NAMI-FAIRFIELD NEWSLETTER

FALL/WINTER 2007

Important Update!

NAMI-Fairfield is excited to announce a new way to stay connected! The NAMI-Fairfield Newsletter will be sent to you every month via email!

Each month you will receive information on NAMI-Fairfield meetings and events. Articles focusing on local people and programs will help you stay connected to our supportive community.

And we want to hear from you! Through this newsletter we will attempt to bring you the information YOU want and need. So let us know what you think, and what you want to know more about!

To honor confidentiality we will be sending the newsletter via "blind copy".  This means that each address is visible only to the individual recipient. In other words, no one else will have YOUR address attached to the top of THEIR email.

Publication will be on or near the 15th of every month (this one is a little late!).

Please put naminewsffd@earthlink.net in your Email Contact List so your Spam blocker won't filter us out. Also, if you know of anyone who might be interested in the newsletter please tell him or her to send us their address and we'll add them to our emailing list. Please feel free to help distribute this newsletter and spread the word!

You will need Adobe Reader to view the newsletter and you can download it free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

In addition, you can access the complete newsletter by clicking on the "nami news" tab on the left-hand side of this page.

Judy Gardner
Newsletter Editor

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Dear Members & Website Visitors, 

Our NAMI-Fairfield 2006-2007 year was very successful.  The commitment and hard work of our affiliate members helped us surpass our initial goals and expectations.                               

THANK YOU ALL!

I have highlighted below some of NAMI-Fairfield’s 2006-2007 accomplishments:

THE TRAILBLAZERS, NAMI-Fairfield's team that participated in “Nami Walks for the Mind of America: 2007” raised over $4,000.00 for NAMI-CT.  Forty percent of this money will be returned to our affiliate and used at our discretion (educational purposes, etc,).

Congratulations, Trailblazers!

PARENTS AND TEACHERS AS ALLIES, a team of trained presenters, went on the road on April 5^th, 2007.  The team met for two hours with a group of administrators at the Fairfield Public School System and presented our educational program to raise awareness about mental health issues and school aged children.  This was given on behalf of the AGM Fund.  We have been invited back to make a yearly presentation to teachers for continuing education units, one school at a time.

IN OUR OWN VOICE PROGRAM was proudly sponsored for another year.  In addition, along with the Fairfield University School of Nursing, participated in the Fairfield University Wellness Fair.

FAMILY TO FAMILY graduated 21 members from its Spring 2007 twelve week course.  This course will be offered again in the Spring of 2008.

SPECIAL EVENTS were planned and presented in collaboration with the Trumbull and Stamford/Greenwich affiliates.  The 3 affiliates presented a Fall’06 and Spring’07 special NAMI event which were also open to the public at no charge.

SCHOLARSHIPS are also proud moments for NAMI-Fairfield and the recipient.  Scholarships are made available by our card sales, membership dues, and other fundraisers through NAMI-CT.  NAMI-Fairfield presented one $500.00 Educational Scholarship to a Housatonic Community College Mental Health Certificate graduate.

Our educational and support group meetings continued throughout the year due to the commitment of our trained facilitators.  A special thanks to them.

I want to thank all of you, who have joined our affiliate and continue to renew your memberships.  With your continued financial support to NAMI-Fairfield and NAMI-CT, we can continue to offer meetings and programs to support you and our surrounding communities.

Sincerely,

Betsy Entwisle, President