Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions

Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes
September 19, 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 13 people in attendance today including Bonnie Reed, Maryellen Kanayurak, Kat McElroy, Tim Reed, Gene & Diane Jensen, Jeff Martin, Rob Thomason, Mike Anderson, Earl Polk, Rita Pierce, Miles Martin and Jenny Irwin.

We had lunch of moose stew and Pilot Bread, cooked by Kat. Moose meat supplied by Miles.

WELCOME and READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By this week’s chairperson, Bonnie Reed.

PRAYER lead by Rita Pierce and was followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: Rita asked to be added to the agenda and requested to go first as she would need to leave early.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES-were completed last week by Miles and emailed to the WIN e-list by Kat with no noted suggestions or any requests for changes.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Diane introduced her son-in-law Jeff Martin who has taken on the tasks of design and layout of the Nenana Messenger newspaper.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

Neighborhood Watch Meeting - Rita Pierce reported that there were about a dozen people at the Neighborhood Watch meeting last night at the Tribal Hall. She said that Thursday, September 21st, Neighborhood Watch will be doing a free all-day workshop in Anchorage. Anyone wanting to attend can get further information from Rita. The trainer, Neighborhood Watch national representative John Mathews, and his cohort Emily Early, will be in Nenana the next day, Friday and will give a mini-workshop at the cafeteria at Nenana City Public School from 4-5:30 PM. This is open to the public and anyone interested in learning more about Neighborhood Watch is encouraged to plan to attend. Discussion ensued regarding the program. Gene said that he believes it is a good organization, “but only as good as the people involved, of course.” We discussed the need for police enforcement in our community. It was mentioned that it took two days to get a trooper response to a felony drug incident at the student living center.
Health Fair Survey – Tim was given the Health Fair community needs surveys administered by RMHA staff during the dance last Friday. The tally indicated that the most desired topics in order of most votes was: Traditional Methods of Healing, Weight Control & Exercise, Cancer, Diabetes, and Depression. This information was from the 20 or so surveys completed Friday night. Discussion ensued regarding other venues to get a wider sampling of the community. Rob said that surveys could be completed by students at school if no identifying information was attached to the process. Railbelt printed off several hundred and will provide the school with blank surveys to administer to high school and jr. high students. It was suggested we ask Marilyn to have some at the store with an envelope for people to fill-out and drop off there. Ditto the library, perhaps the city office, and would people be willing to take surveys to the various church bodies. Surveying a wide segment of the community will give us a clearer idea of our target population and topics for the proposed health fair. No date set as of yet.
Exercise Leader Training – Tim Horn stated that she has not heard back from the gentleman that she contacted regarding this, but that she will call again and hopefully get back to us on the issue.
Art Train – Miles Martin announced that Crowley donated a thousand gallons of fuel to Art Train. (Earl interjected that Crowley also donated the pallets for the NSLC basketball court.) Art Train will arrive in Nenana on Monday, October 9th. There is a reception slated that evening at the Tribal Hall, 6 PM. Mike Anderson and NSLC will cook the main dish, Salmon. Miles will get the salmon, donated by Karen Lord, to Mike. It is felt that we need to assign other dishes specifically for the pot luck. Miles will ask Robin if NNC would be willing to make moose soup. Mike asked about paper plates, etc. Railbelt has plastic ware they could donate. Miles thinks the Chamber has Styrofoam cups. He’ll do an inventory by next week to see. There is no money budgeted for lodging. Art Train folks will eat breakfasts and lunches at the school. As their schedule was set by them to run ‘til 8 PM they will have catch late supper at NSLC. Diane has posters and will send some to Minto and Manley Hot Springs. She also said she would contact Jeri Lucier in Healy to ascertain that Healy and Cantwell schools are being informed of the event. Art Train would like a specific schedule so they will now when to expect each group of students. It was suggested to Miles that he have a couple of organizational meetings between now and the event as there is not a good informational feedback loop and people are confused about what’s happening, when, and where. Miles indicated this is a good opportunity to display and highlight the works of our local artists. Tim suggested we get Kevin Busk involved towards that goal. Rita was asked if she would be willing to make the sled they built last year at the school available for viewing. Diane volunteered to make sure invites go to VIP’s from Nenana and our neighboring communities: Minto, Manley, Healy, Anderson/Clear and Cantwell.
Recovery Employment – Kat McElroy said that we have people in our community who are in outpatient treatment or who have completed residential treatment and are in after-care who are ready willing and able to work but who need employment. There are people in Nenana who have odd jobs they need done and would be willing to hire someone who is looking for work. How can we hook them up? Is there any way that WIN can assist in this process? Economic development is a primary recovery task. Jeff suggested a job board. Both Coghill’s and the city office have bulletin boards. It would be simple to make a space for a job board, if either entity was willing to allow the use of their space for an exchange of information.
Dancing in the Street results – RMHA estimates there were about 450 people for the community dinner Friday night. The parade was wonderful. We offer big Kudos to Maryellen for that. Special thanks to Mike and the kids at NSLC for the cooking as well as set-up and break-down of the civic center. Great job, well done. We had guests from Old Minto, Fairbanks and Anchorage. Woody Salmon attended and enjoyed himself. Our guest from SAMHSA in Washington DC and the representatives from the state of Alaska Division of Behavioral Health Services had a good time and got to see our community at it’s best. The crew from Akeela House did a moving skit about the dangers of alcohol abuse and all were contagious in their enthusiasm for recovery. We gave away over 500 soaps and close to 700 lotions promoting sobriety and recovery. Everyone commented on the incredibly talented and creative uses put to the four thousand glow sticks that were passed out during the dance. We just had a really good time and it could not have happened without everyone’s efforts. Jenny noted that she taught all of her grandchildren how to do the two step and that in the old days, “We had dances all the time, no alcohol, us kids would watch our mamas and dads dance, having fun. It was good.” We all agreed we would like to see more sober dances in our future.

WELLNESS THOUGHT
A big shot is just a little shot who kept on shooting. –Zig Ziglar
Consider these words of Calvin Coolidge: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is filled with educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are alone omnipotent. ‘Press on!’ has been and always will be the answer to every human problem.”
Coolidge was right. In the successful pursuit of a vision, persistence always makes the difference. Colonel Sanders approached 1,094 restaurants before he found someone who would try his recipe for fried chicken. Thomas Edison made over 2,000 attempts before he invented the light bulb. Abraham Lincoln failed in two businesses and lost five elections before he became president.
The ability to persevere in the face of adversity takes a special kind of faith. It’s easy to get discouraged when obstacles appear. If you are in such a situation, know that time is on your side. Time plus sustained effort always produce results. After waiting 33 years to win the world championship, a coach was asked, “Was it worth the wait?” “Absolutely,” he replied. “In fact, the long delay actually made the victory sweeter.”
You are reading from the book:

Listening to Your Inner Voice by Douglas Bloch

OLD BUSINESS—None noted

NEW BUSINESS—None reported

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS—Earl announced that the first Agutag Bowl was held this weekend, with open invitation to the town to come play basketball at the student living center. This weekend will be the Powder Puff league with the girl’s playing. Everyone is invited to come starting after school Friday and continuing Saturday.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION—Jeff said that he likes the Community Watch program. He said that it bothers him there isn’t much law enforcement in our town. He noted the incidence of people speeding, “going 50 MPH in 25 MPH zones, just peeling out.” He said he is always afraid one of his children will be hurt. He added that he takes his kids to the playground and “I always have to clean up broken bottles, so they can ride their bikes there. It isn’t safe.” He reports hearing yelling and screaming, partying, at three in the morning, “Who do you call? There’s no one to report these things to.” He noted the rash of vandalism that occurred down at the boat landing. “Maybe we should make a map, to track where these incidents occur.” He suggested a phone tree, to let people know. He would like to see something done. He suggested more community get-togethers, “plan a Community Watch party, have a speaker, get discussion going.”
Tim reminded us that currently we have Community Watch meetings the first Thursday of every month, with a pot-luck, and everyone is invited.

ADJOURNMENT at 2 PM.

Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES

September 18th, 2007

 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 eight in attendance today including: Maryellen Kanayurak, Bonnie Reed, Rob Thomason, Kat McElroy, Miles Martin, Tim Horn, George Albert and Keith Seig. We had lunch: bean ham soup, corn bread, fresh veggies and mixed nuts & raisins.

 

We had an informal meeting today. There was no official WELCOME or READING OF MISSION STATEMENT. Nor was there a PRESENTATION OF AGENDA; there was no CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: minutes were submitted electronically last week by Miles, Kat did not forward them to the WIN e-list as she cannot locate them in her cached messages. Miles will resend to Kat to be forwarded.

 

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No guests this date.

           

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

 

There were no formal topics. We discussed an article in the Daily News-miner that explored the issue of binge drinking in Alaska. Tim wanted to know if there is or is not a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. Tim read from the article about what the writer termed “firewater myths,”—that Native Americans are more susceptible to addiction. Kat said that in addiction, across all psycho-active substances, there seems to be a pretty much standard rule of ten percent of people who use any given substance on a regular basis will develop addiction, ninety percent will not. This holds true across racial and ethnic lines. All the latest research has failed to find a genetic marker, yet there does seem to be a pattern of alcohol abuse/addiction in families. Kat said that with addiction represented strongly on both sides of her family, her recommendation to her grandchildren has been Zero Use. “Why take any chances?” Nevertheless, there is a difference between heavy drinking and alcohol addiction, the same as there is a difference between heavy drug use and addiction.

            Alcohol/Drug Use by Our Youth—Keith and Rob said that in the past week they have had to send several NSLC students back to their home villages due to alcohol/drug use. Rob said that in one case, the individual was so intoxicated he became violent and the troopers had to be called in. Keith said that it took the troopers over an hour to respond to the situation. Rob said that upon question, NSLC youth describe being able to obtain alcohol and drugs very easily within our community. The youth have named several houses and individuals were alcohol and drugs are obtained. Discussion ensued regarding how to support our youth in NOT succumbing to the lure of alcohol and drugs. Further discussion explored the issue of what we as a community can do to challenge the dynamics that allow ready access to alcohol and other drugs in Nenana. Rob said that they have identified areas and houses in the community where they do not want their students to go. The school cannot be the police, however, he noted. We need a strong community response.

Bonnie suggested that Rob take this issue to the city council. It seems that drug/alcohol use is more prevalent since we have no police presence in our village.

Tim suggested that we bring it also to the community pride/village safety meeting October 4^th. Bonnie said we need a PA system for that as it is too difficult to hear what people are saying in the native hall when there are very many people there.

Miles asked if this was something that neighborhood Watch could help out on. He mentioned the NW speaker that came to Nenana lat year who talked about a group of people in a community who were having similar problems and used Neighborhood Watch to physically go and clean up the neighborhood. They got abandoned autos hauled away, removed trash and garbage. He also thinks outing up signs would help.

Rob said that the city isn’t currently represented at WIN. Our goal isn’t to take shots at the city, but we need to know what is in place or can be put in place to help our kids avoid trouble. “We need to do something sustentative. As it is, it is too easy for our kids to go astray.”

Kat suggested organizing a Task Force with representatives from WIN, the school, the city, the Native Council, students, residents at NSLC and any one else interested. Maybe putting our collective heads together we can come up with some strategies that will work. She emphasized her belief that we need to ask the kids themselves what they think might help or work. She also offered to do alcohol/drug education at NSLC for staff and residents.

George said we should take the issue to the Native Council as well. He said that he thought they were going to get a grant to have a village safety patrol officer. Tim said it is her understanding that Nenana doesn’t qualify for a VPSO because we are on the road system. He discussed his frustration as a council member because so many in our community don’t see youth alcohol/drug use as a problem.

             Dancing In The Streets—Maryellen Kanayurak reported that the parade, dinner and dance went well. We had about 200 people at the dinner, Kat estimates. Tim wondered why more students didn’t stick around for the dance. Some expressed disappointment that the bon fire didn’t happen. Everyone seems to have enjoyed the event however. 

OLD BUSINESS—None noted

   

NEW BUSINESS—None announced

     

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tim asked about the Farewell Tea for Walter Tommy. There was concern that Tommy and Theresa Titus might be too preoccupied to spearhead this event. Kat will check with Walter to see if WIN needs to do soup. Tim will make Jell-o. Bonnie will make cake. Kat will make fry bread. Maryellen volunteered to make flyers. Miles will distribute same. George will check on use of the Native Hall. Kat will make fry bread. The event will be as scheduled, this Saturday, September 22^nd, at the Tribal Hall.

 

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION—None noted

 

Bonnie closed the meeting with a prayer.

 

ADJOURNMENT at 2:00 PM

Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes for September 11th 2007

Minutes taken by Miles

Chaired by Laura

Meeting started at 12:30 at the Student Living Center.

Present were Kat, Mary Ellen, Bonnie, Miles, Laura , and a guest, Shelby Sainz (Kat’s Niece)

Mission statement was read By we skipped that

Prayer by– I forget but we was blessed

The Pledge was recited –yup Bonnie held a paper flag
The usual good food was brought by Kat, and Mary Ellen brought some fresh home made cookies along with her children.

Reports
Mary Ellen gave a Dancing in the Street report. She shopped for Mike, so food is figured out and all else is on track too. Jason needs to be contacted about a power issue at the Pavilion and if that can not be worked out, the event will have to be at the Civic Center.
Kat wants to make Eskimo ice-cream but needs blueberries still. Ray Fox carried a pile of burnables to the river for a bon fire.

Mary Ellen passed on the news that the Lions Club is having a meeting at the fire hall tonight.

Kat stated there might be a filming of the parade for Sober day. Kristine from Alaska Tobacco Alliance is expected to come. Soap needs labels yet. Several floats are signed up.

We moved on to a new topic. Kat gave hand outs printed from a web site that has interesting bits of information worth seeing and this one was about binge drinking. There were a lot of statistics and studies done with teens, showing measurable brain damage long after a binge drinking episode. Binge drinking is different from being an alcoholic, and this needs to be recognized.

Rob from the school poked his head in to say hi, and he is busy, but let us know the dorm broke the ’80 student ‘ barrier which was the goal. The web site for the school is http://nenanasc.org

The group got back to discussing the hand out and Kat pointed things about it out to us. Counseling helps those who binge drink, and this help can be from a non professional and we should all take note of this.

We went around the table asking for reports from organizations. Bonnie gave a seniors update. Seniors are looking for a bus driver. This is a paying position but not enough to live on, so would have to be part time for someone. This does not have to be someone with a commercial drivers license.

Miles gave an update for the Chamber but first informed us the 3% for art projects worth $3,000 at the school went to RJ, and there were 4 submissions. The Chamber of Commerce had a board election and the results still have to be announced at our next meeting and board positions voted on. The Chamber is expecting to have fewer meetings required, and have this put in our bylaws, with special sessions possible when there is a projects of importance for us. The Lions club has taken over some of the Chamber’s functions. One reason the Chamber formed is because the Lions club was disbanded and a new organization needed to fill it’s place, back 10 years ago or so.

The meeting was informal with round table discussion working well. We drifted from one topic to another somewhat- but got out information we wanted to get out, everyone who wanted to give a report had a chance. We vaguely wondered about a potlatch spoken of last week by Tom Titus, but no update. We wondered about Rita Pierce and the neighborhood watch. We were told Rita is moving to Fairbanks. We miss our neighborhood watch report.

Meeting ends at 1:30

Nenana Wellness Coalition
AGENDA
September 4th, 2007

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 eight in attendance today including: Maryellen & Sam Kanayurak, Bonnie Reed, Mike Anderson, Rob Thomason, Kat McElroy, Miles Martin and Keith Seig. We had lunch: barley ham soup, smoked bear sausage, fresh veggies and mixed nuts & raisins.

WELCOME: By this week’s chairperson, Bonnie Reed, followed by her READING OF MISSION STATEMENT.

PRAYER: was lead by Sam Kanayurak followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA; there was no CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: minutes were submitted electronically last week by Kat, with one typo correction suggested and implemented.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No guests this date.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

Sober Transitional Housing—Kat McElroy brought a binder with information she has gathered over the past four years on transitional sober housing projects. They break down into three primary types: for-profit, non-profit and privately funded. She gave examples of each. She noted that Oxford House in Fairbanks has supplied her with all of their start-up information which is the compilation of their collective experience over several decades of creating sober transitional housing. She talked about Hope House in Arizona which has a high success rate with their residents, 90% of whom remain clean & sober. She also described the process her friend Scottie went through when he got a derelict building in Fairbanks for the cost of back taxes and remodeled it using the sweat equity of his sober house residents. He also has a high success rate with residents staying several years before transitioning into independent living situations. Discussion ensued exploring if sober housing is a viable option for Nenana. Kat gave a brief overview of the efforts of WIN towards this goal to date. The biggest problem is creating an economic base that will allow the place to support itself. This was the thing that made the old Corner Bar a prime location: on-site commercial kitchen which could be run as a restaurant and in turn make jobs for the residents. How could this be done utilizing community resources already in place? Sam asked about tying sober housing to a commercial venture. He used smoking moose hides as an example. He cited Alex Ketzler’s efforts; could this not be an opportunity to make an industry. Smoke tanned hides are sold now for around a thousand dollars each. Kat agreed, not only would it produce a premium commodity for sale, smoke-tanned moose-hides, but perhaps another opportunity for summer tourism season, demonstrating this traditional activity to our visitors. Workforce development was always a primary concern when Bear Ketzler initially brought the issue of sober housing to WIN four years ago.
Further discussion focused on previous and current efforts in Nenana to create employment opportunities for our people. No concrete plans were formulated but there continues to be interest in this issue.

Dancing In The Streets—Maryellen Kanayurak reported that she has eight or nine entities committed to the parade portion of our recovery-month celebration including the Living Center, the library and TCCC. The veterans are coming from Fairbanks and Nenana. The Nenana Native Clinic Health Aides will be throwing toothbrushes again this year, which was much appreciated by the crowds last year. Mike has given the shopping list to Railbelt staff who will order the food for him to prepare for the dinner. Kat says that they have about 350 bars of Get Clean/Stay Clean soap and about 300 bottles of Hip. Slick & Sober body lotion made for giveaway. Flyers have been distributed around the state. Everything seems to be moving along.

WELLNESS THOUGHT—We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit.—-Aristotle

OLD BUSINESS—None noted

NEW BUSINESS—None announced

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rob announced that there is a school board meeting tonight at 6:30 at NCPS. He also said that he had an opportunity to speak last Thursday to a group of other superintendents of Alaska schools as well as to the state Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Education, Spellings, about No Child Left Behind. His sense of the dialogue is that changes will be made in NCLB to accommodate for small and rural school districts which face dramatically different dynamics than larger urban schools. He said that NSLC took about 50 students up to Pioneer Park for a picnic on Sunday, which was a huge success. Back To School Open House will be 6:00 though 7:30 PM September 13th, . Mike will be serving hot dogs at the cafeteria.
Keith announced that current NSLC enrollment by Thursday will be 78 with several more yet expected. He mentioned that Bambi Alexie, who just completed the EMT training, received a Yukon Fisheries merit-based scholarship for 5 thousand dollars. Go Bambi!!! He continues working to instill a culture of achievement at the Living Center. They have been identifying those in need of intensive tutoring which takes place during evening study hall. He is making a Call Out to the community at large for volunteers. He mentioned that Rob has been tutoring math. The school district wants to focus on vocational education so that students will be able to directly enter the workforce after graduation if they wish.
Bonnie announced that the Seniors need a new van driver. The position is part time, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, about 11 AM-2 PM, with no benefits. It could include periodic trips to Fairbanks as well. Anyone interested in applying should contact Vickie at the Senior Center.
Mike Anderson announced that he is running for city council again, Seat F.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION—None noted

ADJOURNMENT at 1:30 PM