Empowerment Group Meeting

A big shout out to all the fabulous volunteers who came to last night's brainstorming session on how to better support Samoshel.  It was great to see some of the more seasoned facilitators as well as some newer faces there.

Thank you so much for your time and energy.  Your ideas are very helpful and much appreciated.

Walk to End Homelessness!

Homewalk 2009
November 7th
Exposition Park
7:30 AM Registration Opens
9:00 AM Walk Begins

Los Angeles is the homeless capital of the nation. More individuals and families live without a place to call home here than any other city in the nation. In this time of economic crisis, when a growing number of families are facing serious financial hardships and many are becoming homeless, it is more important than ever to focus on permanent solutions to put an end to this unacceptable situation.

Consider participating in Homewalk, United Way's 5K walk, on November 7th to raise awareness of the homelessness issue and the funds to do something about it. To date, HomeWalk has mobilized over 8,000 walkers and raised over $1,000,000 that has gone back into the community to support local programs that will help end homelessness for men, women and children in Los Angeles County.

NAMI Los Angeles County Walk

As of Sunday August 23 there are over 100 Teams Registered for this years walk.

Location: Santa Monica Third Street PromenadeSanta Monica, CA
Date: October 3, 2009
Distance: 5 K
Check-in: 8 am
Start Time: 10:00 am
Website: http://nami.org/namiwalks/ca/los

A SUMMER FUNDRAISING SUCCESS!

The SAMOSHEL Resource Board would like extend its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to William Turner for the use of his gallery and hospitality for our "Make A Toast, Make A Difference" wine tasting event.

We also wish to thank and acknowledge the following:

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Wine Sponsors:
K & L Wine Merchants
Shelli Herman & Stewart Gleischman
Ed Masciana
Northern Trust Bank
Sarah & Peter Jessup

Event Sponsors:
Master Vintner: Wells Fargo Bank
Connoisseur: Robert Ketterer
Enthusiasts:
The Richard F. Dwyer and Eleanor W. Dwyer Fund
David and April Freitag
Sarah and Peter Jessup

In-kind and Auction Donors:
Anonymous Donors
Bright Ideas Marketing
Buttonwood Farm Winery
Café Del Rey
Dr. Eric Dahlstrom
Encore Software
Flanigan Farms
Gonzales International
John Hotchkis
Hotel Angeleno
Laurie Hudson & Christy Morcomb
Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Humnicom, Inc.
Jacuzzi Winery Sonoma
Jessup Cellars Winery
L'Aventure Winery
Le Merigot Hotel
Bob & Alicia Levitt
Carol Mell
Northern Trust Bank
Paradise Ridge
John & Jennifer Petrovich
Gary Richwald & Sue Bayley
Sanford Winery & Vineyard
Richard Schulman
Korosh Soltani & David Orgell
Tamara Powers
Nanette & Michael Taylor
The Dolce Group
The Wine House
Unique Lamps by KW Bertschinger Inc.
Villa Nocina Orchard
Beverly L. Weise
West Lounge-Restaurant
Windchaser Products

A special thanks:
Guitarist: Paul Meyers
Emcee: Gregg Germann

OC NAMIWalks

NAMI OC's 5th Annual "NAMIWalks" Kick-off Luncheon on Thursday, July 30th.

Time: 12:00 - 1:30 at the Dehli Center
505 East Central Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92702

RSVP by July 24 using the online registration form. The luncheon is FREE for all Team Captains, Sponsors or those planning on forming a NAMIWalks Team and are dedicated toward helping make NAMI OC's 5th Annual Walk a great success.

ERASE STIGMA!

A Mental Health Awareness Arts Festival Play, Films, Exhibits, and Workshops*

CSUF Grand Central Art Center

125 N Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701
(GCAC is located on 2nd Street between Broadway & Main Streets)

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FREE FILM SCREENINGS - JULY 11 - AUGUST 23, 2009

Hours: Tues-Thurs, Sun 11-4pm Fr-Sat 11-7pm.
Parking: at 3rd & Sycamore GCAC Black Box Theatre

714.567.7233 http://www.grandcentralartcenter.com/

PLAY: Third Tree On the Left
Directed by Don Laffoon of Stop-Gap Theatre
Free - no admission charge - Seating on a first come basis
Show times: Saturday, July 25, 2 pm & 5 pm; Tuesday, July 28, 1:30pm; Saturday, August 1, 5 pm & 7:30 pm

About the Play: Funded by the Orange County Mental Health Services Act awarded to Orange County Behavioral Health Services, Third Tree on the Left offers personal insight into living with mental illness. Featuring eleven performers ranging in age from thirteen years old to over fifty, authentic voices of those living with mental illness and a family member are used to recount experimental treatments, young diagnoses, homelessness and suicide through the arts of drama and storytelling. Third Tree on the Left weaves storytelling, music, and emotional themes into a work of hope.

See Events Schedule and Film list at: www.ochealthinfo.com/mhsa/arts-program.htm

FREE ARTS WORKSHOPS

Sunday, August 2 at 1:30 Stigma, Mental Illness & Creativity Performance

Friday, August 7 from 1-3 p.m. How to Get Published with writer Casey Dorman, PhD

Wednesday, August 12 from 1-2 p.m. Dance Movement Therapy with Chandra Chakin

Saturday, August 15 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Harry Potter & PTSD with Nancee Lee Allen, Dir. NAMIOC

1 p.m. Portfolio Workshop with CSUF Gallery Directors Dennis Cubbage & Mike McGee
All workshops listed at: www.ochealthinfo.com/mhsa/arts-program.htm

MHSA WET office, 714-667-5600, fax number 714-667-5612 E-mail: mtrainingprogram@ochca.com

The complexities of the mental health issues depicted in the film will be discussed at the end of each viewing every Sunday at 1 p.m. in the GCAC Theater except August 2nd

Make a Toast Fundraiser

We'd like to thank the amazing residents of Samoshel, who worked for hours as a team to help volunteers assemble the invitations to the following fundraising event. Their basic sentiment was "anything for Samoshel." Here's more on the upcoming event:

You've likely been to other wine tastings in LA, but did you know your love of the oaky/ full bodied/ hint of cranberry nectar could benefit SAMOSHEL, the Santa Monica Homeless Shelter? SAMOSHEL, a project of Ocean Park Community Center (OPCC), is holding its Make a Toast, Make a Difference fundraiser at the William Turner Gallery at Bergamot Station on Sunday, July 19th from 3:30pm – 6:30pm.

This fundraiser promises not only to be an incredible social event, but it supports SAMOSHEL in helping hundreds of individuals each year to rebuild their lives and live again with dignity and hope. SAMOSHEL provides homeless individuals an alternative to living on the streets along with assistance to help them obtain jobs and permanent housing. In this current economy there is an increased need for your support to meet basic human needs including food, showers, and clothing.

Here's something else you might not have known: 100% of the net proceeds of Make a Toast, Make a Difference go to the SAMOSHEL Shelter. That’s right; your generosity goes a very long way. We ask you to remember that making a gift to SAMOSHEL has a very real impact on lives in our community. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of so many people. For more information, please visit our website at www.opcc.net (click “Our Projects” and select “Samoshel”). See the event flyer.

Walk with the National Alliance on Mental Illness... Every journey begins with that first step. In 2009, thousands of concerned citizens in nearly 80 communities across the nation will walk together to raise money and awareness about our country's need for a world-class treatment and recovery system for people with mental illness.

Remember the goals of NAMIWalks
~To End Stigma
~To Raise Awareness
~To Grow

Next Santa Monica NAMIWalks
Location: Santa Monica Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA
Date: October 3, 2009
Distance: 5 K
Check-in: 8 am
Start Time: 10:00 am