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Team Montana

Team Montana. The Few and Far Between…. Team Members. Leo McCarthy, Butte Jimm Kilmer, Butte Valerie Kilmer, Butte Dan Haffey, Butte Jennifer Haubenreiser, Bozeman Ray Hetherington, Harlowton State Coordinator, Julie Fischer, Helena. Montana 4 th Largest State. 559 Miles. 321 Miles.

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Team Montana

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  1. Team Montana The Few and Far Between…

  2. Team Members • Leo McCarthy, Butte • Jimm Kilmer, Butte • Valerie Kilmer, Butte • Dan Haffey, Butte • Jennifer Haubenreiser, Bozeman • Ray Hetherington, Harlowton • State Coordinator, Julie Fischer, Helena

  3. Montana 4th Largest State 559 Miles 321 Miles 147,046 Square Miles 56 Counties; 7 Reservations 45th in Population

  4. How we got together… • An E-Mail was sent out and we took the challenge. It seemed like a long shot, but we were picked for the program.

  5. Studying the Research • We studied the strategies that help reduce underage drinking. There were many. Raising taxes on alcohol has a measureable effect. • We decided to let law makers know we were available to educate them on science-based strategies to reduce underage drinking.

  6. State Specific Needs Assessment • We asked ourselves what other factors could be influential in changing hearts and minds in a very independent minded State like Montana? • Fortunately we had parents and youth on the team and in the community to interview and brainstorm with

  7. We heard… Scholarships! • Many youth don’t see bright futures because of lack of funding to go to college. We identified Scholarships as an incentive for youth, adults and decision makers to change their attitudes and behaviors about underage drinking.

  8. Tying it in • Scholarships were already attached to Mariah’s Challenge. • Could tying to scholarships to alcohol taxation be a strategy to win hearts and minds to addressing the tough issue of underage drinking?

  9. Working together • It takes a team. We talked to people around the state about the issue. Jimm and Leo talked to parents and youth. Dan and Ray made themselves available to law enforcement and decision makers. Jennifer did strategic planning with state organizations.

  10. We got the call • One legislator wanted to improve youth safety and opportunity. She wanted to submit a bill and she called on us for information, facts, research… and ultimately our testimony.

  11. Decision Points • Would it be worth our personal time and effort to gather and rally this testimony and bring the youth together? • Was this our test as community leaders? It might not be popular? • For us their was never a doubt. The answer was YES! Time away from jobs and other activities to personally respond.

  12. Challenge not anticipated • We waited, and we waited, in a cramped little room, for our turn to enlighten those that vote on young futures • We had 20 minutes to speak in favor of the bill – to present our case, then the lobbyists got their 20 minutes.

  13. Presenting our case • We quickly changed our strategy and only put a few faces forward, due to time constraints. • Jim spoke from the heart. • Dan spoke, some other adults spoke. • The teens spoke…and a response was seen. • Mental Note: Always let the kids speak from the heart on the topic!

  14. The Enemy Arrives… • They came in force….the lobbyists’ for the alcohol industry. • They brought interesting numbers and statistics. Many didn’t add up. • Senators called them on it.

  15. Disappointment • The vote was in. • After only a week, we lost the vote. • We had to leave Helena, the Lobbyists’ didn’t.

  16. Lessons Learned • Create a 1-page talking point handout • Get the kids more involved • GET THE KIDS MORE INVOLVED! • Talk to the sustainability of the program. • Emphasize that funds can’t be diverted. • Make an emotional connection. • Ask again – Is it worth my personal investment?

  17. Yes and our Future Game Plan • Continue to educate.. • Helping to make the bill’s ideas into an initiative. • True grassroots effort, we are developing a canned presentation that will be presented across the state. Using this to multiply our forces. • Save our kids!

  18. Team Montana The Whole Group at work… Val, inspiring us to do better. Discussing Handling Challenges…

  19. Thank you • Thank you to the PIRE team and OJJDP without whom we would not have gotten the training for leading and educating communities like this. • Thank you to State Coordinator Julie Fischer for lending a supportive ear. • Thank you Mariah’s Challenge for our inspiration!

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