Occupied
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November 9, 2014 – 7:30 p.m.
Please share this new information!
Where do YOU stand?
NAMI members are invited to
participate.
Dear NAMI Leaders:
This is an opportunity to help
address concerns about NAMI-NYS that have been expressed both by people who are
members of NAMI and people with relevant lived experience within systems that
NAMI supports. The Mental Patients
Liberation Alliance (The Alliance) has worked with individual members and NAMI
Chapters throughout New York State for over 40 years and recognizes that the
actions of NAMI-NYS do not always represent those of the grassroots membership.
According to the NAMI New York State 2014
Education Conference announcement:
“NAMI-NYS is honored to present our 2014
Legislative Champion Award to United States Representative Tim Murphy
(PA). NAMI-NYS could not think of a
government leader more deserving of this award or one who has had a bigger hand
in shaping our future than Representative Murphy.”
A concern at this time is that
legislation proposed by Rep. Murphy will set back decades of
progress. The unequivocal support of NAMI-NYS for this
partisan legislation, as well as the declaration that NAMI-NYS “stands united” in that support, re-enforces
a long-standing and widespread view:
NAMI draws a line to separate family members and their issues from the people
who are directly affected by “mental health” legislation and services and our
issues.
To help put this into an
historical context, enclosed is an “OPEN LETTER TO THE AMI-NYS
BOARD/AFFILIATES/AMI LEADERS” and the introduction to the “Report of Legal
Action and Quality of Treatment Committee” as a “WAKE UP CALL TO THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS”, dated May 1995.
Where do YOU stand? was formed to provide comprehensive information about
the proposed legislation and ask people concerned about human rights to stand
together in opposition to the bill. A
flyer for the event is enclosed. The Alliance
encourages the grassroots membership of NAMI to express their own views.
A general meeting of Where Do YOU Stand? is scheduled
for 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 14 at the Holiday Inn. A teach-in will begin at 11:00 a.m. Segments will run for an hour, with 15-minute
breaks.
Four segments are confirmed –
Briefly described:
1)
International human rights
– the U.S. CRPD ratification
and RUDs that have a specific negative
impact against
our ability to use the CRPD to abolish
forced psychiatry
2) Trauma – definition, impact on individuals
and
communities, prevalence among people who
come to
the attention of the mental health system,
discussion of
trauma-informed approaches, how trauma
survivors
can use social action as a healing approach
3) Comprehensive information about bill H.R.
3717 and
the impact and potential impact of the
various
components to the bill
4) People may participate in organizing,
planning, and
develop of an Action Response
People will gather together at the
Desmond Hotel & Conference Center
660 Albany-Shaker Road
Albany,
New York 12211
at 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 14
to Stand in solidarity to show and
confirm opposition to the Murphy Bill H.R. 3717 and NAMI-NYS’s unqualified support of
that bill.
You
are invited to attend the teach-in and/or
participate
with our Stand
in
unity to oppose the bill
and
the endorsement of
NAMI-NYS.
With sincerity,
George Ebert
Mental Patients
Liberation Alliance
1-800-654-7227
Like,
Learn, and Discuss @ Facebook Page:
Respond
to NAMI-NYS
Enclosure from Vera Hassner Sharav, included here below George Ebert's signature:
AN
OPEN LETTER TO THE AMI-NYS BOARD / AFFILIATES / AMI LEADERS
Date:
May 6, 1995
From:
Vera Hassner Sharav
Legal Action & Quality of
Treatment Chair
Tel:
212-595-8974; FAX: 595-9086
Re:
Final Committee Report & Straight Talk from a former member of the board
WAKE-UP
CALL EXCERT FROM:
THIS
IS A FINAL REPORT & A WAKE-UP CALL TO THE BOARD of DIRECTORS:
Regrettably, the focus of the organization
has shifted from outreach, advocacy and support for families & consumers
who need help & information: Instead of speaking out as independent
advocates to improve the quality of care & treatment, AMI-NYS is influenced
by & lobbies for provider interests.
An absence of leadership on the AMI-NYS board, a lack of vision, &
confusion about the organization’s position on fundamental issues, have eroded
its credibility among families & consumers. Furthermore, a passive board
has allowed someone who does not level, communicate or discuss issues in a
collegial manner with AMI members --- someone who disdains democratic procedures,
to take total control of the organization as President & Executive
Director.
AMI-NYS Has Lost Sight of Its Mission to
Consumers & Families:
Instead
of offering support and guidance for navigating the hostile & fragmented
mental health system, AMI-NYS has become a lobbying agent for self-serving
providers, bureaucrats & professionals who profit from the state system. (e.g.,
lobbyists for Sandoz, OMH). An effective grassroots organization must
attract new members from diverse backgrounds. AMI-NYS does not welcome
diversity, a small insider clique maintains tight control of the organization
with minorities & consumers having but token representation.
We
are a publicly funded grassroots advocacy organization---not an exclusive
private club!
Why isn’t the
Board Communicating with AMI Affiliates & Leaders?
Why
has the Board of Directors abdicated its managerial responsibilities?
What
outreach strategies to underserved minorities are being implemented?
Why
is most of the board’s time (and our resources) being taken up by internal
strife & maneuvers to block family members rather than to support them?
What
is AMI-NYS’s rate of growth? How are committees encouraged & supported?
This President is
Not Straightforward &Shows Poor Leadership Qualities:
Unfortunately, Joseph
Gentile avoids candid discussions---even with board members who must make
decisions. Rather than resolving problems, he makes impulsive, ill-advised,
unilateral decisions which exacerbate conflicts within the organization,
alienate active members & impede self-help advocacy. To get the board’s
approval on controversial issues (often after he has acted) this president
has often misrepresented the truth & withheld relevant information from
leaders & the board. (e.g. Accepting $$ from Sandoz, Firing the Exec.
Dir.). I cannot continue to represent an organization whose management allows a
president to abuse his power---to the point of subverting advocacy activities
of authorized committees: Committees that inform, support, protect &
empower consumers & families.
Posted November 11, 2014 by
Myra Kovary
Editor-in-Chief
The Occupied New York Times
In honor of those who were tortured and murdered at Tiergarten-4, Berlin, Germany
In honor of my grandparents, parents, teachers, students, lovers, children, and dear friends in the movement.
