General Membership Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2007
Attendance:
David Alarcon, Barbara Daudelin, Jim Gagne, Pat Garrity, Evie Lynch Hakeem, David Hare, Buddy Hargett, Demar Harris, JoAnn Jakubowski, Bruce Johnson, Theresa Loerch, Brenda Navik, Del Parra, Mary Penich, Ray Rose, Kathy Ryg, Sharon Sanders-Funnye, Lisa Sheppard, Debra Trude-Suter, Connie Willegal
I. Meeting called to order at 8:40 a.m.
II. Officer Reports
A. Co-Presidents – Kathy Ryg reported that the LCASC had been recognized at the Red Ribbon Rally in October 2006 with the 2006 Enrique Camerena Award ~ Community Organization Recognition for the dedication of the coalition and its members in raising awareness about the important role alcohol and drug prevention plays in raising healthy, successful youth. Kathy said that the plaque will be on display at the Mundelein Police Department. Kathy thanked all those who participated in the Illinois After School Alliance survey; information from this survey will be used to determine their FY08 policy recommendations which will be reviewed at the next Illinois After School Alliance meeting. Kathy reported that she and Debra Trude-Suter recently met with Dory Rand from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law who is spearheading the state training for the national program, FLLIP (financial links for low-income people).
Kathy announced that the Institute of Government and Public Affairs University of Illinois will be having a series of Family Impact Seminars; one being School’s Out: After-School Programs and Policies that Work to be held on Wednesday, February 28th. Information regarding this seminar will be sent to the coalition via e-mail.
Chief Ray Rose announced that he was named Co-Chair of Fight Crime, Invest in Kids and they are putting together initiatives for after school programs. Chief Rose also mentioned that Senator Susan Garrett will be holding a press conference on Monday, February 19th to introduce a bill (SB158) that aims to hold parents responsible when they knowingly allow underage kids to drink at their home and it leads to great bodily harm or death. If enacted, the new legislation means that parents in such cases could face a Class 4 felony with up to three years in prison and fines up to $25,000, instead of the current misdemeanor with a maximum of 364 days in prison and fines up to $2,500. Chief Rose said that with all the tragic accidents that have recently occurred regarding underage drinking, it is evident that new legislation is needed to try and save young lives.
B. Co-Vice Presidents – no report
C. Secretary - Theresa Loerch reported she is working on the layout for stationery and letterhead for the coalition. In the meantime, Theresa will forward the word document to Sharon Sanders-Funnye for correspondence regarding the Youth Empowerment Summit.
D. Treasurer – Lisa Sheppard reported that there are currently a total of 15 organizations and 74 individual memberships for the coalition. Lisa will be sending out e-mail reminders to the members who have not yet sent in their renewals.
III. Committee Reports
A. Underage Drinking Prevention – Bruce Johnson (on behalf of Liz Nelson) reported that Liz Nelson was representing the Barrington Area’s Community Drug Prevention Coalition at The Community Prevention Day sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in Washington DC. Bruce also reported that on February 2nd Liz Nelson, Lisa Daniels and Dr. Richard Keller, Lake County Coroner, Kris Anderson, Lake County Health Department and he attended the Illinois Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking in Bloomington. Some of the highlights discussed were the town hall meetings held across the state, current legislative initiatives regarding parents providing alcohol and ‘alcopops’, and future policy initiatives including keg registration and increasing the beer tax. Also, Liz will be conducting focus groups with several Lake County high schools relating to alcohol use among teenagers. The Underage Drinking Prevention committee meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the Girl Scouts-Illinois Crossroads Council facility in Vernon Hills.
Bruce Johnson reported on a grant opportunity for the Lake County After School Coalition. The grant application is a two step process, the first step is to write the letter of intent and the 2nd step is to formally apply for the grant. The grant is to be used to reduce underage drinking through the implementation of the Strategic Prevention Framework.
Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) project.
Grant Opportunity from the Illinois Department of Human Services
· To implement strategies at the community level as opposed to agency or program level only
· We will apply as fiscal agent for the Lake County After School Coalition
· Focus will be underage drinking in the community of Mundelein
· Statement of Qualifications due 2/23/07, if we are invited to submit a proposal, it is due 4/13/07
· If we are successful, the coalition (or a subset of the coalition) will:
o Participate in a strategic planning process that includes assessment of need
o Capacity building with key stakeholders
o Planning, include strategies for organizing, implementing, and sustaining prevention efforts
o Implement the previous strategies
o Evaluate the successfulness of the project through established measurable outcomes
There will be 18 grantees in the State of Illinois. Bruce Johnson hopes that the past efforts of the Lake County After School Coalition will make them competitive. Bruce Johnson asked the Board if this was something the Lake County After School Coalition wanted to pursue and if so, Nicasa, as the fiscal agent will be writing a letter of intent to submit to the Illinois Department of Human Services for a grant implementing the Strategic Prevention Framework. A motion was made and seconded by the Lake County After School Coalition to apply for the grant with Nicasa acting as the fiscal agent. The motion was unanimously approved and all in attendance agreed to write letters of support and participate in the grant process. Bruce also reported that he was invited by LEAD to speak on the efforts of the LCASC at the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff underage drinking task force. Bruce presented the process and results of our two town hall meetings. The problems and solutions were shared with the group to use as a framework for identifying areas that would best fit their community.
B. Strategic Planning – Connie passed out copies of the proposed revisions of the by-laws to be reviewed and voted on at the next meeting. These revisions will also be sent via e-mail to the board members
C. Youth Advisory – Pat Garrity reported that the Youth Advisory Committee has been working hard to prepare for the 2007 Youth Summit scheduled for Tuesday, April 10th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the College of Lake County, Southlake Educational Center. The program titled, “Be the Change - Youth Empowerment Summit” will offer one hundred 7th and 8th graders the opportunity to join with their peers throughout Lake County to recognize the significant role they can play in making their community a better place to live. High school students will facilitate the summit breakout sessions which include: Self-image, Substance Use/Abuse, and Teen Relationships. The goal will be that the youths will meet and interact with peers who have similar teen concerns and create possible solutions for addressing these issues and developing organizational and leadership skills to motivate other teens to join them in proposing and advancing healthy choices. The committee is currently working to train the adult and high school facilitators for the breakout groups, catering needs, and marketing materials. Kathy Ryg offered for her office to write the press releases for the event. Connie Willegal volunteered for herself and Mary Penich to handle the arrangements for the Advisory breakfast to be held prior to the Summit. Pat reviewed the budgeted amounts needed to pull off a successful event and asked for support from the coalition to help cover the costs of speaker, materials/supplies and catering costs. Kathy Ryg offered to send letters requesting corporate sponsorship to help underwrite the costs. Several coalition members offered to take the sponsorship letter back to their organization for potential donations. All sponsors will be publicly recognized for any and all support donated to the summit. It is the intent not to ask for fees from the students so that every school and youth development group in the county can send interested teens. A listing of the next committee meetings are listed below. For more information regarding the Youth Empowerment Summit, please contact Sharon Sanders-Funnye at ssfunnyebgclc@aol.com or Pat Garrity at
IV. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
Upcoming Meeting Dates:
General Membership
w April 16th (Monday) at 8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
w May 14th (Monday) at 8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
Underage Drinking Prevention Committee
w March 20th (Tuesday) at 9:00 a.m., Girl Scouts – Illinois Crossroads Council
w April 17th (Tuesday) at 9:00 a.m., Girl Scouts – Illinois Crossroads Council
w May 15th (Tuesday) at 9:00 a.m.,Girl Scouts – Illinois Crossroads Council
Youth Advisory Committee
w March 20th (Tuesday) at 6-7:30 p.m., CLC, Southlake Educational Center
w April 10th (Tuesday) from 9-2:30 p.m. Youth Empowerment Summit at CLC, Southlake
Educational Center