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A Wonderful Award
~ from Mary Ann Beall
Dear Friends, This month a wonderful honor was bestowed on Ray Bridge
and on the Center he founded to help people with psychiatric
disabilities attain employment. He and the Laurie Mitchell
Employment Center were presented with the Secretary of Labor's New
Freedom Initiative Award.
The Laurie Mitchell Employment Center helps those with mental illness
and other disabilities build skills, obtain employment and achieve
independence. All services are free of charge. Since
opening, LMEC has served 2,500 people along their chosen career paths.
More than 80% of graduates of advanced computer training have secured
employment by the end of their training.
LMEC's small staff are themselves mental health consumers and identify
with the challenges the people they serve face, in gaining self
confidence, in finding work and managing a career. While
delivering services, they share their understanding, offer hope and
serve as role models to others with mental illness during their personal
and professional development.
I cannot say how proud I am of Ray and of the wonderful center he
founded and has led for all these years. This year two non-profits
were recognized nation wide and Ray's beloved Laurie Mitchell Center was
one of them. Yours in Peace, Mary Ann Beall
Celebrating Two Monumental Occasions
Laurie Mitchell Employment Center is a consumer-run center in Northern
Virginia. Please Join the LMEC in Celebrating Two Monumental Occasions
on Saturday, November 10, 2007! On This Day, LMEC will celebrate its
nationally recognized New Freedom Initiative Award recently presented by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
Also On This Day... We will launch "The Raymond L. Bridge Empowerment
through Training Fund: Empowering consumers along their chosen path
through training." Proceeds of this new fund will benefit Laurie
Mitchell Employment Center consumers. Please consider honoring Ray with
a donation to this special fund.
As we gather Nov. 10, we will also celebrate the many accomplishments of
Raymond Bridge in honor of his retirement as President of the Board of
LMEC. As one of the founders and President since 1995, Ray's vision,
leadership and unwavering commitment to LMEC have been extraordinary. To
RSVP, Please Call (703) 970-3608. The celebration will be held at our
Edsall Road location, 6295 Edsall Road, Suite 175, Alexandria, VA 22312.
Resolution in Honor of Ray Bridge
~ from the VOCAL Board of Directors
The VOCAL Board of Directors hereby recognizes the exceptional work of
Mr. Raymond Bridge and the Laurie Mitchell Employment Center in creating
a vibrant consumer owner and operated service which provided new
employment opportunities to the psychiatric survivors/mental health
consumers of Northern Virginia.
The VOCAL Board of Directors congratulates and honors Mr. Raymond Bridge
and the Laurie Mitchell Employment Center for "having demonstrated
exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment and
workplace environment for people with disabilities" and receiving the
Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award.
New Member Program
Welcome to a new member program of the VOCAL CO-OP:
Lynchburg, VA
TNT - Talkin and Tradin (forming)
We are peers meeting together to support each other in recovery. We are
hoping more peers will join and we hope to develop into a drop-in
center. We are encouraging others and trying to promote recovery in
Lynchburg.
paulab225@hotmail.com
CO-OP Point Person: Paula Brent
Free Training on SSI & Work Incentives
"Understanding the Myriad of Rules Governing SSI/SSDI, Medicaid,
Medicare & Related Work Incentives for People with Disabilities". WHEN
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 - Wednesday, November 7, 2007. WHERE
Charlottesville, VA. Training is free. For more information contact
http://www.vaaccses.org/
Just the Basics for Storytellers
"Just The Basics for Storytellers" Seminar will be presented at the
VAPRA Conference on November 8th from 2:00-3:30 in the Hampton II Room
of the Hampton Inn, Hampton, VA. We will be raffling copies of
the inspiration self help book "Just The Basics By Emolyne" during
the seminar. ~ from Ruth Molyne,
justthebasics@cox.net
CO-OP Scholarships
Congratulations to Paula Brent, co-chair of TNT - Talkin
and Tradin, for receiving a VOCAL CO-OP Scholarship to attend A
to Z Grant Writing at Piedmont College. CO-OP Scholarships are available
for staff, board, and volunteers at peer-run mental health programs in
Virginia. More scholarships are still available! To apply or find out
more, please visit
http://vocalsupportcenter.org/scholarships.htm
Create-a-Thon
CreateAthon will produce marketing materials and provide assistance
nonprofit organizations for free. CreateAthon can provide a vast variety
of materials and assistance to nonprofits - logos/identities, press
release kits, newsletters, PR strategies, print advertising, posters,
direct mail, web interfaces, and more - all created and polished by
students under the advisement of faculty and local professional mentors
at Virginia Commonwealth University.
http://www.createathononcampus.org/
Why Didn't I Get That Job
A FREE Seminar by the Laurie Mitchell Employment Center. Saturday,
November 3, 2007, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Doors Open at 10:30 a.m. Learn
the Top 10 Mistakes Job Seekers Make in the Areas of: Resumes Cover
Letters and Interviews.
Discover how to impress interviewers by learning: What employers look
for and what lands your resume in the reject pile! How to make your
resume stand out - in a POSITIVE way! Your SECRET WEAPON in job seeking!
Common cover letter mistakes that leave BAD first impressions. How to
make the employer WANT to read your resume and schedule an interview. 10
questions we HATE and the best ways to answer them.
8794-S Sacramento Drive, Alexandria, VA 22309. To RSVP or for directions
please Call 703-531-6380 Or send e-mail to cynthialev@yahoo.com
Executive Director Job Posting
Executive Director-Nonprofit Corporation
VOCAL, Inc., a Virginia statewide consumer-run mental health
organization, seeks executive director to work with staff and Board of
Directors to implement goals and objectives and oversee development of
program and organizational strategies. Bachelor's degree and three years
management-level experience in a nonprofit organization preferred.
The office location is to be determined -- it may be either in Richmond
or Charlottesville. The job description is at
www.vocalvirginia.org.
Send cover letter with resume and 3 work-related references to: REACH,
Attn: Executive Director Position. PO Box 630, Harrisonburg, VA
22803. Or online to: jobs@vocalvirginia.org
Must be post-marked or emailed by COB December 7, 2007.
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