Daylight Savings Time - Did you know?

Just for fun...Do you know why we observe Day Light Savings time? 

Read here and find out!  Don't forget to "Spring Forward" one hour

on March 14th.

Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition

Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition is a diverse group of organizations and individuals that come together to increase their strength, knowledge and commitment while working to decrease safety related problems in Greenville County.

• Reduce alcohol, tobacco and drug related crime and associated problems
• Decrease traffic injuries and fatalities
• Increase parental voice, knowledge and involvement
• Reduce gang related activity
• Increase community crime prevention skills
• Increase data collection and coordination in order to evaluate for effectiveness and continue to build capacity

Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition Members 2009

Crime Prevention Committee

Crime, Crash and Arrest Clock

One murder every 31 minutes, One violent crime every 22.4 seconds...read more

The Next Crime Prevention Committee meeting will be February 23, 2010 - 10:30AM - Conference Room C

Church Safety Trainings: Please contact Sgt. Donnelly concerning safety trainings for area churches: bdonnelly@greenvillecounty.org

Crime Prevention Committee is a Sub-Committee of the Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition.  The committee meets once each month to discuss crime prevention issues for Greenville County.  Various crime related prevention trainings are offered at each meeting.

For more information contact: Sgt. Brian Donnelly, GCSO

The Data Network Committee

The Data Network Committee is a sub-committee of the Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition that meets quarterly.  The purpose of Data Committee is to bring together key producers of data that exist in Greenville County to share information and work together to create data resources with current and precise information.

The Committee is working to produce a current yearly report concerning Greenville County statistics and trends, a community assessment report, and create useful maps and other documents from accessible information.  The next Data Committee Meeting - April 21, 2010 - 9:00AM - GFP, 200 Mills Avenue.

Events:

• Data Informational - December 8, 2008
• Open Source Training - Date to be Announced
• Data Informational - March 2008

Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws

The EUDL Committee (Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws) is a committee of Greenville County Officers, community organizations and concerned citizens lead by the Phoenix Center.  The EUDL Committee works together to address underage drinking issues, educate and inform local merchants, and enforce and influence legislation.  The Next meeting: February 10, 2010 - 9:00AM - Phoenix Center.

EUDL Alcohol Buys 2003 - 2007

Activities:

• January 16, 2008 - Re-Signing of EUDL & Tobacco Multi-Jurisdictional Agreements - 10:00AM - County Council Chambers
• July 16, AET Award Luncheon - Clemson Madren Center

Get Buckled Committee

The Committe for Responsible Driving - Get Buckled - is a subcommittee of the Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition that addresses traffic related concerns including Seat Belt Safety, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs, Distractions while driving, Pedestrian Safety, etc. Next Meeting: February 3, 2010 - 9:00AM - GFP, 200 Mills Avenue.

Events:

• March 4 & 5, 2009 - Get Buckled Breakfast - GFP, 200 Mills Ave.
• April - June 2009 - Driving Safely Campaign for Greenville County High Schools

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving - SC

MADD Organization

2010 MADD Impact Panel Schedule for S.C. -

MADD utilizes Victim Impact Panels to put a 'face' on the victims of drunk driving.  These individuals are not just labeled 'victims', but are individuals whose lives have been tragically altered as a result of someone's decision to drink and drive.  Drunk Driving crashes resulting in deaths are murders, and the destruction of lives do not differ from murders where other weapons were used.  Drunk Driving, other traffic and underage offenders are ordered by the courts to attend a Victim Impact Panel. Click here to access schedule: http://www.madd.org/chapter/4500_12573

Tobacco Free Kids

Tobacco Free Kids Collaborative

February 6, 2010 - 5:00 - 7:00 Tobacco Free Kids Collaborative Basketball Event will be held at Timmons Arena located on campus of Furman University, Greenville.  Free tickets available for basketball game.  Free prizes, information on tobacco prevention and other health and safety issue for kids.  Click here for free tickets to basketball game.  For more information contact Terry Taylor - terry@gfpdrugfree.org.

Events:

• February 6, 2010 - TFK Furman Basketball Event - 5:00PM - 7:00PM - Timmons Arena, Furman University
  

• October 3, 2009 - TFK Furman Football Event - 1:00 - 3:00 - Furman University
  

• February 7, 2009- Tobacco Free Kids Furman Event

• September 20, 2008 - TFK Furman Event at Furman University
  

Observances:

• Great American Smoke Out - November 19, 2009
  

• Kick Butts Day  March 25, 2009

Tobacco Information:

Pickens County Smoke Free Ordinance Read more here

Uniting Our Communities Committee

Uniting Our Communities is a subcommittee of the Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition that meets monthly.  The UOC was formed in response to concerns brought to the GCSC Coalition concerning the lack of outreach to the Hispanic communities in Greenville County. 

Purpose: To expand the Coalition's strategies to the Hispanic community

Events:

• 2007 held a Hispanic Education Fair - McAlister Square, Greenville.  Approximately 100 in attendance.  Community organizations and individuals presented information and services to the attendees.
• 2008 Hispanic Educational Summitt - October 4th - Greenville Tech N.W. Campus
• 2009- GHS Minority Summit - April 4 - Carolina First Center - UOC Information Table
• 2009 - Hispanic Day - August 15 - McAlister Square - UOC Information Table

Next Meeting: February 24 - 10:00AM - GFP, 200 Mills Avenue

Youth Development Advisory Council

The Youth Development Advisory Council for Greenville County is a sub-committee of the Greenville County Safe Communities Coalition that meets monthly. 

• 2008 Standing Together Against Gangs - Gang Prevention Workshop -Carolina First Center - April 18, 2008- 9:00AM-1:30PM 
• 2009 - YDAC Logic Model Workshop - April 7 & 14 - GFP, 200 Mills Avenue

Next Meeting: February 9, 2010 - GFP, 200 Mills Ave. - 1:00PM

Traffic Enforcement Task Force

The Greenville County Traffic Enforcement Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional traffic enforcement effort supported through the collaboration of law enforcement and city officials from the six municipalities in Greenville County as well as the Greenville County Sheriffs Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol.  The Traffic Task Force was formed through the Greenville County Safe Communities Coaliton in response to elevated traffic fatalities, injuries and collisions. 

The agreement provides that each agency will each host a traffic enforcement event in turn each month.  This allows specific traffic community concerns to be addressed using the combined efforts of the task force members.

The Task First documented GCSC Task Force was held on December 1, 2000 and hosted by the Greer Police Department.  A total of 10 officers participated and wrote a total of 26 citations.  

Multi-Jurisdictional Signing Ceremony: January 16, 2009 - 10:00AM - County Council Chambers

Members Greenville County Task Force:

GCSC Traffic Enforcement Task Force

The Greenville County Safe Communities Traffic Enforcement Task Force made the news today!  Read More Here.  Watch video here

Local Businessman Honored Through Scholarship

Mr. Roger Hardeman "R. H." Patterson, a leader in alcohol prevention, is honored. P.A.P.A. Organization

If you would like to make a donation to the R.H. Patterson Sr. Memorial Scholarship:

Please make all donations payable to - The Roger H. Patterson, Sr. Memorial Scholarship in care of Greenville Family Partnership.  Mail to: Greenville Family Partnership, P.O. Box 10203, Greenville, SC  29603. Thank you.

The R.H. Patterson Sr. Memorial Scholarship Committee announces the 2009 recipient as:

Silvia Y. Gaytan

Silvia is a Senior at Carolina Academy.  She plans to continue her education at Greenville Technical College and pursue a career in nursing.  Silvia was an award winning member of her school's Robotics Team - winning Best Design and placing 2nd in the Nation for skills.  She is described as "an outstanding student, honest, dependable, reliable, one of the best students I've ever had, leads by example and an encouragement to others".  Silvia is a member of the National Honor Society.  She gives credit to her choosing to lead an alcohol and drug free life to the influence of her parents, and her understanding of the harmful effects of these drugs that she has seen in other teens.    

Silvia will receive a $500 scholarship

Family Day - September 27, 2010

Monday, September 27th - 2010!

Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children TM is a national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s kids substance free. Family Day reminds parents that   Dinner Makes A Difference!

Become a Family Day Star:

• S - Spend Time with your kids by having dinner together
• T - Talk to them about their friends, interests and dangers of drugs & alcohol
• A - Answer their questions and listen to what they have to say
• R - Recognize that you have the power to help keep your kids substance free

For more information about Family Day: http://casafamilyday.org/familyday/

Winners of 2009 Contest: - Three winners were selected -

First Place - Bak Family

Second Place - Hindman Family

Third Place - Dionne Family 

---

Resources:

Download Family Day Placemat Here: Side One      Side Two

Another version: Side One   Side Two

Book on Parenting - "How to Raise a Drug Free Kid by Joseph Califano, Jr.

Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse

Word Games

Coloring Pages  Cooking   Recipes