Bethesda Beatniks Dinner Club Spring 2007 after-dinner speakers And special events calendar.

 

Bethesda Beatniks Dinner Club*

Spring 2007 after-dinner speakers

And special events calendar.

*(The dinner club for people who are a little off-beat.) 

(Subject to last-minute changes…visit our Web site at www.bethesdabeatniks.org,

Or call the Beatniks hotline at (301)279-2578 several days in advance for speaker confirmation.)

v     Wednesday night, April 11^th: Wondering what's up, as the County shifts from a "criminal paradigm" to a "mental health paradigm" re: consumers who run afoul of the law?  As the County Council mulls 24-hour-per-day operation of the Crisis Center?  Join veteran County Police Officer Joan Logan, and Crisis Center Manager Mike Chappell, to learn more.

v     Wednesday night, April 25^th: The Beatniks' First Annual Open Mic Poetry Marathon, featuring a five-man instrumental section, gourmet coffee brewing, fresh popcorn, and over 20 budding poets reading their best original material.  To the best of our knowledge, nothing on this scale has ever been done before, anywhere in the country. This event has been plugged extensively on ABC Radio, on Bonneville Radio, in "Montgomery Gazette," and upcoming on Clear Channel Radio and CBS Radio at the very least.  A pro recording of the entire event will be made, for a possible National Public Radio special.  Come early for best seating...don't miss this one!!  Come and and support the club!!

v     Wednesday night, May 9^th: Wondering which ways the political winds are blowing, with a new Democratic U.S. Congress, a new DC mayor, new Maryland and Virginia governors, new senators, and a new Montgomery County executive?  Join the American Psychiatric Assn.'s top lobbyist, Nick Meyers, and District-based activist Mary Blake from the Consumer Action Network, for a legislative outlook on the federal, state, and local levels, and how impending legislation may affect the mental health community.

v     Saturday afternoon, May 12^th: Join DCMHCL for a special coffee klatsch at The Potter's House bookshop and coffeehouse in Adams Morgan from 3:00pm until 5:00pm, then stay for dinner and listen to the sounds of featured singer/songwriter/guitarist Lea.  1658 Columbia Road NW in the District.

v     Wednesday night, May 16^th, back at Alfio's: Have you been hit with a Social Security Administration audit or review?  Do you have to file an SSDI or SSI-related appeal?  Join Attorney Suja Varghese from the Greenberg Bederman law firm for a brief overview of SSA law, with an emphasis on the review/appeals process.  Learn why it is wise to have a qualified attorney in your corner, and how you can best work with your attorney to improve your chances of success.

v     Wednesday night, May 23^rd: Join Attorney Matt Famiglietti for a two-hour legal clinic, "Keys to Social Security Benefits."  After a brief introduction, topics covered will include SSA definition of disability, disability benefits eligibility, SSI benefits eligibility, factors negatively impacting disability determination, the application/reconsideration/administrative hearing process, what kind of documentation and paper trail consumers should develop to improve their chances, etc.  There will be a long Q&A session after the two hour clinic.

v     Wednesday night, June 13^th: Dr. Jonathan Dalton, Ph.D., from big Beatniks booster Dr. Charley Mansueto's "Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington," will give a general overview of anxiety disorders and the types of therapy which can help alleviate them.  Dr. Jonathan runs the popular Anxiety Psycho-Education Groups for BTC.

v     Wednesday night, June 20^th: Hot on the heels of the highly successful "NIMH Night" with the Beatniks, comes "Johns Hopkins Night," featuring two of the Medical Institute's top doctor/scientists.  Dr. Ann Pulver, one of the world's top experts in studying the inter-relationships between mental illness, genetics, and population studies, and chief of the Family Study program, will speak on the current status and future implications of individualized medicine.  In the not-too-distant future, it will be possible to tailor a treatment regimen based upon an individual's unique genetic profile.  Dr. Russel Margolis—JHMI's Director of the Laboratory of Genetic Neurobiology, the Neurogenetics Testing Laboratory, and the Schizophrenia Program—will discuss "Schizophrenia—Lessons from Other Brain Diseases."  Lessons learned from studying such disorders as Huntiington's Disease for example can shed new light on who is most susceptible to developing schizophrenia, and how the disease progresses.  Clinical trial recruiters from three different JHMI branches will be on hand, so you won't want to miss this one!!

v     Wednesday night, June 27^th: Big Beatniks booster Dr. Bob Litman, from CBH Health and the Mar-Lyn group homes, discusses, "Putting the 'Community' Back in Community Mental Health." Though this model of community care and support—which was designed to supplant the massive state mental hospital system—has failed in many parts of the country, Dr. Bob will present his vision as to how this model of deinstitutionalized care can be made to succeed. 

 

    Unless otherwise indicated, all events take place at Alfio's Trattoria                  restaurant, 4515 Willard Avenue in Friendship Heights, three blocks west     of Wisconsin Avenue and the Friedship Heights Metro stop on the Red         Line.  Wednesday night dinners start promptly at 6:30pm, with the                 speakers starting at about 7:15pm.  Great food at affordable prices, and         free valet parking.  Questions?  Call Pete at (301)279-2578 or                          visit www.bethesdabeatniks.org. 

    Potential partner/sponsors & others: do you, or any                 member of your staff, have a particular burning issue             which you'd like to speak about to an audience of eager             mental health consumers?  Some of our Wednesday night         dinners have drawn over 80 people; one of our special             events drew over 250 people.  Call Pete to discuss your         speaking engagement, at (301)279-2578.