Action Group meeting November 2011

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A lot of people attended the NLCMHA Recovery Action Group yesterday and we had a great discussion! We brainstormed about the purpose of our group in the coming year and all the things that people can DO to become involved. The group identified three regular agenda items:

  1. Sharing – The Action Group is a great place to share what the local network groups are working on so we can share resources, expertise, ideas. We want to make sure we always allow time for us to share what is going on in each of the offices.
  2. Requests and Input – The Action Group is also a great place to present ideas about what people want to see developed at Northern Lakes CMH, such as support groups, information for the lobby flat screen monitors, topics for future mini-conferences, etc. It’s also a great place for Northern Lakes CMH to get input on recovery transformation projects to make sure we are on track with what consumers want to see happen.
  3. Volunteer opportunities – The Action Group is also a great place to communicate about the help that is needed for upcoming projects and events, so people can get involved in areas of interest. The Action Group can be a “clearinghouse” for ways to get involved!

As Certified Peer Support Specialist Ernie Reynolds always says, consumers can do a lot if just asked! Here’s a list of items we brainstormed about things consumers can help with – and the Action Group can be the place to get connected:

Participation on standing/official NLCMHA committees • Speaker Bureau (at community presentations, movie nights, etc.) • Photobiography coaches • Photobiography point people (to rotate displays in each office) • Conference/Celebration pre-planning • Day of Event assistance  (meet/greet/registration check in, etc.) • Lobby Flat Screen Monitors (advisors and new content ideas) • Movie reviewers • Consumer Navigators • Communicators • Mystery Shoppers • Building volunteers database • Advocacy (calls, letters and emails sharing consumer perspective with policymakers) • Stigma Busters (to keep an eye out nationally and locally on behalf of the group) • Writers • Poets • Artists • Knitters • Help making a volunteer training manual • Participation on community committees • Fundraising • Grant writing

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, December 13, 2011 from 10:00 to noon by videoconference in Traverse City, Houghton Lake, and Cadillac. Consumers and staff welcome!