Railbelt Mental Health &amp; Addictions

WIN minutes 08-22-06

Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes for Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Minutes taken by Miles Martin

Meeting started About 12:30

Present were: Robert Thomason, Earl Polk, Donald Charlie, Rita Pierce, Laura Vance, Mike Anderson, Bonnie Reed, Tim Horn, and Jeri Lucier. Kat McElroy joined at 1:15 PM.

Mission statement was read by Jeri Lucier.

Prayer was led by Bonnie Reed.

The Pledge was recited.

Reports
Miles gave an update on Artrain. The train visit is a sure thing. There is still some minor confusion - partly based on the folks at Artrain not understanding a small community but everything is coming together well. There is still confusion about the exact dates everything is happening. This is the most important thing to us at the moment so we can make exact plans. Rita helped Miles a great deal as a result of last week’s informal meeting. She and I talked about an exact schedule and she worked out the math. The Artrain will have tours starting every 15 minutes of 20 people each. We have 250 students. Artrain had first told me it would be fine to break up the tours so we could have a day one for the children and an evening one for family and adults. This has been overturned because it takes an hour to set up and an hour to take down between tours. School is out at 2:30 so it makes it hard to accommodate all the children in 2 days plus have an evening time for those who have to wait to get off work or travel far. This still needs to be worked out. Miles will oversee this working with Rita, Joe and Artrain, hopefully in a day or so.
Miles had been under the impression the days got moved by one day due to an issue in Anchorage (some important person can only be there a day late) so the schedule was changed I thought so I need to confirm exact dates! Rita understands it differently.
Mike did not understand the notes given him and was anxious to have it straightened out as it is time for him to know for sure who when what and where—so he can plan the meals.
Rob stated the situation had changed for living space for visitors – mostly due to the emergency situation at Hooper Bay Alaska. The school was lost and many buildings and there is a need to offer our space to children from there. It would be better not to count of having space to stay but meals are still a go ahead.
A reception is planned for George Hall , a change from the Culture Center, as we now feel the weather will be too cold to heat it. A potluck style feed is planned with Mike supplying the main dish. This is Oct 8th or 9th depending on what I hear as a sure date.
We later brainstormed some ideas for the reception. Maybe have a fund raiser of some sort with all the people there with crafts or desert auction to raise money. Miles would still like to work something out to where children who want to talk one-on-one with the visiting native artists can maybe have a meal with them or in some way spend time with them to chat. It is hoped Anderson, Healy and Minto can have children bussed here. Jeri is from Healy and offered to deal with Anderson and Healy and put up notices but is holding off till we have exact times and dates!

Rob spoke next about the school start and informed us everything is going well! There was a great kid’s orientation. There are some new major changes the children were introduced to, and the main one is the soda/candy machines are no longer easily accessible at lunch time. The goal is to help the kids cut down on sugar.- or at least not pushing it on them. Rob said Joe especially has done a great job as well as everyone else and Rob is very pleased with his group. I wasn’t taking notes forgot I was the minute man so reporting from memory here.

Earl reported he came up with a great plan for the dorm children he is excited about. The children seemed depressed about school starting so he asked what could make it better and many said they would sure love to play basketball. This is a big deal in the villages. Earl figured out how to make that happen on a $900 budget! This involves the use of pallets, plywood nails (and he added duck tape and chewing gum –hmmmm) At any rate, it is going to happen and the kids are excited enough to want to work on it themselves! This is good news for getting the Dorm children into something positive with their time, so a great way to start the season!

Kat tells us Rail belt is working on a feasibility study to get a new building. Apparently the first has to be money to study the issue in terms of options for land and building costs and such. The Corner Bar is pretty much ‘out’ as an option but was asked about. It is considered too costly to fix and more cost effective to build a new place. The Corner Bar of coarse had been discussed in the past among us at Wellness. It is exciting though that this seems serious and there is a very good possibility of a new mental health building. Traci and Rosemary were temporarily stuck down in Anchorage due to the rains and the washed out roads and bridge.

Don informs us there is a Sobriety Pot Latch with meal on October 27th.

Mike tells us there is a new day for community meals with the living center kids and it will be every 2nd Tuesday of the month starting the 12th of Sept.

Rita gave a report. There is an interest in another neighborhood watch meeting. She is working on it. Chris Spencer had a good time here and we agreed we liked her talk and help. Rita had a personal incident involving a need to know something about what to do when there is a emergency so the need for some education was made more clear. Rita had some statistics to pass around. This was a list of 911 calls over the past 3 years for Nenana. Rita said she might try creating a pie chart of some kind showing percents of events or working with the numbers into something more meaningful. This might be great to get a handle on how much activity is going on in Nenana in terms of needing help—where why who what when etc. We all looked this list over.

Tim gave a report on an old topic – a health fair. She got revived interest for someone (in Fairbanks?) interested in working with us who showed Tim a brochure of the various aids offered to help do the fair. Tim asked if we should invite this person and the next couple of meetings were not good but a time was tentatively offered for her to come (about 3 weeks off) (Oct 5th?) The group discussed various ways to have the event this fall rather in spring like combine it with a Chamber welcome dinner at the Civic Center, or maybe at the school as has worked out other times and in other communities (to involve the children more). Jeri pointed out Healy Lions has an eye machine to check eyes and can be brought to us when we come up with a date.

This lead to a discussion about involving the Lions and Healy and other communities more in our wellness group. The lions are a good group in general to involve with community wellness. An effort will be made to try to get someone from lions attending our meetings.

We all agreed this was a well attended meeting that was productive, and we are all glad to see this as we had some slow meeting off and on over the summer. We thus closed on a positive note

Meeting ends at 1:45

Addendum, update to the minutes: Here is the most up to date information that everyone needs to know including the Wellness group. On October 8th, I found out that they will
be in Fairbanks. I am not sure what transpired, but Allison Reimus has us
down in stone for the following:
Monday, Oct 9th - Reception 6-8PM at the George Hall
Tuesday, Oct 10th - 1-4PM school tours/4-8PM General Public
Wednesday, Oct 11th - SAME
Shall I go ahead and put this same information on the posters? Allison
stated that she has already sent this information out in public notices
for the Alaska trip with the train on its way already.

Would you please forward this website to everyone. It would be great for
them to brouse and get a better understanding of what will happen here in
Nenana, October 9-11, 2006.

http://www.artrainusa.org/

Thanks,

Rita
Alaska Native Education Director
832-5400 X227

2006 08 22

WIN minutes 08-08-06

Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes
August 8, 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, Donald Charlie, Rob Thomason, Rosemary Allen, Maryellen Kanayurak, Rita Pierce, Anna Sappah, Jenny Murray and Traci Wiggins.

The meeting was called to order at noon-fifteen.

WELCOME by this weeks chairperson, Rose Allen, who also read our Mission Statement.

PRAYER was lead by Donald Charlie, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: Traci passed out agendas; Rita asked for a call for modification to the agenda to speak about the Neighborhood Watch meeting last week.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were e-mailed by Kat. No call for changes.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Rosemary introduced Anna and Jenny who are with the Alaska Native Health Board-Smoke Free Alaska Project.

We had cream of broccoli soup and cornbread for lunch, provided by Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS
Tobacco Information—Our presenters from the Alaska Native Health Board-Smoke Free Alaska Project gave an overview of their program. Anna Sappah briefly gave us the same presentation she gave to the Rural Provider’s Conference this summer in Bethel. Just some of the interesting facts she provided: there are 438,000 smoking related deaths and 2nd-hand smokes kills 50,000 people in USA every year; tobacco use is the LEADING cause of death in Alaska; for every eight smoking deaths there is one death as the result of exposure to 2nd-hand smoke, (which makes exposure to 2nd-hand smoke the fourth leading cause of death). She cited some statistics for Alaska from 2002 including: 485 deaths caused by smoking; 122 deaths from exposure to 2nd-hand smoke (notice this is more people than live in Nenana dying annually in Alaska due to tobacco); 42% of adult Alaska Natives use tobacco products. Some of the effects of tobacco use are cancer, emphysema, heart disease, respiratory failure, chronic bronchitis, and heart disease. Some of the negative consequences of exposure to 2nd-hand smoke for children include ear infections, asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and respiratory problems.
Jenny Murray explained various strategies being used to reduce tobacco use in our state including youth access laws, tobacco taxes, and clean indoor air regulations. Jenny explained how tobacco taxes help reduce tobacco use. She said that there was a 50% decrease in tobacco use following the tobacco tax increase in 1997. She cited a ten percent decrease in youth tobacco use for every 10% increase in price and a 7% decrease in adult tobacco use for every 7% decrease in tobacco use.

Dancing In The Streets—Traci Wiggins reiterated the date set for our second annual Recovery Month celebration: Friday, September 15, 2006. We had discussion regarding information tables we may want to have at the community dinner. Some suggestions include Donald Charlie doing a table on cultural aspects of recovery, Rita for a table on student job skills, Railbelt for recovery from tobacco use, and perhaps a table on weight loss. It was suggested that perhaps Ginger would be willing to help us put together a table on the I Did A Walk thousand mile walk.
We did some more organizational arrangements. Mike Anderson will be in charge of the dinner. We worked on the invitation list. Many of the political figures we invited have replied they will have to wait until after the primary to commit. We agreed we do not want the dinner to become a forum for political speeches. It was suggested that we have a sobriety/clean time countdown as part of the evening’s activities.

Neighborhood Watch—Rita Pierce reported on the Neighborhood Watch organizational community supper we had. She said there were about 60 people there, 38 adults all told. Kris Spencer explained what Neighborhood Watch is and what it isn’t. She gave good examples of how it can be successful. 12 people signed up as being interested in participating in further Neighborhood Watch organizational efforts. Rita envisions having monthly meetings. She also mentioned that directly after the meeting at the Tribal Hall she had an opportunity to perform a Community Watch duty intervening in an altercation across the street from her residence. She said that it took the Troopers over 1.5 hours to respond once the were called.

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS: We did not have time for updates or announcements.

ADJOURNMENT approximately 2:00 PM

2006 08 08

WIN minutes 08-01-06

Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes
August 1, 2006

There were seven in attendance including: Kat and Leon McElroy, Kris Spencer, Rita Pierce, Rick Martin, Bonnie Reed, and Miles Martin. Lunch provided by Railbelt, chicken casserole.

WELCOME: by this week’s chairperson, Bonnie Reed, who also read the MISSION STATEMENT.

PRAYER: was led by Rita Pierce, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS Miles asked for the Art Train to be added to the agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES- Kat e-mailed minutes last week; no changes requested.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS—Rita introduced Kris Spencer from the Anchorage Neighborhood Watch program.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

Art Train – Miles says he received a 10 page contract from the Art Train people which needs to be reviewed and signed. Their deadline for signatures is August 11. Miles told them that wasn’t realistic. He is reluctant to sign without others reviewing the contract first and he is going to be busy with the Fair. He’ll email it to Kat so she can send it to everyone on the WIN list for perusal. He said that Alex Ketzler believes there would be grant money available to fund the Nenana Dancers.

Neighborhood Watch - Kris Spencer explained that she is not a police officer but their Neighborhood Watch program is based out of the Anchorage police department and do have access to police data bases. She sees Neighborhood Watch as a program of neighborhood empowerment, a social change program more than just crime prevention. She said, “When we find out who our neighbors are, we lose our fear of each other. As neighbors get to develop relationships, they begin to trust and be able to depend upon one another.” She said that fear can be crippling and that in small neighborhoods even more than in large, we need to reach out to one another. Neighborhood Watch reduces opportunity for crime to occur, it is proactive rather than reactive. She explained that she sees crime as happening along a triangle of dynamics: ability to do the crime, motive or desire to commit the crime, and opportunity. By removing the opportunity, crime can be decreased. She told some success stories from her personal experience and that of others she’s worked with. Neighborhood Watch works as effectively in villages as large cities. She explained four levels of prevention: Level One- Deter, for example warning signs and yard lights; Level Two-Deny, a fence prevents access; Level Three-Delay, closed windows, locks; Fourth Level-Detection, an accurate inventory of belongings in case the first three levels did not prevent a burglary or theft. “It’s just common sense,” she said. “ Get to know your neighborhood, what stands out, what isn’t right. Secure your property. Keep detailed inventory. Use basic security, locks are NOT that expensive.”

Miles wanted to know about Citizen’s Arrests. Kris told him to ask the Troopers about that.
Kris said that police work is difficult, stressful, dealing with many social ills. Much crime is driven by alcohol and other drug abuse or mental health problems. Police work is reactive. She said there is a big push to get Native people into police work right now by the Anchorage police department and the State Troopers. The hope is that they will be able to return to their home communities trained and willing to do law enforcement work there. She never suggests that citizen’s try to take the law into their own hands.

Rita said we need to know how to stop drugs in our community and how to deal with underage drinking. Kris said from what she has learned of Nenana, “You are right on track with what you’re doing, teaching job skills, alternative activities for youth, and the Youth Court (Justice Circles). Let people give their testimony, if they’ve been able to overcome addiction and dynamics that lead to unhealthy lifestyles. There has to be some way to hold people accountable. With no accountability, you get anarchy. Some people think that’s freedom, but it’s rebellion. Law protects freedom.” She added that there will be opposition because money fuels alcohol and drug addiction.” She said she would have more to say about this at the meeting at the Tribal Hall tonight.

WELLNESS THOUGHT
Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear.
–Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Reflecting on the past reveals that indeed we do find the strength and the ability to cope with whatever experience ripples our calm. Moreover, we have come to accept that these tides of turmoil wash in new awarenesses, heightened perceptions, and measurable calm.
Tragedies are guaranteed to trigger first pain, then perceptible growth, and finally, tranquility. Over and over again we pass through these stages that are designed to nurture our fuller development as healthy human beings. Over and over we see that the tough times teach us what we’re ready to learn.
We can look to the day ahead fully expecting to be strengthened enough to handle whatever we’ve been readied to experience. Nothing will present itself that can’t be coped with.
Today I can be certain of growing. I will meet the challenges in unison with my inner strength.
You are reading from the book:

The Promise of a New Day by Karen Casey & Martha Vanceburg

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS-Because of the length of Kris’s presentation, there was no time for updates or announcements.

ADJOURNMENT: 2 P.M.

2006 08 01