Futures At Stake: Youth, Gambling, And Society

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments This book is evidence of a continuity of vision and commitment on the part of numerous individuals and organizations throughout North America. Initiated at the first North American Think Tank on Compulsive Gambling, held in 1988, the vision of addressing the spectrum of issues surrounding compulsive gambling was extended at the 1995 think tank to focus on youth gambling. We would like to thank all those who steadfastly held the thread that enabled this work to expand and develop. In particular, we would like to thank all of the participants and speakers at the 1995 think tank, many of whom are contributors to this book. We appreciate the hard work of the Think Tank Planning Committee members , who made the think tank possible: Linda Berman, Tom Brosig, Watson Butts, Colin Campbell, Stanley Crooks, Tom Cummings, William Eadington, Johan Finley, William Fisher, Durand Jacobs, Henry Lesieur, I. Nelson Rose, and Chrissy Thurmond . A special thank-you is extended to North American Training Institute staff Lorraine Grymala, Jeanne Schroeder, and Lynn John Rambeck, who worked tirelessly on this project. Special thanks also go to Marsha Kelly, who, in addition to being a terrific colleague, is an energetic, efficient, competent, and creative facilitator . The think tank and, by extension, this book, would not have been possible without her efforts. Tom Brosig, one of the contributors to this volume, deserves special recognition as the chairman of the think tank’s fund-raising task force and the provider of much of the enthusiasm necessary to support the think tank. In addition, Tom has been an inspirational and devoted proponent of proactive attention to the issues of youth gambling and compulsive gambling. We wish to thank the other members of the fund-raising task force, Nick Roberts, Watson Butts, Johan Finley, John Sneed, and William Fisher. We also thank the task force volunteers, Earl Yanase, Rob Wyre, Tim Moncur, and Chris Boone, and all the contributors who made the think tank possible. We want to extend our gratitude to every contributor to this book. Each worked long and hard over the many months it took to complete the process of compiling and revising this volume. We greatly appreciate their diligent efforts and contributions . A special word of thanks to Tom Cummings, Kathy Scanlan, Reingard Heller, Mary Kadaras, and David Gagne at the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling . This remarkable team has developed and sustained one of the most productive state councils on compulsive gambling in the country. They have offered consistent personal and financial support for gambling research. Sadly, during the preparation of this volume, Tom Cummings passed away, but his spirit, generosity, and wisdom continue to guide the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling and all of us who were lucky enough to have known him. His foreword is testimony to the richness of his thought and the character of his remarkable being. Tom, we miss you. We would also like to express our special thanks to Carolyn Howard, Emily McNamara, Greg O’Donohue, and Chrissy Thurmond at Harvard Medical School’s Division on Addictions for the patience, support, and intellectual guidance they provided in their efforts to make the think tank and this volume come to life. Finally, we would like to acknowledge and thank our families, especially Linda Shaffer, Sarah Hall, Anne Tilley, and Dale Sola, as well as our colleagues, who sacri- ficed time and made the space in their lives that afforded us the time to undertake this venture. xvi acknowledgments Futures at Stake ...