Meeting Minutes
June 18, 2007
Attendance:
Judy Armstrong, Lisa Daniels, Dave Field, Jim Gagne, Pat Garrity, Mark Harang, Bruce Johnson, Claudia Kasten, Theresa Loerch, Liz Nelson, Del Parra, Mary Penich, Margaret Resnick, Michelle Ricker, Kathy Ryg, Lisa Sheppard, Jim Westfall, Connie Willegal
I. Meeting called to order at 8:45 a.m.
II. Officer Reports
A. Co-Presidents – Kathy Ryg reported that she sponsored Illinois House Resolution 384 which establishes the After-school Funding Policy Task Force; which unanimously passed the House on 6/14/07. This task force is going to access the feasibility of establishing the after-school mentoring and student support line item as a sustainable after-school line item that continues from year to year. The task force will make recommendations for a policy that outlines priorities, accountability measures, administrative guidelines, and allows sufficient flexibility to meet community needs.
Kathy also reported that Bruce Johnson, Connie Willegal and she met with members of the Northern Illinois Collaboration last week to discuss working with the LCASC on quality after school and positive youth development programs. The subcommittee is preparing a proposal to present to NIC requesting the support and funding for a LCASC coordinator and for the enhancement and expansion of the LCASC-sponsored positive youth development programs. Kathy suggested asking the board of directors for an official vote to authorize the submission and follow-up of the funding proposal to NIC. Bruce Johnson also mentioned that the coalition is looking at other options for grant money.
B. Co-Vice Presidents – Mary Penich announced that this will be her last meeting; she will be retiring June 29th and Roycealee Wood will attend either the July or August LCASC meeting with Gary Pickens, the new Lake County Assistant Regional Superintendent of Schools.
C. Secretary – no report
D. Treasurer – Lisa Sheppard reported that there was currently $5,186 in the account. She also reported that there were 76 organizational and 8 individual paid memberships.
III. Committee Reports
A. Youth Advisory – Liz Nelson reported that there were several teens from the Youth Summit that had expressed interest in getting involved with the LCASC’s youth advisory committee. She asked for assistance in reaching out to these teens so that we can keep the momentum going. Theresa Loerch volunteered to send an e-mail message to the teens thanking them for their interest and letting them know that they will be contacted when the first meeting is scheduled.
B. Underage Drinking Prevention – Liz Nelson reported that at the last Lake County Chiefs of Police Association’s Underage Drinking Prevention Committee meeting it was proposed and accepted that their committee and the LCASC’s Underage Drinking Prevention Committee merge efforts. The first meeting of the new group, Lake County Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force, will be Thursday, June 21st at 7:30 a.m. at the Mundelein Police Department.
The LCASC Underage Drinking Prevention Committee hosted a networking dinner for all of the local task forces and coalitions working to address underage drinking in Lake County. About 30 people from nine different task forces/coalitions attended the successful event. Participants shared success stories, ideas for overcoming obstacles, and suggestions for future collaborations. There was also discussion on having a training event in the fall; a worksheet was passed around to gather suggestions for workshop topics. A member of the Barrington Area Community Drug Prevention Coalition’s Youth Advisory Committee, Adrienne Darrow, reported on an activity that they had implemented before prom. Several of the Youth Advisory Committee members attended the Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center’s National Leadership Conference and participated in a silent protest of underage drinking. The group found this activity very impactful and wanted to replicate it in their community. They were able to organize about 100 students to protest on the corner of Lake Cook Road and Hart Road, which is adjacent to Barrington High School, as students were arriving at school a few days before prom. Articles and pictures of the event were published in the Pioneer Press and the Daily Herald.
Liz also reported that a brief summary of the youth focus group data has been compiled and will be available on the LCASC website shortly. Some of the highlights included:
w Point of access is in their home or their friend’s home
w Students report drinking to get drunk as the main purpose for consuming alcohol
w Hard liquor is alcohol beverage choice
w There is drinking at the junior high level, but more at the high school level
w Upper classmen drink more than under classmen
w Boys and girls drink the same
A more in-depth analyzation is still being conducted.
C. Illinois Strategic Prevention Framework Grant – Bruce Johnson reported
that he had received confirmation from the Illinois Department of Human Services that the LCASC and Nicasa have been selected for funding for the Illinois Strategic Prevention Framework Grant focusing on underage drinking prevention. This will enable the coalition to: participate in a strategic planning process that includes assessment of need, build capacity with key stakeholders, organize and implement sustaining prevention efforts, implement the project and evaluate its successfulness through established measurable outcomes. Bruce reported that they are currently working on the coordination process and soon will be asking members to get involved; he is hoping their efforts in Mundelein will be a model for the county. The grant is for $100,000 over a time period of 3 years.
D. Ad/Hoc – 3rd Annual LCASC meeting – Bruce Johnson announced that the October 4th date is locked in with the Crowne Plaza North Shore. The event planning committee will meet on Monday, July 9th to go over details. An e-mail notice will be sent to the committee with location details.
IV. Announcements
A. Bruce Johnson reported he had attended CRASH Course; a program sponsored by Abbott that teaches physics and biology through reconstruction of traffic classes. The event was well attended by Lake County high schools and police departments.
B. Liz Nelson and Kathy Ryg will attend the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Underage Drinking Task Force meeting. The task force is supported by LEAD, Linking Efforts Against Drugs, and will discuss best practices in underage drinking prevention, faith-based initiatives, and legislative updates at this month’s meeting.
VI. Meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
Upcoming Meeting Dates:
General Meetings:
w July 16th (Monday) at 8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
w August 20th (Monday) at 8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
w September 17th (Monday) at 8:30 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
Lake County Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force Meetings:
w July 19th (Thursday) at 8 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
w August 16th (Thursday) at 8 a.m., Mundelein Police Department
3rd Annual Meeting Date:
w October 4th (Thursday), Crowne Plaza Hotel – North Shore