The Beacon - NAMI Greater Orlando, Inc.
Transcription
The Beacon - NAMI Greater Orlando, Inc.
The Beacon March & April 2012 The Official Newsletter of NAMI Greater Orlando Inside this issue: President's Message 1 Education Update 2 NAMIWalks 3-6 NAMIGO & Community News 7 Feature Article Announcements 8-10 Support Groups & Activities 11 2012 NAMIGO Board of Directors: Rosemary Steinbach, President Jan Ellison-Seay, Secretary Deborah Parrott, Treasurer Carla Bresnahan Lt. Sue Brown Linda Perez Del Rocco Donna Helsel Eddie Imbriani Paula Kegelman Wanda Keller Michael Mangan Muriel Jones Moore Ron Wilensky Linda Winters NAMIGO Office Executive Director: Joe Mendoza Staff: Barb Aikens Mary Hott Tracy Lutz Contact Us: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Phone: (407) 253-1900 Fax: (407) 253-1912 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.namigo.org “Blossom by Blossom the Spring Begins” Dear NAMIGO Family, Rosemary Steinbach President Board of Directors It’s hard to believe that Spring will arrive on March 20th! This weekend I was contemplating how well I was doing with my New Year’s resolutions. One of my goals was to try to save money (and put a little more aside for a rainy day). And since both my kids have now left home for College and my husband and I are empty nesting, I set another goal to purge, purge, purge! A final goal was to increase my volunteerism as a way of giving thanks for my blessings. Having the self-discipline to achieve my goals can sometimes be a struggle for me, but I never give up and the results are so very rewarding! I also tried to apply my personal goals in my service to NAMI, and here’s how I’m doing: Goal 1: Budget and $pend Appropriately One of the ways NAMI Greater Orlando can extend our outreach and help others is by making sure that we carefully budget our expenses so that we can continue to provide our signature education and support classes like Family-To-Family, Peer-To-Peer, BASICS, and Connection. To help meet our 2012 expenses, we’ve set a 2012 Fundraising Goal of $100,000 for our NAMIWalks. We are also looking for opportunities to save money by paring back expenses. We can save about $1,500 per year just by going GREEN with our bi-monthly Beacon Newsletter. So, like most businesses today, we are making the economical decision to change our newsletter distribution process. If you have a valid e-mail address on file with the NAMIGO office, you will receive your fullcolor newsletter electronically and this will be your last paper issue. If you do not have an email address on file and cannot access the PDF version at www.namigo.org, we will continue to send you the print edition. If you have e-mail but wish to continue receiving the print edition, just give us a call and we’ll be glad to put you back on the mailing list. Goal 2: Spring Cleaning Having just sent my last child off to college, I've embarked on a really good spring cleaning beginning with my kids' closets and the guest bathroom. This time around, though, I will be very purposeful in deciding where to donate my gently used items. I have chosen Pathways Drop-In Center to receive my donations of freshly laundered clothes, shoes, and towels and sheets we no longer need. Pathways is a mental health consumer-run community center for people suffering from major mental illnesses. According to Nelson Kull, founder and president of Pathways, the Drop-In Center is in need of these items on a year-around basis, and I feel good knowing my kids' things will get a second chance to keep someone else clean and warm! To arrange a donation to Pathways, call 407-843-5530. Goal 3: Increase Volunteerism I will never forget how much I learned when I attended Family-To-Family in 2009. I made a personal decision shortly thereafter to spread the word about NAMI to everyone I met who was lost or struggling to find help and answers to questions about mental illness. My stewardship to NAMI has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. This year, I am looking forward to teaching my second Family-ToFamily class, but I also check in with the NAMIGO office on a regular basis to see what else I can do to help. Even though I am going to be away for a wedding on the day of our NAMIWalks, it didn’t stop me from forming a ―Virtual Walk Team‖ and I have already raised almost a thousand dollars! Won’t you take time today to sign up to walk, or make a financial pledge to your favorite NAMIWalks team? "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." - Albert Schweitzer. Wishing you all the best for a spectacular Spring, 2 NAMI National Education Rankings: Florida is #2 for number of Basics classes, #5 for Family-to-Family, #2 for Peer-to-Peer, and #2 for Connection groups. Spread the word about our signature classes!!! Peer-to-Peer is a FREE 10-week education course for persons living with mental illness. For more information or to register for upcoming classes, please call the NAMIGO Office at (407) 253-1900 or e-mail: [email protected]. Did you know that NAMI Greater Orlando has recently received a grant from NAMI National to pilot a program developed by NAMI FaithNet to reach out to religious organizations? NAMI FaithNet is a part of NAMI which is focusing on encouraging the development of faith communities which provide a positive environment for individuals with mental illness and their families. Surveys have shown that over 40% of Americans seeking help with mental health issues turn first to ministers, priests and rabbis. Unfortunately these faith leaders often have neither the time, inclination or training to offer truly effective therapeutic supportive care. Basics is a FREE six-week education course offered to parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents with mental health issues. Family-to-Family is a FREE 12-week education course for families, friends and caregivers of individuals with mental illness. NAMI FaithNet has developed a PowerPoint presentation entitled Bridges of Hope, which is a well thought out tool to be used to educate religious organizations about mental illness. Ask yourself… Would my place of worship be open to showing Bridges of Hope? It could open the door to creating a positive faith experience for individuals affected by mental illness. We need your help to make this program successful. Would you be willing to do the following? Show this PowerPoint presentation to members of a church, synagogue, or temple? Share your personal story regarding mental illness with these groups? If you're interested in doing this type of outreach, you will receive training. NAMI FaithNet has developed a four-part training program to assist NAMI members in reaching out to faith communities. If you this type of outreach is not for you but you feel your place of worship might be open to creating a mental health ministry, please give us the name of your church, synagogue or temple. Reducing the fear, stigma and misunderstanding concerning mental illness will take time. Education of faith communities is an excellent place to start. If you feel called to practice faithbased outreach with us, please contact Karen Archbold at (407) 814-4486 or Grace Ingwalson at (407) 333-2114. 3 I walk for my son, David. Who will you walk for???? Cruising To Recovery… Our Journey Together Each of us has a personal reason for being a part of NAMI Greater Orlando. I am a part of NAMIGO for my son, David. I encourage you to take part in our 8th Annual NAMIWalks, Changing Minds One Step at a Time, to make a difference in the lives of our loved ones! Wanda Keller and I are Walk CoChairs for the second time and we are extremely excited about the 2012 NAMIWalks. Our Walk Committee and volunteers are working diligently to surpass our goal of $100,000! We also have many fun events planned for Walk Day such as face painting and a balloon artist for the kids. Bring your loose change and checkbooks for our Silent Auction Booth - it is bigger than ever! We will have Orlando Magic signed memorabilia, paintings donated by a local artist, a handmade quilt made by our very own Raymond Young, and many more surprises. We will also be selling raffle tickets for the Starwood Vacation Ownership’s 7-night stay at a resort in Mexico. Finally, there will be an Arts & Crafts area showcasing our consumers’ paintings and jewelry. Cruising To Recovery…Our Journey Together, our theme this year, is based on an incentive program announced by NAMI National in connection with Sunrise Premiums. Per the agreement with Sunrise Premiums, they are providing travel packages for a CRUISE to each NAMIWALKs site. NAMIGO was fortunate to receive several vouchers this year. One will be raffled off to a lucky registered Team Captain at our KOL (must be present to win) One will be auctioned off at our Silent Auction Booth on Walk Day One will be awarded to a fundraiser that has raised at least $50 ONLINE during the course of the contest as follows: a) For each $50 raised online, a participant will receive an entry in the contest b) The contest will run from the Team Captain Kick-Off Luncheon, March 6th, until midnight Friday following the WALK event, and c) The contest winner will be selected by the WALK Manager using the designated random selection process. Register online @ http://www.nami.org/namiwalks/FL/GO In addition, we have a new incentive for our official NAMIWalks T-Shirts. This year to be eligible for a T-Shirt you must raise $100.00 online. Don’t miss the boat on these wonderful opportunities! My fellow Walk Co-Chair Wanda Keller and I know we can reach this year’s record-breaking goal of $100,000 with your help! Please consider starting a team and recruiting your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Help us spread awareness about mental illness, about NAMI and our programs. Wanda and I look forward to seeing you all on Walk Day! Paula Kegelman Board of Directors, Walk Co-Chair We welcome former Florida House Representative and Community advocate Dick Batchelor as our Honorary Walk Chair! 4 Fundraising Tips How to Get Folks to… “Show You the Money!” 1) Set up your team or personal walker page online. 2) Day Off Opportunity Drawing: Ask your company to donate a paid day off to the winner of a drawing. Sell tickets for $5-$25 to your coworkers (this is an easy way for most companies/ businesses to contribute without donating cash. 3) Ask your local community groups, houses of worship, professional organizations and volunteer organizations if you can make a 5 minute announcement at their next meeting and pass out a personalized pledge form. 4) Collection Jar: Place a collection jar with a personalized label on your desk and in common break areas for "impulse" donations. 5) Dinner Party: Gather an assortment of tantalizing items and invite your foodie friends and family over for a special dinner party for $20 per person (try to get the food donated). 6) 50/50 Opportunity Drawing: Hold a 50/50 opportunity drawing for certain time periods: a week, two weeks or a month. Half the money goes to the 2012 NAMI Walks, and the other half goes to the winner of the drawing. 7) Dress Down Days at work: Ask management if you can have a Dress Down Day at work to benefit your team. Charge people $5 to wear jeans to work on Fridays or any other specified day. This is a quick and easy way to raise big bucks. 8) Karaoke Night: Sell tickets for an evening of not-quite "professional" singing at a local bar or at home. Get people to donate money to stop their friends from singing or have a singing contest. Charge an entry fee and have proceeds from the ticket sales go to your team fundraising goal. 9) Have FUN in your Fundraising. Use your Creativity!!! Walk Volunteers Needed! Before the Walk Help Day of Walk get food and refreshments (coffee, bottled water, juice boxes, sports drinks, bagels, donuts, snack foods, fruit, etc.) donated for the Walk Set up the Walk site Help recruit companies or Serve refreshments businesses in the community to sponsor the Walk by making a cash donation or donating goods or services in support of the event Help get other people and businesses that you know or have connections with involved Assist with parking & traffic control Register walkers Hand out event t-shirts Break down the Walk site Clean up at the end of the Walk Bring your camera – send us your pictures for our Facebook page & website Walk Committee Won't you join us for our next volunteer meeting for our NAMIWalk? Our meetings are held via conference call on Mondays @ 6:30 p.m. To join the meetings, please call (605) 715-4920 and enter pass code 433011#. MEETING SCHEDULE th March 12 th March 26 nd April 2 th April 9 rd April 23 Contact Tracy Lutz @ (407) 253-1900 or [email protected] to volunteer! NAMI GREATER ORLANDO IS PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE NEW PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTERS: La Amistad BHS Helen Booth, Lakewood Center 5 43 PASS THIS FLYER ON to Friends, Colleagues, Your Church, or Your Zumba Class!!! 6 Win a 7-Night Stay at Starwood Vacations Ownership Resort! Ticket Price: $15.00 Minimum Prize Value: $3,000 to Benefit NAMI Greater Orlando Prize can be redeemed at the below Starwood Vacation Ownership Resort: Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun, Mexico (1-bedroom premium villa) All villas feature full kitchens. The vacation is valid through April 28, 2013. It is based on availability, and holiday periods are excluded. The winner must travel on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Drawing will be held at the NAMIGO Summer Quarterly Meeting at Beardall Senior Center, 800 South Delaney Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 on Monday, June 11, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. Winner need not be present to win. =================================== cut here=================================== Please return completed form with payment to: NAMI Greater Orlando, 1800 Mercy Drive, Suite 300, Mailbox 4, Orlando, FL 32808 Name _______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ Phone ______________________________________________________ Email ______________________________________________________ Number of Tickets ________________ X $15.00 each Amount Enclosed _________________ PASS THIS FLYER ON to Friends, Colleagues, Your Church, or Your Zumba Class!!! 7 Community Partnership Our own Lt. Deanne Adams was honored as Central Florida CIT Officer of the Decade at the Central Florida Crisis Intervention Team Annual Appreciation Breakfast on Friday, February 3rd. Mental health advocate and journalist Pete Earley was the keynote speaker. Chief Paul Rooney of OPD provided the closing remarks and Matt Shenk performed his song, "A Little More". Florida's Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a state-wide police response program designed for first responders who handle crisis calls involving people with mental illness including those with co-occurring substance use disorders. It emphasizes the partnership between law enforcement, mental health providers and advocacy groups, and consumers and their families. To learn more about CIT, please visit the Florida CIT webpage. Pete Earley, author of Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness, appeared on FlashPOINT on Sunday, February 12th with WKMG's Lauren Rowe, NAMIGO President Rosemary Steinbach, and Orange County Correction's Chief Tidwell. Did you know that Orange County's mental health diversion program, the Central Receiving Center, has saved law enforcement $2.2M over seven years as a result of reducing or eliminating the time law enforcement must spend with each person at an emergency room? That's the equivalent of 45 positions! If you require police assistance involving a person with mental illness, be sure to request a CITtrained officer. We are blessed to have this service available in the Central Florida area. CIT Officer of the Decade Lt. Deanne Adams with Oakland Police Officer Steve Valente, Winter Garden Police Sergeant Scott Allen, and Nelson Kull, Executive Director/Founder of Pathways Drop-In Center. (OCCD Photo by Mike Davies) Legislative Advocacy: We Did It! If you require police assistance involving a person with mental The last several weeks have been a illness, be sure to request a CITcrucial period for mental health trained officer. We are blessed to policy in the Florida State have this service available in Legislature. With dwindling the Central Florida area. resources for mental health care at stake, mental health advocates descended upon Tallahassee for Behavioral Health Day. The 6th Annual Behavioral Health Day was held on February 16th during the Legislative Session to educate Florida's legislators and policy leaders about the behavioral healthcare programs available to Floridians. Behavioral Health Day was sponsored by Florida Council for Community Mental Health (FCCMH), Disability Rights Florida, FADAA, Florida Partners in Crisis, the Florida Psychiatric Society, the Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition and NAMI Florida. It included a "Rally at the Capitol" in the Capitol Courtyard. Executive Director Joe Mendoza joined Orlando leaders from the Mental Health Association of Central Florida and Pathways Drop-In Center in saying "NO CUTS" to mental health and substance abuse spending. Tallahassee. Only relatively minor cuts to mental health and substance abuse services were approved through vigorous negotiations between the state House and Senate committees. On the local front, our Honorary Walk Chair, Dick Batchelor, and Joe Mendoza authored, "My Word: Suffering in the Darkness of Budget Cuts" in the Orlando Sentinel. To read a copy of the article, just visit our home page at www.namigo.org. We asked our membership to send a clear message of "NO CUTS" to mental health and substance abuse spending and you responded! Indeed, your voice was heard in Joe Mendoza with Candy Crawford, Rep. Scott Plakon, Karen Rogers, and Patricia Adams. 8 What is this Recovery Thing Anyway? The word "recovery" crops up a lot in mental health circles. Recovery is most often used in the realm of addiction treatment. But what does it really mean to those of us living with serious mental illness? An expert panel convened by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created The National Consensus Statement on Mental Health and Recovery. The panel defined the key elements of recovery as the following: 1) Self-direction: Essentially, a person with a mental health condition leads the process of recovery by defining life goals and then designing a unique path toward those goals. 2) Individualized and personcentered: The pathway to mental health recovery is based on a person’s unique strengths, needs, preferences, experience, and cultural background. 3) Empowerment: People with a mental health condition have the authority to choose from a range of options and to participate in all decisions that will affect their lives. They also have the ability to join with others to speak as advocates for their needs, wants, and desires. Through empowerment, they control their own destiny. 4) Holistic: Mental health recovery comprises mind, body, spirit, and community. It encompasses all aspects of a person’s life such as employment, education, mental health, addiction treatment, spirituality, creativity, social network, and family support. 5) Nonlinear: Mental health recovery is an organic process that is based on growth, occasional setbacks, and learning from experience. The initial stage of recovery is awareness that positive change is possible, and from there, being able to take an active role in the recovery journey. 6) Strengths-based: The mental health recovery journey builds on a person’s strengths and talents, and moves forward through interactions with others in supportive, trust-based relationships. 7) Peer support: Mutual support plays a key role in recovery. People with mental health conditions can encourage each other, share experiences and provide each other with a sense of belonging and community. 8) Respect: Acceptance and appreciation of people living with mental health conditions — including protecting their personal rights and eliminat- ing discrimination and stigma. Self-acceptance and selfconfidence also are vital. 9) Responsibility: Individuals have a personal responsibility for self-care, and their recovery journey. Working toward goals can require great courage. Identifying coping strategies and healing processes can promote wellness. 10) Hope: Recovery is a message of hope and understanding that people do overcome the barriers and obstacles that confront them. Peers, friends, and family can help to foster that hope. Hope is what can get the recovery process started. This article is the beginning of a series on recovery. - What it means - How to work toward it - How to maintain it. What is the language of recovery? For some useful tools & insights, visit the following websites: Choices in Recovery Mental Health America 9 NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US The NAMIGO Consumer Council is the perfect forum for consumers to get more deeply involved with NAMIGO activities. Traditional activities include holiday parties, the Consumer Picnic, advocacy and outreach, and NAMIWalks. All consumers are welcome to the meetings which are held on the 4th Monday of each month (except July and December) @ 6 p.m. at the Marks St. Senior Center. For more information, contact Linda Perez Del Rocco @ (407) 854-6050. MEETING SCHEDULE th March 26 rd April 23 th May 28 th June 25 th August 27 th September 24 nd October 22 th November 26 NEW CONNECTION GROUP! This support group is for consumers or peers individuals who live with mental illness. When: Wednesdays Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Sedona Clubhouse 3950 North Highway 17-92, Suite 1026 Lake Mary, FL 32746 Bus line #103 This map is a close approximation of Sedona House, which is next to Spirit of Truth Ministries. For more directions, please call Sedona House #: (407) 321-7015 CALLING ALL CONSUMER VOLUNTEERS! The NAMI Florida Consumer Council is welcoming new members! Anyone with a mental health diagnosis is encouraged to join and membership is free. Make new friends & contacts with consumers from around the state of Florida. The Consumer Council is great way for you to have your voice heard by the NAMI Florida Board of Directors. Beginning in April, NAMI Florida will be offering monthly education and information calls. Watch for announcements regarding the time Please contact Carol Weber if you would like to join. She can be reached at (850) 671-4445 or [email protected]. PARKING & TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NEEDED! Consumer volunteers are needed to help with parking and traffic control at the upcoming NAMIWalks on Saturday, April 28th at Lake Lily Park in Maitland. If you have enjoyed bowling, movies, or other Consumer Activities in the past, this is your chance to "give back" to NAMI Greater Orlando! Parking during the Walk is one of the traditional responsibilities of the Consumer Council and we will not be successful without your help! 6 Two shifts are needed: 7 AM to 8 AM and 8 AM to 9 AM! You can sign up to be a Parking Volunteer by calling Linda Perez Del Rocco at (407) 854-6050. One lucky Parking Volunteer will win a $10 Publix Gift Card on the day of the walk, but you must complete your shift to be eligible to win! For more details on NAMIGO's events and meetings, visit our website @ www.namigo.org or call (407) 253-1900! 10 The 14th Annual Family Café MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID The Family Café is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to coordinate family networking around mental and behavioral health in Florida. Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that helps the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The Family Café is pleased to announce that The 14th Annual Family Café is being held in Orlando! The Annual Family Café provides a venue where individuals with all types of disabilities and their families from all regions of Florida can gather information about available services and how to best access them. It offers families access to policymaking officials, opportunities to find support by networking with other families, and exposure to a range of public and private resources on a grand scale. Register at http://www.familycafe.net/ When: June 15th through June 17th Location: Hilton Orlando 6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819 Toll Free: (888) 309-CAFE NAMI's Ask the Doctor teleconference is a monthly series hosted by NAMI's Medical Director, Dr. Ken Duckworth. Typically, Dr. Duckworth is joined by another mental health professional or advocate who in turn presents on a topic in his or her area of expertise. Each month, two such calls are hosted; one focuses on adult issues, the other on child and adolescent issues. To access these calls, dial 1 (888) 858-6021 and enter pass code 309918#. These calls are always held at 11 a.m. E.T. on scheduled dates unless otherwise noted. The Ask the Doctor schedule and previously recorded podcasts can be found at www.nami.org/askthedoctor. Mental Health First Aid is offered in the form of an interactive 12-hour course that presents an overview of mental illness and substance use disorders in the U.S. and introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. When: June 26th – 27th Where: IKEA - Orlando @ The Mall at Millenia Contact: Marie Dudek @ 352-978-6081 or [email protected] Website: www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org SIMPLE STEPS: SPREADING THE WORD… SHARING THE HOPE Talk about your experience with NAMIGO with your faith organization leaders or friends Print out/e-mail our brochure and give it to your health care providers. You may download our brochure on our website's home page. Volunteer at a health fair Walk with us at our NAMIWalks event on Saturday, April 28th Post one of our NAMIWalks flyers at your local coffee shop or community center (with permission, of course). You may download a flyer on our NAMIWalks tab on our website. Like us on Facebook and invite your friends to our NAMIWalks event found on our page Share this weekly newsletter by clicking on one of the social media icons at the top of this e-mail. Need assistance? Contact us @ (407) 253-1900 or [email protected]. Thank you for your support! For more details on NAMIGO's events and meetings, visit our website @ www.namigo.org or call (407) 253-1900! 11 Activities NAMIGO Support Groups Consumer Support Groups & Family Support Groups When: Tuesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Where: Asbury United Methodist Church, 220 West Horatio Ave., Maitland Room 14 (Consumer) Room 15 (Family) When: 2nd Thursday of each month @ 6:30 p.m. (Consumers) When: 2nd Thursday of each month @ 6:30 p.m. (Family) Where: La Amistad Behavioral Health Services, 1600 Dodd Road, Winter Park When: 2nd Tuesday of each month @ 6:30 p.m. Where: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd., Bldg. B, Orlando Rm. 201 (Consumer) Room 202 (Family) When: Wednesdays @ 5:30 p.m. Where: Sedona House, 3950 N. Hwy. 17-92, Suite 1026, Lake Mary (Consumer) (407) 321-7015 NAMI Conexión (in Spanish / en Español) When: Tuesdays @ 6:30 p.m. Where: Engelwood Community Ctr., 6123 La Costa Drive, Orlando Other Support Groups Orlando Bipolar Support http://www.meetup.com/OrlandoBipolar-Support/ People, Inc. ~ The Mental Health Association’s support group for anyone living with a mental illness. When: Mondays @ 2:00 p.m. (English); Wednesdays @ 2:00 p.m. (en Español) – call to confirm day of. Where: 1525 Robinson St., Orlando Contact: MHA Office at (407) 8980110 Suicide Anonymous Online ~ A 12-step program provided in an online environment designed to help people with suicidal preoccupation and behavior Subscribe at: [email protected] Bowling is held every Thursday at Aloma Lanes in Winter Park @ 2:00 p.m. Call Rick Scott at (407) 929-1527 for further details. Craft Group enjoys making arts and craft projects together, such as quilting, scrapbooking and designing jewelry. It meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month @ 11:00 a.m. Call Christina Mollick at (407) 937-8049 for further details. Consumer Council is a consumer advisory board that meets the 4th Monday of each month @ 6:00 p.m. For more details, please contact Linda Perez Del Rocco @ [email protected]. Consumer Lunch & Movies takes place the 1st Tuesday of each month. The group meets @ 11:00 a.m. in front of Subway at the Altamonte Mall food court for lunch before enjoying the movies. E-mail Jonathan Lee @ [email protected] for information on the next outing. Lunch Bunch is a social group for consumers and family members that meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Smokey Bones in Casselberry @ 11:30 a.m. Call the NAMIGO Office at (407) 253-1900 for further details. Second Harvest is a community service group that meets the 1st Friday of each month. Consumer participants enjoy a lunch and are paid for their time. Call Pat Purcell at (407) 875-3758 if you are interested in helping others. This issue’s title “Blossom by Blossom the Spring Begins” is quoted from Swinburne’s Atalanta in Calydon. Recovery: What's it mean to you? by Tracy Lutz When I read (and I read a lot) articles and websites about mental illness, they're often written by providers, caregivers, experts and healthcare policy wonks. Don't mistake me - I'm thankful that folks are addressing the issues around mental illness and advocating for us. But what truly speaks to me is that authentic voice of a kindred spirit who hopes to “simply” get out of bed today - who knows the quickening of the mind during mania - who feels gratitude for simple things… like being able to enjoy the sun on your face. During her lecture at Rollins in January, Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison spoke of teaching her students that most haunting internal narrative of the consumer: When will it happen again? I know this question. I see it lived out in me and in my peers. For those of us who live with mental illness, we must become the heroes of our own lives. There is a monomyth called "The Hero's Journey" that pervades movies, literature, and art (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings). It is a journey of struggle, trials, transformation, and a new freedom to live. For me, recovery is a restoration of my best self and, hopefully, a return to grace. I want to hear from you, my travel companions, what recovery means to you and how you navigate that journey. After all, "The Hero's Journey" is not successful without asking for and accepting help from others. Please e-mail me your ideas about recovery @ [email protected] so we can share your wisdom in this newsletter. If you wish, your thoughts may remain anonymous. 12 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID ORLANDO, FL PERMIT NO. 4049 NAMI Greater Orlando 1800 Mercy Drive Suite 300, Mailbox 4 Orlando, FL 32808 (407) 253-1900 www.namigo.org Central Florida’s Voice on Mental Illness Get your walkin’ boots ready! NAMIGO Membership Form All donations, contributions, and membership monies are used to continue the support of our programs and services for those living with mental illness and their families in Central Florida. NAMI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Individual Membership in NAMI $35.00 Professional Supporter w/NAMI Membership $100.00 Check here to be recognized in the Beacon Newsletter FINANCIAL HARDSHIP LEVELS Open Door One – Full Membership $3.00 Open Door Two – Unable to pay dues FREE at this time (placed on mailing list) New Membership Donation to NAMI Renewal $ ______________ Name _______________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Address _____________________________________ E-mail ________________________________ ___________________________________________________
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