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From the Director’s
Desk
Spring newsletter
2009
The newly-elected officers and board members met in January for a
retreat. New members to the board were presented with orientation
materials and the history of our council, and we worked on goals and
long-range planning for the coming year. Welcome to new officers and
board members Doug McClure from Seymour High School, Connie Schrader
from the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center, and George Lanham
from Mill House!
In February, I attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference
in Washington D.C. Attending with me were our Youth Director, Darlene
McMahon, and three students that serve on our Youth Council, Meagan Ramos
from Medora, Skylar Prange from Seymour, and Leah Schill from
Crothersville. While in D.C. we attended various educational workshops
and seminars, and heard speakers from many Federal agencies. The kids
attended Youth Summit functions and came home with many new ideas to use here
in Jackson County to get more kids involved and to remain alcohol and drug-free.
In their free time, the kids got to sight-see around Washington and got a
quick glimpse of the just re-opened Ford’s Theater. There was an added
bonus to our trip, the kids got to see Dolly Parton!
This past December, the Drug Free Council and Chief Bill Abbott from the
Seymour Police Department presented a teacher in-service program on
Methamphetamines to the staff of Crothersville High School. We want to
thank Bill once again for his time in presenting the program.
We will again be participating in the Schneck Medical Center Health Fair
which will be Saturday, April 4 from 8-12 at the Seymour High School
gymnasium. We will have lots of valuable educational material to hand
out, so please stop by and see us at our booth!
Local Grant applications are available now! These grants are awarded
annually to local schools and agencies from our community drug fund monies,
which are generated from alcohol and drug fines throughout the county.
Anyone wishing to apply for a local grant can contact me at 524-7442, and I
will make sure you get an application. The applications are due back to
the Drug Free Council no later than 5:00 pm on May 14. All applicant
requests should further the goals of the drug free council and support our
mission of “preventing and reducing substance abuse in Jackson County”.
Proms and graduations are right around the corner, and the Drug Free Council
is beginning a new campaign for the months of April and May focusing on
underage drinking, parental hosting and contributing. “Parents who
host…..lose the most. Don’t be party to underage drinking, it’s against
the law”. There will be billboards, ads in the papers, posters, columns
in the papers, letters to parents in high school newsletters, etc. This
is an important issue and I would appreciate it if you would take the time to
read my column on this subject on our home page.
And as always, we welcome new members!!! We meet each second Thursday
of the month at the Community Foundation Building. We meet at 3:30-5:00
pm.
Please join us!! April 9, May 14 and
June 11.
Sincerely,
Jackson County Drug Free Council, Inc.
director@drugfreecouncil.org
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