[humanser] introducing myself

Fri Jul 12 02:20:31 UTC 2013

Hi Darrel,
Thanks for the re-introduction. I loved reading more about your current job and I would love to work with you and any other interested people on the epic issue.
I will try my best to attend the earlier of the conference calls but I may be late in calling in. 

I will also email you off list to find out more about your epic experience.

Happy to be part of the division.
Ronit

On Jul 11, 2013, at 7:07 PM, "Merry Schoch" <merrys at verizon.net> wrote:

> Welcome Darrel,
> 
> Great to have you participate on this list!  Hope you will have the time to
> join our teleconference.  One of the issues I would like this Division to
> look at is the computer programs that are not fully accessible to us.  My
> idea is to have interested members be part of committees to spearhead such
> initiatives.  Your usage of Epic (which I believe you mentioned during our
> meeting at convention) would benefit this initiative.
> 
> Thanks again for introducing yourself!
> 
> Merry
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> dkirby at mchsi.com
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 9:08 PM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: [humanser] introducing myself
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Merry Schoch <merrys at verizon.net>
> To: 'Human Services Mailing List' <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sat, 6 Jul 2013 05:14:39 -0500 (CDT)
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Human Services Division Updates
> 
> Let's look at the agenda, see where we would like it, and request a change!
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JD Townsend
> Sent: Friday, July 05, 2013 7:47 PM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Human Services Division Updates
> 
> 
> Would it not be a good thing if our Division meetings did not happen at the
> exact same time?  I wonder if that might be negotable?
> 
> JD
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carlos Montas
> Sent: Friday, July 05, 2013 9:09 AM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] Human Services Division Updates
> 
> Good morning to all, i just wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate 
> the newly elected board members.  Although I am working in the   rehab 
> field,  i am a social worker first.  I believe you all are going to do a
> great job.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Jul 5, 2013, at 8:07 AM, "Merry Schoch" <merrys at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
>> Greetings!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Below you will find a list of the newly elected Board Members of the 
>> Human Services Division, as well as, an amendment that was made to our 
>> constitution.  I would like to thank all those who have served on the 
>> Board in the past.  I would also like to thank our current Board 
>> Members for their
>> willingness to serve.   We will be having a convention debriefing via
>> teleconference for all attendees very soon.  We need your input and ideas!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Board Members of the Human Services Division:
>> 
>> Merry Schoch, President
>> 
>> David Stayer, First Vice President
>> 
>> Amalia Veliz, Second Vice President
>> 
>> Nicole Yarmolkevich, Secretary
>> 
>> John Townsend (JD), Treasurer
>> 
>> Tyrone Bratcher, Board Member
>> 
>> Denise Shaible, Board Member
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Amendment:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Proposed Amendment to the Human Services Division Constitution 
>> concerning Dues
>> 
>> This amendment removes the amount of the dues from the constitution 
>> allowing the membership to set the dues by a majority vote, rather 
>> than by a 2.3 majority to amend the constitution.
>> 
>> Currently reads:
>> 
>> ARTICLE VII
>> 
>> Dues
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> The dues of the Division shall be $10.00 per year for those 
>> professionals employed in the field and $5.00 per year for students 
>> and professionals who are currently not working.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Amended to Read:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ARTICLE VII
>> 
>> Dues
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>           Dues of the Division will be an amount determined by the 
>> membership as needed.  Dues are payable at the time of the annual meeting.
>> If an individual desires to become a member of the Division at a time 
>> before the annual meeting, the dues shall be the same.  Exception:
>> Should the initial request for membership be made less than three 
>> months before the annual meeting, the dues will be applied to the 
>> following year.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> After acceptance of the amendment a motion was made and accepted that 
>> dues shall be $5.00.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Merry C. Schoch, MSW ISW#6961
>> 
>> Professional Social Worker/Counselor
>> 
>> (813) 626 - 2789
>> 
>> Merrys at verizon.net
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: The information transmitted, including 
>> attachments, is intended only for the person(s) or entity to which it 
>> is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material.
>> Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking 
>> of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities 
>> other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this 
>> in error, please contact the sender and destroy any copies of this 
>> information.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> humanser:
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> 
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> 
> JD Townsend LCSW
> Helping the light dependent to see.
> Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
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> Hello Human Services Division Members:
> 
> I have been a member of this division for many years, but failed to
> introduce myself on the list. After this past convention and division
> meeting, I realized that I would greatly benefit from networking with others
> on this list, while also helping others with what I have learned.
> I also agreed to connect with Sarah Meyer and Ronit. I want to make my
> contact information available to all. Here is my email:
> dkirby at mchsi.com. 
> My human services background:
> 
> I graduated in 2008 with a Master's Degree in Social Work. I was blessed to
> have acquired a full-time position two months before I graduated with my
> MSW. This either makes me a good resource for interviewing and finding a job
> or a really bad resource, only applying for two jobs after my MSW and
> getting both.
> My first job was in substance abuse counseling at a non-profit agency. This
> included individual, family, and group counseling. I found myself working
> from a CBT perspective with strong influences from Motivational
> Interviewing, Person-Centered Therapy, and Rational Emotive Behavioral
> Therapy. In this position, This agency had no experience working with a
> blind counselor. It was my responsibility for making the job accessible. The
> employer was willing to work with me, but I was the expert. If people have
> questions about the alternative techniques of counseling, documentation,
> billing, and utilizing blindness as a strength, I am open to all questions.
> I am still struggling with the documentation program, Epic, but I do vow to
> never let a software program keep me from doing a job that I love.  
> 
> After two years at this position, an opportunity opened up at the state
> hospital in my home city. I got the job and have worked as a social
> worker/psychotherapist in a substance abuse/partial hospitalization setting
> for the past 3.5 years. I work in a building that has 63 miles of hallway. I
> was scared to start working at such a large hospital, especially with
> meetings all over the hospital, but I now find the building to be easy to
> navigate. I say this because I know that it was almost a reason for me to
> not go after the job. I found myself motivated, yet again, by the stories at
> convention. It is a reminder to not let fear prevent me from taking some
> risks - 63 miles and all. 
> 
> I am still learning much about social work and counseling and the helping
> profession. 
> In my state, most social workers become licensed after graduation with an
> MSW. We are then called LMSW's in the state of Iowa. 
> After two years of supervision - including 110 hours of direct supervision,
> we can take an exam to become Licensed Independent Social Workers or LISW's.
> The credential allows us to bill all insurance companies in the state of
> Iowa. I will be sitting for my LISW in August of this year. My current job
> does not require that I licensed at the independent level, but it is a
> marketable licensure and would allow me to open a private practice in the
> future. I am requesting off-list information about the LISW exam if anyone
> has advice or support to offer.
> 
> Lastly, I love what I do for a living. I am passionate about the helping
> profession. I have become a leader at my agency. My co-workers and my
> clients view my blindness as a strength. Sitting in my office is a bright
> yellow baseball cap with the word victor written in bright purple.
> Underneath the word "victor" is the word "victor" in Braille. This was a
> gift from a group of patients in our partial hospitalization program that
> discussed how they benefited from learning about taking off the "victim" hat
> and putting on the "victor" hat. The impact this has on one's life, as it
> changes how we think, and ultimately how we feel and act. It is a concept
> taken directly from the National Federation for the Blind.
> 
> I realize that I may be tooting my own horn, but I have become a leader in
> my community for issues related to substance abuse and mental illness. I
> find myself presenting to some group or agency or school at least once per
> month. The significance of this is two-fold. Blindness has not prevented me
> from becoming a leader in the field of dual diagnosis and the treatment of
> people facing substance abuse and/or mental illness. But also, I change
> public attitude about blindness every time I am asked to speak to a public
> audience as an expert in a challenging field. JoAnn Wilson told me a few
> years back that I am doing NFB work every day that I strive toward
> professional development in this field. She told me this when I was
> concerned about not being active enough in the NFB . I realize now that we
> do our best to develop a career, while continuing activity in this great
> organization.
> 
> Like most things in my life, when I decide to do something, I go all out.
> Hence, my first post to this list serve is a long one :-)
> 
> Thanks for listening if you made it this far and feel free to contact me
> with any questions.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Darrel Kirby
> 
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> 
> 
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