Multi-Media Installation About the Death of Esmin Green
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Oregon Consumer Survivor Coalition proposal (text)
Here is the text of a proposal for the OCSC - Oregon Mental Health Consumer/Psychiatric Survivor Coalition -- as revised 12 February 2007 by Tom Wilson from suggestions received (thanks Tom!). You may download a PDF or MS Word version at the bottom. The boards of Oregon groups are invited to vote to endorse this proposal and offer a liaison to the Start-Up Committee.
Proposal:
Oregon Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Coalition
Mission Statement:
To establish a statewide network of people who identify as having a psychiatric diagnosis, and/or who feel labeled by one; to share ideas; provide mutual support; work toward common goals; strengthen peer-run organizations; and advocate for positive change in the mental health system."
Draft Tenets:
1) Unity among network members is a chief priority. To this end, mutual respect and dignity will be afforded all network members. Ideas will be debated and be subject to constructive feedback. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
2) Inclusion is a core principle upon which the network will be built. The network will honor the expression of ideas from a full spectrum of viewpoints.
3) Core values and core goals will be developed from the various viewpoints of the members who compose this network. These mutually agreed upon values and goals will drive the activities of the network.
Start-up Committee:
The start-up committee will be made up of one representative each from initial sponsor organizations, who may add more groups with everyone else's consent.
Proposed structure:
We realize that without adequate funding, we will all need to just "do our best" to unite and have the coalition represent Oregon groups and geographical areas.
The general long-term goal will be to have a governing council that is composed of representatives from these two different groups:
1) ORGANIZATIONAL representatives from each mental health consumer/psychiatric survivor group in Oregon who endorses the mission and tenets.
These are similar to the start-up committee representatives.
2) GEOGRAPHIC representative from each region in Oregon.
The start-up committee will draft a bylaws, define the geographic regions, and "do their best" to see that all those interested in each geographic region are notified and have a chance to vote on their geographic representative.
If the governing council becomes too large, it may then select some of its members to form a smaller working board of directors and officers.
