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News for and about leaders in substance abuse prevention.
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Submission Guidelines Operation Snowball, Inc. and the Illinois Teen Institute are funded in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Cebrin Goodman Center, an affiliate of the Lillian and Larry Goodman Foundations.   |
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Welcome to this month's Impact Your Community news! In this issue you will learn ITI scholarships and transportation are available and is adding a MLI track, Project Sticker Shock in action, read how one Snowball chapter is impacting their community, and how you can help support one of our own family.
You will find other information and resources on our Facebook page. Please "like" our page today, and invite your friends to do so as well. Our social networking site links are to the left.
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Illinois Teen Institute 2012 Update:
Scholarships, Bus Transportation and Middle-School Track
The Illinois Teen Institute has scholarships available for participants! The deadline for applications is Friday, June 15, 2012. Fill out and send in the completed application to: IADDA, 937 S. 2nd St., Springfield, IL 62704. Make a note in the scholarship section that you are interested in a scholarship from IADDA. If you have any questions, contact CJ Cavazos at 217-528-7335 ext. 12, or at cjcavazos@iadda.org. Applications are online at www.os-iti.org.
We are also organizing a bus schedule to transport participants to and from ITI. Details are still being worked out, but once they are, we will send out a notification. If you have any questions regarding the bus schedule, pick-up or drop-off locations, or if you would like to express your interest in using a bus for transportation, contact Mary Jo Davies at 217-528-7335 ext. 18, or mdavies@iadda.org.
ITI will offer a Middle-School track this year, within our exemplary leadership training structure. Middle school students will attend their own workshops and discussion groups, but have the opportunity to interact with our high school leaders during the general sessions held in the auditorium. Middle school staff will stay with them in neighboring rooms of the middle school dorm. We are really excited and hope you will share the information about ITI to middle school students, who will enter 7-8th grade next year. The Middle-School track will be held Sunday, July 22th - Tuesday, July 24th at Illinois Wesleyan University.
ITI, for high school participants, will be held at Illinois Wesleyan University from July 22nd-26th. Staff training will be held at IWU on Friday, July 20th-Saturday, July 21st. Here's a sneak peak at some of the speakers:
Leading to Change (link to: www.leadingtochange.com)
Reach Communications (link to: http://www.reachspeakers.com/index.htm)
MWAH Performing Arts Troupe (link to: http://mwah.net/)
Mike Dial
Brent Swolsky
And so much more! Check the website (link to www.or-iti.org) for more details. We'll be posting specific speakers and workshop presenters in the coming weeks.
Applications are available online at www.os-iti.org. For news and updates visit our page on Facebook, Illinois Teen Institute, and follow us on Twitter @iti2012.
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Project Sticker Shock: A Student Initiative
Monday, May 14, students from PORTA's THINK Force went to
Casey's and County Market, both in Petersburg, to mark the beer cartons as part of a national event called Project Sticker Shock. Between February and May, students in communities across the state have been going to local retailers and placing yellow stickers on beverage containers containing alcohol. The effort is aimed at those who would purchase alcohol and provide it to underage
 consumers. Parents, family members, and older friends of youth under the age of 21 are all reminded that "It is ILLEGAL... To provide alcohol to a person under age 21" and "For a minor to use a fake ID". The prohibition includes parents providing alcohol to youth in their own homes. According to the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) for Menard County from 2010, 86% of seniors in high school report easy access to alcoholic beverages, and only 57% believe that the adults in their neighborhood think it is wrong for them to drink when under age. The combination of these two attitudes leads to 45% of the seniors reporting alcohol consumption in the past month. Twenty Four percent of them report consuming 5 or more beverages at one time or binge drinking. Armed with bright yellow stickers provided by Illinois Liquor Control Commission, students placed over 1,000 stickers on cartons in the two stores. They also placed door decals and posters in the store to remain after the cartons with the warning stickers have been sold. Students hope the effort will reduce the drinking that often accompanies graduation celebrations. THINK Force is part of Menard County School and Community Task Force Operation Snowball. Together they extend their appreciation to Casey's General Store and County Market for participating in this year's Sticker Shock. Both stores welcomed the students, with County Market permitting students to label additional cartons in their back storeroom with the Warning stickers. Pictured is Kaitlyn Mitchum placing stickers on cartons at Casey's General Store. Also pictured is the full THINK Force Sticker Shock Team with Kenny Stroisch from County Market. From left to right Kaitlyn Mitchum, Bailey Mitchum, Kenny Stroisch, Jade McFarland, Erin Bettis, Eli Reiser, and Chris Griffth. The Menard County School and Community Task Force reminds parents to "Be the excuse your child needs...Tell them you do not want them using alcohol or drugs."  
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MCSCTF Operation Snowball Takes Proactive Approach to Prevention Before Local Proms
As students at Athens HS and PORTA High School prepare for prom, Menard County School and Community Task Force Operation Snowball (MCSCTF OS) gears up to keep their peers alcohol and drug free.
At Athens HS, MCSCTF OS prevention team: TMD worked with FCCA to present a mock Crash reenactment. Posing as intoxicated driver, Lucas, with his date Logan find themselves in an accident killing classmate, and injuring members of a family returning from a family night at the theater. The pictures tell it all. Lives are forever changed as a result of that moment. Some leave in the ambulance, Lucas is escorted from the scene in a squad car, one victim leaves in the rescue helicopter, and the last leaves in the hearse. Students watching the incident were highly moved, and silently returned to class as they contemplated their plans for prom.
A week later, Javier Sanchez of REACH Communications visited both schools with a message about "Chances and Choices". A stand-up comedian who has experience in the prevention field, Javier entertained everyone as he reminded students of the importance of thinking about choices. Central to his message at both schools was considering the way we treat each other. He encouraged everyone to "leave the people you meet better than you found them." TMD and THINK Force students, all part of MCSCTF - OS assisted with the programs and had the opportunity to personally speak with Javier after the programs.
April 28, the Menard County Health and Safety Fair with Rx Take-Back was hosted by MCSCTF and the Menard County Health Department. While student participation was low due to prom later that day, community support was high as 107.75 pounds of unused medications were dropped off for disposal. Thirty six exhibits ranging from tractors and fire trucks to a jumpy castle outdoors and information, screenings, and concessions indoors delighted visitors from 10 am to 2 pm. Visitors included community members of all ages. Capitol Radio group broadcast from the event for two hours, and the Community C enter mobile blood unit was available to receive blood donations. One hundred eleven gift bags were distributed, and the total number of participants is estimated to have been between 135 and 150, not including the people who just drove through dropping their medications. The event is already in early planning stages for next year.
The final distribution of stall sheets made from student Red Ribbon Week Posters has occurred. All posters from this year's Red Ribbon Week are being scanned, and will be placed into consideration for the fall MCSCTF-OS calendar. The prevention calendar is distributed to all classroom teachers for classroom use during the school year. As students register for MLI and ITI, we look forward to another great year beginning next fall. You can see some of the Red Ribbon Week posters and find out more about our activities at www.menardtaskforce.org
Report submitted by Kay Daniel
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One Of Our Own Needs Your Support
Matthew Robert Wayne Grupe is the 12 month old son of Rob and Beth Grupe. He has a sister named Samantha and a brother named Christopher that just adore him. The Grupe's are long-time Snowball and ITI volunteers. On April 9, 2012 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor near his cerebellum.
It is an extremely rare (the oncologist says it's the type of tumor that should be written about). It is an aggressive form of cancer that usually starts in the abdomen. The fact that he got it in his head and apparently as of now nowhere else is good in that its spread rate/growth is quick and from the abdomen it spreads faster which is why it's difficult to cure. They got all the tumor from his head (as far as the cat scans show) so they like that. He will have aggressive chemo for a year and most likely radiation after that. We have a long road ahead of us and it's gonna be hard but he CanDo it! We need your thoughts, prayers and Love...
You can follow Matthew's story at https://www.facebook.com/groups/447658838593047/ and at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/matthewcando.
You can donate to help pay for medical and related expenses not covered by insurance at http://www.giveforward.com/matthewcando.
There is a benefit for Matthew on Sunday, June 10, 2012 in Effingham, IL.
Please keep Matthew and the Grupe family in your thoughts and prayers!
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Welcome New OS Chapter!
 Glenbrook North |
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IMPACT Your Community
is a publication of Operation Snowball, Inc. and the Illinois Teen Institute and is free of charge to subscribers.
IADDA Staff CEO: Sara Howe
COO: Eric Foster Business Manager: Pel Kelley
External Program Manager (OS): Mary Jo Davies
External Program Manager (ITI): Sarah Potter Prevention Program Coordinator: C.J. Cavazos
OS staff is provided through a contract between the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association and Operation Snowball, Inc.
IMPACT Your Community invites your comments, articles or photographs. Download submission requirements here.
Operation Snowball, Inc./Illinois Teen Institute
937 South Second Street · Springfield, IL 62704
800.252.6301 or 217.528.7335
info@os-iti.org
www.os-iti.org
This publication is free of copyright and may be reprinted. Please forward a copy of the printed material in which a reproduced IMPACT article appears. Appropriate authorship is appreciated.
Operation Snowball, Inc. Board of Directors: Patrick Ferrell, Chair; Charla Waxman, Past Chair; Spike Grossheusch, Vice Chair; Linda Pfeifer Secretary; Rob Grupe, Treasurer; Brianna Belgio, Teri Belgio, Melissa Byrne, Kay Daniel, Erin Emery, Laura Ferrell, Suzanne Hamilton, Sheri Huber, Jack Irwin, and Mike Waxman Board Members. . |
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