Changes coming up at NAMI WC!

Beginning on February 21, our THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH support groups for both consumers, those with a mental health diagnosis, and family members/caregivers from 6 – 7:30 pm (groups held separately) will no longer be followed by an education program.

Beginning on Tuesday, March 6 we will have an education program/general meeting only on the FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH from 6 – 7 pm. So the new ongoing schedule will be:

Third Tuesday, Feb. 21 – 6pm – 7:30 pm – Support groups only
First Tuesday, March 6 – 6pm – 7 pm – Education program/general meeting only
Third Tuesday, March 20 – 6pm-7:30 pm – Support groups only
First Tuesday, April 3 – 6pm – 7 pm – Education program/general meeting only

And so on………………

ALL OTHER SUPPORT GROUP SCHEDULES REMAIN THE SAME on the first Saturday of each month 10 am – 11:30 pm and, for consumers only, the second and fourth Monday of each month 11 am – 12:30 pm.

All groups and meetings are held at 356 Biltmore Avenue, Suite 207, second floor. We are located next to the St. Joseph Hospital campus of Mission Hospital. Please call 828-505-7353 if you have questions. The full schedule through April appears on our website support group page.

Speaker:

Ellen Begley
Child and Parent Counselor
Wed., Jan 25th, 5:30 PM
First Presbyterian Church, Swannanoa
372 Bee Tree Road
Swannanoa, NC 28778
828-686-3140

The board of NAMI Western Carolina has decided that rather than holding a WALK at the same time as the NAMIWalks in Raleigh to be held on May 5 at Dorothea Dix Hospital, that we will hold a separate WALK or other fundraising event in the fall.There are several reasons for breaking with this two-year tradition. The main one is that there are so many other events being held in Asheville on that day that it is difficult to get a good location. Competition with other organizations who also hold their fundraisers on that day means that the number of people able to attend ours is lower. In 2011, for example, there were five other events being held at the same time as ours at Carrier Park.

Work is now being done to secure a location and to decide on the focus of our fundraiser. A circus/carnival theme has been suggested with a WALK and consumer art exhibit as a part of that. It has been pointed out, however, that a circus theme could be difficult to pull off because of a shortage of elephants in the Asheville/Buncombe area! Well, that will be part of the discussion! We do know that there are many talented artists here and we would like to give them a spotlight to show their work. If you have any ideas for a fundraising event, please let us know! We want your input!

Some of you may be receiving invitations to attend the WALK in Raleigh, and there is no date conflict with our event.

CONNECTION support group for those with a mental health diagnosis and the Family/Caregiver support group will be held from 6:00 – 7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 17.

Following groups we will have a one-hour meeting to introduce our 2012 Board of Directors. They are:

Returning board members:

• Bill Kinschner, President
• Tracey Turner, Vice President
• Karen Hoffman, Treasurer
• Bob Carey, Director
• Dr. Jim Pitts, Ex-officio

Our new at-large members are:

• Jessica Davis – NAMI WC Volunteer of the Year with more than 200 hours of service in 2011; computer specialist; extensive experience with non-profits, education, outreach
• Dr. Edgardo Gonzalez – Recently retired as Director of Psychiatry at the Asheville Veterans Administration; lived 25 years in Asheville; interest in allocation of scarce treatment resources and stopping the “revolving door” of patients in psychiatric care in hospitals
• Mark Merrick – Operations Director for First at Blue Ridge in Black Mountain, a long-term residential substance abuse program; experience working with dual diagnosis clients; experience with grant-writing; member of Asheville-Buncombe Homeless Coalition
• Robert Pitts, Esq. – Attorney in Asheville for more than 30 years; served on the board of Blue Ridge Health; experienced with law and regulations of non-profits

We are pleased to have such a diversity of skills in the area of mental health on our board. Come to welcome our new board members!

We are sorry to have learned of the death of two of our dearest members.

Harriett Davis Penny, 88, who died September 2, 2011 in Canton, was among the 13 charter members who organized The Western Carolina Alliance for the Mentally Ill on March 2, 1985 in Asheville.  On February 2, 1987, the Alliance was chartered as Western North Carolina Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Inc.   The title later changed to NAMI Western Carolina, Inc.

Doris Bell Goewey, 88, of Arden and formerly of Austin TX, died December 5, 2011.  She had served as a U.S.Navy Lieutenant, taught elementary school, was an accomplished artist and served on many non-profit boards including NAMI Austin, Texas where she taught NAMI Family-to-Family.  Survivors include her daughter, Susanna and son-in-law, Andrew Euston of Arden and son, Andrew Goewey of Sanford, Fl.

Donations to NAMI Western Carolina have been made in their memories.

On January 16 at 6 pm, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County, Inc. will hold a Candlelight Ceremony at Nazareth First Baptist Church, 146 Pine Street at Martin Luther King Boulevard in Asheville.

This will be an annual recognition of individuals who exemplify the spirit of Dr. King by giving unselfishly of themselves for the betterment of the community and others. Dr. Jim Pitts, former president of NAMI North Carolina and NAMI Western Carolina, Family to Family teacher and current ex officio on our WC board of directors,  has been nominated to receive an award.

Please join the community in this celebration. For more information, please call Karen Cowan at 828-768-8599 or Oralene Simmons at 828-281-1624.

The nationally recognized NAMI Peer to Peer course will be offered in Franklin beginning Tuesday, March 13, 7-9p.m. This is a 10 week course designed for adults living with mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD and others. It is taught by trained NAMI peer mentors in a relaxed, confidential setting. There is no charge but pre-registration is required. Class size is limited. For more information and to register contact Cindy (828) 524-0468 or Hank (828) 369-3490.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Kwanzaa!

And a very Happy New Year!

Very best wishes from our Board of Directors and Staff:

Bill, Jim, Tracey, Bob, Mark, Bob, Jesse, Karen and Christine

From our amazing office volunteers:

Justin, Kevin, Kristi, Barbara, Luna, Jamil, Matt, Greg, Jesse, Chelsea

From Support Group Facilitators:

Jim, Paulette, Judy, Bill, Leslie, Eddie, Gene, Charmaine, Christine, Justin, Tracey, Jesse, Greg, Kevin, Dawn, Cindi, Jamil, Marlene

From Family to Family Facilitators:

Jim, Sharon, Florence, Jim, Bill, Bonnie

From our speakers at Neil Dobbins,  ADATC and throughout the city and county

And from all of the committee members and supporters who help us to help each other during the year!

NAMI North Carolina’s Policy Position on Adult Care Homes and Department of Justice (DOJ) Ruling

North Carolina’s long and inexcusable reluctance to fund appropriate housing options for those living with mental illness has finally caught up with the state.

The lack of action over the years has resulted in another self-inflicted crisis within the mental health care system.

For complete article go to www.naminc.org

GOAL – 500 Letters – NC Statute 122c- Please Write

LINK: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_122C.html

Asking to review NC statute 122c from a consumer/family perspective

Statute 122c is the overarching governance statute for the Mental Health System of Care

The NC Legislature will be reviewing 122c for LME/MCO governance

From every corner of the State

WE WOULD ASK THE LEGISLATURE TO REVIEW 122c FROM A CONSUMER/FAMILY PRESPECTIVE

• Recovery and self-determination for ourselves and loved ones
• Ensure MCO office of consumer affairs
• Ensure Consumer and family representation on MCO boards

Be sure to include your contact information – name, address, phone number, email address.

Send to:

Sen. Martin L. Nesbitt, 29 N. Market Street  7th floor, Asheville, NC 28801

Sen. Tom Apodaca, 1504 Fifth Avenue West, Hendersonville, NC 28739

State Rep. Susan Fisher, 7 Maple Ridge Way, Asheville, NC 28806

State Rep. Patsy Keever, 17 Braddock Way, Asheville, NC 28803

State Rep. Tim Moffitt, 3182 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803

State Rep. Chuck McGrady, P.O. Box 723, Hendersonville, NC 28793

State Rep. Ray Rapp, 133 Quail Ridge Road, Mars Hills, NC 28754

State Rep. W. David Guice, 297 Cardinal Drive, Brevard, NC 28712

State Rep. Phillip Haire, P.O. Box 727, Sylva, NC 28779

Our goal is 500 letters so every letter will help this important and historic effort!