President’s Annual Meeting Report of 2020 (Fiscal year) Accomplishments

1. Programs: 

• Listening Session on Police Interactions in Mental Health Crises
• Co-sponsored screening of the documentary Angst about childhood anxiety
• Started a monthly Book Club
• May Mental Health Awareness Month, In Our Own Voice presentation by board member Carrie

 
2. Action:

• Day on the Hill at the Capitol
• Letter to the County Board and County Manager sharing our Police Listening Session Report and follow up email; letter to police chiefs and sheriff
• Successfully advocated for better ABLE account fact sharing from Ramsey County financial workers
• Letters to Roseville and Shoreview supporting ordinances prohibiting flavored tobacco; Roseville passed ordinance and Shoreview is pending
• Letter to County Board and County Manager asking for prioritization of housing for people with serious mental illness, especially during COVID
• Letter to County Board and County Manager in support of the county opting into the new Voluntary Engagement law calling for earlier intervention
• Liaison to NAMI Minnesota Legislative Committee
• Liaisons to Ramsey County Adult Mental Health Advisory Council

 
3. Organization:  

• In one year, we went from a board of four members to a board of 14 and four advisors; we accomplished this largely through outreach and partnerships with First Episode Psychosis program alumni and the Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative
• Started a Nominations Committee, recruited more board members and added diversity to the board
• Created bylaws and amended them after a year to increase board capacity since we have so many more members
• Created a budget and budget process
• Created a Code of Conduct
• Started using Google Drive, with board training
• Website, social media, Facebook page, e-newsletters, Volunteer Hub, Google Groups
• Created new orientation video for new board members and volunteers
• Provide trained Peer Support Group leader - Debbi
• Applied for and presented two AmeriCorps Presidential Volunteer Service Awards to long-time volunteers
• Initiated a partnership with the Ramsey County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative, contributed NAMI publications for their hospital backpack program that gives families resources when their child leaves a hospital, and participated in a booth at their Family Wellbeing Resource Fair, from which we gained a board member. We also added three advisors from their organization who will act as liaisons to complement our board
• Initiated a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion standing board item to monitor our progress

---

Author: Mindy Greiling, board president 

Mindy was a state representative for 20 years, served on state and national NAMI boards, and is the author of Fix What You Can, a book about her legislative work and her family's story about her son's schizo-affective disorder.