Renee Speh opened the agenda with the following updates:

• Hiring of second School Health Coordinator. In light of inadequate response to the advertisement for the position in November, the superintendents decided to offer stipends to existing staff instead of paying for advertisements that are likely to again yield minimal results. The stipend positions are likely to be existing staff in the Dover-Foxcroft, Milo and Greenville districts, and the group decided to expand to include Guilford. The entire salary and benefits for the original single full-time person will be split amongst the four districts, which will each hire a coordinator and individuals to complete specific tasks. In this way, the foundation is being established for future activities and much of the workplan can be accomplished by June 30, 2002, when the state contract ends.
• My Turn: Tomorrow a regional meeting of the Maine Youth Action Network will meet in Bangor, and it is hoped that several of these youth will attend. Five of the students went to Augusta for the Hall of Flags day on January 8, and four of them attended the “Women, Girls, and Smoking” breakfast the same morning.
• Mission statement: Susan discussed the intended role of North Country Healthy Communities as a public health umbrella – like a public health department – within which the specific tobacco prevention work of PPHC would be a component. Renée presented a final draft of the PPHC brochure, including the mission statement. These were approved with the addition of “schools” in the mission statement.
• Hall of Flags day: Renée, Robin, and Susan staffed a table at the Jan. 8 Healthy Maine Day celebration at the State House, and met with all five local legislators.
• Maine Kids Eat Smart kickoff: The PPHC is now a member of this group, which will open up opportunities and resources. Renée, Jane, and Robin will attend the event.
• Move and Improve: Renée will complete the training to be Site Coordinator on behalf of PPHC. Robin will also attend. Kathy gave background information on the program.
• Tobacco use cessation: Will Hunter and Renée met to plan the program. The first step is to focus on community awareness through the PPHC activities. The next step is to build cessation programs when smokers reach a high level of motivation. The course may be targeted for specific groups, such as at a workplace.
• The representative from Maine Coalition on Smoking OR Health could not come due to a family emergency, but will return later in January to meet with Renée.

Meeting adjourned. Minutes submitted by Renée Speh.

Next meeting:
Thursday, February 14, 10-11:30 AM, at Mayo.