KYCPG Awards
Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling
2008 Awards
Jim Cooke Leadership Award
The Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG) proudly presents the Jim Cooke Leadership Award to Joe Daniel, founding member of the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG). This award, the highest individual honor bestowed by KYCPG, honors Daniel for his commitment to helping problem gamblers and his consistent efforts to foster cooperation among state councils affiliated with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG).
Working cooperatively with KYCPG founding member Curtis L. Barrett, Ph.D., Joe Daniel established a partnership between the Indiana and Kentucky Councils that continues today. Dr. Barrett served as the Indiana Council’s professional adviser. In the fledgling days of both Councils, when both money and staff were short, they achieved an agreement for the Indiana Council to provide services to the Northern Indiana casinos and the Kentucky Council to serve the Southern Indiana casinos. Joint Council Board meetings have explored other areas of cooperation and mutual support.
Joe Daniel has been forceful and consistent in encouraging the joint Indiana and Kentucky Councils’ effort to conduct a Fall Conference on Problem Gambling Issues, which has evolved into the six-state MidCentral Alliance on Problem Gambling. The Fall Conference is the central feature of the MidCentral Alliance. In 2007, the Indiana and Kentucky Councils’ partnership produced the first brochure targeting awareness of charitable gaming patrons. It is a testament to Joe Daniel’s vision and leadership that this partnership has deepened over time, making him worthy of this recognition.
The late Jim Cooke was a founding member of KYCPG who provided individual commitment and sound advice in the Council’s formative years. The Jim Cooke Leadership Award recognizes individuals for their outstanding commitments to furthering the mission of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling.
Media Award
Early in its history, the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG) sought to increase awareness of problem gambling and direct individuals to problem gambling services by publicizing the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline. Roadside billboards were deemed an effective way to deliver the message. Brian Ridgway, Lamar Advertising of Lexington’s vice president and general manager, was instrumental in providing KYCPG’s message – Gambling Can Be Addictive – as a public service announcement on Lamar billboards across much of Kentucky. KYCPG paid for printing the billboard paper. Lamar provided the space and placed the paper at no charge.
A federal mandate that a company provide a percentage of its billboards for public service announcements was changed in the early 2000s. Without complaint, Lamar continued its arrangement to provide and place KYCPG’s message on billboards in much of Kentucky. KYCPG still pays to print the paper. Lamar does the rest. Lamar also cooperates to ensure two highly visible billboards are reserved at cost in Frankfort for the Council’s message to be visible during the annual General Assembly session. The billboard message works. To date, other than the posting of helpline numbers at gaming establishments, callers cite billboards as the source from which they obtained the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline number.
For his and his company’s long-standing and altruistic support of the problem gambling awareness effort, Brian Ridgway, Lamar Advertising of Lexington, is the recipient of the 2008 KYCPG Media Award.
KYCPG congratulates the winners of its 2008 awards. KYCPG encourages individuals and groups to suggest nominees for future KYCPG awards, which are detailed on the reverse side. Send suggestions for KYCPG Board consideration to KYCPG Executive Director Mike Stone, kmstone@mis.net, or call 502-223-1823.