1. Register to Vote.
• You must:
  • Be a citizen of the United States;
  • Be 18 years old by Election Day;
  • Be a Michigan resident; and
  • Be a resident of the city or township where you are applying to vote.
• To learn more click here
2. Vote in the next election.
3. Participate in Power Day.
   • Power Day is held in Lansing In October each year. Members of clubhouses and people who support them go listen to speeches on the steps of the capitol and go visit their legislators.
   • Take a chair if you have problems standing.
   • Take a sign telling something you want people to know.
   • Make an appointment and visit your legislator.
4. Write a letter or email your senator about how having or not having good health care affects you.
• Can’t afford your meds? Tell them.
• Can get what you need? Tell them what is working.
• Have to choose between meds and food? Tell them.
5. Write a letter or email you representative in the house.
• Tell him/her about yourself.
• Ask him/her what committees he/she is on.
• Ask him/her how you can help them, if you agree with what they are fighting for/believe in.
6. Donate to a campaign.
• It doesn’t have to be a lot. You want to be able to walk up to the person and say, “I gave to your campaign.”
7. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
8. Have too much stuff?
• Donate 5 things to a drop-in center, clubhouse or to a thrift store.
9. Work on a campaign.
   • Find someone you can support
     • Stuff envelopes.
     • Answer phones.
     • Knock on doors.
     • Tell your friends.
10. Go to a Community Mental Health Board Meeting.
    • If you want to tell them what you like or don’t like, there is a 3 minute period dedicated to “public comment” (that’s you).
    • You may need to sign-in to attend or to attend and speak; ask people where the list is at.
11. Volunteer on city clean-up day.
12. Help someone learn to read or learn to read better.
13. Smile at 5 people. Tell them, “Hi.”
14. Go to a friend’s person-centered planning meeting.
15. Write an email or a letter telling someone they are doing a good job.
16. Participate in “Walk a Mile in My Shoes”
• The “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” Rally is held in Lansing in May each year
  • Take a chair if you have trouble standing.
  • Take a sign telling legislators what you want them to know.
  • Make an appointment and visit your legislator.
17. Find out if there is a support group meeting in your area.
• If not, can you start one or help start one?
18. Read Norm DeLisle’s blog, Recovery Michigan, to find out if there is anything happening click here
19. Write a letter or email to your state senator.
• Tell him/her your story.
• Tell him/her what you need or don’t need.
• Dental, more money for mental health....
20. Pick a different day, call your state senator
21. Write a letter to your state house representative
• Tell him/her your story.
• Tell him/her what you need or don’t need.
• Dental, more money for mental health......
22. Pick a different day and call your State House Representative
23. Find out who is on your city council
• Are they republicans?
• Are they democrats?
• Did you vote for them?
• What would you like to tell them?
• We need better transportation, more housing....
24. Volunteer at a hospital or at the Red Cross
25. Get your friends involved in advocating with you.
• Advocating is writing letters, calling people, finding out what’s going on, and then acting on it.
26. Write to the head of the Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Let her know what you think and want.
    • Director Power
    • Want to know more about SAMSHA?
    • SAMSHA Consensus Statement on Recovery
    • Let us know if you get an answer back.
27. Look for good articles on Recovery and share them with people you know.
28. Find out about joining a committee or board at your community mental health service provider or community mental health agency.
• Let your voice be heard.
29. Participate in the NAMI Michigan NAMI WALK
30. Organize a consumer day on the capitol steps
• For us by us
• We can talk about restraint and seclusion elimination
• Recipient rights
• People dying 25 years before they should
31. Check out the Drudge Report to see what is happening
32. Find out if you can visit a friend while they are in jail
• Help them not be discouraged
33. Volunteer in your city or council for special events
34. Make sure there are healthy snack options available in the clubhouse snack bar
35. Invite a friend to walk around the block every day
36. Go with a friend to the doctor to help them listen.
• It’s hard to hear what the doctor is saying when we don’t feel well
37. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food bank

• Maybe it could be a team of you and your friends

Write us and tell us what you have done to get involved.
See your comments and suggestions to info@mirecovery.org