VCC Steering Team January, 2012 Minutes

Tuesday, January 3^rd, 2012

Time:  5:00pm

Location:  Valley Library 

Introductions:  Two new parent members were welcomed to the VCC.  Members attending include:  Ryan Cooper, Pastor Jerome Godson, Ed Gage, Melody Gilson, Teri Wagner, Kristi Miller, Linda Watson, Stacie Schroeder 

1. Financial Reports

1. VCC-Melissa – No report given.  Financial pages will be sent to ST as soon as possible.

 

2. DFC/STOP grants-  Linda reported that DFC is about on target for spending.  The STOP Act funding is under spent at this point for program needs to implement strategies.  Ryan stated that strategies are in the planning stage and spending will occur in a timely manner

 

2. Youth Sub group/SODA report

Annette or a SODA member were not in attendance.  A written report was submitted that included:

1. Youth center needs volunteers for the coming year.  Ryan is volunteering some time to do this.
2. Youth center training on Saturday, January 7th.  We need someone to take the lead on this training event.  A mailer has been sent out to each Valley parent of 6-12 graders.  ST members are encouraged to attend.  Ryan is working with parents to do the training.
3. Youth center subgroup needs to be created to take care of the problems we have seen recently.  The youth subgroup will take care of things pertaining to the youth center.
4. Ad campaign:  See below in Planning Section
5. Members are working on new ideas for ‘adding on’ SODA volunteer activities to other community functions
6. Events include Jan. 14^th ice skating in Coralville.  Other events in the works need help so please contact Annette.
7. Work with North Fayette for starting SODA is now in the hands of the N. Fayette youth to ask their administration.  SODA will present to their own 5^th graders at the end of the year about joining SODA.
8. Bulletin board is working well and SODA magnets will soon be distributed.

 

3. Initiative Update

1. Assessment

1. Discussion on how to assess the way in which we give out information to our parent Network - what is the best way that the parents would prefer to receive information?   A workgroup to work on this initiative will be created and the topic will be broader than communication, but up to 5 questions that will be relevant to parenting and the Network.  Let Ryan know if you are interested in serving on this workgroup.

 

2. Ideas for trainings for the Steering Team include recruiting volunteers, update on initiatives to be accomplished and roles and responsibilities of the team

 

2. Capacity Building
   1. Discussion on writing a regular article in the Elgin Echo to talk about the things we are currently working on.  This is a free way to get information to the community.  January can be about the All VCC meeting and the ST will look ahead to initiatives in the planning or implementing phase to provide the focus for additional articles.

 

3. Planning
   1. We are looking for ways to begin an Elgin Neighborhood Watch program.  If anyone is interested in working on this important issue, please let Ryan or Cassie know.  There was an initial meeting about 8 years ago.  Possibly some of the interested citizens could be reconvened.  Melody was one of the original attendees at this meeting.

 

2. CADCA National Leadership Forum is February 6-9, 2012 in Washington D.C.  Cyndy Ward, Teri Wagner, and Melody Gilson have agreed to attend.  Ryan will also attend.  We are all excited for their agreement to attend and to become more involved in the coalition in the future.

 

3. January 30 is the AC4C Day on the Hill with the legislators.  We have a number of youth interested in attending, but we need some parents (or other community members) to help chaperone.  Please contact Annette or Ryan if you are interested.

 

4. January 25^th is the next All VCC meeting.  Discussion occurred on topics.  One option is a presentation from a former Valley student about their experiences with prescription drug addiction.  It was determined that this needed some more exploration for the well-being of the former student and the unintended consequences that could occur for him/her.  The topic was of general interest so a speaker from the Abby Center or Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health will be contacted.  The Sheriff’s Dept might have some helpful statistics or trends to share also.

 

4. Implementing
   1. Every Can a Crime (postponed until Feb possibly).  We are looking for other ad campaign ideas.  Still running Stop Enabling Us in the theaters for the time being.  One idea is Rite of Passage.  Ryan will connect with other Prevention Specialists at Helping Services for support in appropriate campaign messages.

 

2. National Mentoring Month is January 2012.

 

3. A survey will be sent to ST members for their edits.  This is a survey to go out to former SODA members and classmates.   Members from each class will be selected and survey needs to be set up for them.  Amy graciously took the lead on this.  Ryan would like feedback by Tues the 10^th.

 

5. Evaluation

 

6. Sustainability
   1. The Transitioners group is hoping to meet for the first time at the end of January.  The group consists of Al Knox, Annette Butikofer, Sharon Rich (possibly), Brian Williams, Betsy Nefsger, Cassie and Ryan. 

 

4. VCC Fund Development

1. Kwik trip cards—Randy Wiedenhoff  Randy not at meeting to give report

 

2. iGive toolbars—Ryan asked who is willing to volunteer to visit businesses to get this going.  We have a brochure to use for the businesses and maybe we could hang something in their windows to signify that they are with us on this.  No ideas were generated at the meeting.

 

3. Can Bins No report

 

5. Approval of use forms.  None at this meeting.

 

Note that next meeting is not the regular meeting date due to National Training for Ryan: 

Next meeting is Tuesday, February 14^th @ 5:00pm @ Valley library