Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions

Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes
June 27, 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 twelve in attendance for the meeting today including: Kat and Leon McElroy, David Poppe, Donald Charlie, Rob and Susan Thomason, Rick Martin, Rosemary Allen, Paul Verhagen, Miles Martin, Donna Schneider and Rita Pierce

The meeting was called to order at noon-fifteen.

WELCOME by this weeks chairperson, Rob Thomason, who also read our Mission Statement.

PRAYER was lead by Rosemary Allen, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: Kat passed out agendas, there was no call for modifications.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were emailed, no changes requested. Donna requested to be added to the email list.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Susan was welcomed back to Nenana by all.

We had shrimp salad for lunch, provided by Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS
Art Train Miles Martin expressed concern about the proposed stop of the Art Train in Nenana come October. He says he will need help in organizing this event if it is to come to fruition. He reported that he still doesn’t know for a fact if the Art Train will stop here. They have raised approximately 75% of the money they will need for their Alaska Trek. They are not expecting Nenana to raise great amounts of money although we can certainly offer in-kind donations. Lodging will be an issue, as well as food for the participants on the train during their proposed stay in our community. Miles suggested that we could donate fresh salmon. Electric power to the train will also be needed. It is thought that the train would best set up near the Cultural Center. Miles says Alex Ketzler is interested in coordinating with the Art Train. Miles says we need someone willing to take point in coordinating with other schools in the area as this offers a unique opportunity for the students in our area to learn about Native art from the Lower 48. Rob reminded us that a planning guide is available from the Art Train foundation that breaks down the various organizational tasks into specific steps. Paul says that the foundation has a well-organized computer component so that teachers can click directly into curriculum about the various artists and the art displays. Rita stated that they had given fish to the Senior Center last year and that perhaps they could donate fish to the Art Train this year. Freezer space would be an issue.

Neighborhood Watch—Rita Pierce says that the Anchorage Police Department is willing to send someone to speak to our community about Community watch programs. They are also prepared to provide information about methamphetamine. We need to pick a date. After some debate about various possible dates/times, consensus opinion seems to be that Tuesday, August 1st would work best. There was discussion on format and venue. We decided that a presentation in the afternoon to WIN followed by an evening presentation for the whole community would be good. Rita will arrange for the use of George Hall for the community supper. It will be a pot-luck. Kat volunteered to make fry bread. Don suggested we get announcements in to KIAM and KJNP. Miles suggested we get a story in the newspaper. He also said he would be willing to take the presenters on a boat ride to thank them for volunteering their time to help our community out in this. Rita will make flyers for us to post around town.

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Paul told us about a painting that has been commissioned by Harold Esmailka of Ruby to be executed by John Van Zyle depicting the conflict Alaskans experience between the old ways and the new ways. This painting will be donated to the church in that community. Harold Esmailka was adopted as a child and subjected to values conflicts between the teachings of his adopted family, of the shamanistic practices of his birth father and of the Catholic Church which his family later embraced. He grew up to be a successful businessman and prominent leader for his people, but long struggled with confusion about culture and beliefs, which have only been resolved for him as he grew older. Paul cited this as an example of a Good News story that speaks to the efforts towards wellness in that community.
Donald announced that Leap is going well. He will be having a Leap meeting Thursday, July 20th, at 1 P.M.
Rob stated that work on the YERC is online for completion as scheduled. They are getting the Voc/Ed Art Center (the old warehouse behind the new admin bldg.) ready for fire inspection. Things are looking good for the start of school August 20th.

ADJOURNMENT approximately 2:00 PM

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

19 December, 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 ten in attendance for the meeting today including: Kat McElroy, Ray Fox, Ken Eggleston, Donald Charlie, and Miles Martin, three VISTA volunteer people from Fairbanks, Gayle Rayme and Brent. Per our discussion and decision at WIN last week, the regular meeting was suspended today so we could attend the Informational meeting held at TCCC.

The meal was preceded by a short prayer led by Kat. After we ate, Gayle and Brent gave us a rundown of the schedule for the incoming TCCC cohort. Application was opened up nation-wide and about half of the participants this year are coming from the lower-48.

They gave us an update on the training schedule which will include basic program orientation, first aid and emergency responder, chainsaw safety, fire-fighter/red card training, and tobacco and alcohol/drug information. TCCC is also again offering a construction trades class for college credit, partnering with UAF/Interior Aleutians campus. Spike (work project) assignments will include Mississippi, Louisiana and Oregon as well as various communities around Alaska.

This year’s cohort includes a mentoring component and a portion of the applicants are college graduates and will be mentoring and tutoring those applicants who need to work on obtaining their GED’s. There will be three work groups, with two of them going on assignments around the state and in the lower-48. The third group will be stationed in Nenana and will focus on projects within our community including a greenhouse and community garden, timbering, experimental agricultural project involving berries and service work for the seniors. There will also be further work on the hockey rink. Any non-profit in the community wishing to avail themselves of TCCC/Americorps volunteer workers is urged to get a work request in now as the schedule is filling up fast.

There was brief discussion about other possible projects in Nenana. Ken will be teaching the construction trades coursework and explained how he incorporates math (geometry and trigonometry) into the construction work so that students learn by doing. Miles asked about the trains that sit in front of the Cultural Center. One of the VISTA people wondered if they could be made into a hostel.

ADJOURNMENT approximately 1:30 PM

Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes
June 13, 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 nine in attendance for the meeting today including: Kat McElroy, Bonnie Reed, Tim & Carl Horn, Donald Charlie, Rob Thomason, Kelsey Overby, Gayle Stevens, and Rita Pierce

The meeting was never officially called to order

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: We had no set agenda, no call for modifications

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes have not been disseminated from the June 6th meeting as of yet.

We had chicken/broccoli casserole for lunch, provided by Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions. The meeting opened with general discussion.
People debriefed regarding the wildfire that has been burning in our vicinity since last Wednesday.
Kat questioned the issue of communication. Things got very crazy Friday night when the power went out. Cell phone systems were overloaded and service was erratic. Landline phones didn’t function if they were wireless/remote. Only phones that plugged directly into the phone system and took their power from the phone-lines were functional. Rumors abounded. Some people were saying there was a mandatory evacuation. There were rumors about the bulk plant and the GVEA substation. There were rumors that fire had gotten into Nenana proper as well as about various residences in the outlaying area. Kat asked if walkie-talkies would be effective for communication in any future such occurrence or if a People Tree (as opposed to a Phone Tree) might be an effective way to get information out quickly and in an organized fashion to the community at large. Tim wondered if this might not fit well with a Neighborhood Watch project. Carl mentioned that KJNP had accurate ongoing reports, interrupting regularly scheduled programming to provide information, even when it was every 15 minutes. Gayle stated that she believes the fire-fighters have done an excellent job protecting life and property.
Rob said that Joe Kraus and his family are holding up after losing their home to the flames. They are temporarily residing in the blue house on the corner of 2nd street and Market. They did have insurance on the structure but of course lost many possessions and can never be replaced.
A second home belonging to Ronnie Taylor was lost to the flames. No one seems to know if this was her primary residence or if she has been living in Fairbanks. Sympathy was expressed for those who have experienced losses.
Gayle said that she called and spoke to the wife of the man who has been cited for the fire starting, offering them sympathy as well for they no doubt are experiencing a great deal of stress as the fire progresses. We agreed this was a good idea.

We had a prayer at this time, led by Rita Pierce, followed by the Pledge of Allegience.

Gayle reported that the community calendar page is up and running. She is making regular updates on it, including the information that today’s WIN meeting was moved to the school due to the fire command headquarters taking over the NSLC. She said it is an easy system, user friendly. She will ask Diane Jensen to post Nenana Messenger News updates to her for posting on the web site. Rob provided us all with the school website URL: http://www.ncsd.k12.ak.us and the specific website URL for the calendar which is http://www.ncsdd.k12.ak.us/cal/index.cfm
Rob reported that the fire command will continue renting the Student Living Center building to use as headquarters for the duration of the fire. This is generating some income for the school district. Fire command understands that they need to exit by the first week of August so that the center can be prepared for returning students. Rob reported that Earl Polk will be in residence in Nenana by August and that he is working closely with Ralph to hire dorm parents. Half of the current ten will be returning. Rita asked if these positions could be hired locally, if Nenana residents wanted the position, would they be able to work and return to their own homes at night. Rob said that he understands this has been done previously, with mixed success. He said it would ultimately be a joint decision between himself, Earl and the school district and that it would be based on what’s best for the students.
Rita reported she has 10 students doing construction with George Albert on the building at Moses Paul’s fishcamp. They receive a stipend and one high school credit. They have started painting the school office building but ran out of paint and are waiting for more supplies. She also reported that four students have applied for the UAF Alaska Summer Research Academy which will be a 10.5 day camp. Alaska Native Education is sponsoring them to stay on campus. Lastly she reported that she has purchased a book for the school called 100 Ways To Promote Cooperative Learning In The Classroom by Dr. Spencer Kagan. She wants to bring someone to do training on Cooperative Learning for our teachers. She says it builds emotional skills, supports self-esteem and helps teach time management. Rita purchased Dr. Spencer Kagan’s books, posters, smart
cards, and manipulatives for the local Nenana School. She has provided this information on that material:
Cooperative learning develops higher level thinking skills, creates an environment of active, involved exploratory learning, develops oral communication skills, promotes higher achievement and attendance, enhances self management skills, fosters an atmosphere of sharing and helping school wide, builds self-esteem, and improves race relations. The Kagan Structures align instruction with how the brain best learns, implementing the essence of both cooperative learning and multiple intelligences
philosophies. The Kagan Structures replace an over-reliance on traditional teacher-centered instructional methods with an array of engaging student-centered instructional strategies. Unlike other approaches to implementing cooperative learning and multiple
intelligences, the Kagan Structures are not lesson based; once learned, they require little or no planning, preparation, special materials, or lesson design. They are used on the ’spur of the moment’ as part of any lesson. This method is a transformation of how we teach, not what we teach. The Kagan Structures continue to be implemented even when content shifts, grade level changes, and/or the district decides to focus on a different innovation. The theoretical and empirical research seems to be consistent with what teachers and students say, the Kagan Structures make teaching and learning more fun, more engaging, and more successful. A transformation of life in schools, in numerous positive ways, not just academically.

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Tuesday, 6/13/06 will be the Ice Classic yearly meeting at the Civic Center, 6: 00 PM. All members of the community are invited.

ADJOURNMENT approximately 2:00 PM