Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition
General Membership Meeting Minutes
February 7, 2024
- Welcome: Twenty-three members representing seventeen agencies attended. Billie Jo reminded members that swim pass applications would be available during the month of April.
- Member Introductions and Announcements:
- Travis Wilcoxsen, Angels Care Home Health: The February focus of the month is “heart healthy.” Statistics show that 50% of heart patients are medication non-compliant; they can help rectify those situations.
- Patty Simpson, Fort Scott Housing: There continues to be a waiting list for all unit sizes; applications will still be taken.
- Michelle Lyon, DCF: LIEAP applications are open until the end of March. Also, the Presbyterian Church continues its furniture ministry; if someone is in need, notify the church office.
- Star Culp, Parents as Teachers: She has one opening in USD 235.
- Michelle Worsley, Childcare Aware of Kansas: She provides assistance on the business side of childcare.
- Lea Kay Karleskint, K-State Research: Lea Kay still needs partners with space for her nutrition and walk programs.
- Lori Holman, American Red Cross: The next blood drive will be only one day on February 15 at BRCC from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m.; Red Cross is in crisis mode with the shortage of all types of blood. Make an appointment to donate at redcross.org.
- Janice Lamb, Core Communities: Core began with fifteen core leaders; thirteen of those will graduate on April 8 and enter Phase 2 of the program. A new class will begin in September.
- Cherri Walrod, Core Communities: “Bridges Out of Poverty,” a workshop designed to help participants understand poverty, will be presented at the Fort Scott Nazarene Church on March 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is a $35.00 enrollment fee to be paid the day of the event. Contact Cherri at cherri@gmail.com for more information.
- Lisa Robertson and Lindsey McNeil, COPE: Last month, 191 cycles of laundry were provided during wash Wednesdays.
- Christine Abbott, KansasWorks: The Bourbon County Job Fair will be held on February 22 from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m. at 401 Woodland Hills. It is not too late for a business or organization to set up a booth; contact the HBCAT office.
- David Gillen, Beacon: David reviewed all the services the Beacon offers and noted that 152 families were served in January and 28 volunteers, including several members of the Fort Scott High School National Honor society, helped with those services.
- Larry Jump, SEK CAP: Larry encouraged members to check the new SEK CAP website; he mentioned that the organization needs children and employees.
- Sandy Haggard, AmeriCorps Seniors: At present she has volunteers at Beacon, USD 235, and the Red Cross blood drives.
- Tammy Alcantor, Crawford County Health Department: She is working on a grant application that would provide prenatal classes by Zoom for Bourbon and Cherokee counties; this would eliminate the necessity to travel in order to attend.
- Lora Wilson CHC/SEK: Lora will be reviving the tobacco cessation program; contact her if you have questions or input.
- Program: March program will be presented by Teri Hamilton, Fort Scott Farmers’ Market.
Patty LaRoche presented the program; she spoke about sex trafficking, explained how Adam LaRoche’s foundation is making a difference in this area, and shared stories of some of the recent cases. Unfortunately, it takes an average of seven rescues before a victim’s recovery actually takes place. She advised members to be aware of what their children are doing with social media as it is a prime place for someone to be trafficked; snapchat is the worst. The three things that we all can do are to understand the facts, look for behaviors that would indicate someone feels he/she is not measuring up, and pray for those brave enough to enter the fight and for those willing to help.
- Open Forum: Nothing further came before the membership.
- Adjournment: The next General Membership meeting will be March 6, 2024.