OUR NAME IS CHANGED

We have changed our name from the NEW TRADITION COALITION to DRAW THE LINE LAWRENCE so it better fits our purpose and mission. We call on all community members to come together and DRAW THE LINE on underage drinking and drug use for a healthier and safer place to live.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

NEW COALITION NAME as of JANUARY 2012

The New Tradition Coalition is changing its name to New Coalition Name as of January 2012 to:
Draw the Line Lawrence

 We will be changing our web and blog sites to reflect the name change soon. Stay tuned.


Meeting Minutes

December 14, 2011

Welcome and Introductions/agency updates

Peggy Nelson, Diane Ash, Rob Neff, Steve Lewis, Elizabeth Schieb, Phil Bradley, Janelle Martin, Nancy Renfro, and Kelli Flanner were in attendance.

DFC Grant Update- Youth Coalition Reports

MADD Power of Parents had low attendance. There was some discussion of how to reach out to parents with PoP. Ideas included: getting on the agenda for PTA meetings, brown bag lunches at large employers, connecting with athletic directors/coaches, connecting with parents of music group participants.

Youth Coalition activities have been wide ranging in October and November, including many presentations for Red Ribbon week and Students Talking about Tobacco, a successful talent show that engaged over 400 youth and raised money for prevention scholarships, and Great American Smokeout celebrations.

Fake ID 101 Enforcement update

Bar owners will attend the next FAKE ID 101 meeting. Issues that will be discussed include whether to reapply for funds (this is the conclusion of the third funding cycle), sources of IDs that youth are using, and where to go next with this project.

Media/Marketing Update

The first website draft from Kern was presented to the coalition and discussed. We are awaiting a second draft concept and will select one to move forward with. Some website content will need to be provided by coalition members and will be edited for space by the marketing committee. We anticipate this happening in the next couple of months.

Report on the Prescription Drug Take-Back Event-Oct. 29th

There will be another Prescription Drug Take-Back on April 21st. A permanent solution to the problem of what to do with old prescriptions is in the works, but awaiting DEA recommendations for how to proceed.

Parent Surveys

Results of the spring/fall parent surveys were shared with the coalition. All the results show awareness of Those Who Host Lose the Most and other campaigns increasing and acceptability of social hosting decreasing. Numbers of surveys in the fall were more than twice the spring

responses, which is expected as many more parents attend parent/teacher conferences in the fall than spring.

Elections

We need to elect new officers for the coalition. Paid staff is not eligible. There was discussion of a need to bring new people to the table, and Diane Ash and Peggy Nelson agreed to send letters to the parents of their Youth Coalition members inviting them to the January meeting. We hope to get new people to the table in January and hold elections for Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary in February.

**Next Meeting- January 4th **

PARENT TIPS ON SOCIAL HOSTING IN LAWRENCE

Don’t invite Trouble
into your House ...
Most parents worry whether their teenager is safe at parties. Some parents mistakenly think it’s safer
to allow teens to hold underage drinking parties in their homes. This is called “social hosting” and in Kansas, it’s illegal. If charged and convicted, it’s a
Class A misdemeanor and a $1000 fine. You may be held liable even if you are not home.
Teens can still have fun and be legal.
Take these steps if the party is at your house:
  • Help your teen plan the party.
  • Invite only a certain number of people.
  • Pass out personalized invitations and don’t invite people via e-mail to avoid “open” parties.
  • Put your phone number on the invitation and welcome calls from parents.
  • Make and enforce a rule against any use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
  • Call parents if a teen arrives with alcohol or is under the influence.
  • Designate a start and end time for the party.
  • Secure all forms of alcohol, firearms and other dangerous items in your home.
  • Let neighbors know that a parent supervised party has been planned.

When you are out-of-town ...
  • Set a “no party” rule for your house while you are gone.
  • Have a responsible adult stay at your house or ask a neighbor to keep watch.
  • Ask the police to drive by your house.
  • Tell your teen you asked the police to do this.

If your teen attends a party... 
Remind teens that their actions have real consequences.
Know where the party is being held and verify with an adult who will be supervising.
Make sure alcohol will not be served.

Find out how your teen is getting to and from the party.
.
Remind teens to never ride with anyone who’s been drinking or doing drugs.

Tell teens to check in with you first from a land line telephone if they plan to leave the party and go somewhere else.
Assure your teen that they can phone you anytime to be picked up.
Set and enforce a curfew.

A program of
Kansas Family Partnership
5942 SW 29th Street, Topeka, KS 66614
785-266-6161 or 1-800-206-7231
For more information, visit
www.KansasFamily.org.

TEENS, PARENTS & DRIVING

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration just released a report that may influence the way some parents drive.  Read more at the link below.

SAMHSA News Release
Date: 12/6/2011 12:05 AM
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130

New report shows that adolescents are far more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs if they live with a parent that drives under the influence

http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/1112050724.aspx