What's New at NAMI NH - April 2006
News to distribute and share with your groups and classes
This newsletter is currently sent to leaders, teachers, NAMI NH staff and board members, so please make copies, or forward emails to add members to the distribution list.
Upcoming Events-
Walk Meeting- May 3 **** 5:30-7:00
The 2006 walk committee is holding 3 large planning sessions and need the input of affiliates, teachers, team captains and walkers, everyone!! Please come and help in the planning of NAMI NH’s biggest and most important event! All meetings will be at the Concord NAMI office, with dinner being provided.
May 3
This year’s walk will raise the funds needed for Support Groups, F2F and VFT.
You know first hand the importance of these programs.
Team Development
What information do team captains need? What is helpful, what is a waste??
What are the biggest challenges to building a team and how can NAMI NH help?
What are the reasons member choose not to participate?
Fundraising
We have lots of new ideas for incentives, we need your input.
Walk Day Registration
How to make it easier?? Individual registration?? Online for everyone???
Please RSVP for Dinner, so we can serve you when you arrive
Chinese or Mexican…that’s the question!
June 14- Planning for Kickoffs
July 17- Walk Day planning
Affiliate News-
Portsmouth- The seacoast is working on increasing awareness around membership. They will now be asking for local dues of $5.00 per year as well as promoting joining the state NAMI.
Littleton- May 16 the Littleton support group will combine with the current F2F class to share an IOOV presentation.
Nashua- Concerned by the attitudes towards House Bill 1710 and the funding proposed for NAMI NH, Nashua Affiliate invited Representative Crane to join their group for an educational night. Guess who was educating who??
Manchester- The adult group became homeless for a short time recently when the city of Manchester decided that it needed to pay a high monthly rent for using the space at the senior center. Rick Sherman came forward with the use of her office building space so the group has a new meeting “home”. Updated location and directions on the NAMI NH website.
Peterborough- This group has been working hard to build a relationship with Monadnock Family Services. On April 21 a meeting was held with the leaders, Rebecca and Steve Lawrence and the case managers at the Keene location, and a NAMI NH representative. Lots of new case managers that needed to learn about NAMI NH and our family support groups. Plans were discussed to present a NAMI NH information night for families and staff that would include an IOOV presentation.
NAMI NH News-
Mark your calendars – May 1 on NH Public TV
NH Public Television has been interviewing the Manchester parent group leader Colleen Hayward and her husband Gregg along with their son Jonathon for this special feature. NAMI NH staff member Claudia Ferber will also be included in the program. Check your listings!!
The biannual Affiliate Leader/Teacher meeting was held on April 8. Participant feedback was very positive for the GateKeeper training. Minutes from the meeting are now posted in the Affiliate News section of the NAMI NH website. Lots of interest in having the board attend our next meeting so we will work on that!!
Thank you to all who attending the Volunteer Celebration, those that could not attend will be receiving their awards in the mail.
Raffle Tickets are now available.
Each ticket $100…..only 100 tickets to be sold!
Grand Prize $5000.00
Drawing on June 21 at the Annual Awards Dinner
HB 1710- Our thanks to all those who wrote letters regarding House Bill 1710 and to those who came in person to testify to the Senate Finance Committee on April 19. I know we are educating our representatives, changing attitudes and opening minds!!
The next step- A line item amendment is needed to add the funding for NAMI NH back into this bill. This requires a senator to step forward and do so. Then the finance committee will vote. We will keep you updated, or go to the website www.nh.gov click on legislative branch, then on quick search and type in HB1710.
NEEDED –
Volunteers for the Mental Illness Awareness Week Events and Planning!! NAMI NH has secured funding to produce the following events the first week of October. This means MIAW will be bigger and bolder than ever!! If you have an interest in any of the following events please contact Claudia Ferber at cferber@naminh.org.
Event: Integrated Health Fair
Goal: Increase awareness of depression in older adults and educate community members that early identification and integrated treatment of mental illness and medical disorders is essential to overall health.
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Event: Arts and Recovery Exhibit
Goal: Increase awareness that recovery from mental illness is possible and learn from consumers how they used “the visual and performing arts” to complement their treatment plan for recovery.
Event: Book and Discussion Group for elementary students
Goal: Elementary school students will learn about mental illness, that help is available to them or their family/friends, and that they do not have to fear mental illness or those who have this disease.
Event: “Real Men, Real Depression”
Goal: Raise awareness of depression and address the stigma that prevents people from seeking treatment, particularly adult men.
Event: “In Our Own Voice” Campus Presentations
Goal: NH college students will learn that seeking help for mental illness is “OK,” that treatment works, recovery is possible, and support is available.
Reminder-
Please record calls or emails you receive regarding your affiliate. If you need another copy of the I & R (Information and Referral) Log please let me know. The information from these log sheets is vital to our grant writing.
This Affiliate Newsletter can be found posted on the NAMI NH webpage at www.naminh.org, click on Affiliate News.
Thanks,
Annette
Please contact me with questions, needs, and news of your groups and classes
at acarbonneau@naminh.org or 1-800-242-6264 ext 25.
