JANE SAYS .. chapter25

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Chapter 25 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

FW: HB 104/ SB 43

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 5:46 PMTo: Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Ye of such little faith Geoffrey Collver at Disability Rights Ohio ;0) It was nice to see you today...

Marissa K. Varcho

[email protected]

http://thecultivationofbeauty.com

http://janesaysrise.com

[Quoted text hidden]


Feedback?

Betsy Johnson <[email protected]> Tue, Jan 28, 2014 at 12:26 PM

To: Marissa <[email protected]>

Hi Marissa, I was at a meeting in Akron all day yesterday and am just now sitting down to my computer, so I

have not had a chance to review your recommendations. I will try to get you some feedback before the meeting

tomorrow. Stay warm! Betsy



Status of Mental-Health Legislation - re: IP Meeting Today...

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 8:27 AMTo: Alan Johnson <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Hi Alan,

I was wondering if there is any procedure by which I could write something to get into The Dispatch responding toyour article. The only concept I know of is like, a "letter to the editor" or that sort of thing--but really, any procedureby which I could respond publicly in the paper to your article would be helpful.

The IP meeting is this morning for SB43/SubHB104, which I am attending to present this "compromise" idea that Icame up with. Senator Coley was extremely receptive to my ideas when I met with him this past Monday, and if allgoes well today, I think it would make for a good update for the paper--showing that the legislature is working withconsumers to create some compromise to eliminate conflicts-of-interest that are interfering with consumer-protection. Or, of course, if you could do another article on that, maybe we could get Senator Coley to make acomment and that would be great. But in the alternative, I was wondering if there's anything I could proactively doto start reframing the discussion.

Any ideas you have for opportunities would be greatly appreciated. I know you have limitations you have to workwithin, I'm sure politically-speaking and otherwise, but I think if this goes well today--showing the legislatureworking with consumers and their willingness to compromise between AOT proponents and opponents ideas inthe name of the consumer would be a really positive story for our public generally, not just for the mentally-illpopulation.

Let me know your thoughts whenever you have a chance! I'll follow up, let you know how the meeting goes andwhatnot.

Hope your morning is off to a great start ;0)

Sincerely,Marissa

Marissa K. [email protected]://thecultivationofbeauty.comhttp://janesaysrise.com



Alan Johnson <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 10:02 AMTo: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Marissa,

The letter to the editor is the best method, but you could pitch an “op ed” column, which would be a longer pieceon the page opposite the editorial page.

I guess I was wrong about a committee vote this week. What did you hear?

Thanks,

Alan

From: Marissa Varcho [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 8:27 AMTo: Alan JohnsonSubject: Status of Mental-Health Legislation - re: IP Meeting Today...



Upcoming SB43 Procedure

Marissa <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 12:11 PMTo: Michael Kirkman <[email protected]>, Collver Geoffrey <[email protected]>

Hi guys,

If you could keep me updated as to what's going on legislatively, I would greatly appreciate it. They areselectively choosing the communications I now receive, so any help you can provide to ensure I'm still gettingthe "whole picture" that everyone else is getting, would be great.

I'm going to explore media options over the next couple days. If you have any TV reporter contacts, ideallysomeone who covers legislative matters and would have some idea what I am talking about, I would greatlyappreciate the assistance coordinating. If not, I totally understand. Just thought I'd try in case--could helprelieve some of this heavy lifting.

I appreciate all of your help, more than you know. I did my best today, and think if nothing else, it was still agreat opportunity to give new face to the "seriously mentally ill." While Senator Coley's repeated dismissals werepotentially humiliating, I'll take the hit for the team and keep running. There's got to be SOMETHING more thatcan be done...these guys are publicly elected officials--there's gotta be some key in that, I just have to find it..

It was great to see you both today and I appreciate your consumer-side support.

Sincerely,Marissa

Sent from my iPhone



Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 12:37 PMTo: Alan Johnson <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Ohh Alan. The IP meeting did not go well. Not for the mental-health consumer anyways. Now I know for certain

Senator Coley was using the guise of "special treatment" last week in committee to shut me up, because he did it

about 7 more times today-- every time I spoke in the IP meeting and brought up a point, he politely dismissed me

with "ohh yes and we'll meet up in my office and discuss all the details" etc. etc. Every time I spoke. If I had less

confidence in myself, I'd be completely shut down by humiliation by this point. The conflicts-of-interest I pointed

out in my video-- they're winning right now. They are suppressing my voice. It's rather disheartening, although I

know I shouldn't be surprised. But, all the same...

Anyways, I would like to pitch an "op ed" column if possible. Is there a formal procedure for doing so, or do I just

write something up and submit to see if it would be sufficient? Also, what's the word count on that then? And, is

there any way, if I wrote something you could get in the paper, you could attach a photo along with it? I have a

professional one I can give you, and I'd like to rehabilitate my public image if possible-- that photo this past

Monday was pretty horrendous. I mean, I looked scary, especially next to Amanda Baker's sweet little head shot.

Do you know what I mean? I'd really appreciate it.

Please let me know your thoughts at your earliest convenience.

Ohh and one last thing, I was wondering if you had any contacts with any of the local TV stations or that sort of

thing, somebody that covers legislative matters like you do for the paper, who would have some idea what I am

talking about in regard to this pending legislation. If you know of anyone who would answer their phone and for

whom you are able to share their contact information, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm nearly drowning in all this

heavy lifting, trying to work my way from the bottom up.

Really, anything you can think of to help, would be so very much appreciated. This is very frustrating, but I can't

imagine that this is the end of the road. There has to be something more that can be done. I just need to figure out

what and then just do it.

Thanks Alan, and hope your afternoon is going well.

Sincerely,

Marissa

Marissa K. Varcho

[email protected]

http://thecultivationofbeauty.com

http://janesaysrise.com



FW: HB 104/ SB 43

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 12:39 PM

To: Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]>

Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

You were right. I was wrong.

Bummer.

Marissa K. [email protected]://thecultivationofbeauty.comhttp://janesaysrise.com

On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 4:08 PM, Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]> wrote:




Alan Johnson <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 12:46 PM

To: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Marissa,

I’m very sorry that happened to you… I was hoping it would be otherwise, but candidly I am not surprised. I

thought the senator treated you condescendingly at the public meeting and it sounds like he continued it in the IP

meeting.

Did he say when a vote is expected by the committee?

Feel free to send me the picture.

I will put you in touch with Glenn Sheller, our editorial page editor, and Herb Grant, letters editor… about a

column. I don’t know the rules or length, but they will.

Feel free to contact me anytime.

Alan

From: Marissa Varcho [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 12:38 PMTo: Alan JohnsonSubject: Re: Status of Mental-Health Legislation - re: IP Meeting Today...




Michael Kirkman <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 12:52 PM

To: Marissa <[email protected]>

Cc: Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]>

Marissa, we'll certainly keep you in the loop. I do think you bring a couple of things to the table, first a new "face"

of the SMI folks, but also an awareness that this isn't really a clarification at all, it's a top to bottom retooling of

the system without careful consideration of all of the consequences. That's a point I tried to reinforce today, and

now we have some promise from Sen. Colley and Rep. Stautberg that we can come back with problems and

consequences. Too many moving parts, as far as I can see, none of which really acknowledge the long term

impact.

Quick thought, as a strategy we've stayed away from talking about consent to treatment and capacity issues

because I think that the bill doesn't change the existing law in that area, which actually is not bad for people with

disabilities. I'd be glad to talk more about that if it would be helpful, but take a look at Steele v Hamilton Co

Board, attached, for some background.

Given how we're being beat up in the GA these days, my new favorite quote is Beckett: "Ever tried. Ever failed.

Try again. Fail again. Fail better." He probably meant it more cynically, but I choose to read it as urging us to

keep moving forward, one step at a time, always looking toward justice. You never know when something will

give. Keep trying.

Stay warm.

Michael

Michael Kirkman

Executive Director


Steele v Hamilton County 2000-Ohio-47 (00026888@xC54DE).pdf82K



Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 1:19 PMTo: Michael Kirkman <[email protected]>Cc: Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]>

Thank you Michael. I'll take a look at the case and let you know. That whole part actually kind of confused metoday, so this might help get the tangle out. I appreciate it.

As Tupac would say, "girl, you got to keep ya head up" ;0) I'm trying..

Bummer of a day, but I'm sure brighter ones lie yet ahead-- one in front of the other and forward on we march.

Marissa

Marissa K. [email protected]://thecultivationofbeauty.comhttp://janesaysrise.com[Quoted text hidden]

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JANE SAYS .. chapter25