National Alliance on Mental Illness
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| NAMI Illinois' Consumer Council
Who we are:We are persons who live with mental illness and are committed to the mission of NAMI, to "improve the lives of persons with mental illness and their families." We are part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Consumer Councils were created by NAMI to be a voice for consumers in each state. NAMI Illinois has instituted our state Consumer Council. The officers and members are all people living with mental illness. The creation of this council demonstrates the value of persons with mental illnesses and their experiences to improve all areas of mental health services. We are a strong, productive part of NAMI. Our personal stories, publicly expressed, provide others with an understanding of mental illness. They also demonstrate the absolute necessity for improvement in current mental health services. Our daily struggles with our illnesses require a voice and understanding by others. If we all "unite" and start talking, it will be impossible not to be heard. There is help. . . As consumers of mental health services we know the pain first hand and we know how to help. You don't have to be alone dealing with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and many other mental illnesses. There is help and we are here for you. We need you. . . We have a stronger voice when yours is united with ours. By joining NAMI Illinois, you bring power to our numbers and a unique voice that many people with mental illnesses do not have. Make a difference.
Connecting with the NAMI Illinois Consumer Council
We need your voice because with increased membership comes power to work effectively for improved treatment of, and more research into, mental illnesses and a better quality of life for those who suffer from them. As a member of NAMI you join forces with people who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, parents, siblings, spouses, friends, professionals, and organizations. You will benefit from membership in the State NAMI Illinois and the National NAMI and receive the Consumer Council's newsletters, conference information and legislative alerts, as well as information, announcements and newsletters from NAMI Illinois and NAMI. You can join NAMI today. Contact: NAMI Illinois 218 West Lawrence Springfield, Illinois 62704 Telephone: (217) 522-1403 V/TTY Fax: (217) 522-3598 Toll Free: (800) 346-4572 Email: namiil@sbcglobal.net
Connie's CornerNovember, 2007 As
the incoming Vice-Chair and current Acting Chair of the NAMI Illinois Consumer
Council (CC) Executive Committee (EC), I am looking forward to a rewarding year
of renewed consumer interest, involvement and action by consumers statewide,
both in their local affiliates and in the wider NAMI statewide activities.
There
are some new faces on the CC Executive Committee, some that are familiar and
have been around for awhile and some who have served well and are passing the
baton. I wish to recognize all for the work they have done and continue to do as
members of the wider NAMI-IL Consumer Council. Outgoing
CC Executive Committee
officers include:
Thank
you all for the valuable contributions you have made to the NAMI Illinois
Consumer Council Executive Committee. I look forward to continuing to call on
your experience in empowering involvement in the consumer movement within
NAMI-IL. Familiar
CC Executive Committee officers whose term continues are:
Incoming
CC Executive committee officers are:
Each affiliate also has a
consumer representative and should have an alternate representative on the
Consumer Council, with the voting member regarding consumer matters in the NAMI
organization being the representative. The representative's vote reflects the
voice of the affiliate consumers whom they represent. So
ask your affiliate President who your CC representative and alternate is so you
can give a voice to NAMI Illinois CC. The
NAMI Illinois Consumer Council face is changing a bit. As the incoming CC
Executive Committee Vice Chair, and currently Acting Chair, my vision is to
ignite excitement, action and involvement in the Consumer Council and empower
the voice of the consumer within all aspects of With the assistance and support of the well-rounded and qualified EC incumbents, incoming EC officers and those that have served, we anticipate the Consumer Council will grow and become stronger in leadership.
Yours in
Recovery, Connie Clark, Acting CC Chair
NAMI Illinois Consumer Council MembersFeel free to contact the representatives in your area. Connie Clark, Acting Chair - NAMI Springfield - clarkbar1959us@yahoo.com
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