911 East Park Avenue
Tallahassee,  FL  32301
850-671-4445  (fax:  850-671-5272)

Memo to:                     NAMI Florida Members

From:                           Judith Evans, President
                                    NAMI Florida Board of Directors

Re:                               Notice of Annual Meeting and Elections

Date:                            November 17, 2006

As required by the NAMI Florida Bylaws, this is the official notice of the 2006 Annual Meeting of NAMI Florida, Inc.  The meeting will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2006 beginning at 5 PM.  The location is the Sheraton Safari Hotel, 12205 South Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, Florida 32386.  (Phone:  407-239-0444)

The meeting is a part of the NAMI Florida Annual Fall Conference, but members of NAMI Florida and its Affiliates are not required to attend the Conference to participate in the Annual Meeting. The agenda for the Annual Meeting will include elections, ratification of the business of the organization conducted over the past year, and any other business that may come before the membership.

The Nominating Committee of the NAMI Florida Board of Directors has identified five Candidates for the seven open Board seats.  Since there are more openings than candidates, it is expected that all five candidates will be elected.  However, elections will be required, as term of service is also a factor in the elections. Four of the Candidates will be elected to serve a three-year term, and one will be elected to serve a one-year term.  The length of the term will be determined by vote of the membership.  Ballots will be available at the Annual Meeting, and absentee ballots can be requested by contacting Lana Lane at the NAMI Florida office:  850-671-4445.   Absentee ballots cannot be submitted online, as they require a signature;  however they can be faxed or mailed.  It is requested that any absentee ballots be returned to the NAMI Florida office no later than 5 PM on Wednesday, November 28, 2006, to assure receipt before staff travels to the Conference.

Every dues-paying member of NAMI Florida is eligible to vote for Directors, and membership status is determined using the NAMI National database.  Memberships that have not been submitted to the NAMI National offices by November 24 will not be included in voting eligibility.

The Candidates for election are listed below in alphabetical order.  Biographical information on each candidate is available in the Fall newsletter, which is now posted on the NAMI Florida website (www.namifl.org), and will also be available at the Annual Meeting.

            *  Rosemary Delaney – NAMI Collier
            *  James Flagler – NAMI Collier
            *  Celeste Putnam  - NAMI Tallahassee
            *  Laura Lee Putzback – NAMI Citrus
            *  Don Turnbaugh – NAMI Pinellas

Anyone planning to attend the Annual Meeting who is not registered for the Conference is asked to confirm their attendance by calling the NAMI Florida office.  Although not required by the Bylaws, this would assist staff in assuring that enough meeting materials are prepared.