wyoming briefs
Posted: Sunday, May 7, 2006 12:00 am
Only 14 percent of the Wyoming Legislature is currently comprised of women, down from a high of 25 percent in 1986. The Wyoming Women's Legislative Caucus is hoping to reverse that trend by encouraging Wyoming women to run for public office or learn what is involved in becoming a candidate.
The filing period for this year's state elections is set for May 18th through June 2nd. For women considering running for public office, there is a training opportunity being offered by The White House Project, a national non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing women's leadership.
The White House Project's Go Run training ({M7www.voterunlead.org) is a weekend long training dedicated to equipping candidates with the skills to run and win. The training aims to demystify the political process and increase the number of women in the political pipeline. Go Run provides the nuts and bolts of running for political office by focusing on such areas as communications, fundraising, and campaigning, amongst others. The regional Go Run training is scheduled for June 9-11 in Boulder, Colorado.
The cost of Go Run training is $150 for all training materials, meals, receptions and activities. Participants must also pay for their own travel and lodging at the Millenium Harvest House in Boulder. To help offset expenses, an anonymous donor is offering two $250 scholarships to Wyoming women who apply by Monday, May 15th.
To apply for the training program, or for more information, send a brief cover letter, detailing who you are, why you are interested in the Go Run training and how you hope to use the training to: Melissa Turley at {M7melissaeturley@yahoo.com.
New site helps tackle meth issues
A state web site now gives Wyoming residents and policy makers a comprehensive guide to learning about and combating substance abuse issues in their communities.
"This is now one of the most complete meth resource web sites in the country," said Anna Maki, methamphetamine plan coordinator at the Wyoming Department of Health.
First launched in conjunction with the "Wyoming Faces Meth" social marketing campaign just over two years ago, freeandtrue.com now offers a more complete menu of options for researching methamphetamine issues and solutions, complete with links to other national and regional sites.
The site includes special downloads and interactive maps showing treatment and recovery resources, existing community coalitions across Wyoming, drug testing and cleanup guidelines for clandestine methamphetamine labs and more.
The site offers state research data, including downloads of the division' s latest Methamphetamine Planning Study and the State of the State of Substance Abuse report.
People can download social marketing media materials, including print and television advertisements and awareness-themed billboard art, Maki said.