Date:  

December 8, 2005

Facilitator:  Maureen Cary

Location:

3 Blue Streak Blvd., 2^nd floor, School District Administrative Offices

Recorder: Robin Ambrosino

Attendees:

Robin Ambrosino, Lori Beer, Kati Behrens, Jim Bell, Maureen Cary,
Julie Cobello, Kelly Coon, Judy Ekman, Michelle Hadden, John Kelly, Bev LaBarge,
Stephanie Lang, Mike Laudicina, Marie MacPherson, Diane McGarry, Tim Moon,
Dan Morley, Karen Pettigrew, Eleanor Stanton, Dan Tallman, Judy Tirelli, Dave Torres.
 

Materials Distributed:

n/a

News and Announcements

ˇ        Becky Dixon from Saratoga County Treatment Court said the next graduation will be on January 17^th and will also include Family Treatment Court participants. To attend, call her at 884-4781.

ˇ   Saturday, December 10^th will be the DARE Christmas party at the Elks Club on Maple Avenue. There will be roughly 110 kids coming, aged 2-12. Jim Bell bought gifts of necessary items, such as boots and coats, and thanked Partnership and Prevention Council staff for wrapping gifts.

ˇ  MADD Capital Region will hold meetings on the first Thursday of each month at their Latham office. Everyone is welcome. Group is planning a Road Rally in June, possibly associated with a safety fair and antique car show. MADD is also fundraising in order to offer this year’s multimedia program at area schools in May. They’ve already had some donations and scheduled some schools, but there are 18 slots still open for programs at other high schools. Also, MADD’s Tie One On For Safety red ribbons are available at the Thruway entrance, or by calling 785-6233.

ˇ      The All Stars Club has 30 6^th graders in lunch groups at Maple Avenue Middle School. The next After School event will be bowling at Hi-Roc Lanes on Wed., Dec. 21^st. Also, Kati held the first Parent Action Committee meeting in late November. Their next meeting will be in January. Plans are underway to have a workshop available in February.

ˇ  On Monday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m., there will be a kickoff press conference for New York’s Methamphetamine Demand Reduction Program at the Saratoga County Drug Court in Ballston Spa in order to publicize information about and prevent the spread of methamphetamine use. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is hosting the event with help from a grant secured by Congressman John Sweeney. For more information, contact Kevin Collins at 610-351-6214.

ˇ    Saratoga Center for the Family will host its next Strengthening Family program for parents and youth age 10-14 starting Tues., January 10, 2006 from 5 – 7:15 p.m. For more information or to register, call 587-8008.

Partnership Updates

ˇ      The Partnership wrapped up its most recent Strengthening Families course at Maple Avenue Middle School on November 15^th. Staff is now coordinating with Dorothy Nolan Elementary to offer a course at that school in January. The Partnership’s next session at Maple Avenue will be in March.

 ˇ  Maureen asked partners to put a check next to their names if they can attend the January coalition-building meeting. This meeting will take place from 2-6 p.m., but won’t be a typical meeting. Instead Steve Ridini will help identify Partnership strengths and plans for the coming years. This is a great time for new people to join the meetings to see where we’ve been and where we’re going. Maureen asked partners to be sure to review the Youth Survey results from earlier this year to prepare for the January meeting.

ˇ  Maureen and John Kelly met on Dec. 7^th with Will Manzueta, who’s selling his retail store near Jefferson Terrace and was in the newspapers discussing the possibility of turning the site into a community center. Will has been invited to join our January meeting.

ˇ  After months of delays and uncertainty, Partnership staff have finally received the Parent Youth survey results from our consultant in Rochester. Staff is still evaluating the results, and will have a summary prepared for February. The Events and Activities committee is talking with other coalitions about possible media campaign to publicize the results.

ˇ      Today’s meeting will be shorter than usual to make time for the holiday party. Committees met briefly to bring people up to speed and identify what to work on in the next few weeks.

ˇ  Location for the January meeting may be the school district offices or the Prevention Council conference room depending on the number of people attending. Staff will let partners know the location within the next couple weeks.

ˇ  Partners who have identified people to invite to the meeting should make the first contact, then contact staff to follow up.

Coalition Building and Membership
Committee

Events and Activities
Committee

Public Information
& Data Collection

ˇ  Group is planning the next Parent Action Committee meeting. Date is still TBD. Brainstormed about how to connect with established but lapsed members and bring more people to the table for the January meeting.

ˇ  Plans for First Night activities are coming along well. Group discussed  using the Partnership’s display board and new banner, offering crafts for young children, and sophisticated goggles that simulate intoxication with an obstacle course for older children. Committee members are planning to be at the YMCA’s Cyber Café from 5:30 – 9:30 that night. There are still some time slots open, so anyone who would like to volunteer that night should call Maureen at 581-1230.

ˇ      Group agreed on the need to meet again before the January meeting to finalize plans for the next Community Risk Profile. Robin’s maternity leave will begin at the end of February, and group hopes to the updated Youth/Parent survey results and the updated Risk Profile ready by then.

ˇ  Partners will connect with potential invitees and get back to Kati with results.

ˇ  Info and Data committee will meet again at 1 p.m. on Wed., December 21^st in the Prevention Council Conference Room. Robin will contact committee members not at the December meeting to see if they can attend.

Next Meeting

The next Partnership meeting will take place on Thursday, January  12^th at a location to be determined. Stay tuned for more information.