May 2015
Volume 2, Issue 8
Connecticut Chapter,
Employee Assistance
Professionals Association
(EAPA)
Message from the President
‘Walking the Daily Journey of Autism’ with our April guest speaker Kim
Newgass was both eye-opening and exhausting. Many of us in attendance
have very personal connections to someone diagnosed on the autism
disorder spectrum. We already knew how hard it is for family members to live
with. It was alarming to find out the statistics of occurrences in the
population, and the continued lack of resources available. We were very
grateful to provide us access to the resources that do exist in our state, but
are now more aware than ever of the increasing toll living this particular
journey can take.
Contents
From the President
1
Speaker Schedule
2
Minutes
2
Bulletin Board
4
NEXT MEETING
‘Empowerment –Based Language: It’s Impact on Engagement and Sustaining
Recovery’ will be presented by Greg Williams at our May chapter meeting.
This meeting ends the year of our monthly meetings. We end our yearly
program schedule in June with our Annual June conference on Medical
Marijuana, which we are very excited about.
In June we will be having elections for the executive board that will be
starting their terms in July. We continue to look for new energy and faces to
invigorate and sustain the chapter. We have been very fortunate to have so
many new members volunteering for so many tasks. Please consider
volunteering in any way that fits into your schedule. It’s a great
May 21, 2015
8:30 – 11:00
Gaylord Hospital
Wallingford, CT
Topic: Empowerment
Based Language: Its
Impact on Recovery
Speaker: Greg Williams
Continued on page 3
Welcome to the CT EAPA Newsletter!
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to post information of interest to our membership and
friends of the Chapter. This may include job openings, trainings, brief announcements, etc.
Thanks and hope you join us at a meeting!
- Bud Wassell, CEAP, Membership Chair, 203-688-2280 or [email protected]
2
Maria Tomisetti from the CT Alzheimer’s
Association speaking to chapter members.
Speaker Schedule:
5/21/15 - Empowerment Based Language: Its Impact in
Engagement and Sustaining Recovery from Substance Use
Disorders, Presented by Greg Williams
June 18, 2015 - CT Chapter Annual Conference
Medical Marijuana: “Clearing the Smoke on Fact from
Fiction”
Visit www.CTEAPA.com to download a registration form.
Reminder: No meetings in July and August
.
Our CT Chapter meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month,
8:30 – 11:00am at Gaylord Hospital, Chauncey Conference Center
Minutes – April 16, 2015
Chapter Officers
President: Rebecca Harris, MS, LPC,
CEAP
[email protected]
Vice President: Orlene Allen
Gallops, MA, CEAP
[email protected]
Treasurer: John Pacheco, LCSW
Jpacheco@personalgrowthconcepts
.com
Secretary: Bud Wassell, MS, LPC,
CEAP
[email protected]
Labor Representative: Brian
LeBlanc, BA, CEAP, LAPC
[email protected]
Immediate Past President: Gary
Alger, LADC, CEAP
[email protected]
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:00a.m. by Becky Harris.
Introductions: Members and guests were introduced.
Review and Approval of March Minutes: Minutes were reviewed and approved.
Officer Reports:
President: Becky Harris
Vivien, Gary and Liz are working on nominations for the upcoming officer election in
June. Office terms are for two years and officers can re-up for a second term. Please
let the committee know if you are interested. Vivien reports that there are some
tentative candidates. Becky mentioned we can have electronic voting as long as we
have 25% response from the voting membership. Gary reported on the proposed
slate:
President:
Becky Harris
Vice President:
Dan Boissonneault
Secretary:
Julia Latimer
Treasurer:
TBA
Labor:
TBA
Past President:
Gary Alger
Vice President: Orlene Gallops
Upcoming conference to be covered by Carolyn Singer.
Treasurer: John Pacheco
The current balance is $4851.12. John posted $75.00 in membership dues. Expenses
were for refreshments for the March meeting and CEU’s for Social Workers and
Drug/Alcohol Counselors.
Secretary: Bud Wassell (No report in Bud’s absence)
Labor: Brian LeBlanc
A laborer was murdered in Bridgeport at a work site. The alleged murderer came to
ask for a job and was told to go to the union hall; he came back and shot the worker.
Tuesday April 21 is worker’s memorial day in locations around the state. The
Connecticut LAP awards luncheon is on May 21 at noon. Winner of the LAP award will
be announced, two are from this chapter. Invitation to come.
Hospitality: Karen Reckmeyer
Orlene and Joe are responsible for the May refreshments. Reminder that you can
submit your expenses for reimbursements.
Continued on page 4
3
Brian LeBlanc and Maria Tomisetti
discussing her presentation.
Join Now! Here’s how:
Log on to www.eapassn.org
Our Holiday Breakfast crowd becoming Mindful.
From The President - Continued from page 1
great opportunity to network as well as providing chapter members and guests with
great programs and presenters all year.
st
Select JOIN NOW to
complete an online
membership application.
Carolyn Singer has done such an incredible job as our 1 ever designated June
Conference Chairwoman, that we allowed her to graciously volunteer to head the
program committee for the coming year. She will be sending out a notice of the
meeting schedule which starts meeting right after we conclude the June conference.
Everyone is welcome to share ideas for next year’s schedule.
Download a membership
May’s chapter meeting is your last chance to attend the meeting and enter the raffle
for an opportunity to win conference tuition to the International EAPA conference in
San Diego in October.
410, Arlington, VA 22203. Or
I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather which has finally arrived. I look
forward to seeing you soon.
Becky Harris, MS, LPC, CEAP - Chapter President
application. Mail to EAPA,
4350 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite
Fax to 703-522-4585
Telephone EAPA at 703-3871000, ext. 334 to request an
application.
*************************************************
For CT membership
questions, contact Bud
Wassell at
[email protected] or call
203-688-2280.
4
Employee Assistance
Professionals Association
Find us on the Web: www.eapassn.org
CT Chapter Website coming soon!
EAPA’s Mission: To promote
the highest standards of
practice and the continuing
development of employee
assistance professionals,
programs and services.
Bulletin Board
Events of Interest:
.
Labor Luncheon: May 21, 2015 at noon, hosted by the CT Chapter of
the Labor Assistance Professionals.
- The donation is $50.00 (table of 10 is $500.00)
- With Special Guest Speaker: Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman
- Please RSVP by May 15th to Ashley Dwyer 203-288-9261 ex.249
The Renfrew Center Foundation’s Spring Seminar Series will hold a
conference in New Haven:
Eating Disorders: Integrating Brain, Body and the Therapeutic
Relationship
Presented by: Adrienne Ressler, LMSW, CEDS, Fiaedp & Margo Maine, PhD
Wednesday, June 3
New Haven, CT
Click here for more information and to register.
To signlet
upus
forknow
EAPA’sifweekly
NewsBrief’s
go to www.eapassn.org
Please
you have
a training
of interest to our
membership. We’re happy to post it!
Minutes continued.
June Conference Committee: Carolyn Singer
Kudos to Carolyn for her work in leading the conference committee!!!
Carolyn passed out additional registration forms. Conference planning is completed and the committee is still meeting to wrap up final details.
John Pacheco reports that eleven have registered to date. Conference marketing is still underway; please share the flyer with groups or
individuals who may be interested. Vivien reports that we have seven exhibitors registered to date; ten more are in the works or have expressed
interest. Discussion about having an EAP membership table. Charles Frazier has a contact at NBC and will share the press release with him. Becky
reported that the marijuana industry group is having a conference in May. There are now 5 states in the U.S. that have legalized recreational
marijuana.
Old Business:
John is working on the website blog post. Gary has the March PDH’s; April is in process. Be sure you check the sign-up sheet so you can pick up
the forms at the next meeting. If you are looking for a particular month, please send an email to Gary.
Vivien reported that if out of state conference attendees want CEU’s, they need to check with their own state as to whether CT based CEU’s will
be accepted.
New Business:
Orlene raised a request from the Southeastern Regional Action Council (SERAC) for the Chapter to support a proposed substance abuse
prevention and health promotion training/technical assistance grant. SERAC is planning to submit to DHMAS as the lead agency for this statewide
grant.
Orlene also shared ( in the spirit of transparency) that her daughter, Bonnie Smith, is the Executive Director for one of the Regional Action
Councils (ERASE) and her agency would have an evaluation role in this process should the grant be approved. Orlene has no involvement in the
grant.
Gary moved, John P. seconded and the proposal was approved. Orlene will edit the letter of support and send it to SERAC.
Joys and Concerns: None reported.
Announcements:
Becky spoke about a homeless shelter that is closing in Manchester; because new state laws that require shelters to house people even if they
are using alcohol/drugs.
Adjourn:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Orlene Gallops, Vice President