Slide 1:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Thank You Thank you for offering your time and energy to your NAMI affiliate. Because of your commitment to our cause and your willingness to serve, we can—and do—have a lasting positive impact on the lives of families and mental health consumers living with mental illness throughout our country. 11/4/2009


Slide 2:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Thank You If you’re a first-time officer, director or committee chair of your affiliate, you may feel overwhelmed with your new responsibilities. If you’re a seasoned veteran, you may be looking for fresh ideas to revitalize your affiliate. 11/4/2009


Slide 3:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Introduction As the blades of grass in our logo symbolize, NAMI is a grassroots organization that is dedicated to the eradication of mental illness and to the improvement of the quality of life of those whose lives are affected by these diseases (NAMI By-laws, July 2002). 11/4/2009


Slide 4:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Introduction NAMI is a service and action-oriented organization that brings communities together: to advocate for improved services and laws that govern the care of people with mental illness; to combat the stigma that surrounds mental illness; to support individuals and families in their path to recovery; and to educate individuals, families and the public on the nature of these diseases and their treatment. 11/4/2009


Slide 5:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness NAMI focuses its efforts on serious mental illnesses caused by brain disorders that can affect the ability to think, feel and relate to other people and the environment. For adults, serious mental illnesses include schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder and other brain disorders. For children and adolescents, serious mental illnesses include those experienced by adults as well as attention deficit disorder, autism, pervasive developmental disorder and Tourette’s syndrome. 11/4/2009


Slide 6:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Membership consists of: people of mental illness, their family, friends and mental health care professionals (NAMI By-laws, July 2002). Our financial support comes from member donations, corporate, federal and state grants and other philanthropic grants. 11/4/2009 With an estimated 20 percent of families affected by mental illness, our organization’s membership represents only a small fraction of those who could benefit from our services and add their voices to ours. As a leader of your affiliate, your can nourish our grassroots by extending support, education and advocacy opportunities to individuals in your community.


Slide 7:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness The single most important task for any affiliate is to attract and engage new members. When we consider that one in five people in our community have a mental illness it is obvious that we have much work to do. Our definition of a member challenges us to expand our ideas about serving our members and providing meaningful opportunities for involvement. 11/4/2009


Slide 8:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Affiliate Board of Directors President 1st Vice-President 2nd Vice-President (optional for your affiliate) Secretary Treasurer (Secretary and Treasurer may be the same member) 11/4/2009


Slide 9:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Assign a Financial Clerk Someone in your affiliate will need to keep all monies and records before a treasurer can be voted in to office. 11/4/2009


Slide 10:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Bookkeeper Qualifications for this position are one who has worked in an accounting department and/or Reconciles their Checkbook on a regular basis and is a good record keeper. This position is not based upon popularity. It is based on who can do the job. Once a treasurer has been elected the bookkeeper surrenders all records and money and is relieved of duty. 11/4/2009


Slide 11:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Officer Duties and Responsibilities are found on pages 5 and 6 of your affiliate toolkit. Elected Officers must create an Affiliate Board of Directors. Board of Directors Roles and Responsibilities are found on pages 3 and 4 of your affiliate toolkit. 11/4/2009 A 2nd Vice President is optional for your affiliate


Slide 12:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Bylaws If your affiliate has not already done so, you will need to develop and adopt bylaws immediately. 11/4/2009


Slide 13:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Bylaws Outline Mission Membership Dues Membership Meetings Fiscal Year Board of Directors Terms of Office Duties of Officers 11/4/2009


Slide 14:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Bylaws Outline 11/4/2009 IX. Authorization to Spend Affiliate Funds Elections Standing Committees NAMI Name and Logo Non-Discrimination Parliamentary Authority Executive Director Amendments


Slide 15:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Committees How Affiliates Get Things Done Chairperson Duties Providing Support Services Providing Education Services Providing Member Services Public Policy Community/Media Relations 11/4/2009


Slide 16:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Volunteers Every NAMI member is a potential Volunteer. Volunteers are the lifeblood of your affiliate. Job descriptions help ensure Volunteer responsibilities. 11/4/2009


Slide 17:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness A Guide to Governance Affiliate Organization Legal Matters Incorporating Your Affiliate Non-Profit Tax Status 11/4/2009 Defer to NAMI Kansas Articles of incorporation that meet NAMI standards Non-profit 501©3 status and IRS letter of determination or acceptable arrangement with state Annual tax filings, business license and other legal requirements all met


Slide 18:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Consumer Involvement in NAMI Why Consumer Involvement and Inclusion are important to NAMI. Today’s more effective treatments in medication and support show a degree of recovery. Consumers want to be part of NAMI advocacy activities to tell their stories and make changes to the mental health care system. Support is as important to consumers as it is to family members. 11/4/2009


Slide 19:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Consumer Involvement in NAMI Why Consumer Involvement and Inclusion are important to NAMI. 11/4/2009 3. Consumers want information that NAMI Provides 4. Many recovering consumers would like to join or form support groups. Integrating NAMI signature consumer programs can add value to membership in NAMI for consumers.


Slide 20:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Affiliate General Meeting 11/4/2009 Welcome Reading of Minutes Treasurer Report Old Business New Business Program 45 minutes Snack Break Consumers to Consumer Support Family Members to Family Support Adjourn


Slide 21:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Advocacy 11/4/2009 Your affiliate helps educate the general public about severe and persistent brain disorders to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illnesses and to build understanding and support for key issues.


Slide 22:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 As an advocacy organization, NAMI tracks and keeps members informed about important political and social issues affecting people with mental illnesses and their families.


Slide 23:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 NAMI is meeting the demands of driving the local, state and national debate on mental illness systems reform. Advocacy at the Affiliate Level Community Action Initiatives Legislative Contact Helping Affiliate Members Understand the Issues Issuing Alerts to Affiliate Members


Slide 24:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 Develop personal relationships Be Brief Be Timely, learn to be flexible Be Honest, don’t bluff Be Clear, Practice what you plan to say Explain how the general public will benefit Tips for Effective Legislative Interaction Avoid becoming defensive or angry


Slide 25:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 Telephone Calls Written Communications Be Timely, learn to be flexible Face-to-Face Meeting Follow-up, write a thank you letter Contacting Legislators Feedback, Share correspondence with NAMI Kansas and your affiliate.


Slide 26:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 Organizational: Board of Directors and working committees, with job descriptions Current bylaws in compliance with State and National Current NAMI Affiliation Agreement Regular business meetings Designated consumer representative active at State level and/or state consumer council Notice & minutes of all meetings, excluding support sessions Operating policies and procedures Affiliate Checklist for Excellence NAMI affiliates are expected to strive to achieve excellence in their support, education and advocacy activities. Your NAMI state and national offices will help guide and support your in these endeavors. The following checklist will help you determine if your affiliate is meeting the challenges of operating a NAMI affiliate.


Slide 27:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Operational: Annual budget Annual audit (if you are a 501 c (3)) Bank account Program/business plan and/or strategic plan for affiliate Post Office Box Bulk mail permit Regular newsletter Communication strategy for reaching all members Consistent, accessible meeting sites Web access, email address; preferably Web site, use of email, list servs Use of technology systems (answering machines, financial software, etc.) Engaged in fund raising Work relationship with media representatives Active membership growth Use of NAMI Web Membership Two-way communications and information sharing with State and National Appropriate and continual community relations activities


Slide 28:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Programs: Support: Offering one or more venues for support Outreach and support for families of children/youth Outreach to and support for people with mental illness One or more affiliate contacts identified and equipped to handle public inquiries Education: Educational forums and presentations for public Outreach to underserved and priority populations Information and referral services Education programs for family members Education programs for consumers MIAW/anti-stigma educational efforts


Slide 29:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Advocacy: Advocacy in local community and at state level Representatives on local/state governing, agency, and service boards Relationships with colleague organizations and service providers Community Action opportunities available to engage members and the public Regular contact with elected officials


Slide 30:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Membership Dues a. 1/3rd of the Dues goes to your Affiliate b. With Web Based Membership 1/3rd of the Dues is sent to NAMI Kansas who sends the Affiliate a Rebate Check c. When Affiliate submits 100% of Dues NAMI Kansas sends a Rebate Check ito the Affiliate on a quarterly basis. Please Skip This Screen.


Slide 31:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Funding Methods 1. NAMIWalks Annual Fund Raiser a. All donations go to your walk captain. b. Donations can be received past the walk date for a specific period of time. c. Affiliate receives 40% of money donated by your affiliate. 2. Affiliate Fund Raisers a. Affiliate receives the net amount


Slide 32:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness Funding Methods 3. Affiliate Sponsorship Print Sponsor on flyers, newsletters and other print material 4. Philanthropic Grants


Slide 33:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 Your Affiliate helps determine the yearly schedule 2010 Scheduled Events in 2010 CIT Summit in Topeka has a window of time between Jan 11 – Feb 23 March 18 Mental Health Advocacy Day in Topeka March 1 NAMIWalk kick-off luncheon in Topeka for walk captains and donors Annual Conference Mid-October Ride for Recovery – Mid Sept. May 1 NAMIWalk Washburn University Topeka


Slide 34:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 Consumers: In Our Own Voice IOOV Training Date & Count Available for Presentation Peer to Peer Training Training Date & Count NAMI Connections Meeting Date & Location Family Members: Family to Family Training Date & Count Class Date Your Affiliate helps make the Schedule Family Support Group Learn to facilitate a Group


Slide 35:Kansas’ Voice on Mental Illness 11/4/2009 Nuts & Bolts of Basic Affiliate Operations Whether your affiliate has ten members or more than 200, the basics of organizing and operating your affiliate are essentially the same. On a practical level, we recommend you approach affiliate operations as if you were running a business. Naturally, the state and national office staff will support your efforts every step of the way. Rick Cagan, Executive Director National Alliance on Mental Illness - NAMI Kansas PO Box 675 Topeka, KS  66601 785-233-0755 785-233-4804 FAX 800-539-2660 rcagan@nami.org www.namikansas.org Randy Conyers VISTA Field Organizer NAMI Kansas National Alliance on Mental Illness 1901 E. 1st Newton, Kansas 67114 316-250-8321 rconyers@nami.org