USA Executive Meeting Minutes

February 27, 2008 3:30 PM

Newark Public Library

 

Attending:  Yvonne Nass, Kathy Ward, Rosemary Brooks, Howard Isenberg, Jo-Ann West, Kristen Blanchard, Nancy Chase, Linda Brasel, Cindy Genau

 

 

Staff:  Roberta Gealt, Mary Perno

 

Discussions:

Old Business-January minutes were e-mailed earlier today and approved in the meeting.

 

New Members-We would like to welcome two new members today, Rosemary Brooks from Sanford School and Howard Isenberg from Open Door, Inc.

USA has been adding new members, last month we welcomed Kristen Blanchard, Karen Busby, and Fred MacCormack. We are still in need of someone from Law Enforcement, Religious/Fraternal and Youth.  The community of concern group and the state PTA declined our invitation to join USA.  Jaime Wolhar will be contacting someone from the New Castle County Police Department to see if they are interested in joining.  Roberta contacted Marie Allen from Heroin Alert; she is interested in becoming a member.  Nancy did not get an answer from rev. Weddington.  Rabbi Kaplan was supposed to attend today’s meeting, but he did not answer any recent e-mail reminders.  Kathy Ward hasn’t had any luck in getting student interested in joining.  If anyone knows of any youth 18 or under who would be willing to attend a meeting once in a while or even just correspond by e-mail, please let Roberta or Mary know.  Rosemary Brooks has 8 students who will be speaking at her Town Hall Meeting; she will ask if any of them are interested.  She also has a 15 year old daughter who may be interested, as well.

 

CADCA Conference-When Roberta and Mary were in Washington, DC two weeks ago for the CADCA conference, USA did a presentation called “Tell Me a Story”.  It was well received by about 200 attendees.  They must have liked it because nobody left during the presentation.  There were 100 business cards in the beginning and none by the end of the workshop.

Roberta and Mary also visited the Delaware legislator’s offices.  Senator Biden has introduced the Dextromethorphan Abuse Reduction Act of 2007 (DMX Reduction Act of 2007).  This will restrict teen access to cough and cold medicines containing DXM. It will also regulate the sale of raw, unfinished DXM often purchased feely by teens over the internet.  When taken in the recommended dosage, DXM is safe and effective.  However, it is a dangerous and potentially lethal substance when abused, a practice that is on the rise.  Delaware’s stats are higher than the national average on DXM abuse.

 

Building Bridges Coalition-Linda Brasel and Howard Isenberg attended a DFC grant writing workshop in Washington, DC.  They are hoping to receive a DFC grant for Building Bridge at Newark High School.

 

 

Logic Model-A copy of the USA logic model was passed out. 

  • Nancy said that the DATA collection and needs assessment is missing from it.  She also thinks that we should work with pharmacists. 
  • Howard thinks we should target local doctors and pediatricians who are prescribing the drugs of abuse.  He has a connection with the medical Society of Delaware and will contact them to possibly help us.
  • Linda Brasel said that DE is the #1 state for prescribing Ritalin.
  • It was suggested that the USA web site be linked to a “wall of shame” or have a place where people can anonymously alert us when someone is selling illegally.  Roberta will have to check with the UD attorneys before doing anything like that first.
  • Another suggestion was to have DABC come to one of our meetings to talk to us.
  • Or, we could have a “wall of fame” to display which liquor stores has not had a violation in ___ years.
  • Nancy said that we should do some research to see what public information can be put into our newsletters such as a “Did you know…?” section
  • Some areas have a “Lock up your liquor” campaign.
  • Delaware is weak in changing policies.  DE still does not have an open container law, except within the city of Newark.  Maybe we can publish who voted against it.
  • USA should meet with the politicians and present the data. We would like to know why DE is not getting the money like some other states.  This is a good time to initiate this as Newark has a new Police Chief and will soon be getting a new City Manager.  We could invite them and the City Council out to a nice dinner, USA has the money to do this. 
  • We’ve heard that the DUI task force has been disbanded in Newark.

 

Town Hall Meetings-

Salesianum-

  • Yvonne Nass will be the facilitator
  •  Father Martin Ashley will be the keynote speaker
  •  John Downs, Deputy Attorney General
  • 2 former Students who are now at UD
  • Need someone to talk about the effects on the brain
  • Fliers have gone out

 

Sanford-

  • ER doctor, Dr. Gordon Reed-#1 date rape drug is alcohol
  • John Slice, Judge
  • Policeman
  • Therapist
  • 8 Students-2 from each school (Friends, Sanford, Tatnall and Tower Hill)

 

 

 

 

Building Bridges at Newark High School-

  • Roberta Gealt will be presenting Data
  • Need someone to talk about the effects on the brain
  • Greg Miccolucci, SRO
  • Assistant District Attorney, Ann Marie Hayes
  • Sent fliers out
  • Will try to put on Christina School District web site

 

Dickinson High School-

  • Norm Cohan, School Resource Officer
  • Ginny Corrigan, Think 1st Trauma, with Victim
  • Dave Baylor, NKS Distributors
  • Someone from AA
  • Possibly a DuPont Employee who was an athlete, who will talk about alcohol & athletics
  • Fliers are going out
  • Arrangements are being made to transport people from the city to event
  • Chris Miller has contacted all of the secondary schools to advertise it

 

USA Newsletters-have been going out as written.  Please send Roberta and Mary your events that you would like us to publish.

 

Kathy Ward is offering a FREE Life Skills workshop.  It is 7 weeks long with 2 hour sessions each week.  If interested, please contact Kathy at kward@ymcade.org.

 

The next USA meeting will be on THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD at BUENA VISTA CONFERENCE CENTER from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.