Linn County STAND: Students Taking Action Not Drinking

Linn County STAND: Students Taking Action Not Drinking (formerly the Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council), is comprised of students from every Linn County high school. STAND meets monthly to coordinate a media campaign to reduce underage drinking.

If you are interested in joining, please complete an Application. Returning members will need to submit a Parent Permission Form. For more information, contact Shannon Snair by email or at 541-967-3819.

Youth Council Changes Name to Linn County STAND: Students Taking Action Not Drinking

The Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council has officially changed its name to Linn County STAND: Students Taking Action Not Drinking. Members have been discussing a name change for the past year, but were struggling to come up with a new name that truly represents the council.

“Linn County STAND” emerged from a brainstorming session at a youth council community presentation in March. The inspiration for the name came from posters and other promotional materials they created for their peers with the message, “Stand Above the Influence.” Linn County STAND members are currently working on a logo to support their new name.

“No News is Good News”

In a recent interview with Peter, a local student who is part of the Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council, he describes his experience as a council member and why it is important to him to participate. One thing Peter stresses is that there are many positive outcomes from the work he and other UDYC members do that can’t be seen or measured.

“Both of my brothers were in UDYC and I joined because it really seemed like a worthwhile experience. I think it’s important for the community to support the UDYC. Some of the differences we are making are things you can’t see: You can’t see all the kids that are not drinking at parties, you don’t see the kids that do not end up in the paper with a DUI next to their name. Sometimes “no news” is a “good news” kind of thing!”

The council has amazing plans for 2012 including creating a video with the help of a local filmmaker, designing new posters with the “Stand Above the Influence” theme, and conducting scans of environmental factors that influence underage drinking. To be successful and continue increasing the number of students who “can’t be seen,” the council needs the support of our local community.

Zoe decided to join the council because she wanted to make a difference and be a good role model for those around her. She says, “I like coming up with new ideas and getting the word out to the community. I really think it makes a difference. The thing I like most is the posters. People everywhere see them and they relay a simple yet powerful message. It’s important for the community to support the UDYC because it positively enforces good choices. Who doesn’t want their kids or others around them to make good choices?”

Currently the UDYC consists of over forty high school students from throughout Linn County. Student members meet each month to work on a media campaign and plan other strategies to prevent underage drinking.

Four Easy Ways to Support the UDYC:

We have a limited budget for our media campaign, and would appreciate any help you can give us!

  • Display a UDYC poster at your agency or organization.
  • Donate packaged snacks or beverages for meetings of 30 UDYC students (granola bars, trail mix, fruit snacks, Capri Sun, or water).
  • Contribute a pack of poster-sized paper (11 X 17 inch).
  • Donate $5 or $10 toward UDYC materials and supply costs (Payable to “Linn County Health Services” with “UDYC” on the memo line).

Thank you for your support! – Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council members.

For more information, contact Shannon Snair by email or at 541-967-3819.

Hoop Jam Kids Sport UDYC Messages

The popular Hoop Jam youth basketball tournament in Albany provided an excellent opportunity to reach kids with underage drinking prevention messages this month. The event, held August 6th – 7th at the North Albany Village and organized by the Boys and Girls Club of Albany, drew hundreds of youth from throughout Linn County.


Hoop Jam participants wear sunglasses with prevention
messages on the sides.

The Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council hosted an informational booth at Hoop Jam featuring a fun basketball-themed activity with prizes. Kids throughout the event could be spotted wearing one of the prizes — brightly colored plastic sunglasses with the UDYC message, “Who makes your decisions . . . Alcohol or YOU?”

“Stand Above the Influence” Community Presentation

Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council students hosted a presentation on May 17th to celebrate their accomplishments and raise awareness of underage drinking. Community leaders from throughout Linn County attended, including representatives from school administration, business, and law enforcement.

A video presentation developed by students highlighted some suprising statistics about underage drinkin in Linn County. 71% of eleventh graders say that alcohol would be easy to obtain, and 11% indicatd they have done something they regretted while drinking alcohol.

The students hosted a panel discussion during the event. When asked why they are involved in UDYC, one student said, “I want to show other kids that we have made the decision not to drink, and invite them to do the same.” Another student replied, “I want to let people know that the belief that ‘everyone is doing it’ is just not true.”

The “Stand Above the Influence” celebration included round table discussions facilitated by UDYC members. UDYC members from Lebanon and West Albany High Schools took a moment to reflect on their 2010-11 media campaign. They discussed how the products they distribute serve as icebreakers and an opportunity to discuss underage drinking. What was the most popular item this year? The answer was unanimous – “The sunglasses!” High school students have been spotted throughout Linn County wearing the trendy neon colored plastic sunglasses with the message, “Who makes your decisions . . . alcohol or you?”

The Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council (UDYC) is comprised of students from every Linn County high school. The UDYC coordinates yearly media campaigns to reduce underage drinking. If you are interested in joining the Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council, please complete a Underage Drinking Youth Council Application Packet. For more information, contact Shannon Snair by email or at (541) 967-3819.

Stand Above the Influence Media Campaign


This UDYC poster was used as an example in promotional
materials for a national youth poster contest

Stand Above the Influence — That’s the message members of the Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council will be sending to their peers before Spring Break. Spring Break is one of the times that youth council members have identified as high risk for underage drinking. Students have been working hard to create posters with pictures of teens participating in positive spring break activities. Each picture is focused on feet in order to reinforce the “stand above” message. The posters will be displayed at Linn County schools and throughout the community.

“No Marijuana for Me, Matey!”

Dressed as pirates, twelve students from the Linn County Underage Drinking Youth Council (UDYC) played host to over 600 eighth graders at the Linn County Teen Maze, April 20th – 21st. The Teen Maze is a health education event in which students make their way through a large maze, stopping along the way in seven themed rooms to learn about topics important to teens.

The UDYC room featured a “Ye Old Jeopardy” game. The interactive game provided the eighth graders with information on the harmful effects of youth substance use. Similar to the real Jeopardy game, students were asked to select questions from four different categories including: Pirates Against Rum; No Marijuana for Me, Matey; Don’t Get Hooked and Barrel of Facts.

The event, held at the Boys & Girls Club of Albany, took place over a two-day period allowing eighth graders from throughout Linn County to attend.