Anti-drug group head takes job at ESU
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 12:55 p.m., October 18, 2007
Updated 12:55 p.m., October 18, 2007
Mike Crouch, executive director of Emporians for Drug Awareness for less than a year, will leave that job to become development officer for the ESU Foundation. His new job will start Nov. 3.
“It just was the right opportunity at the right time,” Crouch said Wednesday. “Everything worked out for a reason.”
The focus of the job will be fund-raising, which is something Crouch said he is looking forward to.
“It is fun; I really enjoy it,” he said. “It’s easy to fundraise when you’re passionate about what you’re fundraising for.”
Crouch graduated in 2003 from ESU with a bachelor of science in integrated studies.
“My wife and I are both alumni, so it feels good to be able to go back to the university,” Crouch said. “... I think Emporia State’s an integral part of our community and I’m excited to be a part of the fundraising work that they do to provide opportunities for students. ... They’ve had a lot of big things in the news lately and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
Crouch said that he was amazed at what the Foundation has accomplished recently.
“And so to be involved in that somewhat from the ground level is exciting,” he said.
Crouch and his wife, the former Kimberly Stevenson, grew up in Emporia. Kimberly Crouch is controller for Detroit Diesel.
“I just feel like it’s a real opportunity to give back to the community,” Crouch said. “(Emporia) is a great place to raise a family.”
Crouch has been director of the anti-drug group since January. He said he has been pleased with the progress of the group and its expanded role as a resource in the community.
“We’ve really accomplished a lot in the last 10 months,” he said. “I think we’re working on some exciting new projects that I hope will continue to carry forward in terms of some long-term environmental changes in Emporia.”
Emporians for Drug Awareness is preparing to launch a project to survey businesses and promote no-smoking environments in restaurants and bars here. Crouch said that is a topic that is being discussed more frequently in Emporia.
“We just received a state grant to address that very issue,” he said. “There’ve been a lot of communities around the country — a lot of states even — that have gone smoke-free. I think it’s time that we begin to look at that in Emporia, and I think as a community Emporia’s getting closer to being ready for that.”
Crouch said that results of smoking bans in other communities seem to indicate that the bans have not had a negative impact on businesses.
“In fact, many businesses have seen an increase in their business,” he said. “The cost associated with cleaning and with maintenance and with upkeep from smoking indoors, also the amount of money lost with workers who are sick and out from work and those kinds of things, that really there has been no negative impact on businesses at all.”
Crouch said that a number of restaurants and businesses voluntarily have banned smoking on their premises.
“We already have a number of business leaders in this town who have taken that initiative and gone forward with it,” he said.
Emporians for Drug Awareness is accepting applications for the executive director’s job.
toninj (anonymous) says...
After reading through these comments made to the original article (see below) I have to say that WSRMY has summed it up best!
Posted by wanderer (anonymous) on October 17, 2007 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So is Mike going to stay on the Emporia school board? Or will his duties take up too much time? That's a busy job.
Posted by toninj (anonymous) on October 17, 2007 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, Another director change for Emporians for Drug Awareness and this one in less then a year! It makes you wonder what is going on over there to see another turn over. Maybe they need to remove some board members before they hire again or they may never keep someone good in the position. They may want to make it a requirement of staff and the board to support the director instead of talking about them around town especially when the director is doing a good job and is well liked in the community. I THINK THEY CALL THAT BULLYING!!!!!
Good luck to Mike in his new position! I hope he is able to continue his position on the school board; he is a positive voice for the needs of our youth in this community.
Posted by bart2 (anonymous) on October 18, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Mike has shown his dedication to the School Board and USD 253. I don't think that he will let the new position interfere with his commitment to the school board.
Posted by bart2 (anonymous) on October 18, 2007 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike will be missed by Emporians for Drug Awareness. The increased exposure the organization has gotten in the last 10 months has been impressive. I hear commercials for the organization all the time and have seen and attended many successful functions. With the extensive duties of running Emporians for Drug Awareness and the time commitments that are required for that position, Mike has demonstrated that he has the ability to stay dedicated to the school board and his career. The new position sounds like it will be a benefit for both Mike and the University. It is unfortunate that there has been some negative comments about Mike in regards to Emporians for Drug Awareness that are not felt by all associated with the organization. I wish the best to Mike in his new endeavor. I also wish the best to Emporians for Drug Awareness has they have to select a 3rd director in as many years.
Posted by wsrmy (anonymous) on October 18, 2007 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wanderer, why would you think Mike wouldn't stay on the school board? The people of this community voted him in and like what he's doing on the board. Yes his new job will be busy but I'm sure he'll do a great job with both possisions. The EDA, I think, needs to be looked at and maybe reorganized. Why have we lost so many directors in such few years? Is there something going on with those remaining?
October 18, 2007 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Duey (anonymous) says...
I just hope his wife (the real decision maker in the house) is up to running this new position as she pretty much runs Mike.
October 20, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
toninj (anonymous) says...
DUEY (or should I say EDA office staff/board member): I am going to re-iterate my earlier statement that if EDA is going to be able to keep a good director (as Mike has been) they will need to make some requirements of their board/employees to be supportive rather then talking bad about them publicly (good example is this statement you have made). How very sad that the focus over there has become to tear each other down rather then work together for the better of this community.
In the last ten months that Mike has been at EDA the organization has become more publicly noticed and has had more community involvement then in the last 5-6 years. The organization in my opinion had become rather stagnant and it has not been his wife that I have heard on the radio or seen at public events, it has been Mike. As I am sure her own job keeps her busy enough.
October 22, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
native_emporia (anonymous) says...
Well said Toninj. I would also like to add that I agree with your statement in your first post "I think they call that bullying". Maybe Safe and Drug Free Schools, who sits on Emporians for Drug Awareness' board, needs to re-read the 15+ program as it talks about adults bullying.
October 22, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wsrmy (anonymous) says...
I would like to say DUEY how sad your life must be to personally attack someone like you did. That type of comment could only be made by someone who has no self respect and some kind of hidden agenda. Posts here should be regarding the subject at hand and personal attacts. DUEY get some counciling.
October 22, 2007 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wsrmy (anonymous) says...
And NOT personal attacts.
October 22, 2007 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )