October 24, 2006

ONLY TWO DAYS TO GO BEFORE THE MHANYS CONFERENCE AND AWARDS DINNER: You can still register for the awards dinner and conference.

Here are 10 reasons why you should be attending MHANYS Awards Dinner on October 26th at 6 p.m.:

1) Provides a great opportunity to celebrate the wonderful work of the MHA’s across New York State as representatives from several MHA’s will be receiving awards this year.

2) After dinner speaker, Paul Jones, is one of the most inspirational and humorous speakers in the world of mental health.

3) Honoring two of our good friends and colleagues in the legislature - Senator Thomas Morahan and Assemblyman Peter Rivera.

4) Among the dignitaries in attendance are our good friend, and one of the true leaders in the fight for Timothy’s Law, Assemblyman Paul Tonko, as well as the New York State Budget Director, John Cape, and MHANYS Board Member, Tom O’Clair.

5) Honoring the accomplishments of Michael Friedman, one of the most respected mental health advocates and a long time leader of the Mental Health Association movement.

6) Among people in attendance include many of the Directors of the MHAs across New York State, The MHANYS Board of Directors, representatives from the Governor’s Office, New York State Assembly, New York State Senate, Division of the Budget, The Office of Mental Health, Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities and the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council.

7) Among our colleagues attending the event include NAMI, NYAPRS, ACL, The Foundation for Mental Health Advocacy, SCAA, NASW, Families Together, American Federation of Suicide Prevention, The Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors and several more.

8) Honoring one of the great leaders of the Mental Health Association movement, Leila Salmon who is having an award named after her this year.

9) You don’t have to watch the World Series because the Mets and Yankees have both been eliminated.

10) It is not supposed to snow

Ten Reasons Why You Want to Come to MHANYS Annual Conference on Friday, October 27th:

1) Wonderful keynote speaker at 12:15 p.m. - best selling author of Lincoln’s Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk.

2) Find out the most updated information on PROS at the 10:40 a.m. workshop

3) Find out how you agency can welcome Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender clients into your mental health programs at the 9:00 a.m. workshop.

4) Get the latest information on the Office of Inspector General’s Work plan and the implications for mental health providers at the 10:40 a.m. workshop.

5) Get the most updated information on employment for individuals with mental illness at the 2:15 p.m. workshop.

6) Get the most up to date information on mental health services for returning war veterans at the 9:00 a.m. workshop.

7) Find out more about the services and barriers in place for adolescents transitioning out of the children’s mental health services at the 2:15 p.m. workshop

8) Find out how both criminal justice services and mental health services can work collaboratively at this 2:15 p.m. workshop.

9) Be the first one on your block to get the Official MHANYS Tote Bag.

10) It is not supposed to snow.

For information and registration, go to www.mhanys.org. Please contact Linda Thorning Kaczmarek at (518) 434-0439, ext. 210, with any questions.