NAMI Georgia Annual Membership Meeting & Conference Notice

May 21, 2011

Mercer University Administration & Conference Center

2930 Flowers Rd, Atlanta, GA  30341

Greetings NAMI Georgia Members and Supporters,

It is that time of year again for us to have our Annual Conference and Membership meeting. We have a lot going on this year. NAMI Georgia has continued to grow despite the hardships many have faced over the last few years. It is because of you that we have enjoyed the successes we have.

WORKSHOPS

The Annual Conference has been set up with you in mind. We asked you in a survey earlier this spring what you wanted in the way of workshops. We listened and we will deliver. Enclosed in this packet is an Agenda for the Conference. You will find that there are many workshops, more than you can attend. That was by design. We are encouraging Affiliates and Support Groups to send many people.

Get together and determine who will attend which workshop from your Affiliate. Take good notes, then plan to go back to your affiliate to disseminate the information. It’s a terrific way to get many people involved from your affiliate in the areas that interest your volunteers the most. Keeping checking with the NAMI Georgia website for workshop updates: www.namiga.org/2011conf

ELECTION

Also included is a ballot for the NAMI Georgia Board of Directors election. There are eight candidates and you should vote for up to seven of them. There are seven 3 year slots available, and one 2 year slot. The candidates with the most votes get the 3 year slots. Voting opens at 8:30, and closes at 11:30 am We will announce the results during the Annual Membership meeting at 3 pm.

BALLOTS

There are five ways to vote:1) Bring your ballot in person to the Annual Conference, 2) mail your completed ballot to the NAMI Georgia Office by 5/19/11,  3) fax your completed ballot to 770-234-0237, 4) have a proxy deliver your completed ballot (Closed proxy), or 5) have someone vote for you at the Annual Conference (Open proxy)

CANDIDATES

In order to save money (and a few trees), we have chosen NOT to include the multi-page “Meet the Candidates” document you have become accustomed to. You can ‘meet the candidates’ online at www.namiga.org/candidates , or you can call 770-234-0855 and request a copy by mail. Your Affiliate leaders also have copies of the “Meet the Candidate’ document.

LUNCH

We will be serving lunch, but only for those who pre-register and pre-purchase their lunches. Please visit www.namiga.org/Register to do this online, or call 770-234-0855 and request a registration form by mail. Your Affiliate leaders also have copies of the registration form.

TUNE-UPS

Many of you will be staying on after the Annual Conference for the Annual Tune Ups. This is especially important for the facilitators, as they are now required to be recertified every two years. Some of you are certified in more than one NAMI Signature program. We truly appreciate your dedication to NAMI, and strongly encourage you to attend the facilitator tune-up this year to get your recertification.

Thank you for all you do for NAMI,

Eric Spencer

Executive Director

NAMI Georgia