To: s-acc@yahoogroups.com

From: Andrew Phelps <dis_course@yahoo.com>

Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 13:15:09 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: [s-acc] trust and trauma

Today our persistence, in hearing one another's trauma and finding levels of support, in networking around social accountability, paid off symbolically. They can't always "make us behave."

Santa Clara County M.H. had an emergency "Stakeholder Leadership Committee" MHSA meeting. They needed approval of $9M of "one time funds" and .. it was learned helplessness as usual. It was Monday AM and only a few voting members showed up. Hope and Jose spoke up about how "clients" were not fairly represented nor sufficiently heard. When the vote came (80% approval required) the 3 of us put up the red card; the result was 11-3 and the money was not approved. That brought their attention.

Our behavior had not been managed to effect. They talked it out with us and re-voted, this time 13-1 approved. This is after three years of them organizing things into line! I said, we need a "compassion council" not just a "ratification council." The Judge (one of the members) said that too. We were the ones with composure.

Also thanks to Phil for his support and Lynne for her support by phone.