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Upcoming
Events
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The YMCA’s Saturday night program is
not doing well this year. Down to 20 kids from 75-100 last year. Flyers
used to be distributed to middle school kids – not allowed to do that
anymore. Usually the 10-15 year olds come to the program. 450 to John
for the dance on Friday. Will also get some to Nicole for the All Stars
reunions and lunch groups.
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Kids from various faith organizations
conducted a food drive on October 30th to benefit the EOC.
Was very successful. There are plans to establish a tradition of kids
working together from different faith groups.
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There will be Youth Court training on
Friday and Saturday, October 5th and 6th at State
Farm Insurance in Ballston Spa. Training is for high school-aged kids
around the county who will be trained as Youth Court officers.
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The Prevention Council applied to State
Farm Insurance and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee for a
$10,000 grant for a traffic safety class for first- time teenage
traffic offenders cited for speeding and recklessness. Will also do
research to see if class makes difference regarding recidivism.
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There is an article in today’s Saratogian
about John Kelly, who will receive Top Cop recognition at a MADD
luncheon on Tuesday, November 9th at the Century House in
Latham.
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The YES program (Youth Employment
Success) at Cornell Cooperative Extension is still looking for at-risk
kids aged 14-21 who are looking for job skills. Call 885-8995 with
referrals.
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High school students in Saratoga
Springs took another round of the Communities That Care Youth Survey in
social studies classes last Wednesday. Tim met with faculty to explain
the survey ahead of time. Middle School students will take the survey
on November 10th.
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The Saratoga County Youth Bureau has
been notified of a 10 percent funding cut for programs in 2005.
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Flyers were distributed about services
offered at Saratoga Center for the Family. The Center is in its 5th
week of Strengthening Families for this year, and another program is
slated to begin in December. ? The Center is adding an anti-bullying
program to its offerings. ? The Annual Craft Fair will be held at the
City Center the Saturday after Thanksgiving. ? The Center has received
word that it has been nationally accredited as a Child Advocacy Center.
? Bernard Amyot, a bereavement counselor with Haven Grief Counseling
Center, will have office hours at Center for the Family on Thursdays.
To make a referral, call 587-8008.
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There will be a trigger lock giveaway
at Wilton Mall on Friday, November 5th between 5-7 p.m.
Location change from City Hall.
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Nicole Karas conducted a media literacy
training at the Warren/ Washington SADD conference for about 80 kids on
October 29th. ? She has started to hold Lunch Groups for
former DARE All Stars campers . There has been such great response,
that there are currently three lunch groups once a week with 15 kids
per group. Come January, those students will go back to their regular
lunch/flex schedule to make room for another round of students
interested in Lunch Groups.
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The Kids Building Community feature
that began running in The Saratogian this spring has faltered
due to minimal nominations. There are still a few nominees left, but
the feature can’t continue unless we can ensure continuous nominations.
There are two options: one is to have the paper feature the kids
already nominated separately – not part of a regular feature. The other
option would be to have someone take responsibility (Judy Tirelli?) for
making sure there are continuous nominations so the feature can run
regularly.
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The Stop DWI group from Rensselaer
county hosted a 10-county group on October 29 to discuss the
possibility of launching a “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” awareness
campaign around the Capital District. Committees will form in the
future to discuss funding and other logistics. Crucial to the
campaign’s success is getting law enforcement and judges on the same
page around the counties. Anyone interested in joining the effort can
call 581-1230 for more information.
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John Kelly will bring flyers to the
dance at the Knights of Columbus on Friday, October 5th. Nicole Karas
will also distribute flyers to her All Stars kids who come to Lunch
Groups at the middle school.
? Partnership staff will forward
the remaining nomination forms to the paper to be featured as
there’s room, unless someone steps up to take responsibility for
getting regular nominations.
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Committee
Meetings
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Media Action Team
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Group reviewed the possible Underage
Drinking Campaign taglines brainstormed at the June 04 meeting and
whether there is a need to use a tagline at all since there’s not an
official campaign to launch.
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Plans were discussed for making the
Community Calendar available online for partners and anyone else to
access at any time.
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Group also discussed plans to develop a
weekly parenting Q&A section in The Saratogian. Judy Ekman
or Tim Moon would answer the questions, and column would be tied to
work of the Partnership.
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Group discussed choosing a theme every
month about a single issue related to safety, underage drinking, etc.
Partners would share the task of writing a monthly column in The
Saratogian, which would be surrounded with information about
partner agencies’ programs. This information would come from the
Community Calendar compiled at the June 04 meeting.
Community Forums Team
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Grant says we need to present four
community forums this year. Might be nice to invite people from outside
Saratoga Springs – elsewhere in the county.
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Nicole Karas has to do multiple media
literacy trainings this year to meet her grant requirement. Possible to
blur the lines between media literacy presentations and community
forums. Group discussed possibility of a PowerPoint presentation before
student concerts begin – captive audience. Possible to show PowerPoints
at the movie theaters, too, while also promoting other community forums.
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Group is looking into disseminating
info right now – not necessarily membership. There are local parents
who’ve said they’re interested in helping plan parent forums – have
given suggestions about topics, etc. Want to make sure parents will
have solid tasks to do if they come to help – not just sit and plan.
Maintenance and Success Team
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Nominated Kelly Bayer to chair the next
meeting, which will focus on Youth Court. Youth Court Director Lisa
Chamberlain will bring youth to the meeting to answer questions, give
demonstrations. Lisa and Kelly will also be able to answer questions
about referrals, how the program works, and its success in the area.
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Group members are also looking into
tapping some new people for membership, becoming active in the work of
the Partnership. They’ll report back in time for the December meeting.
Data Team
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Did not report out as their work is
ongoing.
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Group agreed that tagline is not needed
and that community calendar ideas below were a better means of getting
the message across.
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Robin Ambrosino will develop a template
for committee members to review at the December meeting.
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Barb Lombardo will work with Judy or
Tim separately to get the first column ready for January.
When presented to the
Partnership as a whole, members had the following suggestions:
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Have a different partner write this
column each month. Robin will be responsible for editing the columns
and forwarding them to the paper.
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Plan out the columns four months in
advance so we’re not scrambling at the last minute.
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Columns will be due the first of every
month, and should be no more than 500 words. Karen Pettigrew will write
the first one on “Tie One on for Safety,” which will be due to Robin
the week of Thanksgiving.
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By the December meeting, group will
look into ideas about how to bring forums to parents on cable access,
etc. – fresh ways to get the word out.
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John Kelly and Karen Pettigrew will
look for speakers in the area by December – i.e., victims, Olympians –
to draw people to the events.
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Lori Beer is looking into how to invite
the public/send invites.
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Judy Tirelli offered to tap HS parent
groups for ideas for parent forums in time for December meeting.
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Robin Ambrosino will call Kelly the
week before the meeting to discuss logistics, agenda, etc.
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