Monday, October 18, 2004
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One-By-One
Just before the meeting the chapters start strolling in. Walking toward the table Howard Lotsof (NAMA), and standing in the doorway is Sharon Dembinski (NE NAMA-MOM) and Barbara Finger (TexNAMA), Charles Kitts (VA NAMA), Cheri Jarvis (VA NAMA) and Paul Bowman (Boston NAMA) discuss chapter issues, sitting at the end by herself is Maureen Neville (MA NAMA) and with their backs to you is Jennifer Connolly and Julie D’Ascenzo (PA NAMA). |
Looking down the table from the head is at the left and with their backs to you Walter Ginter (Vice President), Joe Neubeger (DE NAMA), (unnamed), Carmen Pearman (The MAG Indiana), hardley seen is Charles “Hoss” Kitts (VA NAMA) and facing him is Cheri Jarvis (VA NAMA) and at the end is Rokki Baker (Chapter Coordinator). From the Right pecking in is Jo Sotheran (Secretary and Treasurer), John and Barbara Finger (TexNAMA), with his hand up Carlos Franco (Miami/FL NAMA), Jennifer Connelly (PA NAMA) and just behind her is Julia D’Ascenzo (PA NAMA), Claude Hopkins (NJ Advocates), Dann White (WVMAP) and facing Rokki is Becki Ballard (OK NAMA and new Training Coordinator).
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The View from the End
With their backs to us from right to left is Dann White (WVMAP), Yolanda and Becki Balland (OK NAMA). Across the table and facing them from right to left is Howard Lotsof (NAMA), Maureen Neville (MA NAMA), Sharon Dembinski NENAMA-MOM, Paul Bowman (Boston NAMA) and barely seen is Cheri Jarvis (VA NAMA). |
You can probably spot some people in this view of looking down the table with Joycelyn Woods (President) at the very end. It shows how many NAMA people come to the National Methadone Conference to represent patients. This is a big change from the very first conference that NAMA attended when only 2 people represented patients (Stan Novick and Joycelyn Woods). At that conference Joycelyn Woods was told by a social worker that patients should not attend the conference because they might see something. No one would dare say that today.
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Tony and Rok
While discussion is going on at the other end of the table Tony Scro (Grievance Coordinator) quietly pulls up a chair to discuss issues with Rokki Baker (Chapter Coordinator). (He was sneaking in Walter’s cake!) |
The NAMA Board of Directors decided at the last conference that we needed to recognize those chapters that do something that is extrodinary and above and beyond the “NAMA Call of Duty”. Since NAMA demands professionalism and excellence from every chapter the advocates recognized have responded to an issue or issues that have made us proud to be part of NAMA.
This years Exceptional Advocate is Charles “Hoss” Kitts of Virginia NAMA for his tenatious help for a patient who was arrested and put in jail by her probation officer for taking methadone and for his compassionate work on “We Speak Methadone”.
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A Surprised Hoss A surprised Hoss holds up his award for everyone to see. |
“But I Thought We Were Suppose to Be Exceptional!”
Hoss still a little surprised shows his award to Cheri Jarvis VA’s other half of Virginia NAMA. |
To close the meeting Walter Ginter was presented with a cake as a thank you for all the work he has done for NAMA. We don’t want to list all the things that Walter Ginter has done except to say that his energy has been endless, his ideas exceptional and whatever he was associated with was done with excellence. Walter will taking a sabitical for the next year or two and we sure will miss you!
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Walter and Cake!
Walter hold up his cake for everyone to see and then eat. Then we all had a good time discussing advocacy and the conference. |
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