Members present: Jenni Elsbernd, Melissa Cenek (Wartburg Intern), Kathy Schwartzhoff, Megan Olson, Karen Tenneson, Tim Corkery, Melissa Johnston, David Runyon, Kirstin Nelson, Chris Spies, Dennis Link, and Sharon Rich.

Tim called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. as everyone introduced themselves.

Sub-group Reports
Youth-since Malinda was unable to attend, Megan Olson reported on behalf of the Youth sub-group with Jenni Elsbernd’s help.  The All Stars Parent meeting is being held Tuesday, May 13th from 6-7 p.m. in the Youth Center.  The program will begin May 20th from 6-7:30 p.m. at the West Clermont Church.  22 kids are signed up and five adults are helpers.  Several SODA members are helping.

The food booth at the Grand Celebration benefits SODA.  Workers are still needed from 11-1 and 1-3 on Saturday.  The Sunday booth time workers are all signed up.  There will be an OPEN HOUSE during the parade from 9:30-1 p.m. This is being coordinated by Sheryl and Tim.  Thanks guys!  Jenni will organize the parade entry for SODA/VCC.

DARE role models did an awesome job of presenting in the classrooms recently.  They will also be helping decorate for DARE graduation.

The Adventureland trip had 28 kids and 4 adults.  They had a great time!

Nineteen Youth participated in voting for new SODA officers.  Our SODA leaders are:  President-Eli Pollack, Vice-President-Jessica Butikofer, Secretary-Jesse Hanson, Treasurer-Megan Olson  Community Presenters (those who talk at Community Presentations) are Eli, Tony Lehmman, Kami Knoblock, and Ashley Matt.

Things to look forward to are:  the Get A Grip conference July 22-24.  This is a youth leadership conference needing 5 youth to attend.  Two students have already signed up!

Parent Education—This group is continuing to build membership.  They have provided web-site information to be in the next newsletter.  They are working on information to get to community folks about safe celebrating.

Community—Current projects are updating the magnets, helping with tasks related to the newsletter, working on an awareness campaign involving candy, and continuing to work with businesses to understand the VCC and gain businesses as partners in promoting healthy decisions.

Mentoring—The Across Ages mentoring program is progressing nicely!  Mentor trainings were held May 1 and 3rd at the Youth Center with four mentors.  Presentation were done in the 6th and 7th grades with 8 students showing interest in the program.  Youth are needed to match with mentors.  Bill Deutsch helped with the mentor training and did a great job!  Things to look forward to:  in June and July interviews will take place with parents and youth, and a kick-off party will take place.
 Newsletter—the newsletter is being produced the week of May 6th by Kathy and Melissa Cenek with input from all sub-groups.  The community sub-group will host a Pizza Party on Monday, May 19th to all who would like to fold newsletters and place mailing labels on.  Pizza will be ate after the work is completeJ Kathy asked if anyone had any pictures of Adventureland.  Noone at the meeting knew of anyone who took pictures.  Dave suggested using the digital camera at events.  Melissa is working on ordering a digital camera.
 The Financial Form developed by a small group of members was reviewed.  There was a great deal of discussion.  Dave suggested having only one Steering Team Leader approve forms and that a different person should write the check.  It was suggested to put the person’s name on the form and it can be changed as the approval person may change at year’s end.  These items seemed to meet agreement with the group.  It was suggested that Sharon continue to write checks and Tim would be the approval person.  Dave was concerned about getting receipts.  It was suggested that a statement be put on the form to say any receipts not turned in would be the responsibility of the requester.  Concerns were raised by staff when it was suggested that they write checks until they were reimbursed.  A suggestion was made to have a petty cash fund for small items needed.  It was also suggested to have charge accounts at businesses where purchases would be made.  The Post Office does have prepaid accounts for things like the newsletter.  It was suggested that this item be revisited at the next Steering Team meeting as discussion was getting lengthy with few decisions being made.
Background Checks—It is a requirement of our liability insurance that all volunteers working with you be checked through a Child Abuse Registry check and Sexual Offenders Registry check.  Fifty volunteers were sent letters explaining this process and given forms to return.  42 have returned their forms to the VCC office and 22 have cleared all checks.  The remaining numbers are in process.  Thank you Melissa for your work on this!  Jenni will give her names of the mentors to Melissa.  We discussed if we can now purchase the insurance.  It was suggested that staff look through the next month’s schedule of volunteers to be sure we were covered with approved names.  All names should be submitted to Sharon ASAP.  Staff will take care of this.]
 April 30th all VCC meeting—Everyone decided the pizza was really good!  22 pizzas were served to 65 people.  It was suggested that pictures be used of youth events to help youth with their presentation.  A question was raised of why we review the VCC each time.  The response was that there are always new people at meetings that need history.  It was suggested to have displays, scrapbooks, or brochures available for this purpose and have the emcees state the mission and very brief remarks.  An emphasis should be given to all speakers to stay within their time limit.
Summer Youth Center hours—They are decided and have been posted in various places.  5th and 6th graders will meet once per month at the Youth Center.  Sharon asked who will be the sponsors and requested that Malinda develop a flyer to publicize the dates and get sponsors.  She would like this to go out ASAP.
Karen Miller will no longer be doing the financial bookkeeping for the VCC.  Kathy will be taking in the in-kind matches.  A person to do the other bookwork is needed.  Thank you Karen for all you have done!
Yearly Calendar—Kathy distributed a calendar for 2003-2004.  She asked others to look at it and we will discuss it at the next meeting.
Pork Stand at the Grand Celebration—June 21 & 22nd SODA will have a pork stand sharing proceeds with the Valley Preschool.  Workers are still needed for 11-1 and 1-3 p.m. shifts on Sat.  Jenni will talk to Torkelson’s about a vehicle and agreed to be the point person for the parade entry.  Sharon noted that candy CANNOT be thrown from parade entries, it can be handed out.
Other—Cornerstone Training is scheduled for Sept. 17 & 18th—students will be trained to present vignettes of social dramas; they will perform once per month.  It was suggested to look at another date as this conflicts with the Get A Grip Regional Conference to be hosted by Valley SODA students.

It was greatly appreciated to have so many youth at this meeting.  Their input and concern for the coalition is greatly appreciated.

Please be reminded that Steering Team Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m.  Everyone is welcome to attend meetings.  The next meeting will be June 2nd at the YOUTH CENTER in the Larrabee Building.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathy Schwartzhoff