Inside Monsignor Dunne's 90Th Birthday Celebration President's
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AN INFORMATION RESOURCE FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING FALL 2006 • VOL. 9, ISSUE 3 President’s Message draft, and grassroots efforts by NCPG state affiliates have helped to increase the number of co-sponsors of It’s common wisdom that living in the moment is the this piece of legislation. At the time of this writing, HR best way to master time. But it can be hard for us 6009 is currently up to seven co-sponsors—Represen- adults to seize the day the way children seem to do in- tatives Michael Capuono (D-MA), William Lacy Clay stinctively. Faced with mastering their time, adults (D-MO), Barney Frank (D-MA), Patrick Kennedy (D- seem to fall into two opposing time traps. RI), Tom Osborne (R-NE) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN). The first time trap is anxiety. Adults tend to fear the The mere introduction of this bill is itself an important passage of time and the loss it represents—aging, infir- sign that our long and hard work to raise public aware- mity, death—and our fear of the future can keep us ness is bearing fruit. While we do not yet know the from pursing our most cherished goals. outcome of HR 6009, and if indeed this legislation The second trap is complacency. Intellectually, we understand that will need to be reintroduced next year, our challenge continues to be our life is finite and could end suddenly at any time. But we can lull in the simple manner in which we all manage our time, talents and ourselves into believing that there will always be a “later” when we expertise as individuals of an organization that acts and advocates for can get around to whatever it is we’ve promised ourselves we’ll do. problem gamblers and their families. Within the past several weeks, we have witnessed something that per- I strongly urge all NCPG members to consider ways to support HR haps we never thought might occur for problem gamblers and their 6009 or its successor next year. Wouldn’t it be satisfying to someday families. We have witnessed the introduction of the very first bill to look back on this significant moment in the history of the problem specifically provide Federal funding for problem gambling treatment! gambling field, and to know that we acted and responded, and were a This significant new Federal legislation, HR 6009: The Comprehen- part of something that truly made a difference on the field of prob- sive Awareness of Problem Gambling Act of 2006, has been intro- lem gambling? Time is indeed of our making. Let’s not be lulled into duced in the US House of Representative by Rep. Marty Meehan thinking that we can “get to that later.” (D-MA). In its current form, the bill allocates over 5 years: $1 million Sincerely, for a national problem gambling public awareness campaign, $20 million for research, and $50 million a year for four years for preven- tion and treatment of problem gambling. Clearly, HR 6009 has the potential to greatly impact the aims, goals, work and future of NCPG. From the inception of this piece of legis- Dennis P. McNeilly, SJ, PsyD lation, NCPG has played a major role in the drafting of the initial Monsignor Dunne’s 90th Birthday Celebration Monsignor Dunne’s 90th birthday cele- Monsignor’s accomplishments and how he bration was a great success. After some touched his family in a personal way. hors d’oeuvres and a three course meal, we Pat Fowler, Paul Ashe and Laura Letson all sang Happy Birthday to Monsignor flew in from Florida to help celebrate Dunne. (P.S. Monsignor blew out the Monsignor’s day. Pat presented the Monsi- candles with the help of Dr. Nora and gnor and all in attendance a copy of a spe- Sheila Wexler). cial newsletter that the Florida Council Arnie Wexler started off the celebration by had written. In the newsletter were quotes sharing many of his personal remem- Monsignor Dunne celebrates his 90th birthday with from several people along with stories brances from the early seventies about friends Arnie Wexler and Rena Nora (Birthday, continued on page 4) Executive Featured Pioneers in From the CEU Director’s Program: the Field: Industry: Events 2 Letter 3 Oregon 7Arnie Wexler 8Real Voices 15 inside Executive Director’s Letter: New Affiliate Federal Advocacy Websites Come visit the redesigned Indiana Over the past few months, the national office has been working hard on Council website at www.indianaproblem legislation in the House of Representatives to provide a total of $71 mil- gambling.org and see their impressive lion in grants to problem gambling prevention and treatment programs collection of information on gambling (see Presidents Message, pg. 1). and problem gambling in Indiana. The majority of the work will happen at the state level, but hopefully it The Michigan Association on Problem can be done in conjunction with NCPG to maximize the effectiveness of Gambling now has a website. Goto this campaign. Members of Congress are responsive to individuals in their www.michapg.org for contact infor- district and state, so this will be the first real test of our ability, as the national grassroots advo- mation on people and programs help- cates for problem gamblers and their families, to communicate a strong and positive message. ing problem gamblers in Michigan. We need to be polite but persistent. But the requirements for effective advocacy are not limit- ed to passion. This is why efforts like our Helpline Data Summary, the National Survey of State Problem Gambling Services and our partnership with the Association of Problem Gam- bling Service Administrators are so important. In fact, Rep. Meehan says that he introduced the bill after reading a recent newspaper series about the rapid growth of the gaming industry Assistant Director and the lack of funds for problem gambling services. One of the main sources for the story Nonprofit agency. FT position with was NCPG and our 1999 National Survey of Problem Gambling Programs! health benefits. Applicants must have This is an important sign that our long and hard work to raise public awareness is bearing significant managerial experience, pre- fruit. I believe this is the first time in the history of the United States that a bill to specifically vention program expertise and gradu- provide Federal funding for problem gambling treatment has been introduced. Our challenge ate degree in human services. Excellent is now to demonstrate that we have the organization and strength around America to support writing, training, consultation and and pass this bill and similar legislation in the future. Every step we take builds a foundation computer skills. Knowledge of prob- for future success. I will go so far as to say that I think we will look back on this as a signifi- lem gambling helpful. cant moment in the history of the problem gambling field, and of NCPG. I look forward to Send cover letter and resume to working with each and every one of you to advocate for this bill. [email protected] or fax to Sincerely, 203-453-9142. Indicate employment availability and salary requirement. Keith Whyte Executive Director New PSA for College Job Opportunities Campuses in Oregon National News NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING The Connecticut Council on Problem Several treatment programs in Oregon The National News is published by the Gambling, in collaboration with are recruiting for problem gambling National Council on Problem Gambling. Quinnipiac University, created a 30- counselors, so if you are looking for a second PSA addressing the current change, please consider moving out National Council on Problem Gambling phenomenon of poker and on-line our way. For more information, email 216 G Street, NE, Suite 200 gambling on college campuses today. Wendy Hausotter, Workforce Devel- Washington, DC 20002 The PSA explores the consequences of opment Coordinator for Oregon Office 202-547-9204 an individual who develops a gam- Problem Gambling Services, at Fax 202-547-9206 bling problem and the events that lead [email protected]. [email protected] to his arrest. Oregon offers a progressive prevention www.ncpgambling.org For further information or a copy of and treatment system (see article in the PSA, please contact CCPG at this newsletter or http://egov.oregon. Executive Director: Keith Whyte 203-453-0138. gov/DHS/addiction/gambling.shtml), Program Manager: Linda Abonyo not to mention friendly folks, clean air, green trees, great urban and rural Administrative Assistant: Melissa Martin venues and much less rain than you’ve been led to believe! 2 National Council on Problem Gambling Toll-Free Helpline (800) 522-4700 3 Featured Program The Newest Residential Gambling Treatment Program in the Country and the Final Step in Oregon’s Stepped Care Treatment System Oregon Problem Gambling Services (OPGS) expanded its gambling every 6 months for the next 24 month, and if problems are detected treatment services this past August with the opening of the state’s first she will be encouraged to re-engage in treatment. publicly-funded residential gambling treatment center. Cascadia Be- So how can Oregon afford such an extensive system of care for prob- havioral Healthcare added an 11-bed 1,750 sq. ft. wing to its residen- lem gamblers? It started back in 1991 when state legislation sanc- tial alcohol and drug treatment facility in Salem, Oregon via a tioned the operation of video lottery terminals in bars and taverns $327,000 annual contract with OPGS. While clients of the facility across Oregon and included a provision to fund gambling treatment share common dining and outdoor areas, the gambling clients have services.