Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2007
Attendance:
Jennifer Tempest Bova, Lisa Daniels, Barbara Daudelin, Carolina Duque, Jackie Fleming, Pat Garrity, Bruce Johnson, Lisa Koklamanis, Adam Krieger, Theresa Loerch, Karen May, Peggy Miller, Liz Nelson, Del Parra, Mary Penich, Margaret Resnick, Michelle Ricker, Kathy Ryg, Lisa Sheppard, Connie Willegal, Jan Zobus
I. Meeting called to order at 8:40 a.m.
II. Officer Reports
A. Co-President – Kathy Ryg reported that the Governor’s proposal was out and that there were a lot of initiatives currently on the table. The Illinois After School Alliance used information from their survey to determine their FY08 policy recommendations, which were e-mailed to those on the LCASC list. A copy of the survey results as well as their Legislative Priorities and Recommendations were distributed at today’s meeting. Kathy also mentioned that she was invited to speak at the next Northern Fox Valley After School and Beyond Network meeting. Kathy will speak on the upcoming Youth Empowerment Summit as well as Underage Drinking Prevention efforts.
B. Co-Vice President – Connie Willegal reported that at the conclusion of today’s meeting, the Board of Directors would meet to review and vote on the proposed revisions of the by-laws and strategic plan.
C. Secretary – Theresa Loerch reported that the coalition had received an email
indicating that there were too many e-mails being sent to the LCASC each week. The sender suggested that e-mails be grouped together and sent out weekly. There was discussion that this would take incredible coordination and the consensus was that if one was not interested in a particular e-mail they should just delete it. Several mentioned that there was useful information in the e-mail blasts and there should not be a limit.
D. Treasurer – no report
III. Committee Reports
A. Youth Advisory – Pat Garrity reported that the committee has been currently
working to train the adult and high school facilitators in preparation for the 2007 “Be the Change!” - Youth Empowerment Summit scheduled for Tuesday, April 10th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The committee has already reached its goal of one hundred 7th and 8th graders registered and currently has a waiting list. A decision is needed to determine if they should increase attendance numbers and if so, a location change will be necessary to accommodate a larger group. Pat also reported they were able to get participation from many schools across Lake County including Antioch, Barrington, Mundelein, Round Lake, Waukegan and Zion. The agenda will consist of the keynote speaker, Kevin Wanzer, a large group icebreaker, breakout sessions for students (students will have a choice of two breakout sessions: self image, substance use/abuse and teen relationships), lunch, “crossing the line” (activity for students; adults will be in a separate discussion group to learn about this activity and suggestions on how to support students back at school), reflection (student and adults), student team action planning (led by each adult chaperone and a high school facilitator to set a personal goal, a school goal, and a community goal), discussion with Kevin Wanzer and closing activities.
Mary Penich reported that invitations to the Pre-Summit breakfast were mailed to the Advisory Board Members and that she has already received several responses. Theresa Loerch reported that thank you letters and invitations to the breakfast were being sent to the sponsors of the Youth Summit. An e-mail invitation will be sent to the Board of Directors. There was discussion about inviting several of the teen facilitators to the breakfast. Pat said the committee will put together a list of the high school students who would be attending the breakfast.
Connie Willegal reported she will take care of the signage for the sponsors as well
as the agenda for the breakfast. Theresa reported that Congresswoman Melissa Bean has confirmed that she will speak at the breakfast. Kathy Ryg said that her office will write the press release for the day’s events. Pat Garrity also mentioned that each of the youth attending would leave with a bag filled with materials, including the book “Be The Change: Your Guide to Freeing Slaves and Changing the World” by Zach Hunter (paperback-Mar 2007).
For more information regarding the Youth Empowerment Summit, please contact
Pat Garrity at pgarrity@co.lake.il.us or Sharon Sanders-Funnye at ssfunnyebgclc@aol.com
During the discussion of sponsorship there was mention of the possibility of the Lake County After School Coalition receiving a 501c3 status. Connie Willegal suggested that this might be worthwhile to look into; Bruce Johnson said he would check into it.
B. Underage Drinking Prevention – Liz Nelson reported youth focus groups have been conducted at Stevenson High School and Carmel Catholic High School and she was in the process of scheduling others at Zion-Benton High School and Round Lake High School. The information collected should be very helpful in guiding where the committee focuses its efforts. Thus far the students have shared that it is very easy for them to get alcohol, especially from their homes or a friend’s home because the alcohol is not monitored well. The 2006 Lake County Illinois Youth Survey data is now available and will be discussed at the committee meeting on 3/20/07.
The Lake County Chiefs of Police Association's (LCCPA) underage drinking committee invited police departments to participate in alcohol countermeasure enforcement efforts the week of St. Patrick's Day. Eleven departments participated and of the 126 establishments where compliance checks were conducted, 36 sold to minors. While overall this is not a bad percentage, some municipalities had half or more of the businesses checked that did not comply. ABC-7 Chicago aired a story on the compliance checks including footage from Round Lake and interviews with Chief Rose and an Illinois State Trooper on Friday, March 16 at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Theresa Loerch distributed copies of the story that was included on ABC-7 Chicago's website with the video footage. Another round of compliance checks will be conducted before prom season, probably in mid April. Rep. Ryg asked that the compliance check information be distributed to our local senators and representatives so they have the option to include it in their newsletters as a way to publicize the efforts.
Taking the lead from Deerfield and Highland Park, the LCCPA along with several municipalities across Lake County passed resolutions in support of Senator Susan Garrett's bill that changes the penalties for parents who host underage drinking parties. Currently the bill is in the rules committee but is expected to move out of committee as soon as an amendment with minor language changes is made.
On Thursday, April 12th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. a Community Forum on Substance Abuse is being held in collaboration with Stevenson Area P.R.O.U.D. (People Rallying to Oppose Underage Drinking). The forums are being replicated in support of the Southwest Coalition's 19th annual event that is focused on policies and legislation related to underage drinking. There are about 15 forums being held across Illinois. Letters inviting municipal and township officials as well as state and federal legislators to the Community Forum are being sent out today. A media advisory will be sent out as well as e-mails and other communication promoting the event. Local and county task forces and coalitions will be highlighted and everyone will have a chance to network and share successes. We hope to see everyone at the forum.
The Underage Drinking Prevention committee meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month beginning at 9 a.m. at the Girl Scouts-Illinois Crossroads Council facility in Vernon Hills.
IV. Announcements
A. Michelle Ricker announced that the 19th Judicial Circuit and Lake County Juvenile Justice Council will sponsor their 4th Annual Girl-Wise Conference taking place on Saturday, April 21st from 9-3 p.m. at the College of Lake County; Grayslake Campus – Building C (Auditorium). For more information, call (847) 377-7800.
B. Adam Krieger announced that he would be forwarding information regarding a grant application for child abuse prevention ~ Lake County Exchange Clubs Prevention of Child Abuse Foundation. The Lake County Exchange Club Foundation consists of men and women from local Exchange Clubs, working together for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Lake County. The Foundation’s principal function is to distribute grants to private agencies or community groups for specific child abuse programs that fulfill the purposes and objectives of the Foundation. The following are the criteria for application: Programs that focus on the primary prevention of child abuse and serve primarily Lake County. Grant requests should not exceed $3000.00. Monies available for distribution will depend on the yearly fundraising success of the Foundation. Grants are due by 5/30/07. For a 2007-2008 grant application, please call Adam Krieger at (847)244-1101 ext. 402.
C. Connie Willegal announced that as part of a regional Girl Scout realignment, Illinois Crossroads Council is merging with six Chicago metropolitan Girl Scout councils (from Illinois and northwest Indiana) to form a new council ~ The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. This name has been chosen because it clearly identifies and is inclusive of the region to be served …..seven Girl Scout councils will join together as one. The first day for their new Council is October 1, 2007. For more information, visit their website at www.ilcrossroads.org
V. Board of Director’s report
Connie Willegal reviewed the proposed revisions for the strategic plan and by-laws with the members present from the board. (Michelle Ricker, Mary Penich, Liz Nelson, Carolina Duque, Bruce Johnson, Jennifer Tempest Bova, Lisa Sheppard, Kathy Ryg and Theresa Loerch) There was discussion on these proposed revisions and changes were made accordingly. The board voted to approve the revisions. Connie will send the final copy to be posted on the LCASC website.
VI. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
Upcoming Meeting Dates:
General Membership
w May 14th (Monday) at 8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
w June 18th (Monday) at 8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
Underage Drinking Prevention Committee
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