Coalition for a Safe & Drug-Free Newaygo County

                 4 W. Oak St. - Fremont, MI 49412

                Ph. 231-924-1662   Fax 231-924-5663

Minutes of Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Newaygo County

March 7, 2008

In attendance:

Call to Order.

A regular meeting of the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Newaygo County was held in the PRIDE Conference Room in Fremont on Friday, March 7, 2008.  The meeting was called to order at 10:38 a.m., by the Chairman, Matt Hendrie.  Nine members were present.  Matt welcomed everyone and introductions followed.

Approval of Minutes.

Barb motioned to approve the meeting agenda, and the December 14, 2007, meeting minutes as printed and distributed.  Motion carried.

New Business.

• Smoking Cessations Offerings in Newaygo County.  Barb passed out two handouts.  The first handout was a list of the smoking cessation programs available in Newaygo County and surrounding areas.  Effective March 1, 2008, the Newaygo County tobacco free policy goes into effect.  The policy bans the use of tobacco on or in all County owned or operated properties.  The only areas excluded from the policy are the outdoor grounds of County parks.  The current law and policy prohibit smoking in County buildings and vehicles, but many outdoor areas will fall under the new policy as well.  The policy extends the ban to all varieties of tobacco, including smokeless forms such as chew and snuff.  The second handout was a flyer/survey card from the Campaign for Smokefree Air to promote prohibiting smoking in all Michigan restaurants and taverns.  On December 11, 2007, House Bill 4163 (2007) was referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Reform and on January 30, 2007, Senate Bill 0109 (2007) was referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Regulating Reform.  Both Bills would adopt language that prohibits smoking in public eating establishments.  The flyer/survey asks restaurant owners to answer questions concerning the statewide smoke-free law and to return the survey card portion of the flyer to the Campaign for Smokefree Air.  Barb introduced the flyer/survey to coalition members and asked for support to distribute the flyer/survey to smoking restaurants members frequent.  The Bills to prohibit smoking have stalled in committee.  We need to let elected Senate and House members know how we feel about the smoke-free policy.  Discussion followed.  Barb will take the flyer/survey card to determine if addressing and postage costs could be provided for mailing convenience.  Currently, no return postage or envelope is provided for return mailing of the survey card.

• Matt announced that on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, he was able to gain concurrence at the Fremont Public School policy meeting that all of Fremont Public School campus property will be tobacco free 24/7.  Hope is the school board will adopt the proposed policy.   Matt will continue to work on policy that would support smoke-free city office property, to include the Fremont library property. 

• Sally provided general information concerning the March 18-20, 2008, Drug Free Communities (DFC) Grant site visit.  Two staff members from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will review and evaluate the program and financial status of the DFC grant.  The staff members want to speak with the Coalition Chairman, Jay and Sally.  The staff members may also request to speak with other coalition members. 

• ByLaws.  Matt informed the coalition members that the three categories of members were incorporated into the Coalition’s ByLaws as approved at the February 9, 2007, coalition meeting.  He also requested a motion to amend the requirement that coalition members attend 75 percent of the coalition meetings to vote to attending 60 percent, and that the Parliamentary Authority be amended to reflect that the coalition be governed by rules of procedure as adopted by the Coalition versus Robert’s Rules of Order.  Motion carried.   

• Matt introduced the future concept of moving the Coalition under the Newaygo County Collaborative Consortium (NC3) banner as a program committee.  Copies of the NC3 Operating Guidelines and the Committee descriptions were provided.  Discussion followed. 

• The mission of NC3 is to promote strong families and a health community through joint planning, collaborative service delivery and information sharing among public and private health and human service agencies, educational entities, law enforcement agencies, judicial and government entities. 
• The NC3 Executive Council Membership includes: the CEO of Gerber memorial Hospital, Newaygo County Director of Department of Human Services, Executive Director of Newaygo County Mental Health, Superintendent of Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NCRESA), and the Newaygo County Post Commander of the Michigan State Police. 
• The PRIDE Youth Programs organization previously served as the fiduciary for NCRESA Title IV Safe and Drug-Free School Grant, the Mid South State Block Grant Funds, the County PA-2 Funds, the County Diversion Program, and the Drug Free Communities Grant.  In November 2007 the PRIDE Youth Programs Board of Directors determined that the organization would cease oversight and management of local programs as of October 1, 2008.  In response to this decision, NCREAS assumed complete management and oversight of the Title IV Safe and Drug-Free School Grant.  NCREAS is in discussion with the Chairman of the Coalition and Mid South to possibility assume fiduciary management and oversight for the Mid South State Block Grant Funds.  Currently, there is no decision as to who will assume the management and oversight of the DFC Grant.  Further discussion will follow after resolution of DFC Grant continuance.
• Realigning the Coalition under NC3 as a Program Committee would strengthen communication, coordination, and information/data sharing capabilities of the Coalition.  From the NC3 collaborative body the coalition should be able to reach additional sectors of the community.
• Matt will continue to explore moving the coalition under the NC3 body and he will update the coalition as necessary.

 Announcements.

• Barb handed out the flyers for the Newaygo County Girls on the Run program which will start March 2008.  Short discussion about the program followed.
• Laurie also indicated that Hesperia Schools would be looking for a letter of support from the Chairman of the Coalition and the President of PRIDE Youth Programs for a Federal grant that Hesperia schools were applying for.  Laurie will provide proposed letters and information to the Coalition Coordinator.  Laurie also indicated that many of her students have been asking when a smoking cessation class can be offered.  Matt indicated that the Coalition would support the class; funding would need to be determined.
• The 2008 PRIDE World Drug Prevention Conference is scheduled April 2-5, 2008; therefore the April Coalition meeting is cancelled.  The next scheduled meeting is Friday, May 2, 2008, at the PRIDE Training Center.

Adjournment.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:44 a.m.

Vision: Newaygo County is constantly moving toward being free from abuser of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and their related consequences.

Mission: The Coalition’s members, in cooperation with students, parents, and community service agencies, resolve to provide a safe, healthy, and positive environment that leads our children to become caring, contributing citizens, and to reduce substance abuse among youth through education, peer mediation, and community substance abuse prevention strategies.