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What does it mean to be involved with the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce? Of course, it means being involved in a community coalition that uses volunteers, community partners, and a Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to reduce underage and youth binge drinking, and in doing so, save lives.
But it also means doing all those things to change lives. It means addressing the misperceptions, social norms, and attitudes that lead many to believe that it's okay for young people to consume alcohol before they are legally and responsibly able to do so. It means educating our community by speaking out.
We want to help everyone to become better at speaking out. Our Spokesperson Training session will take place on October 1, 2013, at the YWCA of Northwest Georgia, 48 Henderson Street, Marietta, and will begin at 11:30 AM. Thanks to YWCA of NW GA and to Chick-fil-A for what they are doing to make this a productive and enjoyable activity. If you haven't submitted your RSVP yet, don't worry! Please come!
We also want to cultivate more opportunities for speaking out. Please join with us in observing and promoting Red Ribbon Week, an important national drug prevention campaigns. Red Ribbon Week will be observed nationally between October 21- 31. The Taskforce is planning to hold activities, especially during the week of October 27. For more information contact me via e-mail: [email protected].
October marks the beginning of a new program year for the Taskforce. New volunteers with marvelous leadership skills and experience have joined our Board and Strategy Teams. They will help provide guidance and oversight for the important activities being planned for staging over the coming months. Expect many exciting announcements!
Please visit the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce web site, www.cobbat.org, to find out more about program and activity updates. Thank you all for your support!
Peter I. Armstrong,
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CALENDAR SNAPSHOT
OCTOBER
1 - CAT General Meeting; Spokesperson Training
1 - Policy Strategy Team Strategy
2 - CPAW Meeting
10 - Sources of Strength Training
15 - Education Policy Team Meeting
15 - Youth Policy Team Meeting
21 - 31 RED RIBBON WEEK
NOVEMBER
5 - CAT General Meeting
5 - CAT Raffle Drawing
19 - Education Strategy Team Meeting
19 - Youth Strategy Team Meeting
21 - CAT Board Meeting*
Please Note: Board Meetings now begin at 7:30 AM.
DECEMBER
5 - CAT General Meeting
Please check the calendar page frequently at www.cobbat.org for updates about events, meeting times, and locations.
OCTOBER HIGHLIGHT:
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
Governments are charged to protect public health, safety, and quality of life. According to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, youth drinking contributes significantly to crime, violence, and a variety of poor social, health, education, and quality of life outcomes.
Governments can develop laws, ordinances, and policies to address youth possession, commercial availability, and social/public availability. CAT volunteers are working to educate government leaders about the benefits of passing social host ordinances, such as Austell, Kennesaw, and Cobb County have done.
For more information about how Government partners can continue to be proactive, see this link at the CAT web site.
THANKS TO ALL OUR OUTSTANDING GOVERNMENT PARTNERS. Follow the "shout outs" to Government partners on Facebook and Twitter throughout October.
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Taskforce Happenings
Welcome to the Taskforce! - As the 2013-24 Program Year for the Taskforce begins, it is a pleasure to welcome several new volunteer leaders. Irene Barton, GA PTA assistant director; Annette Hughes, president and lead therapist for Social Concepts & Development Services (SCADS); and Chad Husted, Director of Business Development for Ridgeview Institute, make impressive additions to the CAT Board of Directors. Irene will also chair the Education Strategy Team, rounding out the strong set of team leaders with the addition of Justin O'Dell, a partner in the firm of O'Dell & O'Neal, as Policy Strategy Team Chair. Welcome, all!
CAT Raffle Will Continue in October - Once again the raffle prize is an Apple iPad! Raffle tickets are now available at a donation price of $10 each. Prize drawing will take place in November. For more information, contact Bonnie Brand, CAT Board Chair, Jeff Inman, Development Committee Chair, and Peter Armstrong, executive director.
Special Appreciation for Law Enforcement Partners - The Taskforce selected September 2013 to salute our Law Enforcement partners, and did so in a big way. In observance of Public Safety Appreciation Week, Cobb Alcohol Taskforce Youth Council dedicated its Back to School Kickoff Event to honoring municipal, county, and other law enforcement professionals in Cobb County. The event was held on September 29 at Cobb & Douglas Public Health office in Austell, GA. Food, baked goods, games, and other fun features were plentiful.
Youth Council Hosts Video Competition Announcement - The Back to School Kickoff served another exciting purpose! Cobb was one of only ten communities in Georgia presented the opportunity for youth to host representatives from the Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) and Public Awareness Campaign.com, in a live presentation about the Statewide Video Competition called ReelChangeGA. The forty Cobb middle and high school students who attended the Kickoff all submitted their entry forms on the spot. More information is posted below.
Volunteers Needed for Team Meetings - Please see dates/times on calendar and plan to attend one of these meetings. These team meetings are where the action is; all are welcome!
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In The News
Red Ribbon Week 2013 Will Be Observed Nationally
Red Ribbon week is a national campaign held in October to raise awareness about substance abuse (including alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs) and violence prevention. The campaign was begun by the National Family Partnership, which actively coordinates local Red Ribbon Week activities throughout the country. The Red Ribbon theme for 2013 is "A Healthy Me is Drug Free." Read more . . .
Statewise Competition Seeks Winning Youth Videos
The Governor's Office for Children and Families (GOCF) is sponsoring ReelChangeGA, a Statewide Video Competition that offers young people the opportunity to "Tell us why you choose not to drink." The winning video will be shown as a PSA in movie theaters throughout Georgia, as well as on cable networks like MTV, BET, Disney, and others. Read more . . .
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About Us
Cobb Alcohol Taskforce is an alliance of individuals and organizations which mobilizes and challenges Cobb County adults to reduce underage drinking and youth binge drinking, by advancing strategic enforcement, policy and education goals.
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Contact Us
Cobb Alcohol Taskforce3162 Johnson Ferry Rd., S-260 |
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