The 2017 MITA Meeting Agenda Archive

We don’t take ‘minutes’ at our monthly meetings, so we cannot account for and share what happens at MITA meetings via that medium; however, we can account for, archive, and share our meeting agendas, which we use to stay organized and focused during meeting. Here are the 2017 MITA Agendas:

madwomen

FIRST MEETING AGENDA 4/17/17

Resources needed: Paper, pens, large paper for brainstorming, markers, snacks, tea.

  1. Introduction to MITA [30 minutes]
    1. Opening Statements
      1. Sign-in sheet
      2. Jessica’s welcome and introductory statement
  • Melissa’s introductory statement
  1. Discussion of mission and questions
    1. Ask Members: What brought you to the group / what do you want out of this group?
  2. Agenda run-down
    1. Introduction to topics
    2. Center for (Dis)ability Studies’ writing project
  3. Issues for Small/Large Group Discussion [30-60 minutes]
    1. Unconditional Support
    2. Activism & Advocacy
    3. Legal
      1. Patient Rights
      2. Mental Health Law/Reform
    4. MITA Writes
    5. The Barbara Project
    6. Community Education
      1. Educating ourselves
      2. Educating others
  • Group Brainstorm [See above]
  1. Discuss Future Meetings [10 minutes]
    1. General organizational pattern
    2. What do we want to achieve with meetings?
      1. Separate meetings for certain things or combinatory meetings?
      2. Goals for our next meeting.
    3. Closing & Speak Out (Support & Listening) [30 minutes+]

OPENING DISCUSSION: MITA MISSION STATEMENT

Why did you choose to attend/join?

What does the group mean to you?

What do you want the group to do?

What kinds of changes would you like to see?

BRAINSTORM: LIST OF GOALS FOR MITA

ORGANIZING FORMULA FOR SMALL GROUPS

[First: lead-writer, pad, and pen for every group]

Goals

Tools required

Assignment of tasks

Timeline/plan

MAD READERS’ SOCIETY: FEMINIST READING GROUP

Sign-up

Separate branch or as part of the main MITA group meetings?

Reading with a purpose [Using our discussions to produce academic papers, as political action and unconventional research]

What happens when women who have been labeled ‘mad’ by the system read and discuss feminist literature and literature that deals with the the mind / the theme of ‘madness’?

MITA WRITES

Collaboration with Buffalo Disability Writing and Art Collaborative [via UB’s CforDS]

MITA’s own writing project/publication

ADVOCACY

Interpersonal support and efforts to dismantle the power of stigma

Development of resource materials for women and their families

Creation of a MITA Patient-Friendly Practitioner’s Guide (Human Rights Etiquette Guide for mental health practitioners / what to do or what not to do list)

Outreach efforts to:

  • Communicate with medical community / mental health practitioners
  • Communicate with women who have been affected by the mental health system
  • Communicate with the general public for educational awareness-raising purposes

Collaborations with other groups (projects, etc)

Public speaking opportunities (panels, events, public forums)

Legal mental health reform (Mental Hygiene Laws, patient rights,…)

Online resource development

May Meeting Agenda 5/15/17

  1. Introductions
    1. Welcome/Intro to the group for new members (Theme: honoring our/women’s voices, honoring voices that are repressed, trivialized, ignored, silenced).
    2. Review of what we hope to accomplish tonight.
    3. Attendance
      1. Anon. Survey: Have you been labeled/diagnosed with a mental illness / do you feel comfortable with the diagnoses you have received / one word to describe how you feel about being here
      2. Intro questions: What brought you to the meeting/interested you in the group? What would you, personally, like to accomplish with the group, or what hopes do you have for yourself or the group?
    4. Literacy Read-Out
      1. Giving Voice: We will read aloud writing from any genre that relates in some way to member wellness or to the group’s mission. Each speaker will have time to read aloud or have their contribution read aloud and will, if they wish, be able to make remarks on it. Other members will listen supportively. Each individual read-out will be followed by a brief discussion, if members wish to respond.
        1. Your own processed (finished) or in-process (unfinished) writing— excerpts or entire pieces are welcome, depending on length.
        2. Something you have read that someone else has written— excerpts or entire pieces are welcome, depending on length.
      2. MITA Motto Ideas
        1. We are looking to create a short MITA motto that we can say aloud at meetings as a way to focus our intentions and bring us together.
        2. Members can contribute their ideas via anonymous slips of paper or via our website, madintheattic.org—offering up words, phrases, or sentences.
  • We will configure the contributions into a ‘final four’.
  1. At our next meeting, we will take a vote and choose our motto.
  • MITA Mission Group MindStorm
    1. SUPPORT – what do we mean when we talk about support?
    2. ADVOCACY – what do we mean when we talk about advocacy?
    3. LITERACY – what do we mean when we talk about literacy?
    4. ACTIVISM – what do we mean when we talk about activism?
    5. MEETINGS
      1. How do we want to use our time (re: monthly v. separate/sub-meetings)
        1. Monthly general meeting
        2. Write-ins / Writing workshops
          1. MITA Writes (writing as a group / guest blogs / group projects / open mics)
          2. Literacy Outreach (bringing writing workshops to psychiatric units, serving as volunteer writing consultants, holding educational writing sessions in the community to raise awareness
        3. Mad Reading Group
        4. Special Projects

Summer Meeting Agenda

  1. Introduction: MITA / Meeting / Agenda / News
  2. Introduce myself
    1. [ECMC / Lawsuit]
    2. [UB – having to withdraw from program]
    3. [Center for Disability Studies collaboration]
    4. [Transnational Studies / Global Gender Studies / Feminist S. & where MITA fits]
  • Open Sharing & Support
  1. Monthly MITA Writer for the MITA website
    1. On anything that relates in any way to MITA’s mission
    2. Calendar of Writers /Topics
    3. Announcement on FB page & topic suggestion request
    4. “MITA Mondays”
      1. Published on the day the Monday the MITA meeting is held
      2. Self-inspired topics (personal, academic, literary, political, etc.)
  • Group-derived topics / open to internet members (Melissa and I will approve – rotation of regular writers w/ bios and/or anonymous MITA members, etc.)
  1. I will edit the submission before it goes up
  1. Richard Olmstead Complex & The Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane
    1. MITA article & MITA Collaboration
      1. Meeting with representative
      2. Patient Life Tour
  • Oral Histories Project
  1. MITA general stance on ROC
  1. Workshop Planning
    1. Inquiry
    2. Running a feminist therapeutic workshop
    3. List of all regional psychiatric hospitals and facilities
    4. Write a letter of inquiry to send out to local mental health institutions
      1. What do we want this letter to say/do:
        1. Introduce MITA & mission
        2. Introduce core components of workshop
          1. Anonymity
          2. Adhering to qualitative research practices
          3. Core content for the workshops
          4. Training for workshop facilitators
          5. Materials for workshops
        3. Basic goal is to help people tell their stories and respect their own voices, to get them to be self-reflective to some degree about their own experience.
        4. Ask to meet with representatives from mental health facilities (the letter is a starting place for that to happen)
      2. What are we asking for, specifically
  • Scheduling meetings / making contacts / how to proceed

Monthly Writing Project

MITA WRITES / Mad Mondays – One Monday per month on which the monthly MITA meeting is held and a writing piece is published on the website.

Screen Shot 2017-09-04 at 3.33.45 PMMITA September Meeting Agenda

  1. Introduction:
    1. MITA origin and mission
    2. Member introductions
      1. How you were made aware of MITA?
      2. Experiences with the mental health industry?
  • Feelings today/right now?
  1. MITA updates from co-founders
    1. Mental Health Ball speaking engagement
    2. Other opportunities
  2. Mad Mondays
    1. Featured Writers Project update (Jess)
    2. MITA FAQs
    3. Melissa’s piece
      1. Read aloud (Melissa)
      2. Discussion
  • Richard Olmstead Complex & The Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane
    1. 23rd Patient Life Tour
    2. Representative of MITA
    3. What questions should I bring?
    4. What am I looking for?
    5. MITA follow-up with ROC & the Oral Histories Project
  1. MITA and the Buffalo Reading Invasion
    1. At ROC
    2. Reading as a form of transgression/occupation
    3. MITA’s public presence
    4. Future group ‘reading invasion’ sit-ins.
  2. MITA tee-shirts for events
    1. Purpose: visibility and unity at events
    2. Design
    3. Pricing
      1. CustomInk Order Together, Pay Separately:
      2. 20 shirts at $13.96 per shirt
    4. Open Forum: Listening and Support
  • Workshop Planning
    1. Inquiry: General thoughts and ideas
    2. Running a feminist therapeutic workshop
    3. Research: list of all regional psychiatric hospitals and facilities
    4. Write a letter of inquiry to send out to local mental health institutions
      1. What do we want this letter to say/do:
        1. Introduce MITA & mission
        2. Introduce core components of workshop
          1. Anonymity
          2. Adhering to qualitative research practices
          3. Core content for the workshops
          4. Training for workshop facilitators
          5. Materials for workshops
        3. Basic goal is to help people tell their stories and respect their own voices, to get them to be self-reflective to some degree about their own experience.
        4. Ask to meet with representatives from mental health facilities (the letter is a starting place for that to happen)
      2. What are we asking for, specifically
  • Scheduling meetings / making contacts / how to proceed

Screen Shot 2017-10-18 at 2.07.32 PMOctober Meeting Agenda

‘Scary Stories from the Attic’

October 23, 2017

  1. Introduction:
    1. MITA origin and mission for new members
    2. Member introductions
      1. Preferred Pronouns
        1. Pass out name/pronoun tags
        2. Discuss the difficulty of unlearning pronoun patterns & M’s Policy
      2. Open forum: listening and support
  • MITA updates from co-founders
    1. Mental Health Ball speaking engagement
    2. Report on Sept. 23rd Patient Life Tour
  1. MITA tee-shirts
    1. Distribute shirts
    2. Purpose: visibility and unity at events
    3. Upcoming events to attend?
  • MLK JR DAY MITA (January 15, 2018) EVENT
    1. Friends of the Night People
      1. Sent inquiry letter
      2. Attending volunteer orientation on Nov. 15
  • All-gender (allies welcome) event?
  1. Information Requested by FOTN
    1. Number of volunteers
    2. Hours available between 9 AM and 4 PM
  • Talents/service preferences (painting, art/stencil, cleaning, etc.)
  1. Mad Mondays
    1. October Featured Writer: Frances Donovan
      1. Read aloud
      2. Discussion
    2. Meeting leader
      1. Would anyone like to volunteer to lead or co-lead the November meeting?
      2. General Plan: Collaborate with co-founders / check over agenda prior to meeting
      3. Themes
    3. Scary Stories from the Attic
  • Writing Workshops 2018 goals / timeline
    1. Workshop plans & prep research
    2. Letter of inquiry to send out to local mental health institutions
      1. Introduce MITA & mission
      2. Initiate contact/a conversation
      3. Introduce core components of workshop
        1. Anonymity?
        2. Core content for the workshops
  • Training for workshop facilitators
  1. Materials for workshops

Screen Shot 2017-11-19 at 11.19.32 PM

November Meeting Agenda

November 20, 2017

  1. Introduction:
    1. MITA origin and mission for new members
    2. Member introductions
      1. General Updates: Postponed presentation, etc.
      2. Open forum: listening and support
  • MITA updates from co-founders
    1. United Way speaking engagement
    2. Disability Textbook Entry
    3. Group Patient Life Tour in the Spring
      1. Payment
      2. Our purpose / plans
    4. MITA tee-shirts & pens
  • MLK JR DAY MITA (January 15, 2018) EVENT
    1. Friends of the Night People
      1. Tanja report on volunteer orientation on Nov. 15
      2. Planning event
  • AM or PM / Picking a time frame
  1. Creative ideas—painting stairwell / bathroom
  1. Mad Mondays
    1. November Featured Writer: Liza Mohr
      1. Read aloud
      2. Discussion: Sexual abuse and silence (“Me, too”)
    2. Meeting leaders & special presentations
    3. MITA TERMINOLOGY PROJECT
      1. Brainstorming a name for the project
      2. Using DSM & common words that hurt
  • Becoming a non-profit organization
    1. Updates from members re: research
    2. Small power brainstorm workshop (Leader/Minutes-taker)
  • THE BARBARA PROJECT
    1. Small group workshop (Leader/Minutes-taker)
  1. MITA WRITES WRITING WORKSHOPS
    1. Small group brainstorming session (Leader/Minutes-taker)
      1. Writing Workshops 2018 goals / timeline
      2. Workshop plans & prep research
  • Letter of inquiry to send out to local mental health institutions
    1. Introduce MITA & mission
    2. Initiate contact/a conversation
    3. Introduce core components of workshop
      1. Anonymity?
      2. Core content for the workshops
  • Training for workshop facilitators
  1. Materials for workshops

Screen Shot 2017-11-27 at 11.26.29 PMDecember 2017 Agenda

MITA December 2017 Agenda

I. Introduction & Support

  1. Group introductions for new members
  2. Agenda run-down
  3. Issues & Updates
    1. Recap of attendance at “A Conversation about Mental Health” held on Dec. 1 at the Museum of DisABILITY History
    2. The Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition and contact with Max Donatelli
  4. General affirmation and support

II. Mad Monday December Featured Writer: Troi Anastasia Michael

  1. Read aloud
  2. Discussion

III. MLK Jr Day / January Event Planning

  1. Friends of the Night People
    1. Volunteer trial experience in December
    2. Updates on event and from FOTNP organizers
  2. Art/Painting Project
    1. Updates from Hanna and Vivian
    2. Sketches
    3. Plans & Supplies
  3. Plan for date of event (4-7)
    1. Group photos at start and at finish
    2. Directions and carpooling
    3. Meeting location

IV. Ongoing Projects

  1. Feminist / MITA Mental Health Literacy Guide(s)
    1. Section planning
    2. Contributors to sections
    3. Decide material form (online, print, in what form, etc.)
    4. Group ideas/progress updates
    5. Holding a brainstorm session at future meeting
  2. MITA Terminology Project
    1. Brainstorming name/concept
    2. DSM use / common words that hurt
  3. Non-profit Status Discussion
    1. Member research updates
  4. The Barbara Project
    1. Member research updates
  5. MITA Writes (Workshops)

V. Other

  1. Pending: Morgan’s Disability Theory Presentation
  2. MITA New Year’s Resolutions for 2018

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