Swedishfish is taking notes

 

The conference call included:

 

Stevensmiles

Swedishfish

Inel

Hellothere

Yaya

FightforRoses

a cat and several dogs

 

Checkins. How you want to get involved and where are you from?

 

Hellothere: is in a car with his parents. Not actively involved with an Icarus Project group but he enjoys the website. Tried to get some stuff to happen in Denver but it didn't happen. Wants to get involved more in the future.

 

Swedishfish: From Chicago and wants to get more involved with the Icarus Project.

 

Inel: Involved in support network working group. Works as a web host liason. Deals with complaints and grievences.

 

FightforRoses: From New Jersey. Goes to New York TIP sometimes. First time calling. Trying to getmore involved in the New York Project.

 

Stevensmiles: Is watching a football game. Doing well. Has a new job and is enjoying that. He's also making music. TIP gives hope. He's creating a newsletter for TIP.

 

Strangedoll: Has been involved with TIP for a few years. She is a moderator on the forum and involved with a local group. Thinks the conference call is a good place for people to talk with anxiety.

 

Inel: Says the conference call is a good place to share projects people are working on and a good time to pitch ideas. It's a good place to get dreams out there. It's a place to get answers about what goes on behind the scenes. There are several working groups. Let her know if you want to get involved.

 

Swedishfish: Is involved with a group in chicago called the Mad Tea Party that's been around for about 3 years. There is a reading group called beyond bedlam. We are putting together movies nighs. In the past there have been coffeemeetups, zines. Looking to reach out and expand. MTP just found a new meeting space at the Latino Union which organizes immigrant day labourers. Looking for networks to start a psychiatric survivor housing co-op and crisis center.

 

Inel: Are you working with MUSE?

 

Swedishfish: Yes, MUSE is a not for profit organization that offers psychiatric survivors open studio art therapy. We are working under MUSE to get grants.

 

Strangedoll: Has been in the hosptial and get nothing out of it.

 

Stevensmiles: There is a project in Vermont that gets state funding. $250,000 a year. There are different ways to get money. There are 11 places in N. Hampsire for peer support.

 

Swedishfish: Has a friend from Chicago that is being threatened with hosptialization for life. She is in Augusta, Gerogia.

 

Stevensmiles: Georgia has a peer support crisis center. The contact person is Jamie Lynch.

 

Inel: Use contacts Steven offered. Contact Jamie at the peer run crisis house. Georgia has a strong recovery community.

 

Stevensmiles: Georgia has a mental health consumer network.

 

Brian: Sorry to hear about your friend. What is the situation?

 

Swedishfish: They are saying she can't function outside of the hospital because she was homeless and they found her on people's property eating from gardens. She's not being compliant or taking medication.

 

Inel: Father was permentaly institutionalized.

 

Swedishfish: was hospitalized 3 times and each time did everything they said inorder to get out.

 

Inel: Are people interested in what goes on behind the scenesof TIP?

 

Swedishfish: Would like to know more about getting involved.

 

Inel: Does that not work for anybody? Past summer moved to a working group model because too few people were doing too many things. Broke down the working groups. The working groups include education and outreach and camus organizing. There are 2 coordiators. Campus organizing position is open and they are doing interviews. There is also media and publishing done by Will Hall. Media and publishing is translating the Harm Reduction Guide into Spanish. This group handles Madness Radio. Looking for help in putting together good looking press kits.

 

There is the support network group which functions as a web host liason. They help facilitate conference calls.

 

Friends Make the Best Medicine is being expanded. Go through and see what needs to be added. Add first handexperience. Add articles from people involved in local groups.

 

TIP is also looking to create a seed grant program for more funding. Also looking for create smaller grants for things like shirts $200.

 

There is the Web group run by Nick who is a tech genius. Need more moderators. Lacking moderators.

 

There is the Administration and Distro based in the NY office run by Mimi. Does grant reporting.

 

TIP doesn't have a dedicated grant writer or fundraiser. Going to create a fundraising committe that has a grassroots fundraising approach. Formarly blessed by relationships through Sasha. Now money is beginning to dwindle. TIP needs to start a grassroots campaign.

 

Swedishfish: would like to know more about the grant commitee.

 

Inel: Creating membership campaign maybe $10 a year.

 

I't about 3pm so we wrap up.

 

Stevensmiles: Thanks Inel you were a good facilitator.

 

Swedishfish: Loved the conference call. There are 2 announcements. MTP is going on 2 field trips, one to a farm on Michigan and one to NY. We are looking for people we can stay with in NY.

 

Brian: Enjoyed the call and figured out how to become more involved.

 

Yaya: Thanks Inel for all the hard work. Would like to do more. Can't post much. Ejoys listening to Swedishfish's journey.

 

Strangedoll: Thank you.

 

Inel: Final parting words. It's a hard time to be a human on this planet. Reach out it's the essence of what we do.