WINTER 2017 EDITION:
OPERATION SNOWBALL INC.
NEWS
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Midway through the school year! Final Exams! Holiday Bustle! Some Chapters have had their events, others are coming up next semester! Take time to look at our Winter Edition and resources we've added that might spark training techniques, new activities and ways to keep your youth leaders and participants engaged!
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TACKLING ILLINOIS' OPIOID CRISIS: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM
YOU
!
Solving Illinois’ opioid crisis means learning what the crisis looks like in every community. To help us do that, IABH member Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) and the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (IDHS/DASA) have created a short, anonymous web survey that asks people about activities taking place in their communities that are addressing the opioid epidemic and what they think we need to do to solve it.
We want to hear from everyone – families, providers, law enforcement, first responders, agency administrators, educators, people in recovery, etc. To reach as many people statewide as possible, please share this email with your colleagues, other groups/coalitions you may be a member of, friends and family. Everyone is welcome (and encouraged!) to fill out a survey – including you! Simply click on the link below to fill out the survey:
The survey is available now through December 22
nd
. We will use survey results as part of ongoing work to develop strategies to solve the epidemic.
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NEED INSPIRATION TO KEEP YOUR YOUTH LEADERS ENGAGED
DURING TRAINING?
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Here are a few unique videos we've found searching the old Google-machine. They could be used for training or to enhance a Snowball event:
"Nuggets" - In five minutes this animated video with no dialogue has a clear message and can spur a great discussion in a small group or workshop.
CLICK HERE .
"The Teen Brain Explained" is longer at 10 minutes but its zippy, snarky and a funny. It could even be used to show parents at a parent session...better than trying to explain it yourself!
CLICK HERE
.
"
The Emotional Brain
" is really short, under three minutes. This could compliment a presentation on feelings, bullying, or coping. Super quick and straightforward. Snowflake worthy too!
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OPERATION SNOWBALL OUTCOME EVALUATION PROJECT 2018
We are pleased to announce we are working with Dr. Shane Koch
RH.D., CRC, CSADC, AADC, Professor, of the
Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University this spring on an outcome study for Snowball. Outcome data will assist Chapters in communicating outcomes to key stakeholders as well as move towards evidence-based status on a national level.
Dr. Koch is the author of twenty-six professional publications, six book chapters and seventeen technical and research reports. Dr. Koch has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on fourteen funded research grants and four teaching grants.
If you would like to find out more on how your Chapter can participate contact Ron at 217-528-7335 X16 or email
Ron@ilabh.org
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TIFFANY BROOKS OF PONTIAC JOINS THE OS INC. BOARD AS YOUTH MEMBER
The Operation Snowball Board of Directors welcomed Taylor Brooks at the December 2, 2017 board meeting and accepted her application to join the OS Inc. Board as a Youth Advocate Board member. Taylor has been a part of the Livingston County Snowball Chapter for the past three years. Eight years ago, as a participant, she aspired to serve as a volunteer staff for her Snowball Chapter. She has been a part of 12 events, including events at neighboring Chapters. Taylor attends Pontiac Township High School and is also involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Pontiac.
THE OS Inc. Board is comprised of youth and adult volunteers throughout the state. There are two meetings remaining for this fiscal year. March 10, 2018 and June 2, 2018.
If you know someone interested in joining the Board as a Youth Advocate
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DEADLINE IS DEC 15, 2017 FOR CEBRIN GOODMAN TEEN INSTITUTE
MID-YEAR CONFERENCE
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Ashley Webb of IABH told OS Inc. that registrations for CGTI MId-Year have been filling fast and the event is almost at capacity!
The deadline for the CGTI Mid- Year event is fast approaching. Dec. 15th!!! King rooms are the only rooms available ($60) in addition to the $90 registration fee bringing the registration cost to $150 per person.
The event is
Saturday, January 13 – Sunday, January 14, 2018 at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal, IL.
Contact Information:
Ashley Webb, Director of Strategic Initiatives
217.528.7335 ext. 12
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SNOWBALL LEADERS NEED TO RECHARGE TOO!
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Even Snowball adults need to take time to rest, recharge and get ready for the next Snowball event! Here is a great resource from
Beleaderly.com
that can be inspiring and give you a couple of new ideas to put in your tool box. From insightful to fun, there's even a playlist of songs that have a leadership theme to help pump you up while you making warm fuzzies. We think its a great website and want to share it with you!
If you have resources that Snowball people could benefit from please let us know... be it books, DVDs, songs, activities or websites...we would love to pass them on in our newsletter. Send your suggestions to
ron@ilabh.org
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LOOKING FOR A PRESENTER FOR YOUR SNOWBALL/FLAKE EVENT?
Ron Jakubisin, Operation Snowball's Prevention Program Manager, has presented at hundreds of school assemblies, Snowballs, Snowflakes, and teen conferences throughout his career. From audiences of 75 to 750, Ron delivers interactive upbeat prevention messages that compliments the Snowball mission. Presentations are fun yet thought provoking about issues facing teens today. His large group presentations are fee-based but heavily discounted for Snowball Chapters.
To find out more contact Ron at 217-528-7335 X16 or email
ron@ilabh.org
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INTERN ISABEL MORENO: CONTRIBUTING ARTICLE
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Isabel Rodriguez Moreno has been in Springfield the fall semester at UIS and an intern at Operation Snowball Inc. She is a Master’s degree student from the University of Valencia, Spain currently studying neurocriminology. Her article 'What's Going On In The Teen Brain?" is a quick overview highlighting how alcohol and other drugs affect decision-making, problem solving and self-regulation. This is a great tool to use to when training your youth leaders for their Snowball and prevention activities. This two pager can be printed off to use at your future trainings.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Operation Snowball Inc. Board of Directors would like to thank all of our Chapter adult leaders, youth facilitators and community members for their on-going support throughout the year. Thousands and thousands of youth lead healthy lives and are better equipped to make positive choices when faced with high risk situations such as underage drinking and illicit drug use.
We wish a joyous happy holiday season to all!
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Operation Snowball Inc. Volunteer Board of Directors: Front row L to R: Tiffany Yoder, Yousef Matariyeh, Lynn Allen
Second row L to R: Taylor Brooks, Alissa LaRose, Jessica Rippel, Teri Belgio.
Back row L to R: Spike Grosshuesch, Steve Mazzarella, William Marshall/Nominee.
Not pictured: Ricard Gasca, Robert Grupe, Edward Gudas, Mike Waxman, Vivian Goodman, Laura Larson-Gibbons,
and Skylar Spence
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BEFORE YOU UNSUBSCRIBE: All members of IABH, IAODAPCA, CGTI, IABH Board, Snowball and Snowflake Chapters receive Snowball NEWS as part of your membership with these affiliations. Unsubscribing to this will erase you from ALL associated newsletters.
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Need assistance with your Chapter development? Training? Event ideas?
Call the Operation Snowball Inc. office at 217-528-7335 x16 and/or email
ron@ilabh.org
Operation Snowball 937 South Second Street, Springfield, IL. 62704
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Operation Snowball Mission Statement:
Through the development of leadership skills, Operation Snowball shall be a youth and adult partnership, providing awareness and prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, while encouraging healthy decision-making in an active community of caring.
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