ZONTA holds Meth Summit
ATTENDING THE 2nd ANNUAL METH SUMMIT
Denise Olson, this year’s coordinator of the Second Annual Meth Summit held on January 18th in the Josephine County Community Corrections Office in Grants Pass, met me at the door. Ms. Olson works for the County Community Corrections Office and is a proud member of Zonta International of Grants Pass, hosts of this year’s Meth Summit community event. More about this great group, that included the world famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart, later in the story.
What is so gratifying about this summit is that it’s a true community endeavor. Community leaders, former meth users, city and county officials and folks such as you and me filled the large room to capacity. Denise tells us, “During our first attempt at last year’s summit, we agreed to form a task force to set up a website, community education program, seek funding, a total of six issues the group wanted us to address. So, we decided to come back to the group today with the results that we have to date. Now, we’re taking it to the next level asking them directions for the 2008 Meth Task Force and what they want us to take on.” She continued, “Today, we’ll form six round table groups and ask them, ‘in what areas might we have the greatest impact on the meth issue in our community’? After some discussion, the attendees go to a second group table for more discussion. Representatives of those individual groups then present two concerns considered most important by that group, then on to action groups.”
Today’s seminar resulted in some of the following strategies:
PUT A FACE ON THE SOLUTION
Face the issue through public awareness: increase business involvement, support advocacy for employers who risk and landlords who house recovering addicts, promote the learning of new skills through the assistance of the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Get the message out. Let it be known that the community cares and is willing to do what is possible to correct the situation. Coordinate all media; carry the same message in all areas of communication.
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
Utilize existing models; engage business and the community as stakeholders in the project. Seek living assistance support.
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTING RECOVERY
Create our mission statement, DVD’s, etc. Establish committees to educate employers, landlords and others who can make a difference.
EDUCATION AND PREVENTION OUTREACH
Establish an event calendar, create a media advertising blitz and a core prevention committee to operate the program. Some of the goals would be; utilizing existing programs and research new ones for monthly outreach programs to schools and community, collaborate with the Meth Task Force, and kick off Red Ribbon Week.
Results of the summit were focused on community involvement, understanding and access to jobs and affordable, clean housing. In prevention, a high priority was given to parent involvement and family advocacy in school centered programs. Framing of the message was seen as important, “Make sobriety and recovery popular through education, outreach and even entertainment.” I asked Ms. Olson about the group’s progress this year? “We had 32 attendees last year and over 50 today. I think that is great progress for a most important community issue. And, we have many different segments of the community represented here today and that is very gratifying. The summit has been by invitation only, but we hope to have it open to everyone who is interested in helping next year. It’s also gratifying and so exciting to see such high interest. Our community really cares. Now, we need to get the message out to everyone. We need all the help we can get on this all important community issue.” For more information you may call Denise at (541) 474-5191. The website is available at http://josephinecountymethtaskforce.org.
ZONTA, sponsors of this year’s Meth Summit, is a service organization for the betterment, enhancement and advancement of women in the community. Formed in 1919, in Buffalo, NY, the club is now 30,000 strong covering 68 countries. Many famous women belonged and further advance the club’s position in the world. Amelia Earhart, the world renowned aviatrix who was listed as missing on an historic flight in 1937, was an active member in the organization. The word “zonta” is derived from a Sioux American Native language meaning, “honest and trustworthy” and was adopted by the club upon its inauguration. And, for you trivia buffs, Amelia was the 16th woman to obtain a “Flying license”, a major accomplishment back then. The Grants Pass chapter was established in 1947 and is going strong today. You may contact Denise for more information on Zonta International at (541) 474-5191. -Mike Case
