Nenana Wellness Coalition
Minutes
The Nenana Wellness Coalition is an alliance of representatives from various organizations, government agencies, community groups and individuals that meets weekly to discuss, evaluate, coordinate, consolidate, celebrate and help implement plans for improving the wellness and quality of life in Nenana Alaska.
There were 16 participants, including Bonnie Reed, Andrea & Walter Tommy, Virginia Young, Jeannie Bennett, Miles and Irene Martin, Carl & Tim Horn, Kat McElroy, David Poppe, Rebecca & Bill Troxel, Merrily Verhagen, Christine Shields, and Mary Alexander. We had chicken noodle soup and mixed green salad and Ritz crackers with sliced cheese for lunch.
WELCOME followed by the READING OF MISSION STATEMENT: By this week’s chairperson, Rebecca Troxel.
PRAYER: Was lead by Virginia Young, followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE.
PRESENTATION OF AGENDA AND CALL FOR MODIFICATIONS: There were no modifications.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes are posted at www.railbelt.com and were submitted electronically to the WIN e-list.
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: No new guests today.
Speakers/Topics
Wellness & The Medicine Wheel: Kat McElroy gave a presentation of a concept called the Medicine Wheel and explained how it could be used to assess the wellness of individuals or communities. She handed out the attached five page explanation of the basic concepts of the medicine wheel. She gave examples of the four aspects: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. She identified several strengths and problems Nenana has in each area. Discussion ensued. It was suggested that WIN might use the medicine wheel format to re-visit the ten year plan generated by a community envisioning process that occurred about ten years ago. We brainstormed ways to engage a larger number of community members, especially key community members, in that process.
WELLNESS THOUGHT: “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” Albert Einstein
Updates/Announcements:
Pajama reading night 12/15/09 at Nenana City Public School.
Pit performance Thursday at 6:30 P.M.
Tuesday, 12/22/09, a Christmas Nativity and recipe exchange, at the Nenana Conference Center, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M. People wanting to perform should come to a rehearsal on Saturday, 2-5 P.M.
Wednesday, 12/16/09, Railbelt Mental Health & Addicitons will be spearheading Operation Ho Ho Ho. They will pick up food from Santa’s Clearing House around Noon in Fairbanks and will begin assembling food boxes at the tribal hall in Nenana about 1 P.M. All volunteers are welcome.
There will be an art show and sale this weekend at the Morris Thompson Cultural center in Fairbanks.
Christmas Caroling Sunday, 12/20/09, beginning at the Troxel’s house at 5 P.M. Christmas Eve the Troxel family will be hosting a reading of the Biblical Christmas story beginning at 4 P.M.
Open floor for comments/questions/discussion:
None