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Toma, drug czar on SODA fete lineup By Jonel Aleccia David Toma came to Medford 20 years ago, preaching an anti-drug message to Rogue Valley students. Back then, he was popular as the undercover New Jersey cop who inspired the hit 1970s television show, "Barretta." His appearance helped launched Southern Oregon Drug Awareness, a local community coalition dedicated to substance abuse education and outreach. Two decades later, SODA�s still in business and Toma is returning. He�ll share the stage with U.S. drug czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey at a gala SODA anniversary celebration Oct. 23 and 24. SODA supporters conducted an extensive fund-raising campaign to pay for the event, which will include presentations to some 5,000 area students. Total costs to bring Toma to Medford will top $9,000, including speaker�s fees, air fare and advertising, said SODA director Stephanie Soares Pump. Some expenses, such as lodging at the Rogue Regency Inn, have been donated. That�s a big bite out of limited resources, but Pump said the presentation will warrant it. "If only half of what happens is what happened the first time, it will be worth it," she said. Organizers said after Toma�s first talk, students, teachers and parents lined up to talk to counselors about drug use. "Baggies of marijuana and pills were found under seats, drug paraphernalia was found in trash bins," a fund-raising letter recalled. But that was 20 years ago. "Barretta" was off prime time before the current crop of high school students was born. What message will Toma, now 67, bring to fans of singers Eminem and Nelly? "Part of why I think it will be successful is the nostalgia value," Pump said. "The other part is I think he will make people � both kids and adults � think about the effect drugs have in our community. He�ll remind us we�ve become too complacent about underage use." McCaffrey, the keynote speaker, will discuss what it takes to keep coalitions such as SODA going for two decades. SODA is among the oldest community coalitions in the country, Pump said. A recent survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showed that the average tenure is 7.8 years in the 4,000 anti-drug coalitions across the country. "What keeps it going is fresh ideas, the turnover of volunteers and keeping momentum in the community," Pump said. The anniversary celebration will also serve as a fund-raising event itself, pending approval from the United Way of Jackson County. Like all agencies that receive United Way funds, SODA is prohibited by contract from fund-raising during the United Way�s own drive Sept. 1 to Nov. 16. Executive director Dee Anne Everson said a United Way subcommittee will decide Wednesday whether to grant SODA an exemption from the rule. "It�s not every day you have a 20th anniversary," Everson said. Round-table discussion will be teaching tool Teen drug use will be the subject of a panel discussion Thursday when SODA and Southern Oregon Public Television team up for a televised community forum. "Speak Out" will feature a round-table talk with teens, teachers, law enforcement representatives and community members. Held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Red Lion Inn in Medford, it is a companion effort to a "Frontline" series on America�s 30-year war on drugs. "Usually, the only time we talk to our kids about drugs is during a crisis situation," said Margaret Graham of SOPTV. "This is a chance to talk about drug use in a well-facilitated group session." The resulting discussion will be taped and available to groups interested in drug abuse presentations. Participants will include the following individuals: Julie Hill, a sixth-grade teacher at Griffin Creek Elementary School; three Griffin Creek students from the Talented and Gifted program; Gigi Michaels, director of the West Medford Community Coalition; Capt. Ed Mayer, of the Jackson County Sheriff�s Department; Rick Rankin, a parent; Peggy Penland, Medford School Board chairwoman; Brian Penland, a North Medford High School student; Brian Schmitz, of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission; Feather Gilmore, of the Southern Oregon University Health and Wellness program; Robert Holiday, an SOU student; Dave Tally and Leslie Wilkinson, community members. SODA director Stephanie Soares Pump will be the moderator; Graham will represent KSYS. For information, contact SODA at 608-4028. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.