Members present:  Malinda Riley, Jenni Elsbernd, Barb Sauser, Melissa Johnston, Karen Tenneson, Marcia Oltrogge, Kathy Schwartzhoff, Sharon Rich, Cathy Molumby, Allen Knox, Melinda Gust, Karen Miller, Cody Cline, and Tim Corkery.

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Teacher Workroom at Valley Elementary School.

Barb Sauser from ISU Extension talked about summer programming for youth ages K-3 and 4-6th that ISU would like to do in Clermont at the Youth Center.  The Summer Day Camps will be held from 9-3 on six various days.  They will be taught by Brenda Patterson and Renee Mauer.  Recommendations from the Steering Team were:  Barb should get that dates out soon, connect with the Rec. Board, try to avoid swimming lessons dates, have some substance abuse prevention time each day, SODA students will facilitate this and help the whole day.  Malinda agreed to talk with the Rec. Board with Barb.

Sub-group Reports
Youth sub-group—lots has been happening.  Many youth helped make floats at the all VCC meeting.  SODA is planning an ice skating/shopping day at Coral Ridge Mall on February 17th.  A window in the door to the Youth Center entrance was accidentally broken.  Melissa took care of getting it repaired immediately.  There was a misunderstanding by the City Council that they thought the window had been broken a long time.  An incident at the Youth Center involving a ball being thrown and someone being hurt is being worked out with Malinda, Tim, and Kathy working with the parties.

Parent sub-group—their meetings will take place at 4:00 p.m. directly before the Steering Team meetings.  A goal is to continue to make websites and information available for parents to keep seeing accurate information.

Community sub-group--Lion’s Club presentation—Presenters were Tonya Lehmann, Kari Seabrooke, Annie Olson, Sharon Rich, and Jenni Elsbernd.   They were very interested in knowing how parents are being educated.  Randy Johnsen really encouraged many members to check more into mentoring.  The Community sub-group will meet Tuesday, February 25th at the school at 7:00 a.m.

Mentoring sub-group—Jenni, Kathy, and Melissa went to the Across Ages training at the end of January.  Jenni handed out a sheet describing the components of Across Ages.  She has mailed 5 applications for mentors for the program.  She has mailed 2 applications for mentors who are under age 55, who will be under the Drug Free Communities grant.

Space heater needed in the youth center? The youth center is often very cold.  Melissa checked into getting some wall units that would require rewiring.  Cost is:  6 foot unit=          $ 30.00, 8 foot unit=$ 90.00.   These prices were for electrical heat from Allen Johnson at Clermont Hardware.  Kathy is to do research on short-term and long-term solutions.
 

Financial report—Karen reported that all information is in.  Sharon reported the checkbook has $ 2,444.01.  The tobacco expenses were recently reimbursed.  The budgets for both large grants were recently approved.  Staff need to meet with Dave Runyon to understand budget allownaces.

Office space—The VCC staff have been in the Larrabee Building since mid-January.  Inter-net service is still not running.  Dave and Melissa are working on this.

CADCA Conference--VCC staff are attending the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of American (CADCA) conference in Washington, DC February 11-14.  They are excited to be going and look forward to gaining new insights.

Insurance—Sharon has been talking with Don Blaur.  He is sending an application for liability insurance that will run about $ 1,000.  Travel is not included in the liability insurance.  He questioned the need for Director’s insurance that it will also cost about
$ 1,000.

Computer trade??—a youth who attends the youth center is interested in trading some games he has for a non-working monitor and CD player.  The donating entity will not fix them.  Melissa will work out this process.

VCC Staff prepare the agenda for Steering Team Meetings? It was decided to have Sharon continue to do the agenda and to encourage others to get items to her.

Other items—

*  Marcia Oltrogge, from Northeast Iowa Mental Health Center, reported that Kim Havens reports that students are saying that it is becoming difficult to get hard drugs in the Valley.  Students say there are too many people watching.
*  The Tuesday, February 4th issue of the Waterloo Courier had a very nice article on the VCC.
*  Reflection on the all VCC meeting—it was good to go over basics of the coalition as there were many new faces there.
*The Clermont Sesquicentennial Parade is looking for parade entries.  Sharon, Sheryl, and Tim will take care of this.  Karen Miller will work on the food booth.  We may be running our booth only one day due to pork producers also having a booth.
*  Youth Center summer hours—how often do we want to be open?  Give this thought and bring ideas to the next meeting.
*It was reported that staff may want to go through the mailing list supplied by Allan Knox Associates that had all VCC members on it.  Many people indicated a sub-group a long time ago and may need some follow-up.
* Next all VCC meeting April 30th, perhaps do something with Alcohol Awareness Month and adult attitudes towards alcohol.  It was noted that Starmont had cool signs at Graduation time promoting alcohol parties.
The next meeting of the Steering Team meeting will be in the Media Center on March 4th at 5:00 p.m.