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from NAMI.org
Survey Reveals Big Gap in Understanding of Depression View survey results, test your depression knowledge and browse expanded coverage in NAMI's new special section on depression.
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Strong in all the Broken Places: Congregations Caring for our Veterans
Medicare Drug Benefit Update: 2010 Plan Year Enrollment Begins
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NAMI Southwest Louisiana Proudly Presents

NAMI SWLA's Hometown Heroes vs. Harlem Ambassadors  

Sponsored by Image

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! 

      at the Lake Charles Civic Center Box Office (337)491-1432 or at the *NAMI Southwest Lousiana Office (337) 433-0219 *Check or Money Order Only

                        Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 - 6: 30pm - Lake Charles Civic Center

On Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 we will host the Harlem Ambassadors in an exhibition, basketball, and fundraising event at the Lake Charles Civic Center.  The Harlem Ambassadors professional show basketball game is high-flying slam dunks, hilarious comedy, and fun for the whole family!

The Ambassadors will be playing local and state civic leaders, local celebrities, business owners, and educators that currently support NAMI SWLA’s efforts within the community. All procedes from this event will be used to fund three new educational classes in the Spring of 2010. 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Advanced Ticket Prices = Students & Seniors = $7.00 / Adults = $9.00 / Children Under 4 = Free!

Ticket Prices at the Door = Students & Seniors = $9.00 / Adults = $11.00 / Children Under 4 = Free

Call the NAMI SWLA Office at (337) 433-0219 or E-Mail namiswlapm@bellsouth.net for more information!

Meet our Hometown Heroes!

Won't You Sponsor One of Our Players?!

  • Randy Roach, Mayor of the City of Lake Charles, LA
  • The Honorable Charles E. “Chuck” Kleckley, Calcasieu Parish, District 36,LA House Representative
  • Senator Willie Mount, LA State Senate, District 27
  • Don Dixon, Chief of Police, Lake Charles Police Dept.
  • Kevin Guidry, Calcasieu Parish Police Juror, District 9, Child Abuse Prevention Council Member, & National Football League Alumni
  • Hal McMillin, President, Calcasieu Parish Police Jurors, District 14 Police Juror
  • Phil de Albuquerque, Owner/Publisher, The Jambalaya News, and President of the Board of Directors of the Lake Charles Children’s Museum
  • Denise Durel, President/CEO, United Way of SWLA
  • Father Henry J. Mancuso, Pastor, Sacred Heart Catholic Church
  • Kip Texada, Director of Ward 3 Recreation, McNeese State University Alumni
  • Michael Raichel, A. M. Barbe High School Graduate, Varsity Basketball Player, U.S. Naval Veteran, NAMI SWLA Consumer
  • Britney Glazer, KPLC-TV, Channel 7, News Anchor & Health Reporter, & Big Brothers/Big Sisters Volunteer
  • Brandon Thomas, Defensive Back for the Louisiana Swashbucklers & 2009 All SIFL Team
  • Marcus Wilridge, Wide Receiver for LouisianaSwashbucklers, SIFL’s Offensive Player of the Year
  • Frank Harrell, St. Louis High School Band Director, former Sam Houston High School Principal, former Westlake H. S.  Band Director for 23 years
  • Wendell Benoit, City ofSulphur Fire Department, Station 2, Firefighter/Engineer
  • Carol Sensley, Asst. Youth Dir., Living Word Christian Center, former MSU Women’s Basketball Coach
  • Tom Annino,KPLC-TV, Channel 7, Sports Director
  • James Stahl, Enbridge & NAMI SWLA Committee Member & Volunteer
  • Joshua Benoit, City ofSulphur Fire Department, Station 1, Firefighter
  • Eric Crawford, NAMI SWLA Board of Directors, NAMI SWLA Consumer
  • Rev. Roger Templeton, Assoc. Pastor, St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church, & NAMI SWLA Board of Directors
  • Gary Brown – Conoco Phillips, NAMI SWLA Board of Directors
  • Bobby Dower – Editor, Lake Charles American Press
  • Jacob Colonna - Attorney, Richard Law Firm
  • Kevin Thibodeaux - Former Washington Generals Basketball Player, & Former MSU Varsity Basketball Player
 
Guest Referee- Thom Hagar, President, Southern Indoor Football League and Owner of the Louisiana Swashbucklers
Guest Coach- Johnny Suydam – former McNeese State University Football and Baseball Coach , and Voice of MSU Cowboy Football.
 

Special Thanks to our Sponsors: 

Event Sponsor

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Quarter Sponsors

Harlem Ambassador's Hotel Accommodations

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Player Sponsors

                                                             Don Dixon                  Wendell & Joshua Benoit                   Eric Crawford

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                                                     SFD Local 3765

                                                        Image(1) Anonymous Donation     (2) Player Donations     

 

Randy Robb, Lake Charles - Personal Player Donation

 

Banner Sponsors

                                                               Image Image

Ticket Package Sponsors

Image - (300) Student/Senior Tickets

Randy Robb, Lake Charles, LA - Personal Donation - (15) Student/Senior Tickets

 

 


NAMI SWLA's Executive Director Recognized

SWLA Women's Commission "Citizen of the Year Award"

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Photo: Sisters Charlotte Koons (Left) and Marty Cox (Right), along with her son, Michael, surprise Clarice during award ceremony.

The Women's Commission of Southwest Louisiana, Inc. held their annual Women's Conference on Thursday, October 15th, 2009.  During which time, Clarice Raichel, Executive Director of NAMI SWLA and NAMI National Board Member, was presented with the Jack V. Doland "Citizen of the Year Award." 

The award was established in 1991 in honor of the late Senator who was a strong supporter of women's issues.  Recipients of the award must be a resident of Southwest Louisiana and be selected by the Commission through a nomination process based on: individual achievements, contributions to civic and volunteer groups, honors received, and ways in which this individual has made a difference in the lives she or he has touched.  Past Recipients of this prestigious award include: Senator Willie Mount, Koni Bridges, Ann Polak, Jennifer Jones, The Honorable Patricia H. Minaldi, Judge, and Dr. Nancy Shepard, to name a few.
 
All of us at NAMI SWLA would like to congratulate your well deserved recognition in the community, and all your continued work with the NAMI Southwest Louisiana mental health community.

Messages from the Executive Director...

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Women's Commission of Southwest Louisiana for presenting me with the Jack V. Dolan "Citizen of the Year Award."   I am overwhelmed and humbled that this award was given to me.  
 
Although this a surprising and wonderful form of personal recognition, I must give the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Southwest Louisiana and the long list of NAMI volunteers, staff, consumers, and mental health providers for making this honor possible.  NAMI is the calling that drives me every day to help those living with the affects of mental Illness.  So, without them, this honor would not have even been possible.   Thank you, Women's Commission, for recognizing the work of NAMI Southwest Louisiana.

Sincerely,
Clarice Raichel
Executive Director, NAMI Southwest Louisiana
NAMI National Board Member
2009 SW Louisiana Women's Commission "Citizen of the Year"


The 11th Annual NAMI Southwest Louisiana Membership Dinner

We at NAMI SWLA would like to thank those who attended the Annual Membership Dinner on Tuesday, October 6th, at Reeves Uptown Catering. 

We had a few set backs with our guest speaker's, Clarence Jordan's, airline flight.  For those of you who do not know, he was to fly from Memphis, TN to Dallas, TX, then take a flight in to the Lake Charles airport, but midway through his flight from Memphis, his connecting flight to Lake Charles was cancelled due to weather issues.  So, being the professional that he is, he took a flight from Dallas to Houston, TX, then drove to Lake Charles just in time to give his presentation.  For those of you who were not able to make the dinner, you definately missed a very insightful and motivating speaker.  Mr. Jordan captivated the audience from begin to end with his very candid recap of his road to recovery, and the value of resiliance in dealing with mental illness.  We thank you, Clarence Jordan, for your tenacity in finding a way to our city, our dinner, and into the hearts, minds, and prayers of those priviledged enough to hear your presentation.  You are an inspiration for all who suffer with mental health issues.

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                 Guest Speaker, Clarence Jordan


Women and Depression (WRAP Program)

Registration Now Open for December 1st, 2009 Session!

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 Registration for the December 1st, 2009 - February 2nd, 2010 have begun. 

Contact the NAMI SWLA office at (337) 433-0219 for more information or to register.


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NAMI Southwest Louisiana Honors Crisis Intervention Team Members

The 2nd Annual Crisis Intervention Team Awards Banquet, was held Thursday, August 27th, 2009 at Reeves Catering on Ryan Street. The annual banquet was held to honor CIT trained law enforcement officers and mental health specialists that show exemplary service in dealing with community members in crisis. 

The guest speaker for the evening was Dr. Wayman Mullins, Professor of Criminal Justice at Texas State University.   Dr. Mullins’ presentation emphasized managing critical incidents and hostage situations in law enforcement.

During the ceremony, several CIT members were awarded for their outstanding service to the mental health community.  Cpl. Dustin Gaudet was named the CIT Officer of the Year by the Lake Charles Police Department, Sgt. Kim Sittig received the same honor from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital named Zachary Conner as their CIT Professional of the Year, and Sgt. Darek Ardoin and Richard Tanous were both recognized with Awards of Excellence.

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Cpl. Dustin Gaudet          Sgt. Kim Sittig & Husband     Zachary Conner        Dr. Mullins, R. Tanous, D. Ardoin, Lt. David Anders

 

NAMI SWLA Receives National Housing Award  

NAMI SWLA was presented with the Phillip and Sarah Francouer Award at the NAMI National Convention in San Francisco in July of 2009.The Francouer Award is given to honor outstanding achievement in providing housing or other needed services to people with mental illness. 
 
The convention program quoted presenters as saying, “The NAMI National Board was impressed with the way NAMI Southwest Louisiana has acted on its belief that safe and affordable housing is a foundation on which to build recovery.  This affiliate’s successful design, funding, and construction of 24 on-bedroom apartment units (Maison D’ Amis), completed over a three-year period, has made a real difference in the lives of the people who live there, all of whom have serious, chronic mental illness.”

Maison d'Amis

 

KPLC-TV Wins NAMI National's Outstanding Media Award

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Robin Daugereau, Programming and Marketing  Director, for local NBC Affiliate, KPLC-TV, Channel 7, gratefully accepted  the NAMI National  Outstanding Media Award for Public Service, during the closing banquet of the NAMI National Convention, held July, 2009 in San Francisco, CA.

NAMI SWLA nominated KPLC for this national award for their media sponsorship of  the annual NAMI Walk, mental health public service announcements, and their month-long series, “The Mental Connection.”  The series featured interviews of professionals as well as first person interviews broadcast on television and featured on a special web page online.  KPLC-TV also holds the honor of being the first local television station to be presented with this award.  Previous honors were given only to national media, such as CBS, The Wall Street Journal, PBS, and CNN, to name a few.

Congratulations, KPLC, and thank you for your continued coverage and support of NAMI and the needs of the Southwest Louisiana community.

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