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The NAMI Veterans Council

Elected officers of the NVC Sally Miller, Chair Executive Committee:                               Vice Chair: Mike C. Jones 2nd Vice Chair: Nancy Edwards Fiscal Officer: Joe Bonivel Secretary: Bruce Graunke Parliamentarian: Clare Munot Staff Liaison: Liz Smith

The NAMI Veterans Council (NVC) is a leadership body of NAMI members assembled to advise the NAMI National Board of Directors on issues relating to veterans and their families. There are currently approximately 275 council members.

The NVC exists to give input to the NAMI Board of Directors through the Veterans Committee and to ensure close attention to veterans' mental health issues not only at the national level, but also within each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN). Additionally, NVC members engage with NAMI national and state organization leadership to support and enhance education and advocacy activities.

Voting members of the NVC include state NVC representatives, appointed by NAMI state organization leadership, VISN representatives, and elected officers of the NVC.  Together, the NVC members advocate for an improved continuum of care for veterans, active military, family members, and friends who have a serious mental illness. Members of the NVC often work in cooperation with NAMI state and local leaders. Other NAMI members may belong to the NVC network and engage in support of NVC activities.

Officers:

Officers serve for two years and are elected at the annual meeting of the NAMI Veterans Council by a majority vote of members of the VISN Committee and the NAMI Veterans Council Executive Committee. Officers may be re-elected to no more than two successive terms.

Sub-committees and work groups:

The subcommittees are being re-structured and renamed Work Groups. Chairs have not been appointed. The committees will be Women’s Issues, Education for Veterans and Families, Strategic Planning, Grassroots Development and Communications.

Mission

The Mission of the NAMI Veterans Council (NVC) is to advocate for veterans with serious mental illness and their families in comprehensive and coordinated systems of care in both inpatient and community settings. The Mission also covers active military personnel and their dependents with serious mental illness.

Membership

Individuals interested in joining the NVC network or in learning more about the NVC and NAMI veteran's activities should contact NAMI at veterans@nami.org. Members of the NVC network must be NAMI members in good standing. If you are not already a NAMI member, please join us.

Related Links

Veterans Council Operating Procedures Approved 2007

Clarence Jordan Testimony on Behalf of Veterans, 3/10/2010

NAMI Veterans Council member Connie Walker testifies before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs on 10/24/07.

NAMI Board Member Fred Frese Testifies Before Senate VA Committee

NAMI Veterans Council Testifies on FY 2008 VA Budget

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When you become a member of NAMI, you become part of America's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness. And now you can join online.