Board Report

From the Incoming Co-ordinator

by Ron Carten - Network Co-ordinator

Greetings to all of you! In one way or another, I have been involved with the Network since 1999. If it has not been as a member of the men's group it was as a board member, or doing fund raising, or writing for the Bulletin. I am very excited about working for you as Co-ordinator and would love to meet you if you are interested in dropping into our office someday.

My first encounter with psychiatry was in 1989 at the Queen Street Mental Health Center in Toronto. Since then I have been hospitalized a number of times and have been none too happy about it. I am hoping to work with you to address the needs of sensitive people in a way that main-stream psychiatry does not. For the Network, from its earliest days, has always been providing alternatives, alternatives to coercion, alternatives to abuse, alternatives to labeling. We bring together the "psychiatrized" in an effort to create a caring, healing community within a community. And I am hoping to continue this work in a responsible and innovative way.

I have a working background in the mental health community that includes employment with the Consumer Initiative Fund, the South Mental Health Team, CMHA, the Mental Patients' Association, Peer Support Work, and work in social housing in the Downtown East side. In addition to that, I have volunteered with End Legislated Poverty, and Amnesty International. I do some freelance writing for a few publications in the Vancouver area, too. And for what it's worth, I also obtained a Diploma in Social Work from Langara College a few years back.

I am hoping that my experience and my commitment to the work of the Network will serve you well in the coming seasons.

From the Board

by Stephen Montgomery-Secretary of the Board

The board has been busy with a number of issues in the last few months. One of these issues has been to find a full time coordinator at the Network. We are pleased to announce that Ron Carten was selected as the new Network coordinator and will begin his full-time position on January 9th. To get Ron acquainted with the operations of the office, Ron will be receiving some training from Liz and Judith. Liz, with the assistance of Millie Strom, has been busy with the gaming application and it is hoped we will receive most or all of the funding we requested. We wish Liz all the best in here future endeavors.

The board has approved a number of things recently. One of these things is to start a native healing group while another is a course on public speaking for 10 hours offered by Jocelyn. (runs from March 10th to May 12th 2004) and is now in progress.

It was decided that we need to draw up an expanded agreement for facilitators and outreach workers. This agreement will be drafted over the next few months and will be required to be signed by all facilitators and outreach workers. We are currently in the midst of choosing a facilitator for the men's group.

A meeting was held with the funders on Dec. 18th. They were pleased with our emphasis on promoting support groups.

Dianne is working on the web site "VRMHN." If one goes to google, then vrmhn, one can link with either the link page or the home page. Dianne needs volunteers to help her. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Network office
(604) 733-5570 and leave a message.