Greetings to each of you during this beautiful holiday season! We are excited that all our kids and grandkids will be with us this year. In fact, they are on the way as I write this note, so I have to get it done now or it wouldn’t be finished until next week. 2014 was a great year for NAMI Wichita. We won the award for Affiliate of the Year at the State Convention which was held in Wichita in October. Two Family to Family classes, Peer to Peer and Basics classes were offered, so family members and those living with a mental illness had several opportunities to attend classes that suited their own personal needs. We are also thankful to have a Connections group, a Family Support Group and Share and Care once each month as well. Two of our members attended the National Convention in Washington, D.C. and came back with a great report from there. We also have dedicated members who share their “In Your Own Voice” presentation to appreciative audiences. There are also table displays set up at various events during the year, and many more things that our members do to inform the public about what NAMI offers. In the next few months, there will be more classes offered (see note on the next page). In March, we hope many of you will join us in Topeka for Mental Health Advocacy Day to speak personally to your own legislators. As we look to the New Year, we are thankful for renewed opportunities for support, education and advocacy for all those we love who live with a severe and persistent mental illness.
Janet Brumbaugh, NAMI Wichita President