NAMI FairfieldSpeaker Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month (except for July and August) from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Eliot Room Library, First Church Congregational, 148 Beach Road, Fairfield, Ct.
They are free of charge and open to the public. Light refreshments are served.
For more information about the NAMI Fairfield Speaker Meetings please call Judy at 203-650-3463.
Below is the current schedule of speakers:
Wednesday, February 1-
3rd Annual Legislative Social
On Wednesday, February 1, NAMI Fairfield in conjunction with the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board, NAMI Stamford Greenwich, and NAMI Connecticut will host the 3rd Annual Legislative Social.
This year we will focus on those programs in lower Fairfield County that are working well to provide essential services to people living with mental illness and their families.
The programs will fall into four categories in alliance with the NAMI CT Legislative Priorities for 2012/13 - Supportive Housing, Young Adult Services, School-based Health Services, and Mental/Medical Community Health Services.
Legislators and chief elected officials from Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Shelton, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton have been invited. There will also be representatives present from lower Fairfield County’s psychiatric hospitals, community service agencies, shelters, Clubhouses, and private non-profit service providers. The goal is for a large number of “constituents” to make an impact on legislators and elected officials.
NAMI Fairfield president Judy Gardner said, “It is important that supporters of this event contact their legislator, and selectman/mayor to stress the importance of their attendance. While they have been “officially” invited, when elected officials hear from their constituents they are much more likely to attend.”
To find your legislator go to www.cga.ct.gov/ and click on “House” or “Senate” and follow the path to “Find Your Legislator”. Or go to www.namifairfield.org, go to the “Speaker Meeting” page and click on the direct link. This is an easy way to send an email or to connect to their website to find a legislator’s phone number. Selectmen and mayors are equally as easy to find by simply going to your town website.
Gardner continued, “When connected with them via email or phone, the message should be short and precise. It is enough to say “I am a constituent and I am hoping to see you at the NAMI Legislative Social on Wednesday, Feb. 1st. It is from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at First Church Congregational on Beach Road in Fairfield. These issues are important to me and I hope you can take the time to learn more about them.”
The most important part of this event will be turn-out. The hope is that Wakeman Hall will be filled with the community of people affected by mental illness, that legislators will see that their concerns are real and serious, and that their voices will be heard and responded to.
The meeting will be held in Wakeman Hall, First Church Congregational, 148 Beach Road, Fairfield from 7:30-9 pm. It is open to the public and free of charge. Light refreshments will be served. For more information please call Judy at 203-650-3463. In case of inclement weather, call Judy for program confirmation.
