Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions

Nenana Wellness Coalition MINUTES

March 18, 2008

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 four at meeting today, including: Kat McElroy, Tim Horn, Bonnie Reed and Maryellen Kanayurak. We enjoyed a lunch of ox-tail soup, sliced apples and dried fruit and nuts.

WELCOME: and the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT, by our chairperson, Tim Horn.

PRAYER was led by Maryellen Kanayurak followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

 

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There were several modifications requested.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were sent electronically by Kat last week Tuesday.

 

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No guests this week. Maryellen was welcomed back after her long absence for school and training.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

Health Fair Planning –Maryellen has faxed PR’s to radio stations and the newspapers. She hand-delivered a press release to our local station, KIAM. Tim reports we are still getting applications for presenters at our health fair; we have 30 tables currently registered, up from 22 last year. Set-up will begin 3 PM Friday, 3-21-08. There may have to be last minute adjustments to the schedule due to the funeral for Mavis Brown. There will be services for her at Assembly of God Church in Fairbanks at 11 AM Friday. Apparently there will be a graveside service here in Nenana that afternoon, and perhaps a gathering at the tribal hall that evening. Health Fair volunteer orientation is scheduled for 4:00 PM Friday and again at 8 AM Saturday. Blood draws are available at 8:15 AM for volunteers Saturday morning with the actual Health Fair scheduled to start at nine. Tim is finalizing the “assigned tasks” list and will forward to us via e-mail.

Envisioning Wellness – Brent Mitchell needs to reschedule his talk about Community Gardening, Spring Planting, & Cultivating Wild Berries due to his new job. We can move the date up to April 8^th. Tim has his resume and photo and will make up posters and send a blurb to the News-miner. After discussion, we decided it may be best if we make our Envisioning Wellness lunches a movable feast; while still aiming for once a month, it may work better to be flexible on which Tuesday of the month to be convenient to our speaker’s schedule.

ABC Board- Tim had left three messages with the ABC Board contact in Fairbanks but failing to receive a call back finally contacted the Anchorage office. She was able to determine that an inactive liquor license would normally be nullified after a year unless the owner of the license applied for a waiver. Typically, the ABC Board would grant up to three waivers upon request. In the case of The Corner Bar license, the estate had requested waiver and announcements of transfer of ownership were placed in The Fairbanks News-miner in October/November. Notice was posted in our local post office Nov. 5 thru 14^th. The City Council approved transfer of license apparently at their meeting in October, with no citizen’s comment.

Spirit Of The Wind-It seems that Karen Lord has a bootleg copy of this video she bought off of e-bay. She is willing to allow us to use it to view for WIN. We would also like to talk to Christine Kraus about showing it for Movie Night at NCPS. Karen is amenable to our dubbing a copy for the school and for the local library.

Meth Awareness-Per telephonic conversation with Tim, Rita is willing to do a community-wide meth awareness presentation and to talk individually to NCPS classrooms when she and her husband drive up here in mid-September to visit the Park. Kat has volunteered to cook a dinner: moose soup and fry bread. Rita has sent us a standing display for our Health Fair. Tim will ask her what manner of financial consideration her trip from the Park to Nenana for a day in the schools and an evening presentation to the community would entail.

WELLNESS THOUGHT

Happy Easter.

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Bonnie announced that Friday, 03-21-08, will be the Easter meal for the Senior Center.

Maryellen announced that she would be asking for specific help regarding her mandate to address policy change around tobacco use and indoor air issues, per her tobacco training. She will be working on expanding the Wellness Coalition and hopes to utilize various members towards that purpose.

Tim announced that the Bahai’I New Year will be celebrated Thursday night. Also she said that their new Youth Group will have their first meeting at her house at 3 PM on Thursday, 03-20-08. This is open to all fifth and sixth graders.

Kat announced that she is working on a proposal to present a workshop at the Harm Reduction conference in Miami in November: Drive-by Soupings and Other Harm Reduction Stratagies for Working in a Zero Tolerance/Abstinence Only-Based System. She hopes to be able to attend the conference with Laura Vance.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

 

ADJOURNMENT: 2:00 PM

Nenana Wellness Coalition
MINUTES
March 11, 2008

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 six at meeting today, including: Kat McElroy, Tim Horn, Rosemary Allen Rob & Susan Thomason, Leon McElroy. We enjoyed a lunch of ham & potato soup.

WELCOME: We had a very informal meeting today and did not actually have a READING OF MISSION STATEMENT, PRAYER or PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: No call for modifications

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Did Miles send minutes last week? He is working in Nome this week and unavailable to ask.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No guests this week.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

We began with updates as Rob and Susan wou8ld be leaving early to take NSLC students on a skating outing to Big Dipper in Fairbanks.
Rob announced that there were a total of 26 applicants for the superintendents position including six or eight qualified candidates from Alaska. In a closed school board session March 15, 3 to 5 most-qualified applicants shall be identified and invited to Nenana to be interviewed. The ’08-’09 school year calendar has been finalized and was posted on the school web site. NSLC students in Ms. Ronnander’s class actually made the latest recruiting brochures currently being sent out to interested schools and students. The brochures were approved by the school board. The music festival will be April 17-19 with the big concert on the 19th.
Susan reported that everyone is enjoying the art class offered currently at NSLC. She said that community members as well as students have been participating and that projects have included landscapes, water color, collage and beadwork, per the participants requests. Susan said that the teacher has had high expectations for the class and that the participants have been generating very good projects.
Tim announced that she believes the film The Spirit of the Wind will be playing at the Alaska Public Lands Office in Fairbanks this Saturday at 2 PM. She mentioned that Darcia has been trying for years to get a copy of this video for our local library so she (Tim) had called the Land Office to see where they got their copy of it as apparently even Doyon, who originally made the film, does not have a copy.

Health Fair Planning – Tim Horn gave an over-view of the Health Fair planning meeting earlier today. Progress continues. Door prizes and cash donations have been gathered. Flyers announcing the health fair will be printed and sent home with the elementary school students and placed into each of the teacher’s boxes at school. Laura is roughing out a map of the civic center to figure out where each confirmed presenter needs to be to best serve their needs. Kat will be in charge of provisioning for volunteers and snacks for those breaking fast after receiving blood-work. Kat announced at the Senior Center that vouchers for blood-work are available with Jackie at the clinic for those who may not have the resources to get the blood-work done. With only another week to go before the event, most loose ends are being tied up although we continue to receive applications for presenters. The expectation is that it will be a good health fair and we hope for a large turn-out.

Envisioning Wellness – Kat has asked Brent Mitchell if he would be willing to talk at WIN about gardening and the berry project. He is receptive to the idea. Tim would like a short bio or blurb from Brent to include in PR releases about the first Envisioning Wellness meeting which we hope to make a monthly event.

WELLNESS THOUGHT
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. —Author Unknown

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Done out of turn

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

ADJOURNMENT: 2:00 PM

Nenana Wellness Coalition
MINUTES
March 4, 2008

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.

Minutes taken by Miles
Chaired by Tim Horn
Meeting started 12:15
Present were: Kat, Miles, Tim, Bonnie
Mission statement was read By Tim
Prayer by Bonnie
The Pledge was recited

Reports

Tim gives a health fair report. A committee meeting showed some very committed people and some who might not be able to make it. Miles will donate a door prize. We discussed WIN having a table. If so we need a poster. Annette will be contacted to see if she can print cards to handed out that have information on where we meet and when.

Leading to where will we be meeting when summer comes and the Living Center may not be available. We discussed the library as we once met there. We decided the YERC would work better if we could get permission. Kat calls Robin and we get a go ahead on using the YERK as a meeting place in the summer.
It was suggested there be a no smoking emphasis at the fair. Kat tells us about acupuncture as one proven way to quit, working sometimes better then various pills and patches. Interestingly the sacred acupuncture spot is someplace behind the ear.

We discussed how to get more people involved in WIN. We came up with a list of people we’d like to see show up – who once used to be regulars or who would have a lot to contribute.
Brian Fisher, Neta Marks, Donald Charlie, the mayor Jason, chief Mitch, the new superintendent when one gets hired, Principle Joe from the school, Gene (fire and EMT) Matt Rogers (the new PA at the clinic), Kriss Kapps (community wellness in Healy), Brent Mitchel, Annette Freiburger (from the university), Sandi Eggelston, Malik Jones (state trooper), Wess Alexanader, Battery Bob in Fairbanks, Bear Ketzler, Rose from Railbelt, Vickei Moyle from Seniors.

This lead to discussion on having a guest speaker or topic of interest to attract people to meetings. We came up with a theme ‘Envisioning Wellness’ once a month, maybe the 3rd Tuesday, dedicated to a guest speaker with this topic in mind.
Tim will ask Brent to be speaker for the first meet April 15th having to do with gardening and related eating well, growing well, and being more self sufficient with our food.

Announcements:
From the 27th of May till the 19th of August WIN will meet at the Yurt.

Jr Youth group with the Bahai begins March 20th

March 18th there will be a meeting between the school and the tribe at 6:30

Meeting ends at 1:30

Nenana Wellness Coalition
MINUTES
April 1, 2008

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 five in attendance today: Kat McElroy, Rebecca Troxel, Rob Thomason, Miles Martin and Bonnie Reed. Susan Thomason was in and out periodically. We had lunch: chicken and rice with broccoli, raisins and pecans, sliced yellow apples.

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

PRAYER: Was lead by Rebecca Troxel, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.

PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: We took school district updates out of order as Rob had to leave early for a meeting.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: There is some question as to whether Miles e-mailed the minutes from last week or if Kat received them to forward. He will check and email them again to Kat.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Bonnie introduced Rebecca Troxel. She showed us a quilt she is hand-sewing, which was much admired.

School District update: Rob says the search for a new superintendent has narrowed down to three candidates, two of whom shall visit our community. The third candidate is in Abu Duba and only available for web-based interviews. The interview committee is made up of representatives from the teachers, school support staff, administration, the tribal council, NSLC staff and community members. One of the candidates is a woman currently employed in Fairbanks; the others is a gentleman working now in Kake, Alaska. There will be a board meeting tonight (April 1st) and another on the 8th. Public process is scheduled for Monday night, April 7th, in the Pit at NCPS. There will be national testing for the next three days at the school. Lastly, Rob says that NSLC needs to replace some vehicles and the washers and dryers. Funding issues, as always, are problematic.

SPEAKERS/TOPICS

Health Fair—Still to do—Kat says that Tim has written a very good thank you letter and progress report for major health fair contributors. She emailed it to Kat for her to print off copies but it came in Publisher and Kat’s computer only has Word so Tim will reformat and email again. Short thank you notes also need to be written to all the volunteers. Kat has the sign-in sheet with their names and addresses. Tim has arranged to make thank-you bouquets of Health Fair balloons to deliver along with out Thank You’s to Doyon, Coghill’s, and the Ice Classic. Kat says Crowley Marine has indicated that they would be interested in sponsorship of our Health Fair next year.

Envisioning Wellness – Brent Mitchel will be speaking at our first monthly Envisioning Wellness WIN meeting next week, April 8th. He will be presenting on Spring planting, Arctic gardening and cultivating Alaska wild berries. He has indicated he may have root stock to share. Tim has made flyers to go around town. Everyone is encouraged to invite a friend or neighbor to attend.

WELLNESS THOUGHT
We move towards and become like that which we think. Don Coyhis

UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bonnie announced that the Seniors will be going to town Thursday this week. Also that Frank Gallo has been moved into Denali Center, Birch Lane. Lastly, she reported that 14 Seniors judged the Dr. Seuss Door Decorations at NCPS: the 2nd grade class won. It was tough to judge, she said.
Kat said that Railbelt is busy finishing up monthly reports and tackling the quarterly reports. The state has initiated a new Logic Model meant to create outcome measurement data; everyone is scrambling to learn this new model for reporting purposes.
Rebecca said that she and her husband and several other couples from Nenana would be attending a National Marriage Conference this weekend in Fairbanks. She announced that their church is holding Sunday evening services at the Senior Center, 6:30 P.M. They have been viewing a series of videos called “The Truth Project.” Lastly, she said that she believes there is a Community Garden workshop at the YERC on April 18th.
Miles announced that he has some information on grants available for something called Grown In Alaska, which is money to do experimental gardening including fruit trees. Kat asked him to e-mail that information to her. We had some discussion about gardening in Interior Alaska. Miles reminded us that the community roto-tiller is available for people wanting to open up new garden spots.

OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: None

ADJOURNMENT was at 1:40 P.M.