September 15-17, 2014
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Hosted by: Sooner Alcohol Narcotics Education (SANE)
OKLAHOMA CITY – Monday and Tuesday of this week, the American Council on Alcohol Problems (ACAP) held its annual Convention in Oklahoma City at Southern Hills Baptist Church.
There were seven state affiliates present representing Alabama, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Delegates heard inspirational messages from Dr. Doug Melton, pastor of Southern Hills Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, and Dr. Anthony Jordan, Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.
Two law enforcement officers, Darrell Weaver and Paul Robinson, both of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs presented critical information to affiliates about the challenges Oklahomans face in combating the negative impact of alcohol and illicit drug use.
Weaver, the Director of the state department admonished ACAP members, “You stand in the gap between what the people want and don’t want in society.” Robinson, whose focus was on marijuana, argued the drug was not medicine and recreational legalization would exacerbate the nation’s drug and addiction problems on top of its multiple alcohol-related issues.
Robert Smith of Robert Smith Ministries shared extensively with ACAP members about the numerous effective ways their organizations could use social media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other programs to get out their message.
In addition to hearing reports from the various states, members also handled business matters, one of which included the adoption of two resolutions:
Resolution on Colleges and Universities Turning to Beer Sales at Football Games deals with a recent trend by institutions of higher learning turning to beer sales at college football games for additional revenues. Although most universities do not sell beer to the general public at their football games, the number of campuses that now serve alcohol throughout their stadiums has doubled in just the last five years.
Resolution Regarding Bud Light’s ‘Up for Whatever’ Weekend in Crested Butte, Colorado addresses an Anheuser-Busch advertising campaign that flew one thousand young people to the small mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado, for a weekend beer fest. The beer giant worked quietly with town officials and paid the town $500,000 to completely make over Crested Butte into a fantasy Bud Light drinking community with painted blue streets, hot tubs, concerts with laser lights, beach parties, and all the free beer the youth could drink.
Near the end of the convention, in his outgoing remarks as president of ACAP, Dr. Mark Creech shared his appreciation for the honor of being elected as president for 2012 to 2014. “I don’t want to sound braggadocio,” said Dr. Creech, “but I have worn the title of the presidency of this organization with considerable pride. I believe so strongly in what you stand for and what you are doing in our country. Serving you in this role is one of the great highlights of my life.”
Dr. Creech added:
“Make no mistake about it; though others may fail to discern the enormity of the difficulty, we have not lost sight of the fact that alcohol is America’s number one drug problem. We are fighting for families, especially the lives of our children and grandchildren and future generations. And though our numbers are currently small, we will not give up this fight.”
Later, Dr. Bill Day, executive director of ACAP, would recognize Dr. Creech with a plaque stating the organization’s “appreciation for his distinguished leadership and outstanding service as president.”
Dr. Day in his executive director’s report expressed the need for a national campaign to address drunk driving by underage drinkers.
Incoming President for 2014-2016, Ed Wolkin, in his first address as president, closed out the convention with an eloquent plea for ACAP to consider broadening its focus to include marijuana. Wolkin acknowledged state affiliates were already dealing with the issue and expanding ACAP’s concentration would likely result in new affiliates.
The 2015 convention of the American Council on Alcohol Problems will be held September 14th and 15th and slated to be hosted by the Christian Action Commission in Jackson, Mississippi.
Bricktown Restaurants and Shops
The American Council on Alcohol Problems annual meeting will be September 15-16, 2014 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at Southern Hills Baptist Church, 8601 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73159. The Executive Committee meets Monday, September 15, at 4:00 P.M. Central Standard Time at the Holiday Inn Oklahoma City Airport, 4401 Southwest 15th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73108. The opening session will be Monday evening, September 15, at 7:00 P.M. Central Standard Time in the Southern Hills Baptist Church Chapel. A shuttle will be provided from the hotel to Southern Hills Baptist Church. Rev. Doug Henson, Executive Director of Sooner Alcohol Narcotics Education (SANE), is ACAP’s host and for this annual meeting. Click here for a copy of the annual meeting agenda.
There will be tours to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial as well as the Bricktown Entertainment District on Wednesday, September 17. A shuttle will be provided.
The fee for registration is $150.00 per person. Sleeping rooms at the Holiday Inn Oklahoma City Airport are $109 per night plus tax. Two breakfast coupons are included in this price. The hotel has a shuttle that runs to and from the airport every hour. Click here for a copy of the registration form. Use this form to indicate your room preference; arrival and departure date; and any special needs. Return the registration/hotel form to Cheryl Corley at the ACAP office by August 15, 2014. You may also call Cheryl Corley at 205-989-8177 or email ccorley@alcap.com.
It would be helpful for you to send in your annual report to the ACAP office to be included in the handout material. Also, if you have a name to be included in the Memorial Service, please note the name of that person as well as the name and address of a relative to whom we may send a letter acknowledging that their loved one was remembered. Click here for the affiliate report form and click here for a copy of the memorial form.
