether or not the area is contributing their share to pay for schools. Last year Senator Wilken introduced a bill that would require the formation of 4 new boroughs based on this issue but, because it is perceived that Nenana is fairly contributing, Nenana was not included in the bill. Dan’s point, again, was that he is unaware of any current efforts to force Nenana into a borough.

     However, he did point out that it is the intent of the Constitution that all areas of the state with the administrative and fiscal capacity to operate a borough become part of an organized borough and that the legislature has the authority to force all areas of the state into boroughs and that they have used that authority in the past to the extent that the vast majority of the population that is included in boroughs did not vote to be in boroughs but was forced into boroughs.

     He also pointed out that the Constitution promotes the extension of borough government (either through incorporation or annexation) so that all areas be included in organized boroughs and that the boundary commission, to which he is staff, has a duty to  uphold the Constitution and thus work to facilitate the transition.

     Twenty years ago, he thought that the process would be complete long before now so he is hesitant to predict how much longer it will be - another ten, or another 40 years - before the process is complete but, in any event, it would be wise for people to discuss and consider the matter at a measured pace rather than try to respond in short order if someone decides to push our area into becoming a borough or tries to force us into an existing borough.

     His presentation included an outline encompassing five subject areas.

 

The Nature of Boroughs

          Article X of the State Constitution sets out the framework. All areas of the state must be included in a borough - either organized or unorganized. An organized borough is a municipal government. An unorganized borough is subdivision of the state and the state legislature serves as its governing body. One of the reasons for choosing a system of borough governments was to decentralize state services. Boroughs should encompass “common interests”. Among other things “common interests” include such considerations as: Regional Educational Attendance Areas, Social, Economic, Cultural, Size, Natural Geography, Transportation, Natural Resources, and Capacity to Administer. Boroughs and cities are similar and different. Similarities include that they are both municipal governments, although boroughs are sometimes at a regional level. Size is one of the big differences. The average size of the 146 Alaskan cities is 27 square miles. The average size of the 16 organized boroughs is more than 17,000 square miles. The number and types of boroughs are:

 

·       3 Unified Home-rule Boroughs

·       6 Non-unified Home-rule Boroughs

·       0 First Class Boroughs

·       7 Second Class Boroughs

 

Prescribed Duties

          Except for the 18 home-rule, and one first-class, cities in the state, cities have few fundamental duties; however, ALL boroughs have fundamental duties. Three of the area-wide duties required of a borough are education, planning and zoning, and taxation.

 

Pros and Cons

          There are three main issues of concern when the subject of boroughs is discussed. The first comes from school administrators, the second is the concern is people not wanting more government, and the third is taxes. At present four of the boroughs in the state levy no property taxes and one borough levies NO taxes at all.

          In 1963 the state legislature promised to not penalize areas for organizing into boroughs - as often happens with such promises - the promise was broken.

 

Incorporation

          The state gives a $600,000 grant to each new borough in order to help get started. The process of becoming a borough includes 12 steps:

1.                            Petition

2.                            Review

3.                            Public Notice

4.                            Service of Notice to Required Parties

5.                            Public Comment

6.                            Reply from Petitioners

7.                            Information Meetings

8.                            Dept. of Community and Economic Development Reports

9.                            Local Boundary Commission (LBC) hearings

10.                       LBC decision

11.                       Reconsideration

12.                       Election or Legislative mandate

 

It usually takes from one to two years to complete the process.

 

Formation

          Boroughs are given two years to take over education duties. The current maximum local school tax is 4 mils and is phased in over four years (but can come from other sources within the borough such as the borough that levies no taxes). The LBC has formulated and proposed 18 model boroughs for the areas that are now included in the unorganized borough. Under the current proposal they recommend that Nenana be included in an existing borough but the option exists for Nenana to propose a new borough of which it would become a part.

 

Contact information:

 

Local Boundary Commission

Dan Bockhorst

550 West 7^th Ave, Suite 1770

Anchorage, Alaska 99501

907-269-4559

 

Questions and Answers:

 

Tim Horn asked if it were proposed that Nenana be included in another borough and it were to go to an election how would it compete? The answer was that it couldn’t if it just went to an election wherein everyone’s vote counts. However, more options exist. Nenana could propose the creation of new borough of which it would be a part. Voting could to be limited to the Nenana area residents, or a combination of voters in the borough and the Nenana area could be held, etc. Before any such actions were taken the LBC would hear suggestions and make recommendations.

 

Paul Verhagen asked for a confirmation that it is not a matter of who beats who in filing a petition. The answer was that the decision is not made on which proposal is filed first or that one filing would preclude another.

 

Henry Cole mentioned that a recent study in an economics magazine described countries that either develop their natural resources – if they have any – or their personal resources through education and training. Canada, Argentina, Brazil are some of the former and Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong are some of the latter. To adequately develop one’s natural resource base you need your personal resource base and there must be a balance between these two. As an example, we can look at Fairbanks: lack of local skill in management, marketing, and finance in regards to tourism led to ‘outsiders’ (referring to Princess Tours, WestTours, etc.), ’swooping in’ and gaining control of the tourism industry there. In Nenana this issue was brought up on the context of the formation of a borough from outside, essentially annexing Nenana. A way to explore this situation and its solution could be through a discussion: where people propose a hypothetical discovery of resources – gold north of town or natural gas to the west – determining the extent of the resource, the value, and the technological skills necessary to develop it; then they ask the question: “What kinds of people, education and skill sets should we have in Nenana to take advantage of this opportunity so as not to have Nenana developed by outsiders.” This kind of scenario discussion could start to raise the awareness of Nenana to new developments and possibly also sketch out a defense against takeover by an outside borough.

 

Ken Eggleston suggested that anyone who is interested should consider getting a copy of the School Consolidation CD because it has a lot of valuable information pertaining to boroughs and their effects.  The School Consolidation CD is available from Dan Bockhorst.  The study is available online at http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/lbc/school_study/school_study_report_final2.htm

 

Old Business

 

The time did not allow the rest of the agenda items to be addresses and it was agreed to put them off until the next meeting except for announcements of immediate concern.

 

New Business

 

          See above

 

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

          See above

 

Updates and Announcements

 

Margaret Sanders announced that the renovation at the senior’s center is progressing nicely but that they still need help from volunteers.

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on October 14^th 2004 at the Nenana Senior’s Center at 6:00 PM (just prior to the regularly scheduled city council meeting). Bud Krause will chair the meeting.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 1:58 PM

 

There were 25 people in attendance:

Margaret Sanders, Dan Bockhorst, Kat McElroy, Karen Harvey, Floyd Terry, Bud Krause, Henry Cole, Sam Verhagen, Paul Verhagen, Merrily Verhagen, Ken Eggleston, Traci Wiggins, Tim Horn, Virginia Young, Miles Martin, Al Stevens, Bonnie Reed, Blaine Reed, Ned Griffith, Ralph Lindquist, Diane Carson, Mike Anderson, Dwight Hale, Carl Horn, Pia Jensen

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

September 21, 2004

 

 

Meeting officiated by Paul Verhagen

 

Prayer was led by Kat McElroy

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

No modifications to the agenda

 

Last weeks minutes were approved

 

Updates/Announcements

 

Alaska Court System - Paul Verhagen talked about a tentative agreement by Native Council to provide transportation to and from Fairbanks on a weekly basis for those who are required to attend Alternatives to Violence counseling. This is an effort to prevent those who are court-ordered to attend from being remanded to custody due to failure to comply with the judgment.

 

Chamber of Commerce - Miles Martin reminded us of the upcoming Welcome to Nenana Dinner that is sponsored by the Chamber. The tentative date is

 

Churches - Bonnie Reed of the local Bahai church told us about Prayers for Peace to be held tonight at 7:00 PM at Virginia Young’s home. Paul Verhagen - of the local LDS church told of the receipt of his daughter Kristi and his son Sam’s mission calls to serve as missionaries in Brazil Rio De Janeiero North Mission and the Brazil Sao Paulo North missions respectively. They report to a missionary training center in Brazil on December 29^th where they will be taught to speak Portuguese and will serve for 18 months and 2 years respectively.

 

City - Endil Moore reported that Mayor Mayrand is back and is in the middle of an audit. He also told us about the fencing project that will enclose the rest of the dock and reported that front street will be re-surfaced from the end of the new pavement to the clinic.

 

Nenana School - Superintendent Eggleston announced his retirement in June. He also reported on the progress of the sweat lodge (which is nearing completion), and told us about the development of a new soccer field at the corner of FAA Way and the Parks Highway - a welcome addition to our community.

 

Ice Classic - Endil Moore updated us on the reconstruction of the Ice-Classic tower. The old concrete pad has been replaced with a more modern concrete pad including wire mesh and rebar. The uprights are being built of steel in an effort to make them last longer. Terry Forness should be thanked for overseeing the project and seeing it through. Endil also told us about the planned restoration of the old Ice-Classic building that was recently moved onto the lot next door to the Civic Center.

 

Library - Miles Martin told us that the library board is reviewing the library’s by-laws. At present the Library is not a non-profit organization but they are considering changing that.

 

Native Council - No one was at our meeting as an official representative of Native Council but Bear informed us of some wellness related things that are happening at Native Council. There are three homes for elders in the community that are under construction and a fourth that is almost completed. There is also a housing survey that is currently being conducted around town and it would be particularly helpful for those who fill it out to be as complete as possible as it will help further improve housing in Nenana. The Alaska Railroad will be holding a public meeting regarding the environmental impact of planned construction in Nenana on October 13^th at 5:00 PM and again at 7:00 PM. There will be a meeting regarding the new teen center on October 6^th from 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM at the Student Living Center. Dan Brockhorse is scheduled to speak to us about Boroughs at our October 5^th meeting. Gary Edwin is currently attending environmental training and reports that it is excellent training, and the people from Yukon Telephone are in town today, and for the next few days, installing more wireless internet systems for those who are interested.

 

SPEAKERS

 

          Gayle Ramey - Gayle shared with us an article taken from the ACLU website about Civilian Review Boards. She reminded us that she and some others felt that there was police abuse in the past and informed us that she is working to develop a local Civilian Review Board to evaluate reports of abuse by police. The article stated that no single remedy is going to resolve the problem of police abuse and that any efforts must be ongoing. It went on to say that in order for any such efforts to be successful the review board must have the confidence of the public and must reflect community diversity. Paul Verhagen agreed that in order for it to have public confidence it would need to include people from both sides of the issue and in-between because there are many who do not believe that there was police abuse going on and others who just don’t know and people from all sides should be equally involved in any review if the results of the reviews are to have credibility with the whole community and help to bring the community together. People are entitled to their opinions and all opinions should be considered before decisions are made. Gayle expressed concerns about people fabricating information, participating in character assassination and gossiping. Miles Martin said that these are the areas where the Crucial Conversations training we recently had can, and already has helped our community to better deal with such problems. Gayle informed us that TCCC’s induction of new workers begins on October 6^th and that there is a chance that some of the groups will go to Florida to help with disaster relief but at least one crew will remain here and will soon be available for work. They are looking for donations of air miles for those who might be able to help out in Florida and asked us to pass on this information.

 

Ralph - The Nenana Student Living Center has been fully funded for this year and is operating at full capacity. Several people have told him that they think this year’s group of kids is the best we’ve had. He mentioned a problem that occurred last week when a 16 year old NSLC student was assaulted by a 20 year old local resident. The incident was reported to the troopers but there was no follow-through by them. The student’s mother is an outspoken person who could hurt our boarding school’s reputation if something isn’t done to ensure that similar problems not occur in the future. At first she pulled her son out of the program. Fortunately, she has since agreed to put her child back in the program upon assurances from the program that the matter will not just be ignored. Ralph asked for suggestions of what we might do as a community. He also reported that another student returned “high” to the living center and explained that his options of what to do with this student under the current policies and procedures are quite limited. He asked for suggestions of what might be done with this situation as well. It was discussed that a group of concerned community members met the last time there were problems and the policies did not leave enough flexibility to appropriately deal with them and it was suggested that a group of concerned community members meet again. Because of concerns with time issues it was agreed that a good cross-section of community representatives should meet tomorrow at noon to further discuss the matter. People from the following groups volunteered to attend the meeting - Nita from Native Council, Rick from the School, Rose from Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, Endil from the City, Virginia from a local church, and 2 student representatives from the student living center.

 

Ken - The school was approached by Andre Latrel (sp?) about meeting with the school and/or the community to talk about further implementation of the Assets program in our community. We have talked about ideas of who to have speak to us at our upcoming annual community dinner and it was suggested that we invite Andre to speak to the community then. There have been other recommendations but the feeling seems to be that we should limit it this year to just one speaker for perhaps 20 - 40 minutes. Ken said that if we get him a date he will check with Andre and see if he is available then and if that amount of time will work.

          We also reviewed the other suggestions which are that Kat puts on the Medicine wheel training which fits in very well with our mission of improving wellness in Nenana, and Wanda Haken suggestion that we bring someone in to speak to us about the nation-wide Parents as Teachers program which also fits in very nicely with our mission. It was agreed that we should work to have all three presentations made available and we will wait to hear from Ken about Andre.

 

Bear - Since the closure of our police department there have been several reports of kids out of control. Several people have told me that friends have called complaining about kids drinking and making a lot of noise late at night, people driving crazy as seen by the donut circles on the road at the entrance to town, curfew violations, and physical assaults. Even prior to the closure of the department, when it was known that the department was going to be closed, things like the above, and much more serious, began to occur including two reported rapes.

It has been stated publicly that since the closure of the police department we have had very few problems but that is not true. There just isn’t anyone collecting the information.

Endil Moore stated that calling 911 is not enough. Recently someone called 911 and reported being choked. They were told to call the troopers. Without a police department it has to be that way because our EMS people can’t respond to an assault incident without police having secured the scene - but having to listen to someone call 911 and having to tell them to call the troopers when we know they are likely to be at least an hour away is not a good thing. We need some kind of a reporting mechanism so that we can compile the information about what is happening. Collecting the information alone could help curb some of what is going on. When people can commit offenses without worrying about being prosecuted or even exposed they become bold and the problem only gets worse.

Ken Eggleston said that it is clear from reports from the kids at the school and the student living center that “anything” in the way of drugs is available in town and that there have been incidents of people driving up to kids on the street right here in town offering to sell them drugs. This is NOT a minor problem. The problem with drugs and alcohol is literally killing of our young people. At least two of the kids from other villages who formerly attended our boarding school are no longer alive because of these problems including one who died of asphyxiation after becoming highly intoxicated and one who died in a 4-wheeler accident that was alcohol related - and those are just the deaths - let alone the other serious problems they are dealing with because of alcohol and drug abuse.

Ralph indicated that due to certain grants being no longer available the school has lost $60,000 that was earmarked for helping with alcohol problems. That means that there will be fewer of the activities that the school had planned to help keep kids involved in things that would help keep them away from drugs and alcohol. Combining that with the lack of a local police force means that problems are only likely to get worse rather than better if we don’t do something to make up for these two serious losses to our community.

Bear said that he has talked to Diane at the Nenana Messenger and that she has agreed to print something like a police blotter if we can get the information to her. She suggested that we come up with a name for it. One suggestion was Local Incident Report.

Bear mentioned that the Corner Bar is having an auction on Thursday night.

He also reported that the new women’s Oxford house in Fairbanks will be closing.

Dan Brockhorse will be here on October 5^th to talk to us about boroughs.

Bear passed out flyers announcing this event to be put up around town.

 

Paul

 

Floyd - Passed out some handouts, including some newspaper clippings dated Sunday November 10, 2002 and March 28, 1996. The 1996 clipping is a letter to the editor from Floyd asking people for their thoughts about things for kids to do or places for them to go. It was apparently meant to stimulate conversation on the subject. The 2002 clipping talks about native corporations investing in real-estate in the lower 48 states. Floyd suggested that if native corporations are considering investing outside their local area that perhaps they should consider building a roller skating rink in Fairbanks. He believes that It would give kids something to do and make money for whoever built it. He suggests that Nenana’s native corporation consider the idea.

He also suggested that Nenana work to do what Norman Vaughn tried to do - establish a yearly dog sled race from Nenana to Nome and proposed that we prepare a plaque commemorating Norman’s efforts and try to do it while Norman (who is in his mid-nineties) is still alive so he can be honored with it.

Other suggestions had to do with ways we could better familiarize the public with Nenana such as entering a Tripod float in the Golden Days parade in Fairbanks during the summer and including an ice carving of a tripod in the ice carving festival.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:10 PM.

 

Volunteers: Bud volunteered to drive for any event for which we need drivers.

 

There were 15 people in attendance: Blaine Reed, Bonnie Reed, Bud Krause, Paul Verhagen, Floyd Terry, Ken Eggleston, Ralph Lindquist, Nita Marks, Virginia Young, Miles Martin, Endil Moore, Kat McElroy, Rosemary Allen, Alfred “Bear” Ketzler, Gayle Ramey.

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

September 14, 2004

 

Modified [As to comment by Ricky Martin regarding State Trooper activity in our area.]

 

Our meeting was officiated by Bud Krause

 

Prayer was led by Diane Carson

 

We all recited the Pledge of Allegiance and there were 20 people in attendance

 

There was a modification to the agenda. Kristi Verhagen, Floyd Terry, and Nita Marks to be added to the agenda.

 

Pia sent a letter from the Student Living Center with an invitation to help plan the activities for the student living center for this year.There is a public meeting tonight Tuesday, September 14, 2004 @ 7:30pm

 

Bear Ketzler:

          Bear just returned from a wedding in Canada and shared with us a small brochure about the town of Smithers in BC Canada.  This small town reminded him of Nenana because of its similarities.  A river runs near as does the railroad.  They are also located on the highway like Nenana.  They have two older Pullman Railroad cars near a Cultural Center just like Nenana (the Lions Club takes care of them). It is mainly a logging and agricultural community.  It has about 5,000 residents.  He noted that it is a very self-sustaining community.  They are beginning to have problems with drugs (crystal-meth labs) lately that they are trying to deal with. In spite of those problems that are common to many communities now the community is a very pleasant community and one that we might want to consider patterning ourselves after. They have developed a very nice tourist area, the town is clean and attractive and a good size for being self-sustaining.

 

Miles Martin:

          Miles remembered that years ago, when Bear was on a committee in Nenana, this committee was interested in patterning ourselves after Dawson - another town that sounds similar to Smithers.

 

Bear Ketzler:

          With Bear’s aunt and uncle living in this community and all the similarities between the two towns he thought it would be a neat idea to become “sister cities”.

This town may be a little out of the way but could be a great stop for Alaskans driving outside through BC.

 

Paul Verhagen:

          Paul wondered if anyone has looked into the idea of a sister city and what it means to be a sister city. Perhaps someone would be willing to some research on this and then get back to us on it.

 

Kristi Verhagen:

 

     Paul introduced his daughter Kristi to our group. We have talked in the past about celebrating people’s successes by sharing them with our group when we hear about them. Kristi has just had a success that he wanted to share with us. Kristi is in her third year at college in Elementary Ed with a focus on Special Ed and is currently working at the school. He told us that a few years ago she complained that there are too few Christmas songs and he commented that someone had to have written them and urged her to write one. As a result she came up with a tune, after which she and her sister Sherin came up with the words for a new Christmas song that they called “Once in Bethlehem There Was A Baby”. After sharing it with a family friend who publishes music her friend offered to arrange it for a choir. She then submitted it for publication and today it came back in the mail as not only accepted for publication but actually published and in the process of being sent to choirs around the country as a new Christmas song to add to their Christmas song repertoire. The sheet music was passed around for all to see after which Kristi did a wonderful job of singing it a cappella for us. She received a nice round of applause from the group and we look forward to hearing it more as the season approaches. 

 

Miles Martin:

          Miles noted that the names of the various groups who participate in our meetings have been removed from the agenda and suggested that we add the names back onto the agenda and that we rotate through the names each week so that the bottom name moves to the top each week. He proposed that the particular group who’s name is on the top that week be given 15 minutes to talk - if they want it. He suggested that by doing this a person would not have to be assertive in order to be heard and they would not feel like they have to ‘butt in’ in order to be heard. Nor would they feel the need to hurry up since they have 15 minutes allocated to them. There was good discussion about the proposal and it was agreed to put the names back on the agenda, perhaps as a side-bar, and to rotate through them but not to associate a time frame with the first name on the list.

 

Floyd

          Floyd was not sure what the purpose of the Nenana Wellness Coalition was when he first came to a meeting and agrees that clarification will help.

 

Virginia Young:

          Virginia would like a list of all the speakers that have attended our meetings. Paul mentioned that he and Miles just discussed that yesterday and that Miles has already compiled a guest speaker list of those who have spoken over the last four months and will continue to work on it until we can post it on the website and then ask for corrections in case we have missed any.

 

Gayle Ramey:

          Gayle thinks it is a good idea to have the names of the groups who attend on the agenda each week so they can be called on but doesn’t think we need to put any hard rules on it.  If someone wants to be on the agenda they can let Paul know ahead of time or if time allows they can be added to the agenda when the meeting begins.

 

Paul agreed with Miles that it would be good to have our mission statement near the top of the agenda along with some brief guidelines for visitors so that they know what is an acceptable way to discuss controversial issues in our meetings. He reminded us that we are still in the developmental stage of how to do things but since we have already agreed on many things that it would be good to write them up and post them on the website as our traditions and that it would be good to continue experimenting. It was agreed to try some of the proposed changes and then visit the issue again in the future after we have had a chance to see how things are working. Miles would like more feedback from those who are interested.

 

Traci Wiggins:

          Individual Actions vs. Group Actions

                   When Traci called a public meeting about the Police Department in Nenana, this was her acting on her own and was in no way connected with the Wellness Coalition.  She just wanted to let it be known that it was not part of this organization and that it is important for people to recognize the distinction between individuals who attend the wellness meetings acting on their own and the wellness coalition taking a position as an entity.

 

Nita Marks:

          There will be a Spaghetti feed and potluck on Thursday at 6pm at the George Hall.  Everyone is invited to come and is to inform the community about some issues facing Nenana.  Some of these concern the safety of the children in the area of the school and we may need to put up some signs on the streets reminding people that there are children playing in the area - especially around the park and playground areas. 

 

Paul Verhagen:

          Paul is concerned about the public safety of Nenana.  Public policing is an option but it only works if people are largely willing to control themselves from within. He cited a study where the average tenure of a chief of police in a small town across America is three years.  Larger cities sometimes change chiefs as often as 6 in ten years. He thinks a private police force may be something for Nenana to look into and provided a brief outline of how such a system might work.  Kern County in Washington is doing something similar to what he suggested. He’ll share more with us on this idea in the future.

 

Ricky Marten:

          Ricky is wondering about the role of the troopers in our area.  He sees them driving around town harassing people at night which may not be when or where we need them.

 

Diane Carson mentioned that we already talked about contracting for police at prior assembly meetings.

 

Gayle noted the city already has an add in the paper for police replacement.

 

Kake has a total volunteer police department and there was only one person on this dept. that could really do anything.  The rest were only allowed to be support personnel.

 

Floyd

Floyd has been trying to promote a roller rink but realizes it is not appropriate for Nenana.  His other idea consisted of a bowling alley.  He thought that an oval track in Nenana may have competition with the other tracks near Fairbanks.  He thought dog sled tours would be a good idea for someone to start in Nenana or possibly trips to Minto or Tanana by boat.  Make a promotional video of Nenana that could be sold for profit. 

 

Bear Ketzler:

          The tribe is getting ready for the bingo to start up.  They will let everyone know which nights this will be held on.

          There is a Winery being started in Alaska and is being seen as the next new business. They are paying up to $10 or $12 per pound for berries.

          Bear knows who has 55 gallon steel drums for sale at $15.00 each if you are interested.

 

Roy Smart:

          Roy’s grant will be over soon with the Student Living Center but previously he had ordered some material for the community that was geared to wellness and he brought some of this material with him today.  There are books and flyers to be passed out.  There are CD ROM’s to go with some of these and there are games as well that he has distributed at the school.  There are also Posters and coloring books.

 

Chamber welcome dinner will be October 23 at the Civic Center

 

Nenana’s sponsored miles along the highway have been declared as the cleanest.

 

Update on Marge Riley Retirement:

          It will be a potluck at the Civic Center Sunday Sept 26, @ 3pm. 

         

Annual community wellness meeting:

          Nothing decided since last Thursdays meeting.

 

Medicine Wheel Training:

          Kat will be glad to talk to anyone at anytime about this concept but it will take about two hours.

 

Wellness Meeting Tuesday Oct. 5:

 There will be a guest speaker this day from the State of Alaska Planning Commission to talk to us about the idea of Nenana becoming a borough.    

 

The senior bus will be going to Denali Park on Tuesday Sept. 21 so the RBMH girls will be making soup to serve for lunch.

 

Sat. Sept. 18^th  at 9 AM the boys from the base will be at the Senior Center to help do odd jobs for the seniors around the community.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:00 PM.

 

There were 20 people in attendance: Diane Carson, Margaret Sanders, Bud Krause, Blaine Reed, Bonnie Reed, Shelly Reed, Miles Martin, Paul Verhagen, Kat McElroy, Traci Wiggins, Nita Marks, Bear Ketzler, Floyd Terry, Roy Smart, Ricky Martin, Gayle Ramey, Kristi Verhagen, Elder Rowe, Elder Snedegar, Virginia Young.