Nenana Wellness CoalitionMINUTES
June 10, 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.
We had 16 in attendance including: Miles Martin, Maryellen Kanayurak, Tim Horn, Bonnie Reed, Bill, Rebecca, Aerin and Ethan Troxel, Jacob Davis, Keri Frazier, Kat McElroy, David Poppe, Shauna Mitchel, Beverley Joseph and Walter and Andrea Tommy. We had bar-b-que bear meatballs, black beans and mixed greens salad for lunch.
WELCOME: By this week’s chairperson, Tim Horn followed by the
READING OF MISSION STATEMENT.
PRAYER: Lead by Walter Tommy, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.
PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: Tim requested that we add our next Free-cycle event & Envisioning Wellness to the agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were sent to Kat by Miles; she will forward them to the WIN e-list this afternoon.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS; Jacob David and Andrea Tommy were welcomed.
SPEAKERS/TOPICS
Proposal to Re-allocate YERC to Alaska State Court System: WIN at large. Nenana Native Council chief Mitch Dementieff has proposed for the YERC to be used to house the new expanded court house. This is due to increased costs to run the building and loss of other financial support. Robin Campbell had requested community input. WIN submitted a letter to NNC yesterday stating our desire to see this decision be brought into a community decision-making process in light of the YERC’s origins (the result of a several year long community envisioning process which indicated strong community-wide support for safe, structured, supervised youth recreation, fitness center and early childhood development) as it is our understanding that bringing the court system into the YERC building would put these programs and projects out of their current spaces. Kat discussed this when she dropped the WIN letter off to Robin Campbell at the NNC yesterday. To Robin’s understanding, the YERC is costing NNC about 25 hundred dollars monthly to keep the building up and running and Head Start which is the only current income producing user of the YERC) does not generate funds enough to offset those costs on a monthly basis. Tim and Shauna both understood that the city may be willing to help offset the costs of running the YERC building. Consensus of discussion, we understand the need to generate funding to operate the building and WIN would like to help be part of coming up with solutions that would allow Head-start, the fitness center and youth recreation to continue in the YERC. Miles, Tim and Kat will collectively generate a letter to NNC requesting we be allowed to help further community-wide consideration of this decision. Shauna will ask Jason at the city office for a copy of the original grant. Beverley spoke to the issue of protocol; she suggested strategies for supporting our community’s commitment to prevention, youth recreation, pre-school and family healing.
Sober Housing – Kat McElroy spoke of the frustration community members have expressed to her due to the lack of sober housing. She suggested that we need to look beyond grants and the traditional funding options and begin to focus more on our own local resources to fill this need. In response to Rebecca’s question of what exactly she would like, Kat recalled Scotty Bennett’s sober house in Fairbanks which began as a derelict building that Scotty bought for back taxes. The residents of his sober house project did the remodel and construction work of bringing that structure up to code and over the years it has run without funding or paid staff, with house residents holding each other accountable for following the rules, holding house-meetings and maintaining order. We have community members who would be willing to step up; however, the one structure we identified as a possibility was purchased rapidly by another person last year, so we continue looking. There is clearly strong community support for this and an obvious need for the project. Beverley said that Victor Joseph with TCC may be able to assist as this is an issue in which he holds great interest. She spoke of her experience in a prison ministry and seeing that having access to sober housing and continuing care are pivotal elements to released offender’s success. She said that there is a strong disconnect they must overcome between themselves and their families and the community at large. Kat said that there is a growing push in the harm reduction community towards a movement called Housing First, that providing stable housing can be a more effective intervention for chronic inebriates and people experiencing chronic mental health problems than treatment.
Walter spoke to us about his experiences incarcerated, in treatment and in recovery. He said that he experienced institutionalized thinking and about how he has overcome that. He said that the traditional send-off party we held for him last year when he travelled outside to marry Andrea had been very meaningful to him. He said he has thought about trying to make a sober house place on his property. He has seen many changes over the years in Nenana. He would like to help community healing. He likened this to being part of his amends process. “All I can do is stay sober, reach out to others.” Andrea added that although for the time being she and Walter will be back and forth between Alaska and North Caroline, their plans are to ultimately live here. She has work experience in tourism, parks and recreation and the city. She has some skills to offer. She thinks it is important to help youth avoid that sense of entitlement, to teach them how to help themselves instead of expecting other people to take care of things for them.
Re-Cycle Picnic – Tim says she was very pleased with the picnic and free-cycle and would like to schedule the next one now. July 19th, a Saturday, at 6PM at the Troxel’s was agreed upon. Rebecca says she estimated over 65 participants at the picnic. She hopes more people will participate in the free-cycle. She and Bill imagine this can become a monthly event even during the winter months, if we can find a space to use during the cold weather. David remarked that some of the tourists he drove into Kantishna Lodge this week had been in Nenana during River Days and spoke favorable of their observations of our community celebration. It was suggested we should make a Walking Map for Nenana, to be handed out at the Visitor’s Center. Miles will try to find the old map that was used for the Nenana web site.
Envisioning Wellness – Tim suggested July 15th for David Poppe to present on Peak Oil. He said that will work for him. Tim will take a photograph of him and get biographical notes from him for the flyer.
WELLNESS THOUGHT
“Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.” Aldous Huxley
UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bev announced she will be hosting an Inspiration again this Wednesday evening, 7 PM, at St. Mark’s church Parrish Hall. It is open to the community. Soup and tea will be provided. Everyone is encouraged to bring a musical instrument and join for song and fellowship.
Bonnie announced that the Ice Classic will be having their annual meeting and dinner tonight, 6”30, at the Civic Center.
Kat announced that Wendy Arundale will be presenting a workshop for Railbelt tomorrow, 10 AM thru 3 PM, at the YERC. The issue is SAFETY STAGE TREATMENT FOR TRAUMA. The workshop is open to the public. Lunch will be served. It is open to the public.
OPEN FLOOR FOR COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION: Discussion ensued regarding parenting workshops. It is agreed that WIN wishes to help parent effectiveness and other parenting support come to fruition. Rebecca volunteered to provide child-care for this. She will recruit assistance. It was suggested that we invite Nita Marks to our WIN meetings specifically to plan for this, as it is an issue that she has to deal with regularly.
ADJOURNMENT: 2:10 P.M.