Town Hall Meeting Frequently Asked Questions
General
Materials
Stipend/Funding
General
Do we have to conduct our Town Hall Meeting during the week of March 22, 2010?
SAMHSA has requested that the Town Hall Meetings take place during the week of March 22–26, 2010, as a way to launch Alcohol Awareness Month, which takes place during April. Although it would be ideal for Town Hall Meetings to occur during that week as part of a national coordinated effort to help communities prevent and reduce underage drinking, you are welcome to hold it at any time.
What is the deadline to confirm my organization’s participation in the Town Hall Meetings?
There are still a limited number of stipends available to participate in the Town Hall Meetings. We encourage you to confirm your participation and submit your W-9 form as quickly as you can.
Does my organization have to submit a budget or reimbursement sheet for the stipend?
No, the participating community-based organizations will not have to submit a budget or reimbursement sheet. SAMHSA requests that the stipend money be used to defray costs associated with planning the Town Hall Meeting.
To whom should community coalitions send their Town Hall Meeting descriptions and follow-up activities?
They are required to send these descriptions to us. Once your event details are finalized, you will need to update this information in your Town Hall Meeting profile. You can do this by going to http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/mytownhall and clicking on “Submit/Edit Town Hall Meeting.”
My organization is interested in partnering with another community-based organization to host a Town Hall Meeting. Can we combine our stipends and resources to conduct one Town Hall Meeting?
SAMHSA requests that one $500 stipend be used toward conducting one Town Hall Meeting.
back to top
Materials
Since my organization is a participant of the Town Hall Meeting, are materials available to assist us in planning our event?
Yes. An enhanced Town Hall Meeting Web page on the Federal Web portal for underage drinking prevention, http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov, will serve as the central communications platform for the 2010 Town Hall Meetings. Materials to support Town Hall Meeting efforts will be posted online to facilitate your planning and implementation of events in 2010. The materials will be made easier than ever to download and localize for your specific community needs. In addition, a series of Webinars and related videos will be posted on the Web site to provide additional resources and value to event-hosting organizations.
Will any of the materials be available in Spanish?
Yes. There are many materials and resources available in Spanish to assist your organization with planning and convening a successful Town Hall Meeting to raise awareness of and prevent underage drinking and its consequences. Please click on the following link to view the Spanish-language materials: http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/townhall/2008materials.aspx.
back to top
Stipend/Funding
If the event costs less than $500, what happens with the extra money?
We do not envision that there will be any money left over after each CBO hosts a Town Hall Meeting. If you have funds remaining, please use the money to conduct another underage drinking prevention activity in your local community.
When will my organization receive our stipend?
Once the SAMHSA contractor receives your online confirmation of participation and W-9 form, it will take at least 10 business days to process your stipend. In efforts to speed up the process, we ask that you have your Federal Tax Identification number handy before confirming your organization’s participation. In addition, please make sure the W-9 form has the most up-to-date information and includes a signature before faxing it the contractor.
Are there guidelines for items that my organization may spend our money on?
The stipend will need to be used to defray any expenses related to your Town Hall Meeting. Examples may include printing costs, community leader consultant fees, and rental fees.
How will the funds be made available to my organization?
A SAMHSA contractor will send the $500 stipend check to the organizations who have confirmed their participation. The stipend check will be enclosed in an envelope that clearly states “Town Hall Meeting information enclosed.”
Can my organization conduct more than one Town Hall Meeting with the $500 stipend?
The participating community-based organization can hold more than one event with the $500 stipend. Please provide SAMHSA with the Town Hall Meeting event details as they become finalized. Your event details will be displayed on a locations map on our Web site (LINK still pending) for other organizations across the country to see.
There are additional organizations in my community that are interested in participating in the Town Hall Meetings. How would they be able to sign up to participate in this national initiative?
Please submit the following information to info@stopalcoholabuse.net. Pending funding availability, these organizations may or may not be provided with a stipend.
Organization Name
Contact Name
Email Address
Address
City, State, ZIP
Phone Number
How can I submit my W-9 form?
Please submit it by fax to 240-559-0968. You may also scan a signed copy of your W-9 form and submit it via e-mail to info@stopalcoholabuse.net.
back to top