Dean Rushford, received a Prevention Award. The award is given to people in the community that have gone above and beyond to volunteer their time to prevent substance abuse. He has worked with approximately 500 15 to 16 year olds presenting the YATE(Youth Alcohol and Traffic Education) program in Marquette County. The program consists of a 2 hour presentation on what police look for during traffic stops, information on how to be a better driver geared toward Driver’s Education students. He will also present a 1 hour presentation to the parents that WE Energies and CCI made donations toward.

Sheriff Lovelace mentioned a new Marquette county program they will participating in. Law enforcement officers will be telling parents that their child has been stopped if the parents register their car and get a decal. It will affect anyone under 21 who’s registered and is using their parent’s vehicle. Sue Girard-Jackson will bring information on the program for the next meeting.

Larry Ziomkowski, U.P. Catholic Charities, one important Coalition goal that is accomplished during our meetings is networking in prevention. He distributed the Coalition Goals and Objectives for 2006. There are six Strategies and Goals and 19 Objectives to go with them. Contact Larry for a Statistical report. We have made progress on all 19 objectives. 18 organizations have reported 2,109 events over the past year with 300,000 people involved. Some new developments: an increase in information about prevention through ads with Great Lakes Development, TV ads that benefited the community, using the wording ‘traffic crashes’, and educating the media to include upprevent.org on news stories. The traffic deaths in 2005 due to alcohol declined.

Last year 16 presentations were made to the community. Part of the powerpoint presentation can be used for your presentation. Jim will check to see if it’s on the website. Jim has it on CD, too.

The Health Department can fund up to ten prevention projects a year. There’s a submission form on the website or call Jim at 315-2614. It enhances what groups are doing.

The Federal program, Weed and Seed, from the Department of Juvenile Justice, was brought up. We will provide information at the next meeting.

Another Coalition activity which is part of the alternative section is the Teen Leadership program. It is good to give prevention awards because it helps highlight the prevention work happenings.

Another Town Hall meeting will be scheduled in April. Meetings to plan this event will be scheduled.

The Marquette County Sheriffs are seeing cocaine and prescription drugs on the rise. Meth is back in Michigan again, also.

We target alcohol and tobacco prevention because it has the biggest impact on the majority.

Parents play a big part in prevention. It was suggested to send out a Fact sheet as an insert in the newspaper.

There will be a subgroup that will get together and report to the Coalition next month. Contact Jim or Larry about your concerns.

Sue Girard-Jackson, MCSO, they produced "Be a Life Saver" cards through a previous Mini grant. You hand a clerk the card if you see them carding someone. You tell them you noticed and to share the card with their supervisor. It’s a positive action.

Jim Harrington, MCHD, would like to list the Alcohol free events on our calendar and publicize them. They could be recognized like we recognize Teen Tuesdays. Another example is the Late Night Event in August at NMU for around 800-1000 NMU students. .

Gary Ebrecht, NMU, is teaching a grant writing class at NMU that has some funding available. The students will review grant literature for you.

He’s also teaching Drug Use and Abuse on Monday nights. He would welcome presenters to the class. Contact him at 227-1368.

Lenny Shible, NMU Health Promotions, the Wildcat Health Fair will be February 13th at the University Center for NMU students and faculty. Agencies can set up information tables. There are around 400-500 people that attend.

They are launching an information program at bars and off premise establishments. They will get information out about the two cab services in Marquette. Cards with the phone number of the cab companies to call for a safe ride home will be placed at bars. A discount fare will be offered.