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Minutes for the Meeting of November 14, 2008

Present:

BJ Valente	Sarah Parmenter
David Weed	Michael Coughlin
Marcia Picard	Keisha Dejesus
Jamison Souza	Robin Jones
Gladys Rosofsky	Karen Scott Statser
Maureen Holliday

A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, November 14, 2008 in Jackson Room at Charlton Hospital in Fall River. BJ Valente called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM.

The meeting began with greetings to new and continuing members . Introductions made by all.

Minutes

The minutes of the September 2008 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.

VOTED to approve the Minutes of the September 2008 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.

Financial Report

Financial Report was circulated at the meeting.

VOTED to approve Financial Report through October 9,2008

Report of Work Groups

Access to Health Care- No report today.

Healthy Lifestyles –– No report today.

Healthy Youth - At the last meeting it was mentioned that the task force received a $3,000 grant for a youth website. The youth will do all the work in creating, updating and running the site and though it will link to, and collaborate with www.myfallriver.org . The youth site will feature a separate homepage and domain name. This site can feature youth job postings, scholarship information, and other youth related opportunities, announcements, and benefits depending on youth suggestions. A Durfee High School technician will help create the homepage and the youth involved in working on the site will receive a stipend.

The month of October featured the first meeting of the Supergroup, which is a collective of youth groups that come together to plan joint projects, offer collective assistance, and share information. The Supergroup featured Team FRESH, PLOT, TADA, Durfee National Honor Society, Durfee Student Government, Bishop Connolly Student Government, Family Planning, Creating Cultures Club. This group is planning on coming together and planning service activities for MLK weekend (January 16-19) During this weekend there will be a number of service projects culminating in a multicultural reflection and celebration on Monday the 19^th. The service projects will focus on the 5 Promises as labeled by the America’s Promise Alliance. This group will also collaborate with BCC for MLK weekend. The question was asked if there was a Supergroup directory with the names and information of participating groups. There was not at the current time. The question was asked if transportation was provided for youth. A survey about transportation was given to Durfee and the matter is still being discussed.

Healthy City Initiative

1) Myfallriver.org- There will be a meeting on Monday the 17^th at 10:00AM at United Neighbors to discuss the myfallriver.org website. A dozen organizations have already committed to contribute to the website but Healthy Cities is looking for more to contribute and be represented. Healthy Cities is also seeking to generate money through advertisements on the website. The Beta version of the website should be available for the meeting on Monday. The content on the website is malleable and the website is designed to be very interactive. The site will be self regulated by the participants and will also have administrators. An Americorps volunteer, Vanessa Funfsinn, will spend at least one day a week reviewing website content. It will be an immediate interaction website, which will encourage individual and group ownership of the site. Listings will be tagged to make searching easier and to filter information. The website will feature a calendar, job postings, announcements, blogs, interest groups, etc. The Beta version will be out on the first of the year. Public launch will be in the first six months.

The question was asked if CHNA needed to be a participating agent in the website. The website needs to be a community website first and foremost, and while groups that fund the site will get prominent advertising and benefits, it is still a community site first and foremost.

2) Fitness Challenge-The fitness challenge planning will be January 10^th from 10AM-2PM.

3) Children in Balance- A literacy program is being run in conjunction with Family Childcare Food Training. FCFT is a group that provides childcare in the city and influences hundreds of children.

4) Marilyn- There will be a patch giveaway for veterans and families. In January there will be a municipal employee patch giveaway. There will be a meeting December 5^th. There will be a CAD conference that deals with drugs and tobacco. The Partners voted to subsidize Marilyn’s attendance at this conference.

There is no movement on State law to ban blunt wraps.

5) Mike Ramos- Discussed walking routes

6) New banner on Partners homepage.

Legislative Breakfast-

The breakfast went very well. The food, event tables, other offerings were good. The speaker did a wonderful job and follow up will be necessary to keep her abreast of developments. A thank you letter will also be sent which will have a calendar of events. One issue that was brought up was the lack of attendance by legislators. Follow up phone calls could be used to encourage greater participation. The breakfast will be October 6^th 2009.

Announcements

Dr. Weed- the Partnership for a Heart-healthy, Stroke-free Massachusetts (www.heartstrokema.org) will be a conference at the end of January. One of the panels will focus on unnatural causes: the relationship between stress and heart disease and stroke. It will examine reductions of stress in regards to unnatural causes such as housing communities, etc.

Dr. Weed- Gun prevention initiative. This examines the question “Where do guns come from?” Fill out a flyer and mail it to Gov. Patrick. Flyers will be handed out at the next Healthy Youth Task Force meeting.

Marcia- The opiate booklet can be accessed through the partner website.

Meeting Adjourned at 10:00 am

Next Meeting – December 12, 2008 Southcoast Hospitals – Charlton Site

MEETING IN THE JACKSON CONFERENCE ROOM

Links to Minutes of Previous Meetings