President’s Message for October
We are very busy with our support and outreach programs this fall! Our affiliate has two Family-to-Family classes open for registration with start dates in October. Our “Stand Up to Stigma” Scarecrow Contest is up and running with the Jack-O’-Lantern “Glow By” extravaganza set for the end of the month. We are interacting with the public through our Community Outreach Information tables at Bedford Day and Maynard Fest. Thanks to those who volunteered to serve as table greeters. As always, our Family Support groups continue to meet, still online for now.
Our work with the Community Benefits department at Emerson Health in Concord continues. Behavioral healthcare staff are sharing NAMI Central Middlesex sponsored resource lists with their inpatient clients. These focus on no-fee services from a variety of mental health support organizations. The flyers were recently given a graphics tune-up and updated with new information, for instance the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. New flyers for Veterans and New Parents are now part of the series that includes Adult Peer Support, Crisis Help & Information, Family Support, Child Youth & Family Support, Substance Use Support, Criminal Justice Involved, and Locating Mental Health Providers. These are available to the public on the Outreach page of our Central Middlesex website or on the Emerson Hospital website: emersonhospital.org/clinical-services/behavioral-health/behavioral-health-resources.
Thank you to member Tammy Courville for volunteering to take on the role of Membership Coordinator. Her background in data management makes her exceedingly qualified to watch over our membership lists. Our board members offer their appreciation to outgoing Membership Coordinator Elaine Gleason who served on the board for multiple years and did a thorough and kind job watching over our members. Thanks, Elaine, for staying on for a few months to help with the transition.
As a non-profit business is still a business, we are also looking for some new faces to lend their business expertise to our affiliate efforts. We are gathering a Finance Committee to work on budget development, financial reporting, 501C3 adherence, taxes, and consideration of financial support of other worthy behavioral health efforts within our affiliate area. If you have a head for figures and details or a background in business or finance, your skills could be an important part of supporting our mission. This committee will meet with our esteemed Treasurer, Jennie Payne, a few times per year.
This month’s article about a potential Family Support Group for those supporting someone with anosognosia, a term for the lack of insight into symptoms, outlines an opportunity for a facilitator. Do you have interest in helping to build this effort?
Fall is also the time of year when we search for new members for our affiliate board in anticipation of welcoming them at our annual meeting in January. With this position you need not have a distinct plan in mind for your role within the group, just the desire to participate and make a difference. Small and larger tasks arise throughout the year, and you can jump on whatever opportunity suits you. Our group of empathetic and energetic individuals meet in the evening via Zoom on the second Monday of the month.
Please send a note about your thoughts on becoming an active volunteer to nami.cmsx@gmail.com. I’ll be the one reading your email and look forward to hearing from you.
Lastly, we fondly remember Don McKendry, a long-time member who previously served on the NAMI Central Middlesex board and was the affiliate treasurer in 2012. Don will be sorely missed by his children, grandchildren, and wife Judy who has been a tireless contributor to our board and our many activities.
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It touches me how consistently our affiliate reaches out to our communities and maintains our support programs. Thank you all for participating in and supporting our many efforts. ~Lori