Get Involved: A Celebration!

Mark your calendars--May 10, 2011 to attend the spring MTCCC Statewide Meeting in Helena to witness and celebrate the unveiling of the 2011-2016 Montana Comprehensive Cancer Control state plan.  By attending this meeting, you will have an opportunity to

• Review the new plan design
• Learn about the goals and vision for the next 5 years
• Share your expertise and ideas
• Connect, network, and collaborate with others from around the state
• Decide how you and/or your organization can support the MTCCC's state plan
• Develop strategies to use the MTCCC promotional toolkit
• Bring a buddy (friend, family,  or colleague) to build the MTCCC capacity
• Donate towards the MTCCC work and activities for the next 5 years
• Bring cancer control action back into your local community
• Celebrate, Make a difference and Get Involved!

MTCCC members influence positive change for cancer control in Montana. Its success comes from active membership from all Montanans, and you are invited to support the MTCCC's goals for the next five years. Whether you wish to serve a formal position on a team or committee, can donate a few hours at the fair, stuff envelopes, or attend the statewide meeting celebration, we need support from community members like you! We are holding a Call to Action to all coalition members at the statewide meeting to challenge each other to Make a Difference and Get Involved!

Please join in the celebration of accomplishments over these past five years and help carry that energy forward to achieve the goals for 2011-2016!

Bette Bohlinger Leadership Award Nominations

The MTCCC appreciates and recognizes its members and partners. One deserving individual will be presented with the 2011 Bette Bohlinger Leadership Award at the statewide meeting to show the coalition's gratitude for contributions to cancer control activities in Montana.  Please help us honor and celebrate this award recipient at the spring statewide meeting in Helena on May 10^th!  Nominations for the Bette Bohlinger Leadership Award are being accepted until Monday, February 28, 2011. If you would like to nominate an individual or organization, please contact Lisa Crowley lcrowley@mt.gov

PROVIDER ADVISORY GROUP: ANNUAL REPORT 2010

The Montana Cancer Control Coalition (MTCCC) established the Provider Advisory Group (PAG) and the position of PAG Liaison with an approved Bylaws addition by vote at the Spring meeting of the MTCCC, May 6, 2010.

The PAG is an ad hoc committee of Montana Health Care Providers which provides input and expertise to the MTCCC.  The goal is to provide an advisory forum for Providers who would not otherwise be active members of the MTCCC.

There were two meetings of the PAG in 2010.  On May 6 in Billings the meeting provided orientation about the mission and objectives of the MTCCC and the strategies to reduce the burden of cancer in Montana.  Dr Barbara Lloyd and Dr Carol Ballew gave presentations highlighting the work of the MTCCC, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer Program, and the Montana Central Tumor Registry data on lymph node retrieval during colon cancer surgery. 

On November 4 in Helena the PAG meeting discussed the interaction of the MTCCC, the Montana 5 year Cancer Control Plan and the ACS Commission on Cancer Program, emphasizing the roles of the Montana ACS Commission on Cancer Approved Sites.  Dr Jeffrey Rentz, the State ACS Cancer Liaison Program Chair, attended and gave valuable input. Unfortunately,  the turnout for the PAG meeting was low and it is hoped that there will be more participation in the future.

In December, the PAG was sent the draft of the 5 year Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan 2011-2016 for review for suggestions and revisions.  We sincerely wish to involve more Montana healthcare providers in the MTCCC and use their expertise and input, recognizing that many providers have time and work constraints which preclude their participating more fully in the MTCCC.

The next in person meeting of the PAG is planned to coincide with the MTCCC Spring 2011 meeting May 10 in Helena.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month!

Priscilla Robinson knows that early detection saved her life. Priscilla is a 75-year-old woman, born and raised on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and is an enrolled member of that tribe.

MTCCC Steering Committee Report

In-person or videoconference meetings were held Sep 16, Nov 3, Dec 3 and Jan 25.  Important decisions and actions from these include:

• Everyone is to distribute the 2010 Annual Report.  Copies will also be distributed by the CCC Regional Coordinators.
• The policy on Advocacy and the 2011 Legislative Priorities were developed and approved.
• Betsy Smith was voted in as new Co-chair starting in January for a 2-year term.  Nancy White was confirmed to continue as Secretary/Treasure.
• Long range planning for the MTCCC will include further discussion of becoming a 501c (3), incorporating new national treatment standards in the updated CCC Plan, and broadening membership to include more disparity groups.
• The Steering Committee continues to work on and provide leadership for the process and content of the CCC Plan update 2011-16.  The Provider Advisory Group (PAG) reviewed the draft in January.
• The MTCCC website is to be updated by all groups by the May 10 MTCCC meeting.
• All Chairs will discuss the updated CCC Plan dissemination with their group and feedback to the Communication committee in February. 
• The ADcom summary and recommendations from the Nov 4 MTCCC meeting and the biennial member survey were discussed and will be incorporated in future decisions.
• The Leadership Retreat Mar 4&5 will include discussions on membership and participation, structure and function to best implement the updated CCC Plan, a review of the final draft of the updated CCC Plan, and start planning for implementation and promotion of the Montana Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan 2011-2016.

Barbara G. Lloyd MD

Co-chair MTCCC

 Member Satisfaction Survey

In an effort to keep the MTCCC engaged and running smoothly, a member satisfaction survey is administered every two years.  A survey was conducted in November 2010 with approximately 75 MTCCC members completing the survey. 

Overall results

• Positive responses (very satisfied and somewhat satisfied) to all questions. 
• Comments reflect the need for more diversity of membership within MTCCC.  Suggestions include:  American Indians, elected officials, people with disabilities, survivors.
• Many comments from members feeling they don't or can't put the time and energy they would like to toward MTCCC volunteer activities.
• 66% (n=47) of survey respondents stated they or their organization would be willing to pay a nominal annual membership fee (~$10) to support MTCCC initiatives.
• 85% (n=64) of survey respondents stated they were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the methods being used for communication and education. 

The results were presented to the Steering Committee on January 25, 2011.  They agreed on the following action items based on the survey results:

• Address membership issues: more diverse membership, how to engage members
• Continue to ask for financial donations as well as encourage in-kind donations
• Continue to address organizational involvement to enhance commitment to CCC Plan activities

Thank you to all the members who completed the member satisfaction survey and made your voices heard.  The Steering Committee is committed to addressing the issues reported in the survey results. 

Assessment and Development Committee

Personal Stories Relay Challenges and Hope

The MTCCC Communications committee wants to thank members and friends who assisted us in collecting cancer stories. Many Montanans have faced challenges, overcome hurdles, and made choices to improve their quality of life during their cancer journey. We are privileged to have these people share their stories so others can relate and learn from them. Some of these stories will appear in the new five- year Montana Cancer Control Plan. Other stories will be used in this newsletter and/or on the website.