SPRING 2015, ISSUE NO. 1
The White Picket Fence is now accepting submissions for our Summer issue. Please submit your stories, poems, pic-tures and other works of self-expression to:
chrinirio@namipbc.org.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
PEER COUNCIL CORNER
WITHM
ICHAELG
ARDENGARAGE SALE—The Council is planning a “Gather Your Goods” Garage Sale on May 16, 8:30 am-1:00 pm at the NAMI office, 1520 10th Avenue, N, Lake Worth. Proceeds will also bene-fit the Peer Council’s activities. Contact Michael at 561-588-3477 for more info.
CAR WASH
On March 14, the NAMI PBC Peer Council held its first car wash in Lake Worth. Peer Coun-cil President, Michael Garden, initiated this prof-itable event to raise funds for the multitude of activities sponsored by the Council. Many cars were washed, everyone worked hard, and we all had a lot of fun! Check out our YouTube video at: tinyurl.com/namipbcvideos
Friday, April 24th at 4:30 pm
NAMI PBC office, 1520 10th Avenue North, Suite D, Lake Worth, 33460
Bingo, pizza and refreshments will be served
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Ages 18-35
1st three Fridays of the Month 6:00 pm-7:30pm
NAMI PBC Office 1520 10th Ave., N, Suite D
Lake Worth, FL 33460
Young Adults Group
For more info contact Peter at 561-588-3477
YOU CAN HELP US!
NAMI Palm Beach County is thrilled to par-ticipate in the GREAT GIVE PBC, a 24-hour online giving event. Led by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and United Way of Palm Beach County, the GREAT GIVE is designed to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits in a single day.
Every donation NAMI Palm Beach County
receives from 5:00 pm May 5 to 5:00 pm May 6 will be multiplied with bonus dollars from a local pool.
IT’S SO SIMPLE: Even the minimum donation
of $10 will make a difference! Tell YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Keep an eye out for events and more information.
Lake Worth (NAMI Office)
1520 10th Avenue N, Suite D Lake Worth, FL 33460
Saturdays 6:00-7:30pm
Delray Beach (Toole Building So. County Mental Health Center)
16158 S Military Trail, Delray Beach, FL 33484 Mondays 1:45-2:45pm &
Wednesdays 10:15-11:30am
Jupiter (Southeast Behavioral Health Net-work)
140 Intracoastal Pointe Dr., Suite 208, Jupiter, FL 33477
Wednesdays 5:30-7:00pm
Hypoluxo (Amigos Group — Jeff Indus-tries)
111 E Coast Avenue, Hypoluxo, FL 33462 Tuesdays 6:30-8:00pm
NAMI Connection Recovery
Support Groups
West Palm Beach (NAMI Office)
5205 Greenwood Ave, Ste 110, West Palm Bch, FL 33407 Grades 7-8: Tuesdays 5:30-6:30pm
Grades 9-12: Tuesdays 6:30-7:30pm Lake Worth
6801 Lake Worth Road, Suite 101, Lake Worth, FL 33467 Grades 7-8: Thursdays 5:30-6:30pm
Grades 9-12: Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Jupiter
50 South US Highway 1, Suite 309, Jupiter, FL 33477 Grades 7-8: Mondays 5:30-6:30pm
Grades 9-12: Mondays 6:30-7:30pm Boca Raton *NEW
800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486 Grades 7-8: Tuesdays 5:30-6:30pm Grades 9-12: Tuesday 6:30-7:30pm
NAMI/PBC Adolescent Support Groups
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A FAIR MAIDEN
There once was a maiden of a place who
ruled time and space.
She lived in a castle near the sea waiting
for me to be free.
When I get to her, I already know by the
way she wears her clothes, it’s time to dance
the night away until the next day.
Her looks are flawless as can be while she
waits and waits for me.
I will come someday maybe in the month
of May.
Until then take this kiss to forever hold
even when you are old; never giving it away
or letting it go astray, because I only want the
girl with the golden hair for she is fair.
-Perry Schwartz
EVERYDAY AYURVEDA
By Gia SweeneyNo wonder Ayurveda struck a chord with me from the moment I walked into my first workshop. This sacred healing system, dating back thousands of years has found its way into my life and continues to grow each day.
Ayurveda, known as the living science of life, Teaches us to respond to the stress of everyday life. Ayurveda treats the whole person, not the symptom(s).
For me, Ayurveda has given me the gift of becoming "myself." It makes room for any Western medical treatments I may need along with a holistic approach. It meets me where I am, which is another reason why I feel so drawn to this practice.
In closing, I feel so grateful to have been introduced to this healing sys-tem, and I am blessed to have such inspiring teachers.
Thanks for letting me share. Om, om, om.
Gia facilitates Yoga sessions for
NAMI PBC’s Peer Council
Think your Drink and Eat for Health — We will discover together how to make the most helpful healthful choices when choosing beverages and snacks.
Presented by
Marilyn Ricci, M.S., R.D.N., NAMI National 2nd Vice President
Two Presentation Offerings:
RSVP Required 561-588-3477
April 7, 2015
3:30-5:00 pm Or West Palm Beach
April 21, 2015
3:30-5:00 pm Lake Worth
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BOB, THE RECYCLER
Meet Bob, our Executive Director, Liz
Downey’s dog. Bob is 10 years old and is a
Aus-tralian Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix. He is 92
lbs. and a very lovable guy. “As you can see, Bob
didn’t start out so big. He used to fit in my hand,”
says Liz.
Bob has many tricks, but the best trick of all is
his ability to recycle. Many years ago, Peter, Liz’s
son, taught Bob to recycle for a video he was
mak-ing for Earth Day. You can still view the video on
You Tube
—
just search for:
Bob the Recycler Earth Day 2010
Pet Profiles
Send us a story about your pet/s with
some pix. We will feature you and your
furry friends in our Summer issue.
info@namipbc.org
JACKIE’S BEDSIDE MANNER
I was recently sick for three days. Astound-ingly, my dog, Jackie, laid right there at the foot of my bed. She knew in a remarkable way that I didn’t feel well. Yet, on a larger scale, in an in-credible way, she makes me feel well.
She has such a receptive nature and is great with other people and dogs of all types. Her in-tuition is astounding at times. She sits, is an ac-complished fetcher and a great traveling com-panion.
Dogs have become quite a topic of dogalogue
in our society, from man’s best friend, to rescue, to service; they provide quite a purpose.
Through NAMI I’ve come to know many peers with pets of all kinds and realize what a differ-ence their relationships make in our lives
.
-
Michael GardenOn March 23, six of our members took a road trip up to Tallahassee for NAMI’s Advocacy Day—
Rally In Tally.
On March 24, our Palm Beach County delega-tion was afforded an opportunity to address the House Subcommittee on Mental Health and Sub-stance Abuse at the Capitol in Tallahassee. Each one of us was called to the podium to speak. They knew NAMI was in the House.
After leaving the room, the NAMI PBC dele-gation was greeted with applause and many came up to congratulate us on a job well done. It was a great start of our day!
We urge you to join NAMI PBC’s Public Af-fairs Committee. Next year we hope you will join us to be a part of this important advocacy.
Page 5
VOLUNTEER SERVICE
By Michael Garden
NAMI Connection Recovery Support Groups are free, 90-minute, weekly structured support groups. When I first got involved with NAMI I became a regular NAMI PBC peer member participant for over a year at our NAMI Connection Recovery Sup-port Group in Lake Worth.
One of the co-facilitators offered me the oppor-tunity to become a certified facilitator. After com-pleting the NAMI Florida facilitator training, I co-facilitated the NAMI Connection group in Lake Worth for over a year.
Becoming a NAMI Connection facilitator has giv-en me mgiv-ental strgiv-ength, structure and also frigiv-end- friend-ships. Each week peers gather together to share, open up, listen, or just attend to be a part. Through-out the year, we gather, as some would say,
“regulars,” some “newcomers,” and some “drop-ins” as anyone with diagnosis is welcomed.
In these solution-oriented meetings, we share our unique experience as well as similar symptoms, challenges and accomplishments. There is encour-agement and motivation to attend and to remember, “We never give up hope!”
NAMI PALM BEACH COUNTY SPEAKS OUT
AT
NAMI’S RALLY IN TALLY
PBC Delegation from left: Peter Davey, Carmen Palacios, Donna Estess, Marsha Martino, Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, Liz Downey and Victoria Witt.
advocacy
PEER-TO-PEER GRADUATION
Become one of our NAMI Peer-to-Peer Alumni. Get signed up, get educated, and get involved! Call Lynsey at 561-588-3477 to get on the wait list
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
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WEST PALM BEACH, FL PERMIT NO. 1327
National Alliance on Mental Illness of Palm Beach County 5205 Greenwood Avenue, Suite 110
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Or Current Resident
Members are NAMI/PBC’s
lifeblood; your membership
helps us continue to provide
free outreach, support &
edu-cation. In bringing mental
health issues to wider
atten-tion, we advocate for better
treatment. As our membership
base grows, our voice becomes
stronger.
Respect, Compassion
& Hope … NAMI Works!
MEMBERSHIP: Regular $35 Open Door $3SPONSORSHIP: Family $55 Professional $65 Corporate $250
Pay online through our secure PayPal at: namipbc.org
NAMI Membership exists at 3 levels: Affiliate, State & National. NAMI is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit, charitable organization—contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Together, we can continue to fight for all those affected by mental illness. PLEASE NOTE: In order for NAMI/PBC to receive your full donation, please send your donation to the NAMI/
PBC office. Thank you!
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