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IMPORTANT DATES:

April 1, 2015, 7-8:30pm Family

Support Group

April 7, 2015, 4-5:30pm, Board

Meeting

April 8-June 24, 2015, 6:30-

8:30pm, Family to Family Class

April 10-May 15, 2015, 6-

8:30pm, Basics Class

April 14, 6:30-8:30pm Education

Meeting

April 17-June 19, 2015. 10am-

NOON, Peer to Peer

April, 2015

Inside this issue:

Board of Directors

President’s Corner

2

Classes and Support

Groups Schedules

3

Education Meeting 4

Did You Know?

Thank you

5

Bylaws

Congratulations

6

Library

NAMI Walks

7

Contact Us

Support Groups

8

Volume 1, Issue 6

WHAT HELPS WHAT HURTS

When you want to give up, tell your-

self you will hold on for just one

more day, hour, minute-whatever you

can manage.

Look on the bright side.

You are important to me. Your life is

important to me.

You have so much to live for-why do

you want to die?

IT TAKES A VILLAGE with a strong foundation and caring, determined leaders to reach out to individuals and families living with mental illness. YAMI (Yakima Alliance for the Mentally Ill) built that foundation and was chartered in 1981. We are so grateful to Wilmetta “Billie” Saldin and all the other caring family members who have actively participated over the years. The majority of these dedicated individuals have been parents who were

desperately looking for support for themselves and in doing so reached out to others who also needed support. We were a grassroots support group who listened to each other’s pain and frustration and were support for one another. We were all volunteers who, in order to provide a news bulletin and later Family to Family education, saved newspapers, recycled pop cans, manned rest stop coffee stands, yard sales, baked good sales and anything we could think of to raise money. We had vendor tables at every appropriate conference or convention. Many volunteer hours were accumulated. As time went by NAMI Yakima membership grew to over two hundred members. We were able to offer several support groups when United Way became aware of how many families were in need and how many lives we touched. Unfortunately, for a few years our leadership took a turn from our grass roots foundation. We lost contact with many of you. YOU ARE THE FAMILIES IN OUR VILLAGE. We need your membership donations. We need you to volunteer. We need you on our Board. The current office staff has done a great job in rebuilding NAMI Yakima. They are offering several support groups and reaching out to those in need. They cannot do it by themselves. They need you! Please call the office at 453-8229. We still care! June & Ted Cummings

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The year is rushing by and some big strides have

been made in the legislation, view the latest

information at the Washington NAMI website

http://www.namiwa.org/ . As members of NAMI

Yakima you will be called on in the coming year

to govern your local affiliate. What does it mean

to govern an affiliate?

Well, much like we elect representatives to

represent the people of Washington, NAMI

Yakima members have elected a Board of

Directors. Your membership gives you voting power at our annual

organizational meetings and the authority to nominate. Board

members are nominated from the body of NAMI Yakima’s

membership.

In the coming months you will be asked to exercise your authority

by nominating candidates, which could be yourself, to the board

and showing up at the annual meeting in September to vote.

Your membership role is vital to the power and strength of your

NAMI Yakima and its impact on our community. Without you, the

power is subject to misuse and abuses that can often times leave an

organization in ashes.

If you are unsure what a good candidate for the Board of Directors

might look like, take a look at page 6 to see the NAMI Yakima

Bylaw definitions of the positions available.

As the President of the current Board of Directors it is my duty to

select what is called a nominating committee. You may have

recently received a call from June Cummings, a very long time

member, requesting your participation. If you have received this

call from June, or have not, I request that you consider being a part

of this committee, please contact the NAMI Yakima office (509)

453-8229 and express your interest to either Kellie Crabb or

Deanna Roy, two of the most awesome volunteers of our

organization.

Thank you for your ongoing membership with NAMI Yakima.

Please remember to share with others, that may face some similar

challenges with mental health, that NAMI Yakima is here for them

regardless of membership.

~Lorna Gifford, Board President

NAMI-YAKIMA NEWSLETTER

Board of Directors President

Lorna Gifford

Secretary

Deanna Roy

Treasurer

Kellie Crabb

At Large Members

Annie Bringloe

LaDonna Gifford

Linda Ovall

Erin Wilson

Board meetings are held

the FIRST TUESDAY of

each month at 4pm, at our

NAMI office.

If you are interested in

attending a board

meeting, please join us.

Next Board Meeting:

*Tuesday, April 7, 2015

4:00-5:30pm

*Tuesday, May 5, 2015

4:00-5:30pm

President’s

Corner

If you are interested in

becoming trained in any of

the NAMI Signature

Programs, please call the

office 453-8229 for details

on: Family to Family,

Connection, Basics, or Peer

to Peer. Training spots are

limited so applying early is

essential.

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NAMI-Yakima, 402 South 4th Avenue, Yakima (509) 453-8229

info@namiyakima.org www.namiyakima.org

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm

April 8-June 24, 2015 Register TODAY to save your spot

Educational course for family,

caregivers, and friends of individuals

living with mental illness.

NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness,

the nation’s largest grassroots mental health

organization dedicated to building better lives

for the millions of Americans affected by mental

illness.

Fridays, April 10-May 15

6:00pm-8:30pm

Educational program for parents and

caregivers of children and adolescents

living with mental illnesses. It covers

the fundamentals of caring for

yourself, for your family and for

your child. Register today to save

your spot!

FREE

Every Wednesday, 7-8:30pm, drop in

Peer to Peer Recovery Support Group is

for those affected with mental illness.

CW Comprehensive Mental Health

402 South 4th Avenue, Entrance #2

Every Wednesday, 7-8:30pm, drop in

Support for friends and family of people

living with mental illness.

CW Comprehensive Mental Health

402 South 4th Avenue, Entrance #2

Starting April 1st

Fridays, 10:00am-Noon

April 17-June 19, 2015 Register TODAY to save your spot Recovery-focused educational

program for adults to establish and

maintain wellness in response to

mental health challenges. The course

provides critical information and

strategies related to living with mental

illness.

FREE

Suicide Support

Group

First Mondays 5:00-6:30pm

Third Wednesdays 12:00-1:30pm

Support for friends, family, and

survivors of suicide. Wellness House

210 South 11th Avenue, Suite 40

Starting March 2nd

FREE

Basics

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NAMI Yakima is dedicated to building better lives for the

people in our community affected by mental illness. NAMI

advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and

research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness

and build a community of hope for all of those in need.

2015 Education Meeting Schedule Tuesday Speaker Topic Description

April 14 6:30-

8:30pm

Paul Nagle-McNaughton, Vice President at Comprehensive Mental Health. He has been with the organization for 16 years, Community Education is one of his duties as Vice

LEAP: Listen, Empathize,

Agree, Partner

LEAP-Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner: This presentation should give you the tools you need to persuade someone in "denial" about mental illness to accept treatment and/or voluntarily comply with your requests. The basis of the LEAP method is found in the book, "I AM NOT SICK, I Don't Need Help!" by Xavier Amador, Ph.D.. Previously, Dr. Amador was a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons; on the Board of Directors of the NAMI, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; Director of Research at NAMI; and the Director of Psychology at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

May 12 6:30-8:30

Deanna Roy, Board Secretary, IOOV Presenter Annie Bringloe, Board Member, IOOV Presenter

In Our Own Voice

Presentation

Learn about mental illness from two people who have been there. The In Our Own Voice Presentation demonstrates how individuals with severe mental illness experience recovery. Each program presenter has been through training to translate the story of her own struggles and successes.

June 9 6:30-

8:30pm

Terry Archer, Supported Employment Director/CARF Surveyor

Yakima Specialties

Yakima Specialties empowers people with barriers to employment to achieve their highest potential in life and in the workforce. They have been servicing Yakima since 1964 and you have an opportunity to learn more about their endeavors.

All Monthly Education Meetings offered by NAMI Yakima are FREE to

the PUBLIC! Come learn about the efforts in the community to

de-stigmatize mental illness. Join us for refreshments and stimulating

conversation, April 14, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm, in the Auditorium at

CWCMH

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Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 5

NAMI Washington provides governance, advocacy and fundraising support for the 22 NAMI

affiliate offices, large and small, throughout the state. NAMI’s mission is to improve the

quality of life for all those affected by mental illness. We do this by providing a statewide,

unifying voice of advocacy and coordinating the delivery of education, support and recovery.

NAMI Washington trains affiliate volunteers to teach and lead NAMI’s programs in their

community. More information about NAMI Washington and its affiliates and programs can be

found at www.namiwa.org.

For People in

Crisis Call 24

Hours a Day:

*Yakima County

(509)575-4200

*Kittitas County

(509)925-9861 or

(509)925-4168

*Klickitat County

1-800-572-8122

*Veterans

1-800-273-8255

press 1

Did you know it takes the many volunteers to run a

volunteer program? Did you know there are things

you can do to help NAMI Yakima stay focused on our

goal of improving the quality of life for those affected

by mental illness? Did you know NAMI Yakima is

seeking Board Members? Just call the office and let

Deanna know you would like to help out.

Thank you Shar Landon, Erin Wilson, Connie Eizenzimmer, and Kellie Crabb for their contributions of prizes for the Playdate Family Expo. Robyn Johnson and Linda Ovall for a successful Family to Family 2015 Kickoff Class. They graduated 14 people. Ed Thornbrugh, Ken Irwin, Mike Bastinelli (YPD), Sgt. Leary (Granger PD), Detective Sergeant Russell (YSO), and Toppenish Officer Dan Hawkins for taking their personal time to attend our educational event, CIT Stakeholders Meeting. Vicky Gladman for coming in and updating our phone log. Tina Graham, Lynni Serrata, Robyn Johnson, Annie Bringloe, Linda Ovall, Lorna Gifford, Kellie Crabb, and the Playdate Family Expo organizer Deanna Roy.

Did you know that the recruiting efforts of

NAMI Yakima members is paying off? In the

month of March we recruited 4 new members!

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Congratulations to the

newly trained Family

Support Group

Facilitators. Come join

them on Wednesdays,

7:00-8:30pm, Entrance 2

at CWCMH. The Family

Support Group is for friends and family of

people living with mental illness.

Section 7.01. Officers. The officers of the organization shall be a President, a Vice

President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. No person may hold more than one office at a time.

These officers will comprise the Executive Committee of the corporation.

Section 7.02. President. The President provides general supervision of NAMI Yakima

affairs and exercises all powers customarily attendant to that office. The President appoints

member4s of all standing committees, reporting such appointments to the Board of Directors.

The President shall preside at each Board Meeting and annual General Meeting of the

Membership, setting the agendas for both and shall give a report of the Board business to the

General Meeting.

Section 7.03. Vice President. The Vice President will per form the duties of the President

during the President’s absence and will succeed to the Presidency should there arise a vacancy

of the office. The Vice President also shall perform such duties pertinent to the business of the

organization as the President may request.

Section 7.04. Treasurer. The Treasurer is the officer accountable for the distr ibution of

NAMI Yakima funds per instruction from the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall prepare

and present current financial reports at the Board of Directors meetings, and shall prepare such

reports as may be needed to satisfy government requests of the corporation.

Section 7.06. Board Directors. Board Directors assist officers in conducting business.

They are the trustees of organization and have oversight, as well as advisory and visionary,

responsibilities.

NAMI Yakima Bylaws

Article 7—Authority and Duty of Officers

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There are new books in the NAMI-Yakima Office Library.

Come by or call our office at 453-8229 and check out a book

TODAY! Did you know that we will let you keep the book until

you finish reading it? There is no specific return time because we

want you to get the information you need.

1. I Am Not Sick I Don’t Need Help! By Xavier Amador, Ph.D.

2. Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness by Jessie Close

3. A Brilliant Madness: Living With Manic Depressive Illness by Patty Duke

4. Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty Duke by Patty Duke

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Marina Park, Kirkland, WA

Walk with us and help us reach our fundraising goal of $250,000!

Walk with us: Make your own Walk team and invite your friends and family. Make recovery possible: Ask your networks to sponsor you through your Walk page. Pass it on: Share the NAMIWalks Washington page on Facebook and Twitter. Can't walk with us? Volunteer: Email Tom to help out on the day of the event.

Need assistance in setting up your team, or have a Walk-related question? Contact Tom Lane, Walk Manager, at tlane@namiwa.org or(206) 783-4288.

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Every Wednesday

7:00-8:30pm

FREE

Peer to Peer support group for those

affected with mental illness. Location:

Comprehensive Entrance #2

402 South 4th Avenue,

Yakima, WA 98902

402 South 4th Avenue

PO Box 10918

Yakima, WA 98909

Phone: (509)453-8229

E-mail: info@namiyakima.org

NAMI-YAKIMA

We are online!

www.namiyakima.org

Every Wednesday

7:00-8:30pm

FREE

Support for friends and family of people living with mental

illness. Location:

Comprehensive Entrance #2

402 South 4th Avenue,

Yakima, WA 98902

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID YAKIMA, WA

PERMIT NO. 145

We like to call it the NAMI effect. Every time you offer your hand to pick someone up.

Every time you share your strength and ability to persevere.

Every time you offer support and understanding to a family who is caring for a loved one.

You help change lives.

Mental illness affects everyone.

With your help, we can reach more people in need of help and hope.

Hope starts with you.

Supported by

First Mondays,

5:00-6:30pm

Third Wednesdays,

12:00-1:30pm

FREE

Support for friends, family, and survivors of suicide.

Location:

Wellness House

210 South 11th Avenue, Ste. 40

Yakima, WA 98902

Suicide Support Group