CMHA Fall 2008 - Canadian Mental Health Association

13CMHA Fall 20086Positions available include consumer,program and agency support, fundraisingand event assistance and board andcommittee participation. Additionally,project-based positions are available asrequired.Current Volunteer OpportunitiesOn Site Ambassador - Greeter/Help DeskThese volunteers will be stationed atentrances to help visitors findmeeting rooms and answer frequentlyasked questions. This position wouldbe perfect for retirees or anyone with afew hours to contribute Monday throughFriday during the daytime. (Requiresability to sit for periods of time andalso mobility to escort visitors throughthe building).If you are interested in this position, pleasepick up a volunteer package at 1400Windsor Ave., or call 519.255.7440 to haveone mailed to you.For more information on this and othervolunteer opportunities, please visit ourwebsite at www.cmha-wecb.on.caAuthor: Danielle Reaume, Public RelationsOfficerDo you like thisnew magazine?Do you havesome ideas forfuture stories?Please e-mail:Director ofAdvancementPatti Lauzon atplauzon@cmha-wecb.on.caFeatureStory and Photos Courtesy of Moods Magazine www.moodsmag.comTheRon EllisStoryBecome aCMHAMemberMembership is an easy, annual way to support CMHA. By becoming a member, you demonstrate yoursupport for our organization, its mission and the services we provide to the community. In doing so, you showour community that you support mental health promotion, mental illness recovery and resilience, and mentalillness prevention.And, membership always has its privileges.Top Five Reasons to become a CMHA Member Today:1. You will help make prevention a priority!2. You will help us educate the community about mental health and mental illness.3. You will receive exclusive member benefits.4. You will have Annual General Meeting voting privileges.5. You will help us improve the mental health of Windsor & Essex County.To learn more about membership, Google CMHA Windsor or www.cmha-wecb.on.ca today!Since 2006, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA-WECB) has been showcasing an annual Fall Guest Speaker. In 2006, CMHA-WECB broke themyths of mental illness with Margaret Trudeau. In 2007, CMHA invited Patty Duke to share herexperience with mental illness. In October 2008, CMHA-WECB featured former NHL Star, RonEllis. Following is Ron Ellis’ story as told by the hockey great, himself.There was a time when I thought Iwas invincible and a self-made man.I made all the sacrifices, trainedthe necessary hours and committedmyself to the goal of becominga professional hockey player. If I didn’tmake the big time it wouldn’t be for alack of effort and I truly felt I could handleany setback that came my way. Afterleaving the game, I took these sameprinciples into my post-hockey career andI was enjoying success until I came faceto face with clinical depression. As withprior setbacks, I persevered to overcomedepression myself. Because of my lack ofknowledge and my pride, I failed miserablyand in time was not able to function at workor be a responsible husband and father.One evening, I agreed to attend a seminarwith my wife to hopefully get some neededinformation on depression. One memberof the panel was Mike Wallace from the60 Minutes TV show. He shared his longbattle with depression and emphasizedthe importance of getting proper help. Idecided that night that if Mike Wallace canput his pride on the back burner and gethelp so can Ron Ellis. The fact that I foughtthis disease on my own for years eventuallyrequired that I be hospitalized. My messageis early diagnosis and early treatment that willlead to a quick return to a normal life style. Ineeded the support of my family, my doctorsand my employer to make my comeback.Ron’s Story – An excerpt from Ron’s book,Over the Boards with Ron EllisThirty-five years ago, in 1967, I had adream come true. Just like most Canadianboys, I had dreamed of playing in theRon Ellis and his wifeNHL. I also dreamed of winning a StanleyCup. The Toronto Maple Leafs won theCup beating the Montreal Canadiens. It’sthe last Cup the Leafs won. The hockeygods smiled on me again in 1972 byallowing me to be picked for Team Canada.It was the first time Canadian professionalswould get a chance to play the Russians.Most of you likely know the story: in gameeight, with just 34 seconds remaining, PaulHenderson’s goal determined the winnerand Canada won. In 2000, the CanadianPress chose Team Canada ’72 as its Teamof the Century. We brought all the playersand their families back to Toronto forthe celebration. They unveiled a monumentat the corner of Yonge and Front, in frontof the Hockey Hall of Fame, to honour theplayers and the accomplishment. But ifthat ceremony had happened five years