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Executive Director's Letter AN INFORMATION RESOURCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING SPRING 2011 • VOL. 14, ISSUE 1 President’s Message: Some Closing Thoughts This will be my last message to our membership as and money) is critical to this process. On a parallel level, the Mem­ president of the NCPG Board of Directors. As we bership Committee has been busy surveying your wants and needs. prepare for the 25th anniversary of our national We have ambitious goals for increasing our membership base so that conference in Boston a few thoughts and more we can expand our services, both internally and with the world beyond than a few feelings come to mind. the NCPG. We wish that we could celebrate the enactment of Keith recently shared a link to the U.K. Responsible Gambling the Comprehensive Problem Gambling Act that Strategy Board (www.rgsb.org.uk) that can serve as a template for we have worked on so hard for so long. It would expanded NCPG efforts to bring together all stakeholders to develop have been nice to watch President Obama sign a new piece of legisla­ a nationwide strategy to ensure prevention, education, treatment and tion that would further reinforce our mission. But these are challeng­ research programs and services for problem gamblers and their families ing economic and political times, especially for new programs on are widely available. Obviously passage of our legislation would stigmatized issues. Despite those difficulties, we have come a good have been a wonderful start, but we still need to expand our vision distance to finally attaining Federal recognition, bolstering efforts at and efforts. We are setting a more powerful stage and the various the state level and more directly impacting the lives of those negatively elements are falling into a great place. Again we need your involvement affected by gambling. We will continue to press ahead with hopes of at and energy. least finding our place in SAMHSA and other Federal programs. As I move off the Board, I would like to thank our staff for their in­ We have taken a significant step in hiring Barbara Rollins as our new credible efforts, energy and commitment. If you will not be able to Director for Development and Membership. She has been interview­ attend our conference in Boston, take a moment to send an email to ing Board members and emphasizing that relationships are fundamen­ staff and thank them for their being there and for giving more than we tal to any development and membership program. We need all of you can know. I would also like to thank all the current and past Board to be open to Barbara’s requests for perspective, history and relation­ members and committee chairs and members for making this a ships. We are on the cusp of moving in a more dynamic direction and smooth year and a half. The collective energy and spirit of all has made your involvement in helping us identify support (passion, energy, skills (President, continued on page 2) Executive Director’s Letter: The Path of Progress The 25th National Con­ learn from our history, we must also focus on special membership prices and activities; ference on Problem the future. Even as gambling is rapidly ex­ unprecedented hotel rates extending through Gambling will be held panding it is significantly evolving. The prob­ the July 4th weekend in one of America’s July 1 – 2, 2011 at the lem gambling field must continue to innovate most historic cities; and extensive social events Park Plaza Hotel in as well, finding new ways to provide ever­ and family activities including a Friday night Boston, MA. The vision­ more effective prevention, education, treat­ authentic New England clambake on Georges ary band of pioneers who ment, enforcement and research programs. Island in Boston Harbor. I look forward to met at John Jay College The only guarantee is that in 25 years our seeing you in Boston! in New York City for the field will look completely different. I hope first national conference on problem gam­ you will make plans to come to the National bling could hardly have imagined the twists Conference and take advantage of the 60 and turns along the road to Boston a quarter pre­ and regular­conference sessions; unparal­ Keith Whyte century later. But while we must honor and leled networking with peers and pioneers; Executive Director NPGAW CPGTSP Adolescent E-Tool Grief, Self- 2011 Launched Longitudinal Identifies Esteem and Update Study Gambling Gambling inside 3 6 8 10 Disorders 13 (President, continued from page 1) Join Us at the Annual National Conference my service well worth the few moments of Submitted by: Barbara Rollins frustration. I really appreciate the support that Please join us for the 25th National Conference on Problem Gambling, July 1 – 2, 2011 in you have all given to sustain the mission and Boston, MA. For a quarter of a century, the conference has brought together leaders in preven­ vision of the NCPG. tion, education, treatment, responsible gaming, research and recovery to present the latest More than a footnote, we are all saddened by developments in their fields. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a newcomer to gam­ the recent passing of G. Alan Marlatt, PhD. bling issues, you will find more than 75 presentations — from plenaries to posters — packed As you all know he took many courageous with high­quality information. steps as Director of the Addictive Behaviors Based on popular demand we’ve added two full days of intensive skill­building pre­conference Research Center, University of Washington, workshops. The Live Learning Center option offers synchronized audio and PowerPoint access to help us all understand the recovery process to over 40 hours of content so you won’t miss a session. There are several registration options, in a sensitive and compassionate fashion. He (www.ncpgambling.org/registration) including pre­conference workshops only and one­day spoke at several of our national conferences conference rate. Please note: NCPG members receive reduced rates for conference registration. and we will miss his wry humor and incisive judgment. We had the opportunity to share Special attractions: “the gambling piece” over the years and he • NCPG National Awards will be missed. Fortunately he has left us with • Friday Keynote speaker: a living legacy with several top notch con­ Howard Shaffer, PhD tributors to the field here at the University of • Saturday: Members­Only Washington (Mary Larimer, PhD, Ruby Reception with Board of Takushi, PhD and Ty Lostutter, PhD). For Directors a nice summary, please go to this link: (http:// • Saturday Lunch Plenary depts.washington.edu/abrc/marlatt.htm). Speakers: Pioneers in the I look forward to seeing you in Boston! Field – Chuck Maurer, PhD, Kathy Scanlan, Marvin Steinberg, PhD Charles Maurer, PhD Boston is an attractive, President, NCPG Board of Directors accessible and affordable destination. We look for­ ward to seeing you during the 4th of July weekend for four days of exciting speak­ National News ers, practical solutions, NATIONAL COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING serious networking and great fun (clambake, anyone?) The National News is published by the with leaders and stakehold­ National Council on Problem Gambling ers from across the country. 730 11th Street, NW, Suite 601 Register by May 31 to get Washington, DC 20001 the specially­arranged dis­ 202­547­9204 count hotel rate. To register for the conference, visit www.ncpgambling.org/conference or to Fax 202­547­9206 reserve your room, visit www.ncpgambling.org/2011hotel. [email protected] Sign up on our discussion forum for ‘Boston Buzz’ postings — we welcome thoughts and www.ncpgambling.org advice from conference veterans, Boston travelers, and new colleagues along with all stake­ holders. Executive Director Keith Whyte Have you renewed your membership? Director of Administration Become a member of NCPG or renew your membership now in order to take full advantage of Linda Abonyo the $100 discount on conference rates that is available exclusively to members. In addition, you receive an invitation to the Members’ Lunch (Thursday, June 30, during the Pre­Confer­ Director of Development/Membership ence Workshops), full voting rights, a subscription to Addiction Professional, discounts on other Barbara Rollins literature, and a member certificate suitable for framing — in addition to knowing that you are Program Manager supporting the national unified voice on problem gambling. Your membership pays for itself Megan Larsen with the discount on the conference alone, providing a savings of $100. Join or renew now! To join, see form on page 7 or visit www.ncpgambling.org/membership. Administrative Assistant Melissa Eckenrode 2 National Council on Problem Gambling NPGAW 2011 Report One of the most successful campaigns to date; reaching international level Submitted by: Megan Larsen National Problem Gambling Awareness Week (NPGAW) is a grass­ activities supporting NPGAW. For example, the Colorado Lottery held roots campaign designed to educate the general public and health care an online campaign, reached out to the public through their retailers professionals about the warning signs of problem gambling and raise and distributed PSAs. Potawatomi Bingo Casino provided activities for awareness about the help that is available both locally and nationally. their guests related to Problem Gambling and distributed information, did a postcard mailing, and distributed PSAs. the Florida Council on NPGAW 2011 was one of the most successful campaigns to date. Compulsive Gambling had over two dozen Florida municipalities join National press release and television and radio PSAs were distributed them in their campaign, created a website dedicated to NPGAW, by the National Council on Problem Gambling, and many other distributed a press release and much more. Eastern Connecticut State organizations created their own grassroots campaigns.
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