Boards, Commissions and Committees

MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE COMMITTEE

UPCOMING EVENTS | YOUTH CALENDAR

Mission Statement | By-Laws | Members | Programs | Forms | Publications | Resources

Safe Homes Pledge and Directory

TIP LINE- Have a tip?  Call 429-3000. You may remain anonymous.

UPCOMING EVENTS

A primer for parents on teens and alcohol

One of the authors of the U.S. Surgeon General's "Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking" will come from Washington, D.C. on Thursday, November 29 to speak at a public meeting sponsored by the Haddonfield Municipal Alliance.

The presentation by Stephen Wing -- "Changing the Culture: One Family at a Time" -- will be part of a program titled "Underage Drinking: A Primer for Parents," scheduled for 7:00pm in the Haddonfield Middle School auditorium.

The program, which is free and open to all, will also include first-person accounts by two Haddonfield Memorial High School graduates. One will speak about his family's agonizing struggle with underage drinking and its tragic consequences. The other will describe how his teenage addiction to alcohol led to a life on the streets of Philadelphia, a slide towards suicide, and eventual recovery.

Representatives of the Borough and the Municipal Alliance will describe local initiatives aimed at changing the culture of underage drinking and present Police Department procedures for responding to teen drinking parties in Haddonfield.

Copies of "A Guide to Action for Families," a 16-page publication of the Office of the Surgeon General, will be available free-of-charge to those who attend. Copies of the Surgeon General's "Call to Action" will be available also.

[back to top]

YOUTH CALENDAR

coming soon..

MISSION STATEMENT

To promote a culture of wellness in Haddonfield by sponsoring and supporting activities and events that promote healthy behaviors, foster enlightened attitudes, warn of the perils of addiction, and condemn irresponsible  practices.

Promote – To advocate, to facilitate, and to publicize.

Culture of wellness – “I’m convinced that we need to create a culture of wellness in our society: To teach people about small steps they can take, and good choices they can make, that lead to better health.” ¹

Sponsor – The Alliance will plan and present activities and events of its own.

Support – The Alliance will endorse and, if requested, provide appropriate assistance for activities and events planned and presented by others.

Activities – Example of a sponsored activity: An after-school drop-in center for teens.  Example of a supported activity: Weekly AA meeting at the Presbyterian Church.

Events – Example of a sponsored event: A workshop for parents about signs and symptoms of drug use.  Example of a supported event:  First Night.

Healthy behaviors – “Learned early, the lessons of good health will last a lifetime.  Similarly, bad habits and the consequences of unhealthy choices also can have lasting effects.” ¹

Enlightened attitudes – “The process of solving the public health problem of underage alcohol use begins with an examination of our own attitudes toward underage drinking – and our recognition of the seriousness of its consequences for adolescents, their families, and society as a whole.  Adolescent alcohol use is not an acceptable rite of passage but a serious threat to adolescent development and health, as the statistics related to adolescent impairment, injury, and death attest.” ²

Perils of addiction – “The physical consequences of underage alcohol use range from medical problems to death by alcohol poisoning, and alcohol plays a significant role in risky sexual behavior, physical and sexual assaults, various types of injuries, and suicide.” ²

Addiction – Although the current focus is on addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, medication, etc.) the Alliance could, in the future, also address addictive practices (gambling, gaming, internet use, overeating, etc.)

Irresponsible practices – Parents who provide alcohol for teen parties in their homes, for example, expose not only themselves to significant health, social, legal, and financial consequences but also their family, friends, associates, strangers, and the community at large.  “Underage drinking also creates secondhand effects for others, drinkers and non drinkers alike, including car crashes from drunk driving, that put every child at risk.  Underage alcohol consumption is a major societal problem with enormous health and safety consequences…” ²

¹ Message from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services in The Surgeon General’s Call to action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking.

² Fireword by Kenneth P. Moritsugu, Acting Surgeon General in The Surgeon General’s Call to Action.

[back to top]

By-Laws

Coming Soon

Members

John Connell, Chairperson
Sharon McCullough
Richard Tsonis, Police Chief
Alan Fegley, School Dist. Supt.
Lefteris Banos, Sch. Athletic Dir.
John Toto, Sch. Dist. Guidance Counselor
Lisa Mazzola, Zone President PTA
Norm Hinsey, Civic Asso. Pres.
George Morris, Council of Churches President
Vanessa Morenzi, Rotary Club President
Calvin Main, HS Student Council Pres.
Dana Stone, MS Student Council President
John Beckett, Community member
Lance Neveling, Community member
Linda McLaughlin, Community member
Nancy Mulvenna, Community member
Carol Smith, Community Member
Judy Greenberg, Community member
Lynn Biehn, Ex-Officio by BOE
Edward F. Borden Jr., Ex Officio

[back to top]

PROGRAMS

2007 ACTIVITIES (Cost includes grant funds, cash match and in-kind match)

DARE	$ 8,250
Middle School Peer Leadership	$ 9,000
High School Peer Leadership	$ 10,500
Wellness Day	$ 2,000
Adult Education	$ 1,000
Project Graduation	$ 2,500
Total	$ 33,250
Municipal Alliance Grant	$ 13,250
Cash Match-contributed by Rotary	$ 7,000
In-kind Match-Borough	$ 5,000
In-kind Match-School	$ 8,000
Total	$ 33,250

[back to top]

Publications

Surgeon General’s Call to Action

Surgeon General’s Family Guide

Surgeon General’s Community Guide

Surgeon General’s Educator Guide

Actions and Consequences

The Parent Trap

Forms

Safe Homes Pledge Form/Count Me In!

[back to top]

Resources

Coming Soon...

Safe Home Pledge | Directory

The Safe Homes initiative is designed to raise awareness, encourage communication, and foster a senseof responsibility in both parents and teens. Signing the Safe Homes Pledge does not change a parent/guardian’s legal responsibilities. Rather, it signifies a commitment to helping keep all Haddonfield children safe.

1. I will provide visible and active adult supervision at all parties or groupgatherings of children/teens in my home.
2. I will not allow parties or group gatherings in my home when I am not present.
3. I will not knowingly allow children/teens to use alcohol or other illegal drugsin my home or on my property.
4. I will welcome calls from other parents whose children/teens will be guests inmy home

Safe Homes Pledge Form/Count Me In!

Directory Coming Soon

[back to top]