Meeting Minutes / February 2007
Meeting minutes from 14 Februrary 2007
Welcome & Introductions
Shannon Reynolds called the meeting to order. Each member of the group introduced themselves. In attendance were: Kathleen Steele, Angie Beaty, Amy Fields, Carol Myers, George Shuchmann, MD, Brent Hannah, Elaine Rector, Charlene Ellis, Donna Raines, Gwen Valentine, Joanna Simeone, Gail Lowery, Melissa Keener, Margie Kidd, Carrie Thomas, Ranie Randy, Kathy Brown and Bill Lee. Tyra Haag joined the group as the meeting progressed.
Carrie announced she is taking Tracie Bull’s place at the health department, and the Community Health Services area is being renamed. Kathy Brown will be the new director of this group. Ranee Randby introduced herself as the new community relations director. There is also a part-time position, formerly held by Katie Van Dyke, which is open; if anyone knows someone who might be interested, please let Carrie know.
The group brainstormed their goals for 2007. Melissa suggested that the group continue to address the hospitals going smoke free. This would come under the worksite subcommittee. The group also discussed doing another worksite seminar to help companies who are interested in going smoke free. This would take place in the late Spring; Radio Systems has donated their office space for the seminar.
There is a Freedom from Smoking session to be held at UT on February 24 and 25.
Leonard Brabson, MD, has agreed to chair the legislative subcommittee.
The March of Dimes Lobby Day is March 27.
Gail Lowery suggested that Smoke Free Knoxville should continue to support the Tennessee Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition (TCCCC). Gail also proposed that the group add an evaluation subcommittee.
The group agreed to continue Not in Mamma’s Kitchen, a program done two years ago, which encourages African American families to take smoking outside of their homes. Church groups lead this program. Gwen Valentine suggested that we need more effort in following-up with families after the event.
Carrie said that the youth subcommittee should be a focus of the part-time position.
Bill Lee noted that university coaches should be targeted due to the fact that some athletic departments celebrate victories with cigar smoking. Spit tobacco is also prevalent among this group.
The group discussed the need to change the name of Smoke Free Knoxville and decided to add this to a future meeting agenda.
Law enforcement representative(s) need to be on the coalition, on the preventing initiation subcommittee.
Charlene Ellis noted that we need to focus on the legislative subcommittee this year, as bills are introduced regarding raising the tobacco tax and suggesting the state should go smoke free in the workplace. Gwen added that we need to focus on legislators locally as well as in Nashville.
The group reviewed the subcommittees of Smoke Free Knoxville, and Shannon asked everyone to sign up for one of the following: worksites, legislative, home and car, environmental tobacco smoke, evaluation.
Joanna announced the recipients of the Breath of Fresh Air awards. For March, the winner is Wishbones on Clinton Highway. For April, the winner is the Pizza Kitchen at Northshore. May’s winner is Kalamata Café at Northshore. June’s winner is Sitar Indian Cuisine.
The website needs to be updated. The group voted to pay for updates. Shannon as well as Gail Brabson will be trained to make updates in the future. If anyone on the group would like to train on this, please let Shannon know.
Shannon handed out applications to be a member of ACS CAN (The American Cancer Society Community Action Network) and passed around copies of the ACS postcards which members filled out and signed, encouraging their legislators to pass legislation to make workplaces in Tennessee smoke free. ACS staff will hand-deliver the postcards to Nashville in March.
Shannon asked for news and announcements. She asked that each coalition member invite 1 to 2 new members to the next meeting.
Tyra updated the group on the Drug Free Club at Fulton High School. The group is fundraising to be able to go to a national conference. The group includes 35 students who reach out to their peers with drug-free messages.
Gwen is on the Board of the American Lung Association. The American Lung Association is trying to start a coalition here in Knoxville to do education programs. The association is becoming part of the Mid-Atlantic Division.
March 1-2 is the radiothon for Children’s Hospital.
The next meeting will be Wednesday, March 14.