Greetings S.A. Folk,

With the difficulty in getting S.A. Blue Booklets out to new group
leaders, it would seem that the ability to form new groups is
hampered to a large degree. This is not necessarily the case
though. In fact, there is enough information posted at the S.A.
information group at Google to enable a new group leader to set up an
S.A. group. It would help to have the Blue Booklet and Group Leaders
Manual, but it's not a hard necessity.

Keep in mind, that when Joanne formed the first S.A. group in
Michigan, there was no Blue Booklet and Group Leaders Manual written
yet. And the first ten groups in Michigan were able to form without
the booklet and leaders manual. It can be done, and done well.

The only S.A. literature that existed in those early years was a two
page brochure on S.A., financed by the Mental Health Association, and
a one page listing of S.A.'s six steps for recovery. There is
already more information than that posted at the Google information
page for S.A., including a sample format of an S.A. meeting. Check
out the posting at the Google group called "Information for New S.A.
Leaders."

We will try to set up arrangements for an umbrella organization to
make the Blue Booklet and Group Leaders Manual available to leaders
and members, but for now there still exists available information to
enable new group leaders to learn enough to set up an S.A. meeting.
This is true especially when one considers that the most important
aspect of the meeting are a group of members with schizophrenia who
learn to care about each other.
-----------------------------

--Some States Consider Blocking Some Mentally Ill From Voting

A debate is developing among some lawmakers about not allowing some
mentally to vote. Examples are those under court-ordered
guardianships and those suffering from dementia. Convicted felons
are not allowed to vote, though those with mental illness usually are
allowed. The American Bar Association is scheduled to release a
report soon that suggests that only a small segment of the mentally
ill should be blocked from voting. For story, click:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/06/states_try_to_d.html

---------------------------

--Website of the Week

The National Mental Health Association now has a new name--Mental
Health America. So it still has its old initials--MHA. The website
of Mental Health America is:


http://www.nmha.org/

-------------------------

--Quote of the Week

"Success is falling nine times and getting up ten."

Jon Bon Jovi, contemporary American rock star

-----------------------

I hope all is well for everyone, and please feel free to post your
concerns at S.A.'s discussion group at Yahoo. Bye for now.

Regards,
--John P.
======================================

For more information about
S.A.:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/8320/SA.htm
(Note: Address and phone number of the Mental Health Association in
Michigan is out of date.)
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For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous?hl=en
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For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous