Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes
March 28, 2006
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 4 in attendance for the meeting today including: Bonnie Reed, Kat McElroy, Donald Charlie, and Traci Wiggins
WELCOME and the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT–By this week’s chairperson: Traci
PRAYER was led by Bonnie Blaine followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE which was recited by all.
PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: Traci presented the agenda, No call for modifications
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: There was no meeting last week; no minutes generated.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No Guests present this week.
SPEAKERS/TOPICS
Auntie’s Place—Traci Wiggins gave a brief update on Auntie’s Place. There has been a series of meetings with Diana Webber who works for State of Alaska/Division of Behavioral Health. Her focus is transitional housing. She paid an onsite visit to Nenana last month. Ms. Webber indicated that there would not be funding forthcoming to remodel older buildings such as the former Corner Bar. “The money just isn’t there for that,” she informed us. Diana is willing to coordinate with Railbelt, the Mental Health Trust Fund and the Denali Commission to gain a viable funding stream for Railbelt to construct a new building. To that avail, Railbelt has been compiling data to support our need for transitional housing. Diana Webber intends to do a feasibility study. Traci has generated requests for letters of support from the city and the Native Council. Neither have moved forward on the requests as of yet. Traci has also held discussions with Jason at the city office, exploring possible building sites. The city did not move forward on Railbelt’s request for a provisional deed for the eight lots on 4th street between C and D streets which we have identified as a possible appropriate site. The current concept is a building with four transitional housing units, office space for Railbelt, a conference room such as would be appropriate for WIN and other community meetings and a commercial kitchen. Our goal continues to be workforce development with partnerships between Railbelt and Voc/Rehab, Hutchinson Career Center, Nenana School and other entities to do job skill and living skill training.
Discussion ensued. Don Charlie mentioned that further back along Sixth Street there is a large swampy parcel of land he believes is owned by the state that might be available for the project. Traci agreed to explore this possibility.
WELLNESS THOUGHT
I have a feeling I should paint what I am supposed to paint. So, I sit and there my hand moves and I made a picture.
–Norval Morrijeau The writer sits, head in hands, and a mound of crumpled paper wads. The deadline is tomorrow and not even the first paragraph is written. The writer has been working nonstop since the early morning hours. Frustration pushed the writer up from the chair and out on a long walk in the woods to the stream. After an hour of plunging through lush woods, a rest by the stream listening to the sounds of the rippling water is refreshing. Back at the typewriter, the fingers move, the words flow, the job is done Sometimes we need to quiet ourselves to let our inner resources flow through our outer noise. We are doing what we are supposed to do. Even when things don’t seem to come together just right, there is a purpose; even if only to let us know we need to do something else for a while How much simpler our lives can be if we only have the faith to accept what happens as a guidepost along a path that is naturally correct. Am I frustrated with something that I should step away from?
UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Traci announced that Hugh Garrity (Rose Allen’s brother), who is in charge of the Laborer’s Union apprenticeship program, wants to build a house in Nenana summer 2006. It has to be for a non-profit. All labor would be free, the non-profit would only need to pay costs of materials. They did an 800 square foot structure in Fort Yukon and the cost of materials was only 20 thousand dollars. Don Charlie said the Nenana Native Council intends to build a house this summer for Moses Paul’s program, that they have already purchased the materials. Perhaps this would be a good fit. Traci urged Don to suggest this to the Council.
Traci also stated that she would be gone for the nest two weeks. Next week she will be in Los Angeles, April 4-8, attending a Methamphetamine conference. The goal is to put together a task-force from all 50states to address this emerging issue. The following week she will be in Anchorage attending the state Change Agent meeting and a Medicaid training with Rose Allen. Donald Charlie said that he would be interested in having training on methamphetamine. Discussion ensued regarding the treatment needs of meth addicts.
Donald Charlie announced that he continues with classes for his AAS degree. He stated that NNC has resumed construction on the erosion project last week. They will start working on the Teen Center (Youth Education/Recreation Center) again early in April. He described a documentary about this he has watched on TV.
Bonnie announced that Karen Harvey and the Nenana Patchers have made a cuddle quilt from Mary Dementieff’s kerchiefs, which they are calling Bandana Bodanza, is being raffled for The Nenana Senior Center.
Discussion ensued about the meeting that Wayne Walters has scheduled for next Tuesday regarding Taking Back Our Town. Consensus opinion was that we should attend that meeting in lieu of our regularly scheduled WIN meeting.
ADJOURNMENT approximately 2:00 PM