Brazos Valley Obesity Prevention Network Meeting Minutes

April 19, 2011

3:30 P.M.

Bryan City Hall Basement Training Room

Attendees: Julie Ribardo, Theresa Manthei, Kay Parker, Ashley Wilson, Eleanor Ryder, Lesley Becker, Teresa Rivera, Alyson Hoffman, Lindsey Zotz, Peggy Kay, Lisa Nelson, Marcia Ory, Judy Warren, Christina Seidel, Bobbi Brooks, Jinmyomg Cho

I.Welcome Julie Ribardo

II.Partner Spotlight

United Way—Born Learning Trail

  • Mission of United Way: Bring the community together to solve problems.
  • Community Assessment conducted in 2010 (last one was 7 years prior).
  • Focus areas of the assessment: education (high school graduation & early education), financial stability (poverty), health.
  • A committee was formed to work on each of the assessment focus areas.
  • Education and health committee: Born Learning Trail
  • Goal: To help parents, caregivers, and communities create early learning opportunities for young children.
  • 10 signs with learning activities: “Moving & Doing” & “Stop & Listen activities.
  • United Way approached City of College Station – not very excited about project but City of Bryan was really excited.
  • City of Bryan decided on Villa Maria Park, already has a concrete trail and is next to Mary Branch Elementary School. The trail begins at the amphitheatre/pavilion.
  • Build Day: April 30th, 2011: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Atmos Energy cooking hotdogs
  • Lowes providing signs
  • Need volunteers
  • Signs will be attached to wooden post – shelf life of 5 years. The City of Bryan Parks & Recreation will take ownership of the trail after Build Day.
  • Question: How to evaluate usage? Have not established protocol yet, but would like advice. Possibly similar to the way UP-BEAT is evaluating the City-Beat trail in downtown Bryan.
  • Marketing: Bryan Living & Learning Channel, BVOPN website, etc.

III.UP-BEAT UpdateEleanor Ryder

  • Walking trail in Downtown Bryan – working with City of Bryan to get signs up. Hopefully they will be up sometime in June.
  • YDI Youth Training
  • Dr. Chanam Lee conducted an assessment training for the youth and the youth conducted assessments of Neal and Lincoln recreation areas.
  • The results are being compiled and will be distributed to partners.
  • The youth will be presenting to the Cities of Bryan & College Station beginning in early May.
  • The UPBEAT PMT would like BVOPN members to attend some of the presentations if possible. Eleanor provided a calendar of meeting times.
  • YES! (Youth Empowerment Solutions) from North Carolina came to present to the youth.
  • Mini-grants
  • Mini-grant funding decisions have been made. The following organizations will be funded for their proposals: Nurse @ BVCAA for bike rack, Delta Sigma Theta for Sister Just Do It nutrition and physical activity program, the Children’s Museum for outdoor safety tiles and camp scholarships, and the City of College Station to create crosswalks and a bike route near the Lincoln Center.

IV.BVOPN Officer UpdateJulie Ribardo

  • Theresa Manthei will be leaving the Brazos County Health Department and the BVOPN in June.
  • We will conduct nominations for her position, Vice Chair, via email and then vote at the July meeting.

V.Aggieland Kids Triathlon UpdateJulie Ribardo

  • 55 kids are signed up for the race. This is more than average for the time frame.
  • United Health Care secured the platinum sponsor position giving $5K to the event.
  • A health & fitness fair sponsored by BVOPN will take place on the Friday, June 10, 2011, before the race.
  • Health fair participants will be able to get free dental screenings, bike safety tips, etc. There are currently 13 booths that will be present at the fair but Julie is still looking for possible vendors.
  • Recruiting efforts have focused on the schools, KBTX, facebook, and the Eagle.
  • Other possible vendors/partners to look into: Brazos Valley Bombers, UPD, bike shops, CS bike patrol.

VI.Agency Reports (upcoming activities; opportunities to partner)

  • Bobbi Brooks – Texas AgriLife Child Passenger Safety/BV Injury Prevention Coalition
  • Kids Summer Info Expo sponsored by the Sexual Assault Resource Center

Thursday April, 28th. Free screenings, teen job fair, and more.

  • CARE profit share at Spoons in College Station – April 27th between 12-2 pm.
  • ECI – Kids for Kids fundraiser $15 for adults, $5 for children. Can purchase tickets at Blue Baker or MHMR online.
  • Bryan Public Library – Summer Reading Fair. Details to come.
  • Marcia Ory – SRPH
  • Brazos Valley received an EPA Building Healthy Communities award.
  • Application focused on the revitalization of Downtown Bryan & Wolf Pen Creek.
  • Now need to keep up momentum and search to implement intergenerational approaches for increasing physical activity.
  • Teresa Rivera – Texas AgriLife Extension
  • Healthy Living Series, beginning Thursday, April 28th at 6:00 pm. Classes being held at Brazos County Extension office.
  • Program is for food-stamp eligible only.
  • Christina - Children’s Museum
  • New Healthy Kids exhibit is coming this summer
  • Speaking at upcoming national meeting about healthy kids work in the Brazos Valley.

Next Meeting: July 19th, 2011. Looking for location. Possibility that Texas Health Institute will be coming to conduct a policy training at meeting.

Brazos Valley Obesity Prevention Network

The mission set forth by the Brazos Valley Obesity Prevention Network (BVOPN) is to foster open communication and enhance diverse community partnerships by educating and sharing resources; to engage the community by promoting awareness and expanding opportunities to combat obesity in our local environment and to advocate for a healthier lifestyle for each resident of the Brazos Valley Region.