Technical Assistance Conference, May 17th - 18th, 2010

First of I would like to thank those that attended our MASP meeting at O’Malley’s where the food is always good. Second I also wanted to thank Kevin Epling for his blog on bullying; this is a timely topic not only in Michigan and the recent episode of bullying in Cadillac but also in the nation. The Michigan House just recently re-introduced a bill that would address bullying here in Michigan, (It lost by only one vote in the Senate last year) we need to get behind this bill and add our voice.
Mainly I would like to echo Pat Smith’s post on getting signed up for our Technical Assistance conference this year at Higgins Lake, Monday May 17th – 18, 2010. Believe me for fifty bucks you cannot get a better location, great food, clean cabins and a chance to meet others in Michigan doing similar things we are trying to do. The speakers are informative, the material is relevant and the timing could not be better. Please take the time (you will not be sorry) download the registration forms, fill them out on-line or mail them back quickly (I think they would need to in by this Wednesday).
If I have not convinced you yet please read this. With all of the budget cuts to Community Mental Health, (13 million in 09; 40 million this year and a purposed 58 million cut by the Senate next year) given our lagging economy (mostly in jobs) the private sector cannot possibly make up these gaps. Church’s, charities, major foundations are being tapped to their limits. The only way we can get through this difficult period is together. It is only when communities pull together with other communities and share resources and support each other will get us through this. This conference will give us the opportunity to do this; this conference can bring us together. Thank you remember:
Stay safe, stay connected Larry Lewis, President Michigan Association for Suicide Prevention