Next BHCC Meeting

WHAT: Agency Networking and Community Report Card Report

WHEN: Thursday, April 15, 2004, 3:30 PM

WHERE: Head Start Building, 615 North 19th Street

Meadowlark House Opens April 1
The staff and volunteers of the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center will begin receiving patients as guests of Meadowlark House on April 1.  Meadowlark House, located at 24-26-28-30 Thirtieth St. West, is a residence (two duplexes totaling four individual apartments) for out-of-town patients receiving cancer care in Billings.  Donated to the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center by Kathryn and Maynard Preston in 2002, Meadowlark House provides free lodging to help reduce the burden of cancer and its treatment.  Lodging is offered to patients and their caregivers regardless of which licensed Billings-area healthcare facility is providing treatment.  Patients will be accepted as guests on a simple first-come, first-served basis, but must be referred to NRROC by a health care worker (physician, social worker, nurse, etc.).  To make a referral or to request information, please call NRROC Social Worker Karen Rose at 1-800-358-8818, or in Billings, 248-2212.  No medical services will be available at Meadowlark House.  If medical questions or emergencies arise, guests must consult their physicians or call 911.  The four apartments have been extensively refurbished, involving many hours of volunteer labor as well as donations of goods, services, and funds.  “This kind of success,” says NRROC CEO John Felton, “is only possible when the community steps forward.  Businesses and individuals alike have shown compassion, generosity, and enthusiasm in turning Meadowlark House into a home.” NRROC employees and volunteers will orient patients and their companions (each patient must be accompanied by an able-bodied caregiver) to the basics of life at Meadowlark House, including house rules and emergency procedures.  A Hospitality Notebook will be permanently placed in each of the four apartments, and each guest will receive a personal “Meadowlark Folder.”

Want to Pitch In?
To function most effectively, Meadowlark House will rely on the generosity of donors and volunteers.  If you’d like to become a “Meadowlark House Befriender,” providing small hospitality gestures for incoming guests, please call our Coordinator of Volunteer Services at 248-2212.  Or, if you would like to contribute to the ongoing maintenance of Meadowlark House, please contact our Donor Relations Office at the same number, 248-2212.  Even a small contribution will help keep the lights on at night and the furnace going when there’s a nip in the air!  Donors may direct their gifts to be used for a specific purpose (such as landscaping, utilities, or interior décor, to name just a few options) or may ask that the NRROC apply the gift where it will do the greatest good for Meadowlark House guests. 

“Meadowlark House has inspired our community to acts of great kindness,” says John Felton.  “Incoming patients can rest assured of a warm welcome not only from the Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center, but from all of Billings as well.”

EAGLE FEST 2004
On April 2nd and 3rd, Eagle Fest 2004 will celebrate Eagle Mount's 15th anniversary serving children and adults with disabilities in the Billings area.   "Embracing Life Without Limits" is the theme of the two-day celebration, which features live auctions, gourmet food and ski racing. The fun kicks off at 6 pm on Friday, April 2nd at the Billings Depot.  More than 500 people are expected to enjoy an evening of fun for the whole family, with a silent auction, basket raffles, munchies, a ski race Calcutta, a carnival for the kids and music by the Midlife Chryslers.  Admission is free. On Saturday morning, April 3rd, the fun moves to Red Lodge Mountain, for the annual Mountain Challenge Ski Race.  Race registration starts at 9 am, and the race kicks off at 10 am.  Once racers cross the finish line, they'll gather on the Bierstube Deck as the winners are announced and prizes are awarded. Saturday evening, the celebration continues at the Rock Creek Resort, where more than 300 "Friends of Eagle Mount" will enjoy a gourmet meal while vying for live and silent auction items.  The night's festivities will feature a Quick Draw by talented artists Mike Capser, Mike Clark, Carol Hagan and Carolyn Thayer. All proceeds benefit the programs of Eagle Mount, a non-profit organization committed to helping people with disabilities realize their dreams.  Since it was founded in 1988, Eagle Mount has served thousands of children and adults with disabilities, offering them the chance to enjoy everything from skiing and swimming to riding bicycles and horses.  Eagle Mount now serves more than 550 children and adults, helping them embrace life and overcome some of the challenges their disabilities pose.  For more information about Eagle Fest 2004 or Eagle Mount, call Eagle Mount at  (406) 254-5422.

News from the Suicide Coalition
The Suicide Coalition is growing in numbers and activity. At the meeting on March 2, members discussed the up-coming Psychiatric Conference (see Psychiatric Conference on Depression in this newsletter) and planned a number of new projects including an informational brochure, data collection, and advocacy for suicide awareness, prevention and survivor assistance.  The most exciting development is the Suicide Anonymous group that will soon be started.  Matt Worlie, a suicide survivor, is working to identify a good location and time for the group to meet.  Watch for more information in this newsletter and in the Billings Gazette. For more information on Suicide Anonymous, check out the following website: http://www.geocities.com/samemphis. On March 11, the Coalition will meet with Thomas Danenhower, Injury Prevention Coordinator for DPHHS in Montana.  Future Coalition meetings will be held at 11:30 am in the Deaconess Alice Fortin Center on March 29, April 19, May 24, and June 28.

Skyview Prom
Care Net Pregnancy Center of Billings, Youth Alive Montana and other community groups have come together to produce an exciting event for the youth of Billings.  As active groups in our community who all have experience working with teens and an interest in their safety and well being, we are aware that the hours after prom often present opportunities for them to make unhealthy decisions that can potentially effect them for the rest of their lives.  Risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, drinking and driving, sexual activity and other unwise choices can put a negative spin on what should be a great time with friends and dates. Prom should be memorable for positive reasons not regrettable ones.  We know that young people are capable of making healthy choices and we want to make some of those decisions easier for them by creating a safe, fun place for them to hang out after prom is over.  So, we are planning a large-scale event that welcomes the attendees of all four proms in Billings, scheduled for April 17.  It is estimated that over 2,000 young people will be attending prom that night and we hope that this is the party at which they end up afterward.  So why would they choose to come? This free event will be much like the after-graduation parties sponsored by Billings parents and schools.  We're still working on some of the details but here is the plan. It will begin around midnight and end in the early morning hours when breakfast will be served.  Big prizes, free food, inflatable games, swimming, sports activities, movies, coffee, and more will be available. We are in the process of securing a great location and as parents you can be assured that your children will be well chaperoned and safe.  We plan to have nurses, security volunteers and hopefully, many of you on hand to help out. The building will be secured and the parking areas around the facility will be well lit and well monitored. Most importantly we promise it will be FUN.  You know, your opinion means more to your kids than they may let on, so we hope you will encourage them to make the safe choice to attend this post-prom activity.  We also hope you will consider being involved in any way you are able: as a chaperone, planner or donor.  For more information or to volunteer contact Mandy Kifer at Care Net Pregnancy Center 406-652-4868. 

PARTNERS is published once a month and distributed to members of the Billings Healthy Community Coalition (BHCC) and others interested in the health of our community.  The mission of BHCC is: to develop, maintain and strengthen collaborative community networks committed to improving overall community health status and quality of life.

If you have information you would like to see included in the newsletter, please contact Carl Hanson at chanson@msubillings.edu

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