=== Center of Attention ===
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/ExecBoard/Election04-05/
14 June 2004

SPECIAL EDITION: Strategic Planning Meeting and Elections
(no calendar, no feature article)

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>> IN THIS ISSUE <<
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*Strategic Planning Meeting & Elections
*Planning Agenda
*Candidates' Statements
*Please Tell Us
*Subscription Information
*CHADD Information

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>> STRATEGIC <<
>> PLANNING <<
>> MEETING <<
>> & <<
>> ELECTIONS <<
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Special Plea: If you are going to attend and can volunteer to help
count ballots and monitor the election, please let us know, just by
responding to this e-mail. Thank You!

ANNUAL ELECTIONS

In accordance with CHADD policy relating to CHADD Chapter elections,
the CHADD Chapter of Northern California will hold its annual
election for the Chapter Board of Directors and Officers by written
ballot on Saturday, June 19, 2004, from Noon to 3 pm, at the Epworth
United Methodist Church, Berkeley, CA.

Directions are at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/schedule/directions/EMC.htm

We will also have a segment for strategic planning for the coming
year. (The agenda is posted below.)

The election will be open to all current CHADD members, and only
Chapter members in good standing may hold a Chapter Board or Officer
position. Interested Chapter members may announce their intention to
seek election to any Chapter leadership position at the elections and
will be considered in the voting process.

A list of members in good standing will be used at the meeting to
identify who may vote.

The election will be conducted by a chapter election team who is not
standing for election and who has been appointed by the Chapter's
Board to assist with the election process. Each candidate will have a
maximum of three minutes to address the meeting and answer questions.
A simple majority of votes cast shall determine the outcome.

The ballot is available online at:

http://www.chaddnorcal.org/ExecBoard/Forms/Ballot04-05

You can:

1. Bring your ballot with you to vote in person at the election

2. Complete your ballot now and have a proxy vote it for you in
person at the election. Proxy votes must be cast by a CHADD member
who is present at the election. You must sign the proxy form

3. You may fax your ballot and signed proxy to the Chapter at
888-759-9758 to be counted by the election team.

4. You may receive a ballot and vote it yourself at the election.

Each CHADD membership is entitled to one vote. If, for example, both
a husband and wife attend the election and they have a CHADD "Family"
membership, they may cast only one vote.

The Chapter Nominating Committee (The Executive Board) has developed
a slate of candidates for Officer and Board positions. At this time,
the Nominating Committee recommends the slate of candidates in the
first column.

Write-in votes are allowed for any position. Vote in Just ONE Column,
or your vote cannot be counted.

Any necessary clarifications will be posted at:

http://www.chaddnorcal.org/ExecBoard/Election04-05

Questions will be answered at 888-759-9758

Thank you for your continued support of CHADD of Northern California!

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>> PLANNING AGENDA <<
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* Elections for Executive Board Positions

So far, Geoffrey Mangers is declared for Chapter Coordinator, now
occupied by Lew Mills. Gina Pera would like to replace retiring Mike
Hinckley in Silicon Valley, though Mike will continue to run the
group.

* Lunch: Downstairs (food not allowed upstairs)

* Strategic Planning for Fiscal Year July '04 - June '05

New Branches, including Greater Sacramento
Professional Resource List
Financial Reports
Board business:
Nashville Conference
Parent to Parent Family Training
Telephone Support group
Outreach to Doctors
SF Giants event on 9/2/04
How to Follow up on Lapsed Members

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>>CANDIDATES' STATEMENTS <<
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Geoffrey Mangers: Candidate for Chapter Coordinator

I announced my candidacy for Coordinator publicly at our CHADD Palo
Alto meeting April 7. And hope to encourage other members to contest
me in the upcoming election. I've been involved in the stuttering
self-help movement since 1971. And involved in the ADD self-help
movement for over 3 years now. Regularly attending both Kitty Petty's
meetings as well as the CHADD ones here locally. I ran for the same
office last year in CHADD. Those who know me, know I have a taste
for playful humor, teasing and satire. It's great if I can do it
without my stuttering stomping on that 'punchline'. And I'll
apologize/explain if it goes awry.

I'm 55 and have been poor most all of my life (as was my father). I
expect a farm-worker has made more in their life than I have. I've
struggled with lifelong self-esteem issues. My loyalties are to all
of those who have struggled with the difficulties I have. I'm looking
forward to meeting many new and fascinating people in this community.

=======================================

Lew Mills, PhD: Candidate for Chapter Coordinator

As coordinator of CHADD of San Francisco in 1998, and then for
Northern California since 1999, Lew's vision has always been to make
CHADD available to as many people as possible, with as little
volunteer struggle and expenditure of membership money as possible.

Leading the consolidation of chapters into our new "super-chapter"
was the beginning of finding ways to cooperate amongst the many
people who want to contribute to CHADD's mission.

Lew successfully:
* created and launched the CHADD of Northern California
website, including our consolidated schedule
* created and edits, as well as frequently contributes to,
this electronic "Center of Attention" newsletter
* initiated the use of listservs and "voice over IP"
telephone technology for chapter communications
* grew CHADD of Northern California to nearly 20 active support groups
* has spoken at the National Conference's Leadership Training
on chapter management
* was voted "National Volunteer of the Year" in October, 2002
* spoke about the significance of ADHD to the Joint
Informational Hearing of the California Senate Committees on Health
and Human Services, Business and Professions and the Senate Select
Committee on Developmental Disabilities in February of 2002.
* helped form the joint collaborative which connects CHADD
with the local organizations of the LDA, IDA, local Parent Training
and Information Centers and Schwab Learning
* is frequently quoted in the national press as a tireless
advocate, in his profession and publicly, for a better understanding
of ADHD.

Professionally, Lew is a Marriage and Family Therapist working in San
Francisco, specializing in Adults with ADHD. He has a Ph.D. in
Organizational Psychology from Alliant University where he completed
his doctorate in 1997 with research focused on understanding groups
and strategies for changing the cultures of organizations.

He received his BA from Williams College in 1978 and his MA in
Clinical Psychology from Antioch University - San Francisco in 1984.
He lives in the Bernal Heights area of San Francisco, and has two
school-aged children with ADHD. He was himself diagnosed as an adult
and has since had a particular passion for serving other adults with
ADHD.

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Gina Pera: Candidate for County Coordinator, Silicon Valley

I've worked in publishing and marketing communications for more years
than I care to count. So, perhaps the most useful skill I can offer
CHADD Silicon Valley is the ability to create publicity and awareness
for adult ADHD issues locally and to promote the resources this
chapter offers.

Depending on chapter consensus and goals, this might mean, for example:
* Issuing regular press releases regarding our support-group
meetings to the media, web-based community bulletin boards, and local
mental-health professionals and clinics.
* Contacting corporate HR departments to lobby for ADHD
awareness in its Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).
* Approaching the media regarding stories on adult ADHD,
providing story angles as well as sources to interview, such as local
experts and adults with ADHD.

Beyond that, I would hope to learn from chapter members what needs to
be done and work with folks to do it.

=======================================

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>> PLEASE TELL US <<
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We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please
continue to help us make this newsletter and CHADD of Northern
California more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published.

You can e-mail your comments to us at Lew@.... Simply
replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the editor.

Lew Mills, Editor

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>> CHADD INFORMATION <<
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Visit our webpage at http://www.chaddnorcal.org if you wish toŠ
* See the up-to-date schedule
* Read this newsletter and the archives
* Join CHADD of Northern California or renew your membership

About the Newsletter:

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.

* CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support *

Contact:

--

Lew Mills, PhD, LMFT
Editor, "Center of Attention"
CHADD of Northern California, Chapter # 504
mailto:Lew@...
http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
Fax or Voice Message: 510-291-2950
Toll Free 888-759-9758