Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES

February 23, 2010

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

There were 19 participants this week, including: David Poppe, Kat McElroy, Bonnie Reed, Carl & Tim Horn, Donald Charlie, Audrey Roth, Virginia Young, Diane Kelly, Maryellen Robinson, Rebecca & Bill Troxel, Wes & Mary Alexander, Drew Mackey, Miles & Irene Martin, Merrily Verhagen, and Mike Smith. We enjoyed a moose/pasta casserole, mixed greens salad, home-made whole grain bread with butter, sliced cheese with Ritz crackers, Raisins & walnuts and brownies for lunch.

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT, by this week’s chairperson: Rebecca Troxel.

PRAYER  was lead by Bill Troxel, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There were two modifications to the agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were posted at www.railbelt.com on the WIN link and submitted to the WIN e-list by Kat McElroy.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Kat introduced Diane Kelly. She is here from Michigan; her husband Ray works as an engineer at Clear Air Station. They are looking for a home to buy in the area.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

 Old Minto Family Recovery Camp: Donald Charlie began his presentation by giving some background information of the camp which is located at the site of the old village of Minto. Due to repeated flooding of the village which is on the Tanana River, the village was relocated in the 1970’s to its present site which is on the road system. The old village of Minto was then used as a Spirit Camp over the years and a Cultural Heritage Camp was created.  Don handed out promotional fliers which stated in part: Our Mission of the Old Minto Family Recovery Camp (OMFRC) is to help people help themselves by healing spiritually, emotionally and mentally by drawing on the strength of the Native culture and traditional values  The primary goal of OMFRC is to provide Alaska Native individuals and families with skills to help them live healthy and substance free lives within their communities. We hope to increase the percentage of Alaskan Natives committed to long-term sobriety, cultural pride and traditional Athabascan Values.  OMFRC is a short-term (35 day cycle) residential care camp that has been in operation since 1989, under Indian Health Service (IHS) and State funds. OMFRC serves approximately 90 adults annually, with an overall treatment completion rate of 81%. OMFRC simulates an Interior Athabascan village environment designed to remind patients of simpler times when our people were connected to the land for survival and relied on the strength of community and family.  OMFRC is located in the very remote rural setting of the Old Minto historical site. Tribal elders from Minto play a consultative role in developing and implementing services at the camp site. The most important aspect of the role is to ensure that materials and strategies are culturally appropriate and relevant. Current Program Service Components  Pre-Treatment Services  Designed to ensure all persons seeking service receive some level of services immediately upon request. These services include: individual sessions and case management, participation in our support groups, and development of a treatment plan for camp. The purpose is to maintain or advance the persons motivation for treatment and to ensure the client’s needs are being met prior to entering treatment. Strengthening Families Program  Through our extended family, we retain, teach, and live the Athabascan way. We are responsible for the survival of our cultural spirit and the values and traditions through which it survives.  Continuing Care Services  Continuing Care Services (CCS) offers counseling for up to 20 active patients that include individual, group, and family counseling sessions. In addition, case management is available to assist individuals and families to become self-reliant, independent and live sober lives. For persons outside the Fairbanks area, we work collaboratively with village-based counselors and local agencies to provide support and consistency in treatment to meet individual needs. Phone and e-mail support are also provided and group sessions are available on a walk-in basis. Don said that the main office for OMFRC is on the fourth floor of the TCC building in Fairbanks. There are 11 employees currently, including: 2 primary care counselors, 2 traditional counselors, 2 camp counselors, 2 continuing care counselors, a family therapist, a clinical supervisor, and 2 laborers. They have a capacity of 16 adult clients and however many children are associated with those clients. Clients come from all over the state, as far north as Barrow, south as Ketchikan and Juneau, the Western coast and all over the Interior. Here clients have an opportunity to learn how to remain sober while living a subsistence life style.  Donald said the have a generator for electric for the kitchen and two main cabins but the client’s cabins use Blazo for light. They hope to extend electric service to the entire camp in the future. Clients cut, pack and split firewood for each of the buildings. They haul water or melt ice from the river for drinking, cooking and cleaning. There is a sauna. One of the client’s chores is to prepare meals which are eaten communally. Children are home-schooled through school correspondence programs. They have two meetings per day except for Sundays, 10 A.M. thru Noon and 7 P.M. thru 9 P.M. 1:30- 4:00 P.M. clients spend time with the traditional counselors learning subsistence skills such as how to build a birch wood dog sled, hunt, fish, trap, gather and preserve food.  The camp has four boats they use for chores and transportation. They have snow-machines and 4-wheelers.  Access to camp is by boat during the summer and by plane or snow-go in the winter. Air service is provided by charter via Wright Air. Staff work one week on/one week off; they change out on Thursdays. In response to questions, Donald explained that clients come in as a cohort. Late clients will be accepted up to five days late. After that, they would have to wait for the next cohort. Clients can be excused for up to five days to leave cam0p for medical care but any longer than that and they would have to begin again with the next cohort. They do have the option of staying for a second 35 day episode; this decision would be made by consensus with the client, primary counselor and clinical staff, as indicated. Donald said his sense of success rate is “maybe about 15%.” He talked about some of the dynamics involved. Clients are provided access to the TCC jobs list and future planning is emphasized during treatment to support ongoing recovery. There is a waitlist. Pregnant women and IV drug abusers are given priority admit. OMFRC will provide treatment services to anyone without regard to race or ethnicity. There are plans to increase capacity by two more cabins, funding permitting. The camp closes each year during break up, from the end of April til June. During this six week period, staff receives professional development training. Clients come to OMFRC from multiple referral streams, including: Office of Children’s Services, tribal courts, adult probation and criminal justice and other treatment providers. In the case of OCS referral, every effort is made to have the children with the client(s) for at least the final two weeks of the treatment episode.  Donald explained that they cannot accept sex offenders into the program and they look very closely with an eye towards safety at those with a criminal background including DV, physical abuse or assault. They can accept clients from Fairbanks Correctional Center with treatment serving in lieu of jail; time for certain offenders with alcohol-related offenses. Wes asled if they have guest speakers; Donald replied they have people who have come in to speak to the clients about HIV/AIDS, tobacco cessation, and TCC Jobs Program. They have visitors. If guests become unruly or are unable to follow rules, they are asked to leave. There have been a few instances where the troopers have had to be called. Treatment is funded through state and federal grants and they are applying to be fundable through Medicaid. The last Friday of every July, clients put on a Sobriety Potlatch which is open to anybody to attend. Clients hunt and gather and prepare foods and serve in the traditional style.Donald bragged that last year OMFRC was surveyed number one in the state and number five nationally for family recovery camps. They are number one for Best Practices. They have had people come from many other nations wanting to see how they can replicate this model of treatment in their own countries, built upon their own traditional cultural values and practices.  Donald encouraged people to tell their legislators to support funding for treatment efforts such as Old Minto. Envisioning Wellness: Tim said that Tara has agreed to do another Weed Walk, tentatively scheduled for May 11, depending of course on break-up. Per Kathy Morgan’s suggestion, Mike has agreed to attend the next NNC meeting to formally request a council member to present to us on the tribes future plans and visions for wellness in Nenana. The next meeting is April 6^th. Mike will call Kathy to arrange. April 13^th we will have Envisioning Wellness strategic planning using the medicine wheel model.  Health Fair Recap: We had 37 blood draws, up from last year. We had over 5o volunteers and exhibitors. We don’t know how many people accessed the health fair this year.

We need to do thank you cards to our primary sponsors: Coghill’s, Ice Classic,  and Doyon. Anecdotally, we have heard of at least one person who was contacted directly by clinic staff and is receiving treatment due to blood test results.

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Bill: Freecycle at the tribal hall April 30^th. Jeannie Bennett is in charge.

Miles: has space to share in his greenhouse and lots of flats of starts. 832-5442.

Don’t forget the Easter party at the city library Saturday 1-3 P.M.

Tim: Next week at the school they have the national standard testing. April 14 – 18^th is band fest in Valdez. Also on the 18^th is the Secret Sister luncheon.

Mary: Good to be back.

Thursday April 1^st ATV Education club meeting at 5:30 at the tribal hall.

Tim and Kat are collecting funds to help Walter and Andrea defray expenses after their hasty trip to Seattle. Walter had surgery for throat cancer and will need radiation treatment upon his return after April 1^st. Kat 832-1078. Tim 832-1047.

WELLNESS THOUGHT: Each and every thought, be it of depression or happiness, irritation or calmness, anger or serenity, does actually cut subtle grooves in the brain cells and strengthen the tendencies either towards illnesses or well-being. Google that!

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION

ADJOURNMENT: 2:15 P.M.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES

December 29, 2009

The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various 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.

There were 16 in attendance, including: Irene & Miles Martin, Virginia Young, Doreen Simmonds, Vicki Minor, Mary Alexander, Bonnie Reed, Terry & Art Thompson, Jeannie Bennett, Kat McElroy Tim Horn, Tom & Nycki Saxton, Merrily Verhagen and Beverly Joseph.

We had chicken mushroom soup, mixed greens salad, Ritz crackers with sliced cheese, pecans & raisins and coconut cookies for lunch.

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT, by this week’s chairperson: Tim Horn

PRAYER: Was lead by Jeannie Bennett, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There were two modifications to agenda as presented.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were posted by Kat on the WIN link at www.railbelt.com and submitted electronically to the WIN e-list.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Kat introduced her guests, Vicki Minor from Boise, Idaho, who has attended WIN previously a couple of years ago, and Doreen Simmonds who is visiting from Barrow, Alaska. Bonnie introduced her guests, Nycki and Tom Saxton, who are also from Barrow. Doreen knew the Saxton’s and so it was like old home week for the Barrow folk.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

Health Fair-We have not yet obtained a volunteer for the site-coordinator position for our Health Fair tentatively scheduled for March 27^th, 2010. The Fair this year be held at the Civic Center and would focus on adult health issues for the general public. Merrily affirmed she would contact Karen Harvey to ascertain if Karen would be available and willing to perform that function. Karen has been active in previous health fairs in Nenana. Tim said we might need to think about scaling the Health Fair back from previous efforts if we are unable to obtain a sit coordinator. Perhaps we should begin looking at what components to the Fair do we feel are the most important. Miles suggested we might want to have a back-up Plan B in case we are unable to obtain a site coordinator.  The site coordinator position is vital if we are to utilize the Alaska Health Fair support; it is understood that the site coordinator would be a point person and that a Health Fair committee would take on the fundamental organizational tasks.

Envisioning Wellness – Merrily said that Paul Verhagen has volunteered to do an Envisioning Wellness presentation in February on communication. This was favorably received by WIN at large. Discussion ensued regarding our previous dialogue about facilitating a community-wide envisioning process around wellness utilizing the Medicine Wheel concepts, per Kat’s presentation earlier this month. We brainstormed strategies for doing what is felt to be needed front work towards that goal. The consensus opinion was to request the mayor, the school district superintendent and some key player from the tribe to do an Envisioning Wellness presentation over the course of the next three months regarding their plans for the future of Nenana from the perspective of the city, the school and the Nenana Native Council. This would result in two EW prese4ntations in February, which seemed agreeable. The thinking was to ask Eric Gephardt to present on the school district and NCPS’s strategic planning for January, someone from the tribe in February and the mayor in March. We talked about utilizing the YERC for the large envisioning process which would then be scheduled for sometime in April. The 13^th of April was tentatively scheduled. It was suggested that Kat do a short training on how to conduct a focus group for four volunteer co-facilitators to assist the process. We also discussed verbiage for a flyer announcing the event and agreed that it ought to have a picture of the medicine wheel divided into the four quadrants, with a large type title stating: Envisioning Nenana’s Future with smaller type inviting the community at large to participate in this envisioning process using the medicine wheel model to explore the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our community and to formulate future plans. Problems with radio and TV reception due to technical issues with our local translator was used as a specific example of how our community might work together to help solve local issues.

Free Cycle – Irene and Miles posted flyers advertising the next Free Cycle which is scheduled to take place Saturday, January 9^th, beginning about 4:30 P.M. It will feature a chili cook-off, a movie and the usual exchange of goods. Miles has suggested that we create clip-boards for people to list items they want to obtain or items they want to get rid of for things that are perhaps too cumbersome to haul to the Free Cycle. This would be a way for people to make needs or goods known to others.

Sober Housing – Kat gave a short report on the progress to date on the little sober house that Nenana/WIN has built for our visitors. There is still some work to be done; work has halted due to the holidays and cold weather. David is visiting his family in Idaho and will not be back till January 16^th, so it is not anticipated that any further work will be done until after his return. All needed supplies are on hand and in fact a person could move in to the sober house at this point and complete construction while in residence, if desired. The gentleman who was residing in the travel trailer set up as temporary sober housing this summer has relocated to a small cabin on the other side of the river and is doing well.

 WELLNESS THOUGHT: Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow.  ~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros 

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mary announced “A party, a party!” This will be held to celebrate new year’s eve at the Meda Lord Senior housing complex, in the common room, December 31^st, beginning about 3 P.M. It will be pot luck. Interior Regional Housing Authority provided funds for the main dish: turkey, ham, mashed potatoes. There will be a jam session, live music; everyone is enclouraged to bring his or her instruments and to join in the fun.

There seems to be some confusion regarding new year’s eve celebration at the tribal hall. Initially a pot luck was scheduled for 8 PM; then it was announced that this was cancelled. Later information indicated that the event is back on again, flyers have been posted at Coghill’s. Fireworks and good times!

Doreen: Eskimo dancing and Native games are scheduled from Xmas to New Year’s in Barrow, culminating in fireworks and a big dance on new year’s eve. She is really enjoying her visit to Nenana and is impressed with our wellness coalition.

Bonnie: There will be no meal at the Senior Center on Friday. Wednesday is their big birthday meal for the month of December. The Senior bus (old) is for sale for $10,000.00; interested parties should contact Vicki Moyle at 832-5818.

Tom: Thanks for the good meal. He is amazed at our wellness group. He has some experience with KUAC-FM and offered to help coordinate efforts to improve our local translator. Tim suggested we put this on the agenda as a regular item.

Nycki: Glad to be in this hot bed of community activism.

Virginia: It is slow at school due to the holiday break.

Merrily: Thanks everyone who attended and made the Nativity and recipe exchangte a success. It was great. Also she announced that the Verhagen’s are having a snow party at their place on Saturday from Noon on. Bring your sleds!

Tim: Caroling was also a great success. They had about 30 carolers; they broke into several small groups. They caroled at about 30 different houses. They caroled Bruce Boschert via the telephone and a half hour at Meda Lord Center. There have been favorable Facebook comments, she noted.

Beverly: Continues taking education for ministry classes.

Vicki: Amazed to see what you get accomplished in two hours weekly.

Kat: Is working with a consortium of people across Interior Alaska to get the Warrior Down training brought to the Fairbanks area towards their goal of creating Warrior Down community-based recovery support groups. This program has been successful in Idaho and Montana, working with newly released criminal offenders, to support them in their re-entry process. Anyone interested in assisting in or staying informed of these efforts should contact Kat at poppekat@mosquitonet.com or call 378-6609.

ADJOURNMENT: 2:15 P.M.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES 

December 22, 2009

 The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska.We had 11 participants today, including: Kat McElroy, Rebecca, Bill, Aerin and Ethan Troxel, Bonnie Reed, Jeannie Bennet, Virginia Young, Miles and Irene Martin, and Mary Alexander. We had potato soup. Mixed green salad, pecans and raisins,  Ritz crackers with sliced cheese and fudge for lunch. 

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By this week’s chairperson, Rebecca Troxel

PRAYER: Was lead by Aerin Troxel, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There were two additions to the agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were posted at the WIN link at www.railbelt.com and submitted electronically to the WIN e-list yesterday by Kat.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No guests today.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS:

Nenana 10 Year plan: Per our discussion last week, Miles was able to get a rough draft copy of the Nenana Community Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Plan generated during the community visioning/strategic planning process that took place in 2003. He read the draft aloud. It described itself as a “roadmap to the future.” It detailed plans to promote and provide for community wellness, create employment and economic development, and support cultural preservation. Some of the suggestions were: plans for gas/oil development in the Minto Flats, projects to develop agricultural potential including opening Ag land and a 10 acre demonstration project with greenhouse, and ambitious plans to coordinate with Alaska Railroad to build a train depot in Nenana and to upgrade the airstrip with a terminal. Other plans had come to fruition, including the Youth/Education Recreation Building.

Discussion ensued. The consensus of opinion is that those projects are all grant driven and would require coordination between major community entities. Our coalition, it was felt, could more readily focus on some of the smaller suggestions, such as an Elder Story-telling project. Rebecca suggested that this could easily be incorporated into a Freecycle, an activity our coalition already supports which has garnered wide community participation.

It was suggested that we revisit the 10 Year Plan on a regular basis to generate further thinking on this community envisioning process already completed as well as to springboard to other community development strategies and projects we could accomplish with our own resources and without requiring grant funding.

Report on Operation Ho Ho Ho: Kat McElroy thanked the many volunteers that made this year’s food and gift box drive and giveaway a huge success. We coordinated with Santa’s Clearinghouse in Fairbanks; the food was picked up at Noon. By 1 P.M. our many elves were busily putting the food boxes together. We were finished in less than four hours. Way to go!!!! We served 52 families this year.

Nenana Health Fair: No one has asked Karen Harvey yet if she would be willing to be our site coordinator.

Freecycle: Next month will mark our second annual January Freecycle and Chili Cook-off. It will be held January 9^th, beginning around 4 P.M. at George Hall. There will be plenty of prizes for the winning chilies. There will be a movie. Rebecca has made flyers to advertise the event. Miles and Irene volunteered to post the flyers around town after Christmas.

WELLNESS THOUGHT: Our greatest glory is not in never failing,
but in rising up every time we fail.   Ralph Waldo Emerson

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Bonnie: tonight will be the Nativity at The Nenana Conference Center, beginning 6:30 P.M. There will be a recipe exchange afterwards.

The Senior Bus went up to Fairbanks today. They had over 40 people for the Christmas lunch at the Senior Center yesterday, with wonderful door prizes including roundtrip for two on Alaska Railroad.

Bruce Boschert is in the hospital in Fairbanks.

Miles: Wolf alert. He believes there was a pack ranging through town last night. His compost got all torn up.

There will be fireworks New Year’s Eve at George Hall, with a pot luck to begin at 8 P.M.

Mary: Grandma Nina had hernia surgery in Anchorage and was in the hospital for about a week. She is improving every day and will be convalescing with her daughter there.

They will be hosting the second annual New Year’s Eve party at Meda Lord housing, to start between 3 and 4 P.M. There will be live music and everyone is encouraged to bring their instruments.

The first school board meeting of the year will be held January 6^th.

Bill: The Troxel’s will have a Christmas Eve service at their house at 4 P.M., with cookies and hot chocolate, with a reading of the Christmas story. Christmas night the Troxel’s will be leaving for a one week holiday.

 Rebecca: Attended the Hanukah celebration the MacDonald’s put on at the Civic Center on December 13^th. She reports that it was wonderful, with Jewish dancing, presents and a movie about the meaning of Hanukah. They had prepared for about 100 people. Fewer attended. Rebecca would like to encourage people to take advantage of these opportunities to learn about other cultures and religions by attending and participating.  

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

ADJOURNMENT: 1:45 P.M.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES 

December 15, 2009

 The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska.There were 16 participants, including Bonnie Reed, Andrea & Walter Tommy, Virginia Young, Jeannie Bennett, Miles and Irene Martin, Carl & Tim Horn, Kat McElroy, David Poppe, Rebecca & Bill Troxel, Merrily Verhagen, Christine Shields, and Mary Alexander. We had chicken noodle soup and mixed green salad and Ritz crackers with sliced cheese for lunch. 

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By this week’s chairperson, Rebecca Troxel.

PRAYER: Was lead by Virginia Young, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There were no modifications.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes are posted at www.railbelt.com and were submitted electronically to the WIN e-list.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No new guests today.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS:

Wellness & The Medicine Wheel: Kat McElroy gave a presentation of a concept called the Medicine Wheel and explained how it could be used to assess the wellness of individuals or communities. She handed out the attached five page explanation of the basic concepts of the medicine wheel. She gave examples of the four aspects: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. She identified several strengths and problems Nenana has in each area. Discussion ensued. It was suggested that WIN might use the medicine wheel format to re-visit the ten year plan generated by a community envisioning process that occurred about ten years ago. We brainstormed ways to engage a larger number of community members, especially key community members, in that process.

 WELLNESS THOUGHT: “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”    Albert Einstein 

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Pajama reading night 12/15/09 at Nenana City Public School.

Pit performance Thursday at 6:30 P.M.

Tuesday, 12/22/09, a Christmas Nativity and recipe exchange, at the Nenana Conference Center, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M. People wanting to perform should come to a rehearsal on Saturday, 2-5 P.M.

Wednesday, 12/16/09, Railbelt Mental Health & Addicitons will be spearheading Operation Ho Ho Ho. They will pick up food from Santa’s Clearing House around Noon in Fairbanks and will begin assembling food boxes at the tribal hall in Nenana about 1 P.M. All volunteers are welcome.

There will be an art show and sale this weekend at the Morris Thompson Cultural center in Fairbanks.

Christmas Caroling Sunday, 12/20/09, beginning at the Troxel’s house at 5 P.M. Christmas Eve the Troxel family will be hosting a reading of the Biblical Christmas story beginning at 4 P.M.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

ADJOURNMENT: 2 P.M.

The Medicine Wheel

A Way To Look At Wellness

             Native Americans have used the concept of a medicine wheel to explain how the world functions. They have used these concepts to guide their life. They use a circle to represent wholeness. The medicine wheel has four directions. Native Americans use four as their sacred number, as seen everywhere in nature. A personal balance between the four is essential for well-being, as is a sense of inter-connectedness and reverence for nature and the earth. The information presented here was garnered during participation in a series of workshops on Wellness and Community Development presented at the Annual School of Addiction Studies by Michael Bopp, PhD. in the mid-1980’s. He is associated with the Four Worlds Development Project. The Medicine Wheel has been used as a teaching tool across North America by indigenous people. Traditionally, the medicine wheel has been used as a model to explain the world, how the world works and how we as human beings might best function in the world.  For more information about Dr. Bopp and Four Worlds, you can start at:            http://www.margaretemyers.com/fourworlds.htm            http://www.fourworlds.ca/who001.html             http://www.fourworlds.ca/who002.html             http://www.4worlds.org/4w/directory.html The Medicine Wheel is divided into four quadrants     These quadrants can be used to represent many ideas. The most obvious might be the four directions. Medicine Wheel teachings speak of how the world is balanced by the four directions. It could be used to depict the four seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring.  They can as readily be used to represent the four colors of people on Earth. The Medicine Wheel teachings explain that all four are required. Each brings specials gifts and Ways of Knowing that are necessary and needed for our world to be in harmony.  It could depict the four elements as well: fire, air, earth, water. The four quadrants can be used to talk about the four stages of life for people. Medicine Wheel teachings tell us that there is a natural balance between Elders and Youth, the same as between Infants and Adults. Humans move from one stage to the next, around the Sacred Hoop of Life.
The Medicine Wheel can be used to depict the four aspects of being human: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Used as a model, the Medicine Wheel speaks to the circular nature of life as well as to the natural balance in all things. It can teach people to think holistically.When people begin talking about Wellness, the first thing we find out is that we carry some radically differing ideas about what constitutes health and well-being. The Medicine Wheel is one way to explore these differences. When used as a teaching tool to learn about Wellness, people explore these four aspects from an individual perspective as well as from a community perspective. This process is greatly facilitated by the Medicine Wheel approach as it honors diversity and reminds us of our interconnectedness. This resonates with the Western belief that “For all things, there is a season.”Physical well being is associated with health, nutrition, fitness, physical activity and functioning. The physical aspect of humans is perhaps the most obvious. It is about our bodies. It is also about the physical spaces in which we live: our houses/homes, the work or school environment, the condition of our community. Food, shelter, health and access to medical care, basic amenities such as electricity, water/sewer systems, trash removal and sanitation all play roles in physical wellness. Recognizing that people do not always agree on what constitutes physical health (cigarette smoking would be a prime example of this), use of the Medicine Wheel to identify the points of agreement that DO exist provides a framework within which to explore those differences. Almost everyone, for instances, agrees that smoking cigarettes in a closed room with a sleeping newborn infant is not healthy for the baby.Emotional well being is best defined as the ability to feel and express the entire range of human emotions and to control them. It includes the capacity to manage one’s feelings and related behaviors including realistic assessments of one’s limitations, development of autonomy, and ability to cope effectively with stress. Life experiences produce strong emotional responses in all of us. The experience of emotion is what makes human being unique. We are capable of a broad range of feelings- love and hate, joy and sorrow, excitement and fear, embarrassment and pride, greed and compassion, jealousy and appreciation, ecstasy and despair, contentment and anger. All of these feelings have implications for how we view ourselves, our relationships to others, and to the broader world. In order to deeply experience the richness of life, we must be willing to acknowledge what we feel and embrace sadness and pain as well as joy and peace. We are challenged to allow ourselves to experience the entire range of human emotions, not just the pleasant or familiar ones. Emotions are enhancements - bringing important messages that teach us about ourselves and our impact on others, producing the power to move into action and change - and enrichments, giving a deeper sense of who we are and what we value. To best cultivate a philosophy of emotional wellness, it is important to develop an awareness of your emotions, acceptance and understanding of your feelings and ways of expressing your feelings that are respectful to yourself and others. This process begins by realizing that you are a special, unique being worthy of respect and love.The Medicine Wheel allows a gentle exploration of emotional content. It becomes immediately apparent that people differ greatly in what they consider to be “healthy” emotions. However, examining other people’s beliefs and ideas about emotional facilitates beneficial growth.Mental: this aspect incorporates both the brain, that organic organ of the body that has been so studied and yet is still so unknown, as well as the mind. The brain is responsible for the electrical/chemical reactions that produce thought but also takes care of the neurological functioning of our entire body. The mental aspect, therefore, is about how your brain works, how smart you are, how you learn what you learn and how well your body functions. It is also about how you think what you think. Mental health is a much debated topic subject to some extreme views as well as much confusion. Who determines what IS mental health becomes a HUGE issue.Looking at Mental Health from the perspective of the Medicine Wheel, we find the mind/body connection. There are issues of organicity. FASD is a prime example of this. Children born to mothers who drank during the course of the pregnancy will likely experience a variety of mental health difficulties stemming from damage to the brain and neurological system during gestation. This “blow” to the brain can result in distorted thinking, learning disabilities and even mental retardation, but also in anxiety and depression as secondary manifestations of the brain damage. Alcohol and other drug use affects how our brains work and can and do exacerbate treatment for Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and PTSD. It becomes increasingly difficult to tease out the various factors and how they play out in personal and ultimately in communal Wellness.Our physical health has a direct effect on our mental well-being and vice versa. Physical and mental health, of course, also affects our emotional well-being. These cannot be separated; each affects the other.Spiritual: The word ’spirit’ can mean many things, depending on one’s metaphysical outlook on life. For our purposes, let us say that “spirit” is a special state of mind, or depth and quality of human experience. Spirituality can help one explore their meaning and purpose in life. What is “spiritual wellness?” To begin with, it may or may not mean being “religious.” You can be religious without being very spiritual, and vice versa. Whereas religion offers you a pre-established worldview and set of beliefs that you adopt based on some outside authority, a healthy sense of spirituality includes a more natural, self-guided inner experience of life. When religion gives a standard of ethics or code of behavior, spirituality offers you a fresh feeling of spontaneity, freedom, wisdom, and creativity. Similarly, religion can get you in touch with the Divine, through meditation, music and movement, the natural environment or other means. A healthy spiritual life is the basic determining factor for how happy you are and how complete you feel. You know you are on the right track if you are generally happy and able to feel joy from the simplest experiences. Furthermore, your spirituality ideally allows you to see the “big picture” of life, including any possible unseen dimension(s). It leaves you with a profound sense of unity and harmony toward all life. This, in turn, allows you to love more fully and extensively. You understand that love is the greatest of all human experiences, and you wish to give it unconditionally, with full acceptance of yourself and others. With this enhanced experience of love, you feel more peaceful and cooperative with others, creating happiness and constructive situations as you go along in your life. Your spirituality should help you to be acutely aware of yourself. You clearly understand the motives of your own behavior, whether your are trying to act in accordance with the greatest values in life-compassion, affection, appreciation, humility, and others- or whether you are blindly led by the whims of your previous conditioning. If the latter, then you are continually at the mercy of your own unconscious, selfish desires and expectations, knowing no control over your compulsiveness or negative patterns. Spirituality makes you aware of whether you are primarily controlled by fear of a relentless drive for power, or whether compassion and true affection are the primary guides for your actions. With a clear sense of spirituality, you do not attempt to separate that which is “sacred” and that which is “profane”. All of life is sacred, and your health is “wholeness.” You come to realize that your spirituality simply leads you to live you life more fully, to “get into it” more, so you get more out of it. Similarly, you will see no true distinction between your body and your mind, that the health of the one is greatly dependent on the health of the other. Health or diseases in the body have more to do with the level of mental and emotional health than with any other factor. Therefore, daily spiritual practices are among the healthiest activities to which you become committed.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES 

December 1, 2009

 The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska.We had 12 participants this date, including: Kat McElroy, Rebecca and Bill Troxel, Virginia Young, Miles Martin, Irene Martin, Maryellen Robinson, Bonnie Reed, Tim Horn, Jeannie Bennett, Audrey Roth, Merrily Verhagen, and David Poppe. We had turkey soup, mixed greens salad, Ritz crackers and sliced cheese and pecans for lunch. 

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By this week’s chairperson, Rebecca Troxel.

PRAYER was lead by Maryellen Robinson, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS. There was one addition to the agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: No minutes from last week’s informal meeting at the community luncheon at Nenana City Public School.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No guests.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS:

Health Fair Planning: Kristi Verhagen is unable to act as site director this year. Jeannie Bennett said that she might be willing but would need to know more about what would be required before she could commit. Tim reminded us that without a confirmed site coordinator, we cannot lock our proposed time-frame into place. Kat stated that a begging letter would need to be generated to the Ice Classic; per their letter to us, all requests need to be made by the time of their December annual meeting as Ice Classic has changed their protocol for making donations.

 Operation Ho Ho Ho: The Angel Tree is up at the school. The last day for donations will be December 15^th. Donations of food and gifts accepted. The RMHA board members have begun an auxiliary food drive; boxes for donations are at the school and Coghill’s. There are approximately 50 families on the list this year. 

Envisioning Wellness: Kat will present the many-times rescheduled Medicine Wheel and Wellness talk on Tuesday, December 16^th. Tim will re-make the flyers and forward to Kat; Kat will print them out. Miles and Irene volunteered to post them around town. No one is scheduled yet for January. It was suggested we ask someone from the Ice Classic. Kat agreed to ask Cherrie. Maryellen agreed to ask Donald Charlie if he would be willing to give a talk about Old Minto Family Recovery Camp.

Sober Housing:  Kat reports that their contact from the Healy area came up last week and did the wiring in the sober cabin. The ceiling has been insulated and vapor barrier is in place. The interior walls have to be insulated/vapor barrier-ed and the floor needs a coat of varnish.

 WELLNESS THOUGHT:  Today is the first day of the rest of my life. 

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Merrily: The Nenana calendar is no longer hosted on geocities as that site has gone defunct; it is now on a Google web site:

http://sites.google.come/site/nenanacommunity09/home/all-calendars

Anyone noting bugs in this new system should notify the Verhagen’s at paulverhagen@prodigy.net  

Lastly, they will be hosting a Nativity & music program and recipe exchange, 7 – 8:30 P.M. at the Nenana Conference Center. It is open to anyone who would like to perform.

Tim: Bonnie will need a ride to WIN next week. The Christmas community lunch and bazaar is scheduled for 12/10/09 at the school. Freecycle scheduled Saturday, the 12^th, at the Tribal Hall. Rebecca Ullery is teaching dance for adults as a fundraiser for the literacy council 12-19-09 at the Civic Center: three dollars per person, five dollars for couples.  There will be a Pajama Reading Night at NCPS, 6-8 P.M., on Tuesday, 12-15-09.

There will be a concert December 17^th at 6:30 P.M. in the Pit.

Maryellen:  RMHA is hosting a Games Night for adults at the Anderson city chambers, Friday, 12-11-09, 7 P.M. ‘til whenever. Also, the Nenana Head Start parents are having a pie sale fundraiser 12-20-09 for money for field trips. Pies will be ten dollars each and must be ordered in advance.

Bill: Don’t forget the Senior’s Christmas Bazaar which will be Friday from 3-8 P.M. and Saturday Noon ‘til 4 P.M. at the Civic Center. Santa Claus will be there available for photographs. Christmas caroling will happen the evening of Sunday, December 20^th.

David: The quail seem to have survived the 40 below weather and are thriving on a diet of sunflower seeds and grain.                                        

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

ADJOURNMENT: 1 P.M.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES 

November 17, 2009

 The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska.There were nine participants today, including: Maryellen Robinson, Virginia Young, Nita Marks, Kat McElroy, Merrily Verhagen, Miles Martin, David Poppe, and Andrea & Walter Tommy. We had split pea with ham soup and corn bread for lunch.  

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By this week’s chairperson, Maryellen Robinson.

PRAYER: Was lead by Virginia Young, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: No Modifications requested.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Kat’s computer crashed. She has not been able to generate minutes for 11/03/09. Bonnie Reed did minutes for 11/10/09 which Tim Horn will forward to Kat to post.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Nita Marks

SPEAKERS/TOPICS:

Tribal Family Youth Services: Nita Marks opened her remarks by saying that she wears many hats at Nenana Native Council, including: Tribal Court Clerk, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Worker, Adult Protective Services, as well as Tribal Family/Youth Services She also does enrollment for the tribe.

As a TFYS worker, she does child protection, as mandated by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. She does welfare checks on any home she receives a report of concern on. If there is any question regarding immediate safety, she will get assistance from the troopers. In an emergency, if it is determined that the case is a child in need of aid, the tribe can take immediate physical and legal custody, placing the child into foster care. The parent(s) would then need to petition the tribal court to have custody restored. There has to be a court hearing within 30 days of the removal of the child. There are no lawyers involved although the parent(s) can bring in family or community members as support or witnesses. A case-plan would be created. It might mandate parenting classes, alcohol/drug assessment and/or treatment, domestic violence or alternatives to violence classes and/or mandatory UA’s.

The tribe follows state guidelines regarding custody. If the parent(s) fail(s) to follow through with the case-plan and a child is in foster care for longer than 12 months, the tribe will move to have parental rights terminated. Termination of parental rights would lead to adoption of the child. The tribe always attempts top place a child with relatives first; lacking that, they try to find another tribal member to adopt. There is a shortage of tribal foster and adoptive placement homes. Nita is always recruiting potential foster parents.

As court clerk, Nita makes sure that everyone involved in the case is informed of hearings. Notices are mailed out Certified. She makes home visits while children are in foster placement or if they need to be monitored in parental care. If a child falls under the ICWA determination, the state will ask the tribe if they want jurisdiction. If so, the tribe takes control of the case. If not, the tribe can still request to have interest and the right to intervene in the case and will be invited to hearings and case reviews and to have input into the case plan. If parents fight the case, a host of other people will become involved including lawyers, guardian ad litmus, CASA workers, OVCS case workers and the attorneys general.

OCS’s and the Tribe’s primary concern is always the welfare of the children involved. If there are multiple placements, with children being removed again and again, and shuttled back and forth between foster placements, there is a high risk of attachment disorders. Children fail to bond with their care-givers, which results in a host of lifelong difficulties for the children involved.

As a mandated reporter, Nita reports any allegations made to her to OCS. She does not investigate. She does not intervene in domestic violence situations without a trooper’s assistance. People often deny that there is anything amiss in the household. Children can be coached by the adults in a family to say nothing, or to deny abuse. Anchorage Police as well as Fairbanks police often do not recognize a tribal court order to do a welfare check although they will do so if the household is known to them to be problematic due to criminal activity.  Sometimes TCC child protection staff will do a welfare check in the Fairbanks area. If there are allegations of sexual abuse, the child will be taken to Stevie’s Place in Fairbanks to be interviewed.  In concern that a child’s statements might be shaped by the interview process, the child will be alone with the interviewer; parents and social workers are not allowed to be part of the interview. All interviews are video-taped. Miles asked about false allegations of abuse. Nita said that small children by and large are truthful; there have been cases of teenage children making false allegations to get themselves removed from a household. Merrily asked Nita if she worked closely with the schools. Nita said she tried to. All teachers are mandated reporters, as are health care providers. Any suspicion of neglect or abuse ought to be reported. Andrea asked if a person should make a report if a child seems fearful. Nita said yes; multiple reports of concern might trigger an OCS investigation. Andrea also asked about protection for disabled adults. Nita said yes, it is the same with elders or disabled people. If a care-provider is impaired or otherwise dangerous, it needs to be reported.

Nita provided these phone numbers:

Nita’s work number is 832-5461, ex 225. Her cell is 750-2178

Tanana Chief’s Conference Child Protection Services 1-800-478-6822

Office of Children’s Services/Fairbanks 1-800-353-2650

OCS outside of Fairbanks (Delta office handles Nenana cases) 1-877-987-6702 ex. 21

She also provided the number for the state troopers: 1-800-811-0911

Lastly, Susan Springs, Adult Protective Services 451-3187 and cell 322-3492

Nita said that currently the tribe has 19 children in tribal custody. She is also monitoring another 11 children in state custody. “We want parents to get their kids back,” she said. “We want clean and sober and safe homes.” She mentioned that currently regulations are being changed in regards to payment for foster care. People providing foster care to relative children will be eligible for ASAP benefits only, not the 700 to 900 dollars per month foster-care payments.

Virginia summed it up, “it isn’t about the perpetrators of abuse, it is about protecting the victims.  Nita said she wishes that even when parents are broken up, they could still co-parent in the best interests of the children.

WELLNESS THOUGHT: It requires less character to discover the faults of others than to tolerate them. J. Petit Senn

 UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Merrily notified us that she has just been informed that Geocities is defunct thus the Nenana Community Calendar is no longer available. They will try to get it back up on another venue soonest.

She also noted that there will be a community Thanksgiving dinner Friday, November 27^th, at the tribal hall, from about 4-9 P.M.. She and Rebecca Troxel will be cooking turkey and ham. People are invited to contribute other dishes. There will be movies, games, and other entertainment. Food will be served from five ‘til about six-thirty for those wishing to skip the other activities.

Nita announced that tribal nominations open November 30^th and tribal elections will be held Saturday, December 12^th. December 7^th there will be a tribal membership dinner and tribal meeting, at the tribal hall, six-ish.

Maryellen: Railbelt will be accepting nominations for Operation Hop Ho Ho until November 23^rd. We need contact information to verify needs.  Also, Monday, November 23^rd, she has a luncheon at the Anderson city hall chambers.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

 ADJOURNMENT: 2 P.M

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES 

November 11, 2009

 The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska.
Those present for the meeting were Rebecca Troxel, Virginia Young, Merrily Verhagen, Maryellen Robinson, Bonnie Reed and guests William McKinley from Chugiak and Philip Dunne from Anchorage. We had spaghetti, fresh rolls, brownies, cinnamon rolls, cheese and crackers, pecans and raisins for lunch.

Meeting closed at approximately 1:15 p.m.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionAGENDA 

October 27, 2009

 The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska. We had 15 participants today, including: Kat McElroy, David Poppe, Beverley Joseph, Miles and Irene Martin, Bonnie Reed, Virginia Young, Rebecca and Bill Troxel, Terry Thompson, Mike Smith, Walter & Andrea Tommy, Tim Horn and Merrily Verhagen. We enjoyed Shepard’s Pie, mixed greens salad, mango chutney,  raisins, walnuts and sliced cheese and Ritz crackers and chocolate cake for lunch. 

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By this week’s chairperson, Tim Horn

PRAYER: Was lead by Beverly Joseph, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There were two modifications requested.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were posted at the WIN Link at www.railbelt.com and submitted electronically to the WIN e-list. David pointed out that they were sent as a docx file; Kat will attempt to rectify as this format is problematic for older computer systems.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No new guests this date.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS:

 Sober Housing: David Poppe reported that he has most of the building materials for the floor on site. The structure will be 12 x 20 foot with a four foot overhang porch. He has hauled in lumber and plywood for walls and roof; he needs to get the insulation. The structure will sit on 4 X 12 inch timbers atop a foot of gravel and thus will be about two feet above the ground level, so hopefully not be inundated during the next flood. Mike reports that the Verhagens are planning a work party next Saturday, November 7^th. David affirms he will have all building materials at that time. Bill Troxel said that anyone interested in breakfast before the work party is welcome to attend the pancake feed that morning at the radio station between 7 & 9 A.M.  Hallowe’en: WIN at large discussed the festivities this year. A flyer went home with the school kids this week announcing a Hallowe’en event at Clear Air Station on Thursday. There will be bowling, a haunted house and trick-or-treating. Drivers are reminded that to come on base one needs a valid license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Friday will be the Nenana City Public School Hallowe’en event at the school gym which is a fundraiser.  This begins at 6 P.M. and is scheduled to end at 8. Then Saturday night, at the Nenana Conference Center (old Corner Bar building), the Verhagen family is hosting Hallowe’en family event, from 6 to 8 P.M. Health Fair:  We still need a site coordinator. Tim has not yet heard back from Phyllis at Health Fairs of Alaska in Fairbanks to see if our proposed March 27^th date would be good. Someone suggested asking Kristi if she would be willing to act as site coordinator. Merrily will ask her.  Envisioning Wellness: Tim called Nita Marks during WIN toi see if she would be available to present next month. Nita said the 17^th of November would work for her. Andrea Tommy will make a flyer to advertise this Envisioning Wellness presentation. Mikes Martin volunteered to post the flyers. The title of this even will be Knowing Your TFYS. It was suggested that the flyer include an explanation that TFYS stands for Tribal Family Youth Services for those who are unaware of the meaning of this acronym. Kat is scheduled to present on Wellness and The Medicine Wheel December 1^st.  

WELLNESS THOUGHT: We must all stand together or surely we shall all hang together. Abraham Lincoln.

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

David: The cow is milking. The quail are still visiting. We got our first egg from the chickens, most of whom moved into the chicken coop with our first snow. Hurray!

Kat: Bonnie reminds us that the AA group is supposed to do their annual birthday meeting and community dinner at the end of November. We will tentatively schedule it for Sunday, November 29^th, 6 P.M., at the tribal hall.

Tim: Jr. high school basketball team plays Cantwell at home today at 4 P.M. Come support the little scrappers.

Spaghetti dinner, a fundraiser, October 29^th, 5 P.M. at NSLC, with their annual pumpkin judging contest. Come vote for your favorite pumpkin and support a good cause.

Don’t forget to Fall Back one hour Saturday night.

November 6^th and 7^th there is a basketball tournament at Anderson; then the 13^th and 14^th will be the annual Nenana Ice Cream Classic at Nenana School.

The community Thanksgiving lunch is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 24, at the school.

Bonnie is in the process of getting out the monthly Senior Newsletter.

Rebecca: Next Freecycle tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 12^th. They have been talking about co-sponsoring monthly Friday night movie nights at the Nenana Conference Center.

It has been suggested they do a community Thanksgiving dinner as well, maybe in conjunction with a movie or karaoke.

Community Church will sponsor caroling again this year, probably on the evening of Sunday, December 20^th.

Christmas Eve they will do a reading of the Christmas story.

Merrily: December 22, Tuesday evening, they will have a Christmas gathering at the Conference Center, a Christmas play, with musical numbers, and a Christmas recipe exchange.

Walter: Glad it snowed finally.

Terry: Doubly glad it snowed.

Irene: Triple that. Got to go on her first snow machine ride.

Miles: The Alaska Made group representative, Bill Webb, emailed Miles, inquiring about organizing another Alaska Made workshop in Nenana. They would like to schedule it for March. It would be free and would include workshops in photography, marketing, and how to acquire Alaska Made status for your handcrafts or hand-made products.

Beverley: Passed out brochures from the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. They are available to do home visits.

Also, she will be attending a class for lay ministers in Fairbanks on Monday evenings and needs a ride to town on Mondays. Merrily said her sons drive up every Monday morning.

St Mark’s church will be conducting prayer circles at the church every Tuesday, 6:30-7:30. There will be an All Saints service Sunday at 11:15 A.M., fellowship to acknowledge those who have passed.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

ADJOURNMENT: 1:30 P.M.

Nenana Wellness Coalition

MINUTES

October 13, 2009The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska. 

There were 19 in attendance today, Including: Bonnie Reed, Brian and Gabrielle Blair, Maryellen Robinson, Rebecca & Bill Troxel, David Poppe, Donald Charlie, Virginia Young, Jenny Irwin, Irene Martin, Bill & Kennedy Packee, Terry & Art Thompson, Kat McElroy, Merrily Verhagen, Tim Horn, and Andrea & Walter Tommy. We had pasta and meatballs marinara with Ritz crackers, sliced cheese, sliced apples and home-made fudge for lunch.

WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By Tim Horn

PRAYER was lead by Mr. Walter Tommy, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: No changes to the agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Submitted last week per usual: posted at www.railbelt.com on the WIN link and sent electronically to the WIN e-list.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

Dance Presentation: Nenana Student Living Center cultural dance group, also known as The Frybread Shakers, did a spirited 20 minutes dance presentation for us. They have been rehearsing at the living center and their good work effort shows in their energetic performance, which was much appreciated by the audience.

Assistive Technology for the Vision Impaired presented by Bill Packee of the Fairbanks chapter/National Federation for the Blind, who was accompanied by his son, Kennedy, and his assistance dog, Rio. He told us that he was wearing many hats in his presentation today. He is in the business of helping people to access assisted technology. Basically this is providing devices to aid reading, talking, and learning, for people who are experiencing a wide variety of disabilities. Part of this consists of evaluating people who may be blind or visually impaired, deaf/blind, or true deaf, to find what will best assist them. Other disabilities include mobility issues, attention issues, and learning disabilities. “Independence,” he said, “ Is our goal. Independence through technology, through education and training and through employment.” He told us a bit about being blind himself, the adjustment he had to make to his vision loss. His wife is deaf/blind; she is teaching him tactile sign language, which he said we might notice him using as he spoke to us today, “So I can practice learning this,” he explained.

Another hat he wears, he was recently elected president of the Alaska chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. NFB has information for people who are losing their sight and provide networking and organization for people who are visually impaired. There are two active chapters in our state: Anchorage/Kenai and Fairbanks. It is his goal to build a Juneau chapter so as to be able to have direct access to the governor and to lobby the legislature. He directed those interested in learning more about this organization to their web site http://nfbak.org/#aboutnfbak where there is information about their activities in the Fairbanks area, across the state of Alaska, and nationally.

Mr. Packee said that assistive technology does not need to be expensive and high-end to make a huge difference for people who experience some disability. He showed us examples of very simple devices including a talking watch, a Braille watch, elastic shoe laces that only have to be tied one time (for people with fine motor control issues), and magnifying glasses that can enlarge print as much as ten times. He said that there are magnifying glasses that are built into a flexible arm stand so they can adjust to any need, leaving one’s hands free. He said that people can use a blind compass and that there are even talking GPS’s. “There is no reason for people to say, ‘I can’t. I’m blind. I’m wheelchair-bound. I’m deaf, or learning disabled. There’s no reason with the technology we have available.” He demonstrated a program called Jaws which will read computer screens. His has adjustable speed and voice, to allow himself access to any information on the internet or downloaded files.

There are cushions for wheelchairs, portable lights, even fans, laptops, any of which can hook into a battery pack, for comfort, and assistance. He showed us software programs for people with learning disabilities that are word predictive and have automatic spell check/correct built in. Another would highlight text to help readers with attentional issues. There is a program called Super Nova which can magnify the screen, isolate various items on the screen, or read aloud the text.

He demonstrated a device that will read blood samples for the diabetic, called Prodigy Voice, a blood glucose monitoring system designed for the blind and people with low vision. He sees it as his mission to inform people about the assistive technologies available to them and to assist people in accessing same. He said Alaska has a huge population of people who have vision issues and unfortunately are unaware of the resources available to them. Access Alaska has a deaf/signing luncheon each Tuesday in Fairbanks, 11 A.M. through 1 P.M. There is a VIP (Visually Impaired People) meeting the first Tuesday of each month.  

Lastly, Bill said that Federation for the Blind has a Face-book page that is open to anyone interested in friending them.

WELLNESS THOUGHT: Inch by inch, row by row, that’s the way our gardens grow.

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS.  

Bonnie: There will be a community dinner tonight (Tuesday) at the Nenana Student Living Center, 5P.M.

Rebecca: Free-cycle, Saturday, 5 P.M., at George Hall. Everyone is invited. She’ll be making soup. Pot luck for those who have something to bring. There will be a movie and pop corn. Everyone is invited.

Book Fair at the school all week, in the library. Don’t forget Bingo for Books Thursday night in the Pit.

Merrily: The Verhagens will be hosting a family friendly Hallowe’en celebration next door to Kristie’s Cuisine. They will be setting up the ping pong table and will have food treats and games.

 OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS /QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None                                                                         

ADJOURNMENT: 1 50 P.M.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES 

October 6, 2009

 The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska.There were 17 in attendance today, including:  David Poppe, Kat McElroy, John Grimes, Bill & Rebecca Troxel, Miles & Irene Martin, Tim Horn, Mary & Wes Alexander, Brian & Gabrielle Blair, Terry & Art Thompson, Merrily Verhagen and Walter & Andrea Tommy. We enjoyed tamale pie, pasta salad, cucumber salad, mixed fruit and nuts, Ritz crackers and sliced cheese and sliced apples for lunch. 

WELCOME: By this week’s chairperson: Rebecca Troxel, followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT.

PRAYER: Was lead by Brian Blair, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There was one addition to the agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were taken by Bonnie last week; they will be forwarded to Kat by Tim to post.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No new participants this week.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS:

 Sober Housing: Kat McElroy reports that the sober cabin project has been stalled due to deaths in the family. David Poppe continues clearing the building space; trees have been removed and a rough roadway put in so that equipment can access the lot for dirt work. We hope to be able to complete the structure before the deep cold. There is a resident utilizing the RV the use of which the Verhagen’s donated to the sober housing project. He and David have been weatherizing the RV as the temperature drops. Freecycle: Our next Free-cycle is scheduled for October 17^th at 5 P.M. Use of the tribal hall has been reserved. Miles Martin volunteered to start the fire early in the day so the hall will be warmed up. There will be pot luck and a movie.  Envisioning Wellness: Tim Horn has made flyers for the presentation next week by Bill Packee of the Fairbanks chapter of the National Federation for the Blind who will be talking to us about assistive technology for the visually impaired. She will email to Kat. Kat will print same at the Railbelt office and give to Miles and Irene to post around town. Tim has also completed a PSA; she faxed one to KIAM; Kat will fax to KUAC. Nita Marks will present November 3^rd on ICWA and child protection issues. Due to her sudden trip to Nevada, Kat was unable to present on the Medicine Wheel and Wellness in September; she has been re-scheduled for December 1^st. 

Community Dinners at NSLC: John Grimes opened his remarks by explaining that the purpose for having community dinners at NSLC had initially been to connect students there with elders in our community. He said that homesickness is the primary reason for student attrition for NSLC. He is open to suggestions for strategies to engage interaction between students and community members. It was suggested that students be assigned to specific tables so that community members would have a better opportunity to get to know them.  Name tags might help. Kat suggested community members stand and introduce themselves during dinner, telling a little bit about who they are, what they do, what their interests are, etc. Rebecca suggested creating some manner of family adoption program; she noted that when she and Bill have their young children with them, the NSLC students flock to meet them—perhaps because they are missing younger siblings left back home. “It is up to us to help them interact with us,” she said. Mary noted how NSLC students who came to do some volunteer work in the kitchen at Meda Lord Housing stayed afterwards to play some pool in the day room. Virginia suggested community members might stay after dinner, bring board games or other entertainment to interact with the students. Miles mentioned he brought a moose by one time which the students readily assisted in butchering; other times he has brought materials and tools to do scrimshaw which seemed well received by the kids. John indicated the community has a standing open invitation to come for dinner or to spend time with the students. He also mentioned that many of the students cannot afford to fly to their home villages for the short Thanksgiving and Spring Break school holidays. It would be good if they could spend time with families locally during those times.

John noted that there are 84 students currently enrolled at the living center; by October 23^rd they will have 88 residents there. “They are a good group of kids,” he said, “But they are teenagers. They come with a certain amount of issues: alcohol and tobacco use, academic deficiencies, etc.” He said NSLC currently has five couples working as dorm parents, which provides a good ratio of adults to students, as originally intended. He praised the staff. He predicted their good effort would be reflected in increased retention rates. He said, “Nenana is becoming a better place as a whole for these students.” He said that they turned down 30 to 35 applications this year; their application numbers are up which allows them to be more selective regarding who they bring into the program.

The next community dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13^th, 5 P.M. John invites all interested community members to attend. Briar Blair said that they could make announcements to the community concurrent to Mukluk Messages at 10:10 A.M., and 2:10 and 9:10 P.M. ( http://www.vfcm.org/kiam/ ). Tim suggested the use of flyers at the P.O., Coghill’s, A-frame, etc.

Lastly, John said that the NSLC students are currently involved in a project with Kathy Bertram, Education Director, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. to do research and collect data on climate change. She will be taking NSLC students to met Bernie Karl and tour the facility at Chena Hot Springs October 17^th.  WELLNESS THOUGHT:”A habit cannot be tossed out the window;
it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.” Mark Twain 

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Merrilee: the Nenana Community Calendar is up and running. It can be found at: http://www.geocities.com/nenanacommunitycalendar/home.html

Andrea: She and Walter would like NSLC students to come for a camp-out at their place at 4-Mile. John prompted her to contact Mike Anderson or Tom Gephardt who is activities director.

John: NSLC dance troupe will be performing at International Friendship Day at Pioneer Park, 1 P.M., October 17^th.

Kat: Railbelt finished their quarterly reports yesterday, hurray! Preparations have begun for Operation Ho Ho Ho. Laura will be taking names/ages for families that would appreciate food and gift boxes for Christmas. Deadline for submitting names will be November 27^th. Volunteers are always welcome.

David: The heifer, Mara, is due to birth February 8^th. Clara is due in July. They’ve been cleaning up garden leavings which the cows enjoy munching.

Bonnie: Cosmetology students from UAF will be doing haircuts at the Senior Center Thursday, October 22. There is a charge for perms but other hair-care services are free.

Miles: Handed out flyers received from the Alaska Source Link. www.AkSourcelink.com

The city council meeting will be Thursday, 10/08/09, 6;30 at the Senior Center.

Bill: Is sad to announce that his mother will not be able to come to visit but his father, John Troxel, will be visiting.

Tim: Today is Election Day. Parent/teacher conferences Tue/Wed/Thurs at NCPS. October 12-16 will be the Book Fair at the school. Basketball game in Minto this weekend for the Nenana Junior High team.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

ADJOURNMENT: 2:00 P.M.