HOME | ABOUT US | WORKGROUPS | YOUTH | RESOURCES | MINUTES | NEWSLETTER | CALENDAR | LINKS
|
| |
|
HOME | ABOUT US | WORKGROUPS | YOUTH | RESOURCES | MINUTES | NEWSLETTER | CALENDAR | LINKS | ||
|
Minutes for the Meeting of February 8, 2008 |
Present:
|
Mike Coughlin |
Pat Bebo |
|
|
Maureen Estes Ryan |
Bea Medeiros |
|
|
David Weed |
Pat Fanning |
|
|
Marcia Picard |
Sue Sterrett |
|
|
Lina Rebelo |
Marie Chase |
Roger Dextradeur |
A meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community was held on Friday, February 8, 2008 at the Jackson Conference Room at Charlton Hospital in Fall River. Co-Chairperson Mike Coughlin called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM. BJ Valente is on vacation.
Minutes
The minutes of the January 11, 2008 Steering Committee were circulated in advance.
VOTED to approve the Minutes of the January 11, 2008 meeting of Partners for a Healthier Community as circulated.
Financial Report
Financial Report was circulated at the meeting.
Breakfast report is finalized. It took longer than usual to get the report compiled because there was a dispute on an invoice submitted for the Administrative Assistant. The bill seemed very large but upon research it was found that the person submitting the bill combined hours worked for both COAST and the Legislative Breakfast, not just for the Breakfast. This was corrected.
Marcia further stated income for Breakfast was $3,000.00 – prepaid expenditures were $4360.00. The balance owed will be split between both coalitions. Should receive a check of $652.82 from New Bedford.
Discussion followed about how next year a volunteer should be sought out to handle the registration duties and collection of fees like Karen did in 2006. Mike C said that if no one can be found to take over these details and all else fails, then the Health Department could do it.
Marcia also pointed out that there were 2 payments in January to cover cost of Kathy King’s time to take and process minutes. Note that this was not an error. It just so happened that this month FSA was paid for both December and January in the same month for Kathy’s time.
VOTED to approve Financial Report through February 1, 2008. (attached)
Report of Work Groups
Access to Health Care And Healthy Lifestyles
Pat Fanning was asked to report. She turned it over to David Weed as they have been working very closely with him on the Partners Web Site. David printed out and circulated one of the pages that has been added to the web site concerning this project. This one happened to be on substance abuse. Continuing to work on “links”.
Planning to get some exposure through the Wellness Section of the FR Herald News on February 21.
Mike C talked about the Wellness Grant awarded to the City of Fall River by DPH. It is a 5-year grant with a 2-year renewal option. He announced that Maureen Estes Ryan has been appointed the coordinator and will be very active in this initiative. Maureen took over and spoke about future plans for this program. Goals are to help individuals to enhance personal health. Will work with agencies that already focus on nutrition and fitness. They will be networking with and supporting efforts of those who need treatment for diabetes, cardiac problems and obesity.
Mike C also talked about a Regional Wellness Grant - $125,000.00 targeting municipal employees from 7 communities (Fall River, Attleboro, North Attleboro, Mansfield, Somerset, Swansea and Westport). They will be offering smoking cessation groups as well as other programs. The intention will be to work together with Maureen to coordinate many related activities.
Pat B discussed how U Mass over the past 4 or so years has been working with Second Graders in Fall River to teach nutrition. This was expanded to K-5 and now is hoping to further expand to Middle Schools and the High Schools; eventually teaching health and nutrition to all grades.
Mike C congratulated Jamison on his success in spearheading America’s Promise as well as the great news that Fall River was named as one of the “Top 100 Best Communities for Young People”!
Jamison was very happy to report that the Youth Task Force and Team FRESH met last Wednesday and were quite excited about their success. However, when it was announced on TV news, a comment was made on how it seemed surprising that Fall River was included in this honor. There seems to be a stigma around Fall River. Jamison and others feel that with this award now comes a major marketing campaign to improve Fall River’s image. Jamison was grateful and formally thanked everyone, many of whom attend the Partners meeting each month, who have helped and supported Fall River youth to attain this prestigious award.
Youth Forum - This is the 6th year. 20 young people are on the committee. There was a training last month at CD Rec. Plans for this year are a little different than previous years. This time they are thinking about a 2-day event or “summit”.
The first day is being planned for a day during Spring vacation which would consists of 50-70 kids from leadership groups. They want to invite a speaker as well as have a group meeting to discuss 5 year, 10 year and 20 years plans.
The second day would include youth and adults to meet at White’s on May 8. Discussion would be around Youth violence prevention and continuous promotion to enhance Fall River’s image.
The annual art contest is coming up – Topic: “What Makes Your Community Proud”.
Looking into putting together banners and murals and will contact Jeff Carpenter from Arts United.
Youth of the Year--- Nominations will be accepted through February 11. Still searching for a motivational speaker.
Healthy City Initiative
Weight Loss/Fitness Challenge for Adults – HAS COMPLETELY CAUGHT ON!
Very surprising turnout. 918 people have signed up.
There are Monday workouts, Zumba classes, kick boxing – and the CD Rec Fitness Center has bought more exercise equipment. Stay tuned!
Save the Date - April 30 – is the date for the Healthy City Celebration and Spring Awards 5 – 7 PM. Commissioner Auerbach will attend – Perhaps the Mayor also.
Location is “Our Lady of Light Band Club” on Quarry Street. There are 164 invitees for a sit down dinner - looking at charging $10.00 per person. Looking for sponsors – Awardees will not pay for dinners.
Continuing work on the March 19 Conference at BCC - check the Partners Web site. Sent save the date notices back in December.
“Southcoast Health Expo” scheduled for March 2 from 12 – 3 PM at White’s. WSAR and Southcoast Hospitals Group are sponsors. Looking forward to making this event more interesting. Suggestions were made to ask people who make their living through fitness to put on demonstrations such as tennis, golf, walking, weights.
Nutritionists could demonstrate healthy cooking / recipes. FREE space is available tables under Healthy Cities / Partners.
Announcements:
Mike Coughlin announced that DPH is applying for a grant for Substance Abuse interventions focus on drug overdosing problems. Ten years ago a grant of this nature was received, some of you may remember that this was based at SSTAR. Now Mass Call II – Dept of HHS preparing to write an application for another grant. Healthy Youth Task Force and BOLD will be involved. This is a 3-year grant… First year is a planning stage to develop strategies. Years 2 and 3 will involve implementing those strategies. The goal being to reduce overdoses. Fall River ranks 4th in Massachusetts -- 95 overdoses and deaths last year. Healthy Cities is being invited to join in these efforts. It was motioned and approved for “Partners” to be a part of this task force.
New State Regs – as of July 1, 2008 it will be illegal to dispose of sharps in regular trash.
This means all areas of the state will need places to bring used needles / sharps.
It was decided to go forward with a meeting in the training room at SSTAR on Tuesday, February 26 at 10:00 AM around this issue. Diabetes Association will be represented at the meeting.
DPH is resurrecting the “Ounce of Prevention Conference”. Mike C is on the planning committee. It will be held at the Best Western on Rt. 20 in Marlboro on Oct. 21, 2008. Would like to see Healthy Cities highlighted at the conference.
More information to come…
Meeting Adjourned at 10:00 am
Next Meeting – March 14, 2008
Southcoast Hospitals – Charlton Site
Jackson Conference Room
Links to Minutes of Previous Meetings
minutes 11-12-04
minutes10-8-04