The short version of our Action Group Charge is this:

Action Groups are a place for people to be involved. Together, staff and consumers have the opportunity to share, make suggestions and offer input, learn about opportunities to volunteer and get involved, help plan events, and address stigma issues.

 Lisa Woodcox joined our group in March to do a presentation about volunteer opportunities throughout our service areas that other people can call to get involved in. She is part of the Disability Network of Northern Michigan and had various volunteer positions available to speak about in order to get others vamped about what they can become a part of. She explained also how the Disability Network has different programs available including education on fire extinguisher usage, food drives, tours of the fire stations, game nights, and Special Olympics among many more.

Since then, Lisa has come back to Northern Lakes to talk about how we might collaborate on arranging for opportunities for health and wellness for the people we serve, and also about providing regular educational programming at Northern Lakes in the future. The first such endeavor will be a program on Conflict Resolution in early May in our Traverse City office. (Watch for details later.)

We are looking forward to our April meeting when we will discuss finalizing a recovery action tool for people to use to keep on track of their accomplishments, both large and small. We will also discuss what we would like to see in a new newsletter, as Northern Lakes CMH works to combine the New Directions and Expect Recovery newsletters into one newsletter in the future.

Our next meeting is next week, Wednesday, April 11 from 10-12 in the Houghton Lake, Cadillac, and Traverse City offices via video connection. We hope to see you there!

The Action Group members also went over the Action Group DRAFT Charge and made its recommendations to finalize by the March 14 meeting. This document will be used to explain to others what we do as a group and help keep us focused on our priorities.

Northwestern Michigan Michigan College (NMC) Visual Communications Department has graciously accepted NLCMH as their design project for the semester and a team of students will be creating posters on stigma for us to use throughout our counties during May is Mental Health Month. We are greatly looking forward to their hard work on getting the word out that stigma stinks! More information to come!

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 14 via video connection from the NLCMH Cadillac, Grayling and TC offices. Everyone is welcome to attend!

1. Sharing
2. Request and Input
3. Volunteer Opportunities
4. Anti-Stigma
5. Leadership

Here is the 2012 Action Group Meeting Schedule.

At each meeting, I see more and more people grow to be better advocates for themselves and others in the groups. One person will mention an idea they have and it turns into a wonderful unknown path to new territory where others have the opportunity to help explore also.

We now have an official start to an Action Group member list which helps keep everyone connected across our six counties. The groups continue to expand and get excited about ideas they have through sharing, giving input and volunteering as mentioned in the charge.

At this month’s meeting, Nicole Ellens (NLCMH Crawford/Roscommon Suicide Prevention Coordinator) attended, to bring information about the suicide prevention coalitions in our six counties and also share some opportunities for community action. Nicole will be sharing more information with us shortly so that we have a contact list of where coalition meetings are held so we can have a representative from our action group meetings attend to bring back volunteer opportunities.

All consumers and staff are welcomed and encouraged to attend these Action Group meetings as they have found to be very beneficial in helping others figure out how they may best get involved. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Cadillac, Grayling, and Traverse City offices (connected through videoconference). Hope to see you soon!

So what is a New Year’s Resolution?

I don’t think there is a definite answer to that question. There’s always going to be the regular resolutions to lose a certain amount of weight, stop smoking, eat healthier, and start exercising. But what if we make those resolutions and have a hard time following through with them? Should we feel like we have failed? Absolutely not! Take it from a not-so-perfect person that no one succeeds at things the first time they try. If they do, I stand corrected, but it is one hard task to follow; sticking to a resolution.

What if our goal is to lose 50 pounds by Christmas 2012? How can we make that a resolution and then get to that goal without forgetting we set it or not bothering to follow through with it in the first place? Small steps lead to bigger ones. Beginning by writing down a list of how you can lose 50 pounds is a simple effective way to start on that specific resolution. Using that list, make a monthly list of healthy meals you can make that are cost effective, use and stick to a shopping list, and figure out how to exercise for free at home instead of joining an expensive health club (soup cans work well to lift weight up and down). Check out this web-site for setting a budget, checking the sales, planning the menus, making a list, being a savvy shopper, etc. at http://www.chiff.com/cooking/budget-meals.htm

My main point is that anything is achievable if you want it to be. The New Year means a new start. However you want to start that year, try to keep the focus on what you want the ending goal to be for Christmas in 2012. Follow through slowly with your plan so that it is both easier to achieve as well as achievable at the same time. Do not set yourself up for failure and remember that changes come with time. You can do it. . . make a New Year’s Resolution and let us know about it here so we can brag about your successes. If you feel like you need help, put a comment up and get some peer support from people out there that might be struggling with the same things. Either way, do not give up and good luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

COOL FACT:

In the United States, the kiss shared at the stroke of midnight is derived from masked balls that have been common throughout history. As tradition has it, the masks symbolize evil spirits from the old year and the kiss is the purification into the New Year (http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-New-Years-Resolutions&id=245213)

Healthy meals on a food stamp budget:

http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2008/08/22/reader-challenge-healthy-meals-on-a-food-stamp-budget/

USDA Resource Library (meal planning, 10 steps to help you fill your grocery bag using SNAP benefits

http://snap.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=15&tax_level=4&tax_subject=261&topic_id=1243&level3_id=6213&level4_id=10046

101+ ways to save food dollars

http://snap.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=15&tax_level=4&tax_subject=261&topic_id=1243&level3_id=6213&level4_id=10046

It only takes one person to motivate you and that person is you; it comes from within. Until you realize the capability you have as an individual, negativity will always feel like a driving force in your life. Remember to look at things like they are an easy task to accomplish and don’t be so hard on yourself all the time. No one gets things perfect the first time around (or I would be living in a huge house with a brand new car and my kids would be wearing designer clothes in all the latest fashion trends!). Although I have not yet made it as far as I would like to have made it in life by now, I look at that too as a challenge. What do I have to do next to make the next smaller step towards my own personal success? What do I have to go through to get there? Who will be there with me along the way supporting me if things go wrong?

Never stop believing in yourself because you have the inner ability to work through anything in life you set your mind to. Although a long time ago someone told me I couldn’t do something, I realized that because of them, I DID do something. . . I made it this far in life and have four wonderful children to walk along side of me learning how to grow with me instead of being told to. Expectations fall short in life when you expect the finest things to happen automatically. Go slow and remember that failure at first is okay and to get up from that and learn and continue on. Good luck!

Getting inspiration, support – and education – can promote lasting change in the lives of people who have experienced or are experiencing trauma. The love of family and friends is incredibly healing, but it isn’t always enough. Creating and maintaining friendships with others whose experiences have been similar to our own can fill the gap and meet the need for understanding. However, for people who have experienced trauma, connecting with others is sometimes extremely difficult to do.

Peer Support is a wonderful tool to utilize when you have dealt with aspects of trauma and find it is continuously affecting you. It’s a time when peers who may have experienced something similar in their lives can offer things to you, such as education. Peer support does not demand anything of you; in essence it’s like they are asking for permission to help. One of the biggest things that I learned from the trauma training and through reading various resources, is that if I stop and think before I talk to someone who has been dealing with trauma, I can help better. Sometimes we just need a listening ear. As someone who has experienced trauma throughout my life, I only wish I could have had a peer in my life throughout all my obstacles.

A major part of becoming a self-manager of your chronic illness is knowing when you need help and how to find help. Poor communication is the biggest factor in poor relationships, whether they are between spouses, other family members or friends, coworkers, or doctors and patients. Even in casual relationships, poor communication can cause endless frustration. Even body language can play a factor in good communication. Effective communication comes from within. Thinking before you speak is a huge factor in good communication skills. If you are mad and talk in frustration, you might regret what you say later and lose a support person you need. It’s important to care about your supporters, even when you are upset, because they are the ones who will help you through your rough spots in life.

Even with help from others, you are the only one who can move towards wellness as a self-manager of your illness. Your active involvement in your own wellness can make or break the difference between walking the path towards recovery or standing still. Always remember that if you get off course, get help, get up, and start over again. Everyone makes mistakes. That’s called life and it happens. It does not mean you are not good enough to complete a goal or start over again. It means learn from what went wrong and never quit quitting.

When I find myself “slacking” and not motivated to take on my own life but rather wanting others to do things for me, I tend to take a step back, start working on some goals, and reach out for support. Like I said above, that can be a hard thing to do, but if you start with small goals, you will find it is easier to find the supports you need to endure larger ones later on.

Everyone has the power to be their own self-manager and leader. The time is now to start! Put a smile on your face and start thinking about what you want in life; then slowly create a plan how to get there!

Good luck!

When we held the Open Forum in December, we took all the important themes from what we heard brought up at the meeting, and decided to try to re-energize the focus on recovery in different ways.  We came up with an idea that tries to capture the important themes that everyone suggested.  The idea has three parts: Learning, Doing, and Local Networks.

The Learning part is going to be held less often than the Learning Community meetings were (quarterly instead of monthly) but they will be longer and better with food provided (bring on the food!), guest speakers covering many different topics, and various activities. We are calling these the Mini-Conferences.

***** The Doing part is being called “ACTION GROUP” for now.  We have met once and plan to meet again on Friday, May 13 from 10 am – 12 pm.  This group is open to all who are interested in doing things (like working on recovery transformation projects – like preparing for the recovery celebration in September which is fast approaching, working on community events, and stigma buster activities.)  The meetings are videoconferenced to three of our four office locations (Grayling and HL will rotate monthly) each month so people can participate without extensive travel involved. The dates for these Action Group meetings will change each month. Check back here, or check the recovery tower in your CMH lobby, or check the Consumer Event Calendar for future dates.

The Local Networks part is under development – we are building local flexible, empowered groups that will meet with whatever frequency people want and focus on activities and projects that the group determines (i.e., volunteer projects, exercising, budgeting, walking groups, spirituality, recovery, WRAP groups, etc.).  People who want to create the activities and projects can get some staff support to help the groups stay connected and get going.

No idea is a bad idea so please let us know what you are thinking! Hope to see you at our next Action Group Meeting on Friday, May 13 from 10 am – 12 pm via videoconference to the Grayling, Cadillac, and Traverse City offices. In Traverse City, meet on the 2nd floor at reception.

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