Everyone was welcomed. Those in attendance included: Denise Duncan, Joel Owen, Jacque Jacobs, Lori Pieraerts, Jerry Daniels, Ron Rucker, Kevin Osborne, Christi Bandy, Kimberly Kennedy, Michelle Stone, Jerry Daniels, Loaralie Arnold, Tacie Jo Williams, Michelle Crawford and Jan Coleman.
D. Duncan announced accepting the Chamber President position effective March 1st. The person who takes the Executive Director position with PCFC will assume the role of Coalition Chair. Until that time J. Minor will take the role.
Financial Update:
D. Duncan gave the financial update. Current balance is $10,701.76 same as last month.
Minute Review:
D. Duncan provided the PCFC Board of Directors the information on the “Stop Smoking” Program through the Collaborations for Resiliency in Children at Bear Cottage. All were supportive, but concerned due to this product stating “Not recommended for children under the age of 18”. These concerns were voiced to J. Jacobs who was to discuss this with physician and will get back to the Coalition and PCFC Board. J. Jacobs explained she had contacted a pharmacist and attempted contact with Dr. Mahmood. After a lengthy discussion among the Coalition it was agreed no one was comfortable enough to move forward with the purchasing of the patches. Other ideas were considered such as sponsoring a fitness program, scare tactics, survey to “get to the root of the problem”, etc. J. Jacobs to look into some other alternatives and submit another proposal.
At last meeting discussed the need of a warehouse for storage, D. Fowler and M. Moss offered to pay for a warehouse for 4 months. Due to the changes with PCFC, at this point no decision will be made in reference to a warehouse until a new person is on the job. J. Owens stated this was his business and he was unaware of the need but will get back to the Coalition as to how he can help.
No information has been received in reference to the Georgia Underage Drinking Prevention Initiative. An email was sent requesting information again, information will be provided to the Coalition upon receipt.
Per many discussions over the past months, the Anti-Drug Coalition will be sending two representatives to the Seattle, WA grant workshop Friday, February 23rd. The cost for airfare and room comes to a total of $863.40. We’ll still have the expense for reimbursement for mileage and meal expense. The purpose of sending these representatives is to collect information about the grant in order to provide feedback to the community.
Committees Reports:
Publicity Committee – Cindy Williams, Bob Middendorf, Sara Fowler, Joel Owens, Denise Duncan and Jay Minor
D. Duncan did speak with Jeffrey Skaggs who has relinquished the website to Marie Nolan of Liquid Code Designs. J. Skaggs provided Marie with information D. Duncan had provided and she will notify when website is up for review. The Committee will then need to get back together to make any necessary changes.
National Recovery Month – Diana Prather, Jan Coleman, Tacie Jo Willams, Margy Lohman, Denise Duncan and Jay Minor
This Committee is currently inactive.
Red Ribbon Week – Diana Prather, Jan Coleman, Lynn Palmer, Tacie Jo Williams, Amelia McIntyre, Denise Duncan and Jay Minor
This Committee is currently inactive. Update: D. Duncan has not heard anything as to if Pickens will be recognized from the award application submitted – will keep Coalition posted.
Hispanic Presentation – Olga Knight, Lori Pierarts, Marilyn Ortiz, Denise Duncan and Jay Minor
M. Ortiz has scheduled one Hispanic Presentation for Wednesday, March 7th at 6:30 pm with Lucy from the Jasper Methodist Church. She stated she wasn't sure how attendance would be. She stated that if we wanted to supply some refreshments for the children or adults that would be fine. She said the childcare was done by volunteers.
M. Ortiz reports First Baptist stated that they no longer do the ESL classes, but did leave a message to have Eurella call me back due to not having mail her my contact info. Per R. Rucker the ESL classes of First Baptist have been moved to Livingword Church. K. Osborne suggested contacted Our Lady of the Mountain as well.
Another idea for Hispanic Presentation to ask First Steps/Healthy Families and Head Start to allow a presentation to their Hispanic families.
Faith Base Outreach - Daniel Lopez, Kevin Osborne, Loralie Arnold, Denise Duncan and Jay Minor.
Pastor Ron Rucker discussed the progress in the parade/march which is scheduled for April 28th @ 11:00 a.m. Everyone will meet at the First Baptist Church of Jasper and end at the park. The march is one mile. The march is a declaration of our local churches saying no to drugs. K. Osborne and R. Rucker to keep Coalition updated, but members are asked to assist in spreading the word.
Drugs Don’t Work – Vicky Miller, Bob Middendorf
Membership continues to grow.
S.A.D.D. – S.A.D.D. Club members, Bridget Harkins, Delane Lewis, Denise Duncan, Lynn Palmer, and Jay Minor
B. Harkins was unable to attend but asked if the Anti-Drug Coalition would be able to support the SADD Club in presenting this years Ghost Out to the 11th and 12th graders attending prom. If so what we are willing to do/provide in order to pull this off. Needed items include medical personnel, junk cars, etc. for the actual crash set-up. Also, does anyone know how it all gets set up as far as the story. Does someone read aloud over the speakers what's happening, is it pre-recorded, or what? Ask them what ideas they have for this thing--do they want to try anything new or different?
Only one person at this meeting had ever participated in Ghost Out but Coalition is supportive and will assist in any way needed. D. Duncan to email entire Coalition to start a specific committee who would like to assist with this event.
New Business:
Guest Jerry Daniels spoke about his business “Membership of One”. Mr. Daniels is a motivational speaker and activities against alcohol abuse. He was able to provide a few flyers and his contact information is jf_daniels@yahoo.com or 678/454-0243.
D. Duncan announced next meeting fell on the same day as the Jasper Optimist Club of Jaspers brown bag lunch fundraiser. D. Duncan made a motion to have Coalition members RSVP for the next meeting (March 16th) and purpose a brown bag for all in attendance at a rate of $6 each. Motion was seconded by Tacie Jo Williams. Motion was passed unanimously.
D. Duncan recently spoke at the Pickens County Foster & Adoptive Parents Association and has received a proposal (Attachment A below). Motion was made by Kevin Osborne to provide this group with a $250.00 donation. Motion was seconded by Loralie Arnold and passed unanimously. M. Crawford voiced an interest in partnering with this group to possibly sponsor a big trip. D. Duncan to provide contact info.
Another proposal was received from The Compassionate Friends of Pickens County. (Attachment B below) After discussion some were unsure if this fell into the mission of the Coalition. K. Osborne suggested the group think about this and provide to the entire Coalition for input.
Next meeting was scheduled for Friday, March 16th @ 12:00 p.m. Chamber Big Room.
Attachment A
Pickens County Foster & Adoptive Parents Association
The Pickens County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association is currently in the process of starting an enrichment program for children in the Department of Family & Children Services custody. This program would target at risk youth who primarily come for and were removed from their homes due to parental drug abuse. The focus of this program would be to start children in various extracurricular programs such as sports, school band, or youth groups for example. We are also planning trips to the Atlanta Zoo, the Georgia Aquarium and many others. Our goal is to involve these children in positive activities to help increase self esteem and break the cycle of drug abuse that is so often passed down from one generation to the next.
While the statistics in Pickens County are harsh, 65% of the children taken into DFCS custody between the months of July 2006 and January 2007 were due to drug abuse, mainly methamphetamines. In those children the reunification rates with their birth parents are 7% while children who are taken for non-drug reasons have a 31% success rate of reunification. We believe these children have a chance to break the cycle of abuse. We hope that you will help to enable us to provide these children with opportunities that they may never have received while in the care of their birth families.
We look forward to working with in the future and thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Attachment B
The Compassionate Friends of Pickens County was begun by a handful of local parents who shared a common loss – the death of a child. The group officially chartered the chapter in November of 2005. TCF of Pickens County meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday night of each month in the Fred Stancil Room of the Georgia Mountains Hospice Buildings located at 70 Caring Way, Jasper, Georgia.
Information about this wonderful organization is available at www.compassionatefriends.org
Currently TCF of Pickens County is searching for partners to fund the purchase and distribution of several brochures specifically designed to help first responders, school officials, and medical personnel cope with the death of a child. Studies show that the initial assistance the family receives is important in their approach to the grief process. By referring the family to a local chapter of The Compassionate Friends, these officials can help the family meet with others who have experienced a similar loss. Special friendships can ensue and coping skills can be passed along by those who are farther along the grief path.
The attached Fact Sheet may be helpful. Also, we have attached an independent study commissioned by The Compassionate Friends, Inc. The highlighted areas support our need to increase the knowledge regarding how to be more supportive in the positive resolution to the grieving process.
The loss of a child to drug or alcohol related circumstance is of particular concern to our local chapter. Fifty-seven percent of those attending our meetings experienced the loss of their child to one or both of these circumstances.
Further, information revealed by NFO Research, Inc. indicates that proper support equips parents to remain functional while grieving. Without the proper support, many parents fall victim to deep depression which prevents them from the daily activities required to remain self supporting. Often, after depleting limited financial resources, these parents become a part of ‘the system’. The emotional roller coaster gains momentum as the depression and guilt of their child’s death is compounded by embarrassment and guilt from loss of control of their financial situation. Slowing this momentum certainly preserves community, state and federal resources. Perhaps the more important statistic is the number of attempted suicides (both intentional and unintentional) that groups such as TCF help to avert. Substance abuse is rampant among the newly bereaved. There is a societal acceptance, even an urging, to dull the pain of grief by using alcohol and/or prescription drugs. This only delays and therefore prolongs the normal grief process. One cannot escape the pain of grief and disappointment until the intensity of these feelings is faced head-on. To ensure our statements are accurate, feel free to investigate on your own. Every community with growing drug/alcohol issues will have evidence of the detrimental effects to the members it incorporates.
Positive resolution means exactly that. We provide a safe, caring, non judgmental and experienced environment in which parents, grandparents, and siblings can work through their grief. We are non-denominational and no fees are associated or required to participate. The Compassionate Friends of Pickens County welcomes participants to each meeting. Please contact Anne Morrow at (706) 692-5656 with any questions you may have.
The estimated cost of this project is $2100.00. We have secured three hundred dollars of that amount and have a promise from Kroger for a matching grant. In other words, nine hundred dollars from your organization could become eighteen hundred working dollars to us. Both local funeral homes have graciously agreed to add our contact information and any resource material we furnish to the bereavement package the provide families.
In summary, we would appreciate any funding you may choose to offer. Every brochure sponsored by the Anti-Drug Coalition will contain a thank you statement and acknowledgement to the group for the sponsorship. Also, we would welcome an informal presentation of any monetary gift from the coalition by one of your members for the purposes of local advertising. |
