Changes coming up at NAMI WC!

Beginning on February 21, our support groups on the THIRD TUESDAY OF THE MONTH 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.

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. Speaker: Sara Cranford of Our Voice on domestic violence and sexual trauma

Third Tuesday, March 20 – 6pm-7:30 pm – Support groups only

First Tuesday, April 3 – 6pm – 7 pm – Education program/general meeting only. Speaker: Leslie Gaidi, M.A., LP on housing in the Asheville/Buncombe area

Third Tuesday, April 17 – 6pm – 7:30 pm – Support groups only

And so on………………

ALL OTHER SUPPORT GROUP SCHEDULES REMAIN THE SAME:

First Saturday of each month 10 am – 11:30 pm – Consumer and family/caregiver support groups

Second and fourth Mondays 11 am – 12:30 pm – Consumer only support group

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 or email us at namiwnc@yahoo.com if you have questions.

The full support group schedule through June appears on our website support group page.

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.

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!

This Saturday, December 3, 2011 NAMI Western Carolina will hold a general meeting at 11:30 am after our regular CONNECTION (for peers) and Family/Caregiver Support Groups which run from 10 am – 11:30 am.

At the general meeting, board president Bill Kinschner, will facilitate the election of two new board members whose predecessor’s terms have expired. Voting in the election is limited to NAMI WC members only.

Tracey E. Turner, presently an at-large board member, will run for the post of vice-president replacing Bob Carey. Tracey has been very involved with our affiliate and the mental health community on many levels including curriculum development for the Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for the Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department. She is also a site coordinator for new CIT trainings, liason to other community mental health groups, a member of the Consumer Family Advisory Committee (CFAC) of Western Highlands Network  and a public speaker. She is in recovery from a dual diagnosis. She has lived in Asheville for 18 years.

Karen Hoffman has been the affiliate treasurer since March 2010 and will be running to hold that position. She was appointed to the treasurer’s post when the previous treasurer retired. Karen has an M.B.A. and worked as an internal auditor in Boston. She has also worked as a physician’s assistant. She is in recovery from a mental illness. Karen has lived in Asheville for 8 years.

After the election, Bill will discuss our work in the past year and preview planning for 2012. He will review financials and subcommittees and will be available for questions.

See you Saturday!

UPCOMING TRAININGS

February 11, 2012 – Parents and Teachers as Allies – Raleigh NC

March 23-25, 2012 – Family-to-Family Teacher Training – *Eastern NC
NAMI Basics Teacher Training

April 13-15, 2012 – Peer-to-Peer Mentor Training – *Eastern NC
Support Group Facilitator Training

* These training sites can change if a large amount of interest is from a different part of the state

EVENTS/CLASSES

* Weekly talks to consumers at Neil Dobbins Crisis Stabilization Unit and Detox Facility

* Monthly talks to consumers at the Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center

EXPRESS YOURSELF!

*  To submit a poem or short story for publication on our website, please click on the Express Yourself! page at the top of this page for submission requirements. We want to hear from you!

SUPPORT GROUPS

* Please go to the Support Group page for a complete schedule of support groups and meetings.

Emergency numbers:

North Carolina Voice on Mental Illness Helpline – 1-800-451-9682 Monday – Friday 830 am – 5 pm. After hours email: mail@naminc.org.

Suicide Helpline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – 24 hours/7 days

Western Highlands Network Access Line – 828-225-2800 Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm.  After hours: 1-800-951-3792. Western Highland is the Local Management Entity which manages mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual/developmental disabilities services in Buncombe, Yancey, Henderson, Translyvania, Rutherford, Polk, Mitchell and Madison counties in western North Carolina.

Thank you to speaker Ashley Pool, a Certified Holistic Wellness Coach, who spoke at our general meeting on November 15 at 7:30 pm.

Ashley discussed stressors including finance, food, family, events, deadlines and the fantasy of the holidays in how we approach this season.

Thank you to all who came to get some help and ideas on how to enjoy the holidays no matter what our situation.

HINT: One way is to come to our Holiday Potluck Party on Tuesday, December 20 from 6 – 8 pm. We will be at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on Merrimon Avenue near Chestnut Street, Asheville. Bring something yummy to share or just bring yourself! Clothing and personal products will be gathered to be taken to those at Broughton Hospital.

For more information call 828-505-7353.

Thank you to the candidates for Asheville City Council who met with us on Saturday, October 29 at the YWCA Asheville for questions and answers. Attending were Lael Gray, Mark Cates, Jan Davis, Chris Pelly, Saul Chase and Marc Hunt. We appreciate their time in a busy election season.

Thank you, too, to Nina Accardo who suggested that NAMI pursue this meeting. She worked very hard to find a location for the event and a date that would work for the six candidates.

This is a direct form of advocacy that is very important to those in the mental health arena. We were fortunate to be able to speak openly about ourselves and our loved ones with mental illness and the difficulties face-to-face with those involved with Asheville city government. Topics covered were use of the detention center for those with mental illness, and the issues of housing, homelessness and hunger.

This was a great way to advocate in person rather than by phone, email or letters.