Date:  

March 9, 2006

Facilitator:  Maureen Cary

Location:

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

Recorder: Lori Beer

Attendees:

Mike Laudicina, Dave Torres, Kelley Bayer, Jim Bell, Tim Moon, Derra McNamara, Judy Tirelli, Stacy Bold, Marie MacPherson Diane McGarry, Michelle Hadden, Judy Ekman, Lori Beer, Kati Behrens, Annie McGlynn, Maureen Cary.

 

Materials Distributed:

Invitations to the 3/28/06 Capital Region Town Hall meeting at UAlbany.

Overview

News & Announcements

·      Tim Moon announced that The Prevention Council’s annual Safe Spring conference would take place on March 16 at Skidmore College, starting at 8:30 a.m. The keynote speaker is Bobby Petrocelli, a motivational speaker who will discuss his personal experience as the victim of DWI.      

·      Stacy Bold of Girls Inc. reported on the 2/28/06 “Safe in My World” panel discussion to raise awareness of violence among children and youth adults and how to prevent it. Stacy said Girls Inc. has been trying to get more programming into Saratoga County but has been having difficulty finding available space. The long-term goal for Saratoga County is a Girls Summit.

·      Marie MacPherson announced that a parenting education program called “Clean and Sober Parenting” would be offered for six weeks on Thursdays from April 6^th to May 11^th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Prevention Council. For more info. or to register, call 581-1230.

·      Michelle Hadden reported on the press conference at the Saratoga County District Attorney’s office in Ballston Spa at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 6^th to kick off National Problem Gambling Awareness Week. The event also raised awareness about a conference on adolescent gambling on Thursday, April 27^th at Longfellows Inn and Conference Center. Keynote speaker will be Jeff Derevensky of McGill University, an international expert in adolescent gambling research and prevention. For more information or to register, call 581-1230 ext. 25.

·      Judy Ekman distributed invitations to Partners to the Capital Region Town Hall Meeting on Underage Drinking Prevention at the Campus Center at the University at Albany Uptown Campus to be held March 28^th, 2006. The featured speaker will be Richard F. Catalano, Ph.D., director of the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington. Dr. Catalano is nationally recognized for his research into effective social development strategies that promote positive youth behaviors.

·      Lori Beer reported that her first Shenendehowa Community Coalition meeting will take place on Tues., March 21^st at Captain Youth and Family Services in Clifton Park.

·      Kati Behrens announced that the next meeting of the Parent Action Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 12^th at the Prevention Council. The topic of self-injurious behavior or “cutting” was discussed as being of broad concern among parents.

·      Annie McGlynn, an intern at the YMCA with Mike Laudicina, announced two new programs  – a tutoring program from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and an Earth Service Corps, which will focus on environmental education and service learning. For more information, call 583-9622 ext. 137.

Judy Ekman offered the Prevention Council’s conference room.

Stacy will follow up.

Partnership Updates

•   The Strengthening Families Program is scheduled to end at Dorothy Nolan Elementary School on March 14^th. Staff is hoping to bring the program to the other elementary schools in the district in the coming year, since many schools have expressed interest in sponsoring the program.

• Maureen reported that the application for this year’s Drug Free Communities grant is due March 15^th. Unlike previous years, it’s not as competitive or involved an application process. Maureen thanked partners for the planning they did at the January meeting, since that will help staff shape the workplan portion of the application.

•   Saratoga District Attorney Jim Murphy and Police Chief Ed Moore will provide Partners with an overview of current drug trends in Saratoga Springs at the April 13^th Partnership meeting.

• Robin Ambrosino began her maternity leave on Feb. 24^th and is expected to   return to work at the end of May.

Committee Reports

•   Communication and Public Relations – Dianne McGarry and Jim Bell were present to discuss their committee’s work around a name change for the Partnership. Dianne presented her graphic design of an umbrella and suggested Kidsafe as a name change. The majority of Partners seemed unconvinced that the Partnership should consider a name change and felt the proposed changes didn’t reflect the membership of the Partnership.  

• Information and Data - Michelle Hadden and Tim Moon reported that their committee is reviewing evaluation measures for the All Stars curriculum used at summer camp and will develop a new survey tool.

• Youth Favorable Norms – The youth action committee had its first meeting on March 1^st. Kati Behrens reported that there were seven individuals from several local youth organizations were present to for the organizational meeting.

• Family Management – Staff will continue to coordinate with local elementary schools to host Strengthening Families with fifth grade families and to identify volunteers to help ensure the smooth delivery of the program.

• Laws and Norms – It was reported that the Chamber of Commerce has decided not to sponsor an underage drinking tip line with the current drug tip line. Other avenues will be pursued. Derra McNamara discussed her concerns about public drinking, especially on Caroline Street late at night on the weekends. Officer Jim Bell disagreed that there is a problem. Discussion followed concerning the late hour – 4 a.m. – of last call in Saratoga County.

·  

Committee members will discuss last call with police partners to determine if there is an increase in the number of alcohol related traffic violations and/or police calls at that hour.

Next Meeting

The next Partnership meeting will take place on Thursday, April 13th in the administrative offices at 3 Blue Streak Blvd. at 3:30 p.m.