February 27 2025 Meeting Summary

Presiding: Kelly Neville

Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren

Inspiration: Keith Downey

Introduction of Guests: Murray Schroeder

Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students: Jaden, William

Rotaract/Interact Students:

Foundation Drawing: George Gill won $10 with $115 in the jackpot.

O’Dwyers Drawing: Rollin Abernethy

 

Rotarian of the Week: Terry Moss nominated Caitlin White for her work on youth exchange; Dave Hansen nominated Shaun Bullock for volunteering to be the club’s social media person; Paul Montoya nominated Anna Cramer, as the Cramers will soon be welcoming their third child.

 

Songs: Down in the Valley; Down by the Riverside

 

Program: WYSAC, Brian Harnisch

 

Introduction: Anna Cramer

 

Brian Harnisch is the director of WYSAC, a unit in the UW research office. Harnisch started at WYSAC in 2007 as a telephone interviewer.

 

WYSAC’s mission is improving lives through applied social science research and providing high-quality unbiased data for decision-making. WYSAC collects data for UW and external clients. For example, it handles the Wyoming Game & Fish harvest report.

 

The unit handles various evaluations in specific areas. It has 26 research scientists and 92 hourly, non-benefitted positions, as well as three graduate assistants.

 

WYSAC is the state data center for justice. It provides research, trainings, and works with nonprofits. The unit is funded by grants, contracts, and awards. There is roughly $9-$10 million in 38 active projects. It has about $4 million in expenditures. WYSAC is 60% Wyoming focused and funded, and 40% other states.

 

WYSAC assists with prevention needs by monitoring use with Wyoming students. They compared the trends from 2001 to today to identify problems and help with innovative ideas. Alcohol abstinence has gone up to 84% from 59% in 2001.

 

The cost of substance abuse in Wyoming is another study. In 2001, the cost to Wyoming was $1.9 billion. In 2019, it is much higher.

 

A newer project is missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. This is research for a governmental task force. It is the first report of its kind. It shows that there are definite discrepancies for Indigenous people receiving less news coverage related to being missing or murdered.

 

Other topics include: SNAP gap, elections, tobacco, violence against women, homelessness, CLIMB Wyoming, and state opioids.

 

WYSAC is highly community engaged. There is a lot of collaboration and it employs both students and residents. It works with both for profit and nonprofit organizations. Most of its finding are available to the public.

 

Surveying can be complicated. Harnisch noted that 82% of Wyoming’s population has a cell phone only or mostly just uses a cell phone. There is also 1% of the population that does not have a phone. This can make telephone interviewing very tricky. WYSAC makes changes to the sampling to ensure giving random probability.

 

WYSAC uses phone, mail, and convenient sampling most of the time. It is based on the client’s needs and the project. Often these sampling methods then push the subject to a website to complete the survey. Text surveying is tricky because there is a lot of legal considerations.

 

WYSAC helps organizations improve programming, with prevention effotrs, and to make more informed decisions.

 

Response: Kelly Neville

 

 

Of the things we think, say, or do:

•Is it the Truth?

•Is it Fair?

•Will it build Good Will and

  Better Friendships?

•Will it be Beneficial to All    

  Concerned?

 

Rotary Anniversaries:

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Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org