Happy Spring! Coalition Updates

Congrats Coalition Co-Chairs!
At the quarterly OCSAPC meeting on April 14th, the coalition voted Betsy Bethel-McFarland and Jim McGoldrick in as our new Coalition Co-Chairs. Thanks to Betsy and Jim for graciously accepting these positions as a great step towards a more community-driven coalition. We will be meeting soon to develop a leadership team to guide the strategic planning process that makes for effective science-based prevention efforts.

Coalition Training & Capacity-Building
Our coalition is participating in a couple of trainings to build our capacity to make community level change right here in Ohio County: Service to Science (STS) and the National Coalition Academy (NCA). Our coalition was nominated and then selected to participate in STS in early April to gain important evaluation tools and support. The National Coalition Academy is a year-long innovative training program that combines three-weeks of classroom training, distance learning and Web support to teach our community what it needs to know and to do in order to sustain a highly effective anti-drug coalition.

Thanks to Cheryl Maltese for traveling to Bloomington, MN to participate in the STS training; she has helped to kick-start some practical coalition evaluation tools- making sure that we are staying on track with prevention strategies. Thanks to Jim McGoldrick and Grant Coleman for traveling to Des Moines, IA and participating in this great training opportunity! There is a space open for any coalition member who would like an all-expense paid trip to Iowa with me the week of August 1-6, 2010 to participate in the third and final week of this very valuable training. Contact Julia if you’re interested!

MAY DATES! MAY DATES!

• Wednesday, May 12: Sustainability Taskforce Meeting (12:30pm at YSS- SNACKS PROVIDED). AGENDA: Planning beyond the DFC grant!
• Monday, May 17: Social Marketing Taskforce Meeting (12:30pm at YSS- SNACKS PROVIDED). AGENDA: Developing our coalition media plan!
• Thursday, May 20: “Moving People Into Action” Workshop (10am-3pm at Grand Vue Park, LUNCH PROVIDED- RSVP BY MAY 17). AGENDA: This hands-on workshop, taught by leadership expert Peter Hille, will set people on the path toward greater community involvement. Workshop sponsored by Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition.
• Friday, May 28: "Tiny Tot Trot" FREE family event sponsored by OV Parent Magazine (Registration begins at 5pm outside WesBanco Arena in downtown Wheeling)