HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-04-19Dryden Youth Commission
10 April 19, 2005
Minutes
Present: Tracy Kurtz, Kristen Blackman, In Shik Lee, Alan Macomber, Eric McConnell, Patty Mooney, Kris
Bennett, Nita Baldwin
Tracy called the meeting to order at 6: 38 pm. The minutes from March were approved unanimously.
Recreation Updates Tracy reported that the recent Battle of the Bands was a big success with 5 bands
performing, They are hoping to do this again and are applying to the Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund for
support. Also applying to DYOF for 4 more Club Dryden events. The Town is proceeding with hiring an
architect for the new Town Hall, they are still resolving the site and need to decide whether the building will
be a combination Town Hall /Court/Rec. Center. (Some prefer a separate rec. facility.) Approval of funding
for rec. fields and rec./community center is still pending, too. The Rec, Dept. is planning to erect signs this
summer to direct people to Dryden parks. Kris asked whether this could be a possible YCC job, Tracy
suggested checking with Jack Bush,
Membership Updates Tracy reported that the woman who had been interested changed her plans because
of a family illness, Kris spoke with someone but she lives in the Town, not the Village; she might work out
when Eric's term ends. Eric suggested Ms. Whitmore, he will contact her and report back.
Annual Report Kris distributed copies which now contain the Brooktondale Camp info from last year. She
asked all to look at it carefully; Patty noticed that In Shik's name had been left off the 2004 roster. To follow
up on concerns/questions raised last month by the Town board, DYC members asked what specifically was
confusing to the Town Board members. Kris pointed out a few things and the DYC members suggested
these changes: 1) Leave off the "youth employment" summary, all the info. is included in the program list.
2) Do more to highlight the CCE programs since it's the largest item both in cost and in youth served.
Italicize the programs. Kris will email a revised version to DYC members; if all approve, she'll send paper
copies to all so visits to municipal officials can be scheduled,
Other 1) Kris passed out Dave's and Tom's program reports. Tracy has visited Tom's programs twice, kids
seem to like him and he's quite enthusiastic. 2) Kris distributed the flyer for the May 7 Search Institute
Community Forum and encouraged a representative of the DYC to attend. She also sent the flyer to Paul
Streeter from the DYOF. 3) Kris contacted Allen Green for a revised YCC budget since minimum wage has
risen to $6.001hr, but their budget was based on $5.15mr. Allen found some savings in the budget but the
number of hours youth will work will be reduced slightly. Kris distributed the revised budget. Kris is still
trying to facilitate the bridge repair project at 4 -H Acres. There's been confusion setting up the evaluation
of the project suitability, who covers costs, labor, where the application form comes from. Kris is working
to resolve the confusion. Tom is ready to start recruiting, IYB would like 12 candidates to interview for the 8
positions. 4) Alan has still not heard back from Chief Ryan about the Police & Community classroom visits.
Tracy stated they have not resumed. Alan will contact Chief Ryan to find out how many visits have
occurred. All agreed a letter should be written to Chief Ryan, cc'd to Mayor Reba Taylor, expressing
concern about the situation, 5) Patty volunteered to spearhead collecting information for a resource guide
of programs and activities for Dryden youth. This should be very much in line with a need identified during
our last needs assessment. Kris will email Patty info about the countywide OJ Guide which lists county
programs as a starting point. 6) Tracy reported that she'd received a complaint about the Finding Our
® Strength /Voices program from a parent who stated the youth weren't supervised properly; the leaders were
encouraging Goth behavior and kids were dying their hair. Patty will visit the program, Tracy agreed to
accompany her. Kris gave them copies of the evaluation form, Nita provided envelopes addressed to Town
Hall. Patty and Tracy will ask both youth and parents for their feedback and look especially at supervision.
Goals for 2005 Tracy led the group through a discussion of the goals that were drafted in 2003 but not
finalized. In Shik suggested that we have 2 types of goals: general (as in the past) and specific for the
coming year. Tracy added that the Rec. Commission does this. One "specific" goal to add would be to
increase /strengthen communication with the Rec. Commission and the Town and Village Boards. We
discussed increasing attendance and reporting to the Town and Village boards, asking each member to
attend his/her respective board once a year to report on the DYC. The group decided to add, under
°Identify youth needs and interests' a goal to "Update youth needs assessment at least every 3 years" and
also to move "Solicit youth input" to this section, Eric asked when the last needs assessment was done,
Kris reported that it was tied to the County Youth Services Dept.'s needs assessment done in Nov. 2002,
However the state revised its reporting deadlines so the CYS will not undertake another large needs
assessment until next year, Patty suggested that youth jobs be mentioned in some way since it's a DYC
funding priority. A discussion followed about organizing a forum jointly with the Rec. Dept. and the schools
to solicit youth input as part of a needs assessment update. Patty will ask Rachel Dickinson (current school
board member); Tracy will ask Jeri Staton and the Rec. Commission about their interest in collaborating on
this. Kris suggested also contacting Paul Streeter, DYOF. Eric hopes we can hear from youth who do not
currently participate in programs offered by any of these entities.
Next meetings: May 17 at 6:30 pm; June 21 at 6:30 pm, In May we will continue the "goals" discussion,
® discuss the joint meeting to hear from youth, make plans for distributing the annual report, planning an
annual meeting for the DYC, and get an update from Patty on the youth program inventory. The meeting
adjourned at 8:38 pm.
DYC Minutes Page 2 April 19, 2005