The BACCHUS Network Newsletter
Welcome to the Start of a New Year, Area 10!
January 2010
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 Hello, Area 10!
I'd like to formally introduce myself as your newly elected Student Advisory Committee Member. A special thank you to those of you who voted for me at General Assembly in Orlando.
A little bit about me: I am currently a junior at Harvard University, majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience. I have been involved with DAPA, a peer education group focusing on alcohol and other drug-related issues, for two years, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
I am thrilled to be serving you all, and am looking forward to an exciting year ahead! Feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns, or just to say hello and introduce yourself. I can't wait to see you all at the Spring Conference!
Sincerely,
Chloe Orlando, Area 10 SAC Representative
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From Your Area Consultant
Ryan Travia, Harvard University
Happy New Year Area 10!
What an exciting conference we have planned for February 27 at Suffolk University. The Area 10 Leadership Team and our fabulous conference host, Liz Drexler-Hines, with support from the SUPERs - Suffolk University's Peer-health Education Resource - have been putting together a dynamic, inspiring, and thought-provoking educational program. This year's conference theme, Most Valuable Peer Educators: wicked good peer education not only puts a fun spin on our host city (Boston!), but seeks to honor the (in)valuable contributions peer educators make toward creating safer, healthier campus communities. We hope that you will join us in Boston for this incredible learning and networking opportunity.
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From Your State Coordinators
NOTICE: We
are currently seeking a Massachusetts State Coordinator. Interested
candidates should contact Ryan Travia (rtravia@uhs.harvard.edu), the
previous MA State Coordinator, with any questions and to obtain an
application.
Joleen M. Nevers, State Coordinator, CT & RI
"I first got involved in peer education in high school and during my undergraduate education at Framingham State College. I started to supervise peer education groups during my graduate work at East Carolina University in North Carolina and professionally at Upham's Corner Health Center in Dorchester, MA and here at UConn. I am the proud advisor of UConn's Sexperts and have been with UConn for 10 years."
Tiffany Mathews, State Coordinator, ME, NH, VT
"Hello Area 10! My name is Tiffany Mathews. I'm the Coordinator of Wellness Education at Keene State College and the BACCHUS Network State Coordinator for New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. I'm very excited for another great semester in peer education and can't wait for the Area 10 Regional Conference in Boston. See you there!!"
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Area 10 Spring Conference: February 27, 2010
The Area 10 Leadership Team has been hard at work preparing for our annual spring conference. This year, the conference will be held at Suffolk University in Boston, MA. The theme is "Most Valuable Peer Educators: Wicked Good Peer Education." Special thanks to Liz Drexler-Hines and the SUPERs for hosting this conference!
The deadline for program proposal submissions as well as award and scholarship recommendations is Friday, February 5th, so get those rolling in ASAP if you have not already done so.
For complete and updated information on the conference, as well as all conference forms and applications, please visit the Area 10 website: http://bacchusnetwork.org/area10.asp.
Liz Drexler-Hines, Area 10 Spring Conference Host
"I am currently Assistant Director of Health & Wellness Services at Suffolk University in Boston, MA. I am fortunate enough to work with an amazing group of peer educators (SUPERs) to promote healthy behaviors, awareness and resources on and off campus. I am really looking forward to playing an active role in the BACCHUS and working closely with all of the affiliates in MA. I LOVE the red sox and spend a lot of my extra time kayaking and walking my Boston Terrier, Quincy."
Top 10 Reasons for Attending a 2010 Spring
Area Conference...
10. It rejuvenates the energy level of the leaders in your peer group.
9. You learn about new program ideas from other schools.
8. You NETWORK with other peer educators
and advisors who do what you do.
7. Driving in a college van for several hours
is excellent team building.
6. You will see some new speakers and presenters
to bring to campus.
5. You can watch someone from your campus
be recognized as an area award winner (if you apply)!
4. You can get ideas for publicity and fundraising
from other campus groups.
3. It's a bargain - the cost
of spring area conferences is VERY ECONOMICAL.
2. It will help you plan out your Fall programming
schedule.
1. You get to meet your area leadership team
so you can rely on them for support throughout the year.
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Media Spotlights
The BACCHUS Blog
Megan Apperson, Area 8
SAC
Gabrielle Antoinette, Area 11 SAC
Looking
for a new BACCHUS resource to assist your peer group? Check out the BACCHUS
Blog! The BACCHUS Blog has periodic entries from professionals on the hot
topics of Peer Education, such as tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, sexual
health and nutrition. This site offers intriguing articles on health education
and takes a deeper look into the issues affecting our campuses today.
Like
what you see? You can comment and partake in discussions with fellow college
students and advisors. Take a trip
to The BACCHUS Blog and
subscribe today!
BACCHUS Twitter
Tweet, tweet!
Brittany Russell, Area 5
SAC
Katie Deal, Area 12 SAC
Where
can you find celebrity gossip AND the latest campus health information all in
one place? Twitter, of course! The BACCHUS Network can now be found on the
networking craze, www.twitter.com.
Twitter
is a website where users can update their followers on news and what they're
doing in 140 words or less. Find users to follow by typing "@" and their
username.
Follow
@TheBACCHUSNetwork for "tweets" about upcoming contests, new events, conference
updates, campaigns, and more! For those of you constantly on the go, you can
even get the latest updates on your cell phone. Join now and tweet your way to
healthier campuses and communities!
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The BACCHUS Video PSA Contest
Calling all Internet sensations - here's your chance to promote healthy choices! Enter Your 30 or 60 Second Video Health Promotion PSA And Win!
Peer educators that
are members of a BACCHUS-affiliated campus group are asked to make
short videos that promote healthy behaviors and/or student safety. For
this contest, students should focus on one or more topics related to
having a "safe spring break." This may include lower risk drinking,
safer sexual practices, or general health tips. Highest consideration
will be given to videos that demonstrate originality, creativity, and
effective social marketing principles.
For contest rules and information on how to enter: http://www.bacchusnetwork.org/psa-info.asp.
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From Your Student Trustees
Mark Freeman & Meredith Heckmann
Going Back to the
Basics: Revisiting the Roles of a Peer Educator
Sometimes we get caught up in our lives and continue to
do things the way we've always done them. It's important for us to step back,
reflect, and understand where our foundations are and go back to the basics. 
The Peer Educator Code of Ethics states "I value and know who
I am. I am an individual, friend, an educator, an activist, a role model, and a
team member. I am a peer educator." Looking at this we would like to take a moment to consider
what each of these roles mean:
Friend: this
is a vital role of being a peer educator because it provides the people closest
to you with credible information, from a source that they trust.
Educator:
knowing the material that you teach and having the confidence in presenting
that information is crucial. As peer educators it is important that we are
knowledgeable of current health and safety issues.
Activist: as a
peer educator you are putting yourself out there as one who refuses to be a
bystander, and with your passion be willing to possibly work against adversity
and make yourself visible.
Role Model:
it's important to take ownership of your role and live the information that you
present.
Team Member: remember
that there is strength in numbers and that delegation and communication are essential
skills when working with a team.
Individual:Most importantly you must be taking
care of yourself and not losing sight of the big picture. You are just one
person, and you should be your first priority.
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Farewell
Hannah Freedman, 2008-2009 Area 10 SAC
For the past year I had the pleasure of serving as the Area 10 SAC. I want to thank those of you who supported me to run back in Ohio. I have learned a lot about the area throughout the year and I have seen the wonderful things that we peer educators have been doing for our communities. Keep up the good work team! I look forward to seeing some of you in February at the conference and hearing more about the wonderful programs you guys share with your colleges. Remember to keep up the work because every bit helps students - not only on your campuses but throughout the country. My best wishes go out to all of you and keep in mind that BACCHUS loves to hear about your great work and submitting program summaries for the newsletter is always appreciated! Chloe enjoy your term as the current Area 10 SAC and I know you're going to do a wonderful job! Congratulations again!
-Hannah Freedman, 2008-2009 Area 10 SAC, Roger Williams University
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Would you like to see a health article, peer education group, or student leader featured in this newsletter? You are welcome and encouraged to send any submissions to area10sac@bacchusnetwork.org.
Thank you for reading, and please forward this to your students, fellow peer educators and friends!
Sincerely,
Chloe Orlando, Area 10 SAC
The BACCHUS Network
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