Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions

WIN Coalition Meeting Minutes for July 19, 2005

 

Prepared by Traci Wiggins

 

Attending:  Blaine & Bonnie Reed, Don Charlie, Rose Allen, Traci Wiggins, Ralph Lindquist, Mike Anderson, Miles Martin and his son Miles Martin, Tim Horn, Edna Ketzler, Paul Verhagen

 

Prayer given by Don Charlie.

 

Meeting led by Rose Allen.

 

Choose to Live:

 

The flyer for the Choose to Live gathering was presented to the Coalition.  The flyer has also been distributed at WEIO, the suicide awareness walk in Fairbanks, and it has been posted around the communities, and faxed and emailed out. 

 

The schedule for the Choose to Live gathering was discussed.  The schedule is fairly loose as it stands now, but seems right for a ‘gathering’ as opposed to a conference.

 

Nenana Valley Sports Association:

 

Paul Verhagen shared that the feasibility study completed by Dr. Henry Cole has given results that indicate that it extremely feasible to make a paved track in Nenana.  Therefore, they have asked the Fairbanks Racing Lions for more money, and have received $5,000. 

 

There will be a mud bog on August 26^th.

 

Updates:

 

NNC Wellness Dinner will be led at 6pm on 21^st of July at the Tribal Hall.  There will be doorprizes!  Don Charlie reported that there will be “Nenana’s Own Fish” at the dinner.  Thanks to the fisher-persons!

 

There will be a Sobriety Potlatch at the end of October to coincide with Red Ribbon Week. 

 

Tim Horn reported that William, her son, is having a toy sale at this Saturday’s Market on A Street.

 

Ralph Lindquist reported that the wheelchair race was a success. 

 

Mike Anderson is now the Nenana Student Living Center’s Resident Host.  The NSLC is planning a Jump Start on August 18, 19, 20, and includes the first 2 days of school.

 

Ralph reported that the Grimes are leaving the NSLC.  Thanks for their wonderful service!

 

Joe Krauss is the new principal at the main school.  He is not scheduled to be here until after 8/1.

 

Paul Verhagen reported that Bobby Pierce has volunteered to be the dog catcher in town.  Mike Anderson asked if Wellness Coalition members would write a more applicable ordinance, and have it presented at the Assembly.  Mike will get a copy of the ordinance.  There was also discussion about the need to post the changes well in regard to the change in ordinance pertaining to loose dogs in town.

 

Court System – presented by Jack O’Brien, Assistant DA in Fairbanks:

 

There is alternative to sending people through the court system – Real Justice.  The Assistant DA sees the potential to use Real Justice for more than just minor consuming, i.e. shoplifting, etc.  How would Nenana like to share their program with Fairbanks and present to the public?

 

Ralph Lindquist said that all students involved with Real Justice have their dismissals from the DA.  There were no reoffenses in the critical first 3 months following the offense.  Parents are involved, not just defending the child.  Verna Westlake is helping NSLC in writing grants.

 

Rosemary Allen, Don Charlie, Ralph Lindquist, possibly Sandi Eggleston or Roy Smart to present in Fairbanks?  Mike Anderson would be happy to go in a supportive process.

 

Mike Anderson reported that the school is building a fire pit for talking circle.

 

Miles Martin reported that Saturday Market is going well.  Virginia Young is not back from Russia yet, so no fresh vegetables as of yet.

 

Rosemary Allen welcomed Edna Ketzler to the WIN Meeting.  Edna said that she’s on the mend, and that she will be out and about more.

 

Miles Martin said the he needs Kat’s freezer to be turned on – he has moose meat to contribute to the WIN Coalition lunches.

 

8/2/05 Traci Wiggins will do the lunch.

 

Next week the WIN meeting is at the George Hall during the Choose to Live Gathering lunch.

 

Adjourned 1:15 pm

 

 

Wellness In Nenana WIN Coalition Meeting Minutes 07/05/05

 

There were 8 in attendance including Blaine & Bonnie Reed, Kat McElroy, Miles Martin,  Tim Horn,  Rose Allen,  Paul Verhagen, and Donald Charlie.

 

The meeting was called to order by chairperson Miles Martin. He read the mission statement.

 

Prayer was led by Bonnie Reed

 

We said the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Agenda was approved, no calls for modification.

 

Minutes were approved by voice call.

 

There were no guests to be introduced:

 

 

Prioritizing Our Efforts  Paul said that what he would like to do is revisit our “parking lot” of issues we’ve explored over the past several years. He talked about the Ten Year Community Visioning Process that occurred in Nenana and ways to pull from that to build broad community support for Wellness Issues.

Miles stated that there is interest in any community development that can generate some income and positive economic benefits. He mentioned projections of a possible 30 thousand a week generated by the race course project if/when it is fully functional. He said that this would be money that would be spent across the entire community.

Paul said he has heard nothing but positive reports regarding the race projected and reiterated that it received unanimous resolutions of support from Nenana City Council, Nenana Native Council, Anderson City Council, Denali Borough, and the Fairbanks Racing Lions. Paul said that people come to meetings when there is something specific they are interested in. He suggests actively soliciting community members to ascertain what they want to see in Nenana regarding Wellness.

Tim asked about Native Council Wellness meetings. Donald Charlie said that it was his understanding that they were back up and running again, community-wide meetings held at George Hall in association with the NCPS Reduce Alcohol Abuse grant. He said that Robin Campbell was in charge of this and that he believed there was one planned for later this month. He also said that he shall be starting the Sobriety Pot Latch again and that his tentative date is October.

Miles asked about the Cultural Center. When would it be up and running again? He said that visitors want to see it but no one seems to know when it will be open. Tim asked if there was any way that WIN could be a vehicle to support getting the Cultural Center operational again.

Paul said he would like to see the people in Nenana who have experience writing grants to get together and make a plan for looking for funding. Discussion ensued regarding grant-writing, who does it, if it is “paid” work or part of their job description, who in our community might be interested in such a thing. Kat and Traci’s names were mentioned, as were Robin Campbell’s, Ken Eggleston, Theresa Mayrand and Bear Ketzler. Paul asked about getting funds to pay for a grant-writer.

 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – Kat McElroy.  Kat brought hard copy of some of the informational pages that are now posted as an FASD link to the Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions web page. She mentioned the link includes information on what causes FASD, how it is diagnosed, and resources available for people dealing with an FASD issue. Since Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects is the largest single cause of preventable brain damage in infants in the USA, she urged people to look at the site so as to be able to refer others there for information.

 

 

Our Wellness thought for the week:

 

The Wellbriety Movement is growing stronger. Wellbriety begins with the personal inspiration, desire and commitment to give up dependency on mood altering chemicals. It grows as each individual works his or her wellness program with others in a cultural way. It flowers as we are able to give back to our families, communities and nations from the strong grounding of our own wellness and wholeness. Its outcome is happy, productive, cultural people, as well as peaceful communities and nations. Welcome to the Wellbriety Movement.

 

This quote was taken from The White Bison web site @

http://www.whitebison.org/wellbriety_movement/index.html

 

Meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.