Present were:  Kathy Schwartzhoff, VCC staff; Cathy Molumby, school superintendent and parent of SODA youth; Allen Knox, business person; Jenni Elsbernd, VCC staff; Sharon Rich, Steering Team Leader; Lynne Zoulek, Community sub-group representative; Linda Watson, Parent Education sub-group member; Sheryl Butikofer, Steering Team Leader and parent of SODA youth.

NOTE:  The All Stars graduation was this evening keeping steering team members very busy.  They include: staff members Malinda Riley and Amy Roling, and Community sub-group member and Steering Team Leader, Tim Corkery.

A. Financial Reports

1.  Stephanie’s report was given out reporting deposits, payments, and categories they go in from January 2003-December
        2003.  Everyone was encouraged to look this over.
2.  The amount of funds covered by the Drug Free Communities grant for the Substance Abuse Counselor at Valley School
        was discussed.  A report of the work Kim was doing included being a professional resource and doing prevention and
        intervention/treatment activities.  She helped update and saw many students for Good Conduct Policy issues.  She met
        with an average of 3.45 students weekly discussing substance abuse issues.  She continues to see lots of alcohol and
        marijuana abuse with more methamphetamine usage reported.  The total budget for Kim’s work is $ 12,522.  As of
        1/26/04 $ 4291.90 had been spent.  It was proposed to have Kim paid under the DFC grant 17, 7 hour days and 1 five
        hour day with a payment of mileage for all days.  This totals $ 8204.00.  The schedule proposed by NEIMHC included:
        4 days in Jan., 3 in Feb., 3 days in March, 4 in April, 2 in May and 2 in Sept.  This sounded good to the Steering Team.
        It was left up to the school to make changes to the schedule as they saw fit with prior notification to the NEIMHC.
3.  It was approved by the group, that the cost of the decals approved at the last meeting would be paid for with $ 350
        coming  from DFC funds and $ 372.25 coming out of the SIG grant.
4.  It was approved to purchase 500 pieces of letterhead from a printing person Cathy knew.

B. Reports from Sub Groups

1.  Youth—with Malinda gone to All Stars, there was not a formal report.  A great deal of discussion occurred about the
        wonderful sleigh riding and sledding activity that took place February 1.  Three teams of horses gave sleigh rides, a great
        turn out of youth, parents came and stayed, and it was a wonderful collaboration with Fayette Co. 4-H leadership and
        students.
2.  Parent Education—the parent pick-up policy will be tabled until the next meeting in March.  Amy is to check with Dave
        Kasmus on this before the next meeting.  The parent sub-group was busy planning and implementing the All VCC
        meeting.  Thank you to all that helped!  They are continuing to work on the newsletter with a special article written by a
        sub-group member.  They are working on Thank You notes to people who helped with the All VCC meeting; planning
        new ways to get information out to parents; ordering videos on underage drinking; starting work on the Did You Know
        campaign; recruiting more members.  Thursday, February 12 is the next meeting at the VCC office.
3.  Community—the report was given by Community sub-group member, Lynne Zoulek.  They are working on making and
        distributing signs to businesses that sell alcohol stating “It is store policy to card everyone under the age of 30.” This
        strategy was suggested at the Beverage Server training to help employees.  The sub-group is also working on arranging a
        speaker on Meth at the next all VCC meeting; Feb. 23rd the Youth Center is being cleaned and we need everyone’s
        help!  They’ll also be time to fold and put on labels for the newsletter.  Our next big project is keg registration.  Next
        meeting is 2/23 at 4 p.m. at the Youth Center.
4.  Mentoring—January was National Mentoring Month.  Mentors and mentees were sent thank you’s from sub-group
        members for their role in the program.  The Across Ages program is now a certified program under the Iowa Mentoring
        Partnership.  These means the program meets standards for quality mentoring.  The Valley Mentoring Program has not
        operated long enough to apply.  Jenni went to a Elgin Legion Hall meeting and distributed a letter sent to their leadership
        clarifying the agreement that all VCC events are a donated cost and other use by us of the Hall is to be paid for.  In April,
        mentoring participants will do a community service project with the Fay. Co Early Childhood Fair.  Across Ages has 6
        youth  signed up and MENTORS ARE NEEDED!  One mentor is signed up.  Amy and Jenni will meet on 2/5 to
        brainstorm recruitment ideas.  Valley Mentoring is going great.  The matches are enjoying their time together.  Saturday,
        Jan. 17th was the bowling event for mentoring.  Due to the weather (icy!) 18 people were able to come.  It was fun!  The
        mentoring sub-group is looking for new members.  Those interested should call Jenni at the office 423-5171.

        Comments regarding the All VCC meeting.  Evidently sometime during the meeting, someone turned the heat off.  The
        Legion was very concerned and notified us.  Everyone is reminded to check heat and doors being locked before they
        leave.  The meeting was excellent!  It was noticed that it is really hard to get the students there before 6:30.

C. Logo and Sign update—February 2nd the City Council was to discuss the sign outside the Larrabee Building.  The City
        Clerk wants our sign to be done at the same time and hers.  Due to the weather and not all the information being available
        at the meeting, this item was tabled until the March meeting.  Malinda is meeting with Liebe’s on Feb. 9 at 10 a.m.
D. Turn in in-kind hours to Kathy.
E. Supporting Players are wanting to have a training on May 12th, cost is around $ 1200.  Kathy stated DFC cannot pay for
        this due to other budget obligations.  Kathy is to check with Dave to see if SIG can since it does demonstrate youth
        leadership which is part of SIG’s goals.
F. Adventureland’s Substance Free weekends are 4/24 and 25 and May 1 & 2.  Kathy will e-mail Shad Roys stating that
        DFC funding allows for $ 500 to be used for DARE.  It is his discretion how to use it.
G. The VCC/SODA display case was discussed.  Cathy had sent some wonderful e-mails to members.  The VCC will be
        gifting the display case to the school.  Kathy needs to contact David Fox so he has the dimensions.
H. Other reports and information—Sharon brought up a training being held in Wisconsin on Coalitions that is FREE.  She
        suggested that some staff AND sub-group members attend.

Kathy and David Runyon are working on the DFC grant application for next year.  She asked for help in developing ideas and budget.  Sharon suggested that all sub-groups be in on discussion of this grant source.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.