University/Schools Alliance

Coalition Meeting

February 1, 2007

@ UD Cooperative Extension Office

3:45 PM

 

Attending:  Cindy Genau, Kathy Ward, Kyle Bianco, Cathy Schiffelbein, Keith Strouss

 

Staff:  Roberta Gealt, Mary Perno

 

Discussions: 

Community Action on Alcohol and Teens (CAAT) Meeting was to take place on March 1, 2007.  It was agreed upon to change the date to April 25, 2007.  This event will be held at the University of Delaware-Wilmington Campus in the Goodstay Center at 6:00 PM.  Last year we held the National Town Hall Meeting in March.  We put a lot of effort, time and money into that meeting and only got 70 people to attend.

This year, DSAMH will give us $1000 once we submit our receipts for what we spend.

 

Roberta has contacted Beau Biden, Attorney General for Delaware to be part of our panel, but so far, has not received an answer.  We have also contacted local law enforcement to speak.  Amy Kevis from the New Castle County Police agreed to speak for the March 1st date, but now we have to see if she is available for April 25th.

For this year’s event, we would like to have more discussion with the audience and come out with action steps so we can follow through with them.  It was suggested that we give them a “menu” of action steps, such as Parents Who Host, Lose The Most.  We need to tell them that a lot of alcohol actually comes from the family-with or without the parent’s permission.

 

It was asked, “How can we get to parents?”   Suggestions:  Kids could come and bring their parents, or ask the schools to give extra credit towards a class if the kids and parents attend. (We will give them proof of attendance.)  Our statistics show that 2 out of 3 kids are participating in underage drinking in Delaware.  It was also suggested that we invite churches (which we did last year, but they didn’t come).

 

As part of our panel, we would like to include a young person.  Some of the suggestions were: 

  • Elena Delle Donne who is the 6’5” anchor from the Ursuline Academy basketball squad
  • Kimmie Meissner, who is the 16 year old World Skating Champion who is a high school student from Maryland but trains at UD
  • Miss Delaware Teen USA, Holly Shively from Christiana High School
  • Miss New Castle County, Monica Garfinkel a senior from Caravel Academy
  • Devon Still from Howard High School who signed with Penn State University recently

 

 

 

 

 

USA February 1, 2007 Meeting

Page 2

 

Suggestions for other panelists were:

·        Beau Biden, AG Delaware

·        Mike Cappriglione, Newport PD/Strike Force

·        Mike Downs or Tracy Torres, A & T Enforcement

·        Karren Helsel, Parent from UD

·        Wes Jones from Newark HS Wellness Center

·        Officer Whitmarsh from the DE State Police

 

We should have a bio sheet on everyone for the attendees to take home with them.

 

We should highlight what programs work in other places, such as Parent Who Host, Lose the Most, enforcement of the laws, community centers that are open for the kids to go do something, schools that open up their gyms on Friday night for the kids.

 

Roberta will be adding a sound track to her Sophia Power Point Presentation, putting the presentation on CD-ROMs and sending them out to Principals, PTA’s and legislators.  Cathy from Newark High School suggested that we also send CD’s to the wellness centers.  Hopefully, this will happen soon and we will include promotional materials with the CD advertising the Community Action on Alcohol and Teens meeting.

 

We need to sign people up for jobs while they are attending our meeting.

 

            Potluck Parenting-Attendance has steadily gone down hill since we started these sessions three years ago.  What can we do to get people to attend?

 

            Parent to Parent-Do we want to invest in the new, updated version of P2P?  It was agreed upon that it is a good investment and a good program.

 

We need to get more people to come to meetings—all meetings, including coalition meetings, potluck parenting meetings and Town Hall meetings.