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"Mental Illness Carries Stigma"

If meeting 54-year-old Rita Dinquel in public, you likely would see her as confident, intelligent, and articulate. She would look "normal." Yet doctors over the years have diagnosed her with major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder, conditions significantly impairing her ability to function. She reads this column in the Pekin (Illinois) Daily Times.
"When people find out I'm on disability, they say I don't look sick," said Dinquel in a telephone interview. "Personally, it's taken me a long time to come to grips that I have an illness and not a character fault."
Dinquel began experiencing depressive episodes at age 18, but started self-injuring (cutting her body) when she was 14. Beginning in 1978, she has been hospitalized 12 times for depression. Her other diagnosis, borderline personality disorder, has involved since early adulthood her lacking the ability in part to effectively self-regulate her emotions, relationships, thoughts, self-image, and behaviors.
She said, "While in a depression, I have inattention, inability to focus, sleeplessness, feelings of wanting to be alone, and feelings of extreme worthlessness. I have had suicidal thoughts and one suicide attempt."
She worked as a paralegal for about 25 years. Early in her career, she said she "cut my arms in the morning and put on an expensive suit for work with my arms bleeding under the sleeves." The depression had so deadened her emotions, she said, that the pain from cutting herself made her feel alive. (She no longer cuts.)
In 2002, after submitting a four-inch stack of paperwork detailing her lifelong struggles, she applied for disability benefits and was accepted on her first try. "When I got my award letter, I sobbed, and thought I was really sick and didn't just have a character flaw," said Dinquel.
Her experiences with depressive bouts and hospitalizations have greatly contributed to the breaking up of her marriages and to employers firing her. Though no longer paid for working, she does participate in some volunteer activities.
"There is a stigma that comes with having (a mental) illness," said Dinquel. "It's taken me a long time to realize I have one. I have periods when I can't function no matter how much I know what to do. But I do know how to take care of myself. I know how to ask for help." She strongly advised people diagnosed with depression to stay in therapy.

Ohio Constitutional
Amendment Creates Livestock Care Standards Board

Q: I know Ohio voters passed Issue 2 in November 2009, but what exactly does Issue 2 do?
A: Issue 2 amended the Ohio Constitution to create an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board that is responsible for establishing standards to govern the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in Ohio.
Q: Doesn't Ohio already have laws that address the welfare of farm animals?
A: Ohio does have animal cruelty laws that apply to all domestic animals, including farm animals.  These animal cruelty laws prohibit acts such as torture; confining an animal without adequate shelter, fresh air, food or water; and causing unnecessary or cruel harm to an animal.  Unless there is a change in Ohio law, livestock and poultry will fall under the animal cruelty laws as well as whatever standards are developed by the Livestock Care Standards Board.
Q: What will happen now that Issue 2 has passed?
A: The constitutional amendment resulting from Issue 2 grants authority to the Ohio legislature to enact laws necessary for creating the Livestock Care Standards Board and for overseeing, implementing and enforcing its standards.  Ohioans can expect to see a law from the legislature in 2010 to address the additional details necessary to set the Livestock Care Standards Board into action.  Ohioans should also see the appointment of the first Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board members by the governor and legislators.  After these actions, the new board will be able to develop the livestock care standards.
Q: How will the Livestock Care Standards Board determine standards for livestock care?
A: The new constitutional amendment gives the board limited guidance on developing the standards.  The law states that the board should endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and families.  It requires the board to consider these factors:  agricultural "best management" practices, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers. The board may also choose to consider additional factors when developing the standards.
Q: Who will serve on the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board?
A: The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board will consist of 13 members, as follows:
· The director of the department of agriculture, who will serve as chair of the Board;
· Ten members appointed by the governor with senate approval, which must include:  one family farm representative; one member knowledgeable about food safety in Ohio; two members representing statewide farmer organizations; one veterinarian licensed in Ohio; the state veterinarian; the dean of an Ohio college or university's agriculture department; two members of the public representing Ohio consumers; one member representing a county humane society;
· One family farmer appointed by the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives;
· One family farmer appointed by the president of the Ohio Senate.
Q: Who will enforce the standards developed by the board? 
A: The new law grants the Ohio Department of Agriculture the authority to implement and enforce the standards developed by the Livestock Care Standards Board. 
Q: Can Ohioans change Issue 2, now that it's in the Constitution?
A: Revising or repealing the Constitution requires the approval of Ohio voters.  However, Ohio legislators or voters may pass additional laws that relate to Issue 2, as long as the laws do not conflict with or violate the new constitutional amendment.

Q: Is Ohio's new law similar to other state laws about livestock?
A: No; Ohio's law is unique.  A number of states have recently enacted laws prohibiting some practices disapproved of by animal welfare advocates, such as housing a laying hen in a cage too small to allow it to spread its wings.  Only New Jersey has a regulatory program that establishes general standards for farm animal care, but that program was developed by its state agriculture department rather than by a board of citizens like the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.
Q: Where can I find the new constitutional amendment created by Issue 2?
A: The new amendment is Article 14 of the Ohio Constitution, which is available in local libraries or online at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/constitution.cfm.
This "Law You Can Use" column was provided by the Ohio State Bar Association.  It was prepared by attorney Peggy Kirk Hall, Agricultural & Resource Law Program, OSU Extension.  The column offers general information about the law.  Seek an attorney's advice before applying this information to a legal problem.

Valentine's Day is one of those holidays when, if you are in a relationship, you know something is required of you. The challenge tends to be determining just what exactly is required.
On the surface, men seem to have the toughest time with this. Should he get her chocolate? If she's on a diet this week, she might never forgive him for it. Is she on a diet? He doesn't remember.
How about flowers? She's allergic to some flowers, he thinks, but which ones? Flowers are lame anyway.
Maybe jewelry? What did he get her last year? That was so long ago.
At some point, he's going to get hungry from doing all that pondering and he will smile because he just had the greatest idea! He will take her out for dinner! ...Wait. Maybe that is what he did last year.
However, women are just as baffled as men. She loves him. She wants to show him she cares on Valentine's Day. But what to get him? Flowers are out for sure. His friends would pick on him. He'd love a box of chocolates, but she's watching his weight because he certainly won't do it.
Jewelry? For a man? Nope. He'd never wear it anyway. Or worse, he'd wear and it would somehow get caught in the fan belt of his V8 Triton engine and then… he'd never wear it again.
She could make him a nice dinner, but chances are good that he will be taking her out for dinner again this year.
Hallmark has made bazillions of dollars because of this Valentine's Day enigma. Ever since an imaginary baby with a bow and arrow shot you both with his pheromone-tipped projectile, a Hallmark card has been the only "safe" way to express your feelings on Valentine's Day.
The problem with a Hallmark card on Valentine's Day is that it's like the minimum amount due on a credit card statement. No matter how heartfelt the sentiment, the card is the least that is expected of you. At its best, it will merely smooth over any bloopers you make with whatever it is you decide to do for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.
If there were no such thing as Valentine's Day, we wouldn't be under such pressure to deliver. If it was just another ordinary day and you brought home flowers, she'd know you were thinking about her, and it wouldn't really matter that you didn't remember which flowers send her into anaphylactic shock. She'd probably forgive you… eventually.
When it's Valentine's Day it's different, though. In essence, this holiday is designed to remind us deadbeats to do something special for our loved ones because we are apparently too stupid to remember without a huge, commercialized holiday with giant red and pink hearts plastered everywhere to remind us. We might do something special for each other nearly every day of the year, but Lord help us if we forget on Valentine's Day, because, really… it's not possible. Therefore, we must have forgotten on purpose.
I wish I could help you decide what to get your one and only for Valentine's Day, but I'm as much in the dark as everyone else. The only thing I can give you is a warning: If you, through some strange series of events, don't see the very conspicuous pink and red hearts everywhere, forget Valentine's Day, and come home empty-handed on February 14^th, the rest of February is going to be pretty rough for you. March and April aren't looking too good either.
Laura Snyder is a nationally syndicated columnist, author & speaker. You can reach Laura at lsnyder@lauraonlife.com Or visit her website www.lauraonlife.com for more info.

"How an Effective Life Plan Can Benefit You Professionally, Financially and Every Way You Deserve"
Association of Fundraising Professionals Educational Program Set for February 19^th

The Mahoning/Shenango Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will host an audio-conference and continental breakfast titled "How an Effective Life Plan Can Benefit You Professionally, Financially and Every Way You Deserve" on Friday, February 19 at 8:00 a.m. at Akron Children's Hospital of Mahoning Valley, Community Room, Building C, 6505 Market Street, Boardman, OH.   This educational program will be presented by Sarah L. Holland, CFRE, Laura Fredricks, JD, and Cindy Sterling.  Sarah is the President of the Visibility Project, Laura is Vice President for Philanthropy at Pace University in New York City, and Cindy is a financial planner.  Registration, continental breakfast and networking begin at 8:00 a.m.  The audio conference begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by discussion from 10:00 - 10:30.  Staff and volunteers involved in fundraising for non-profit organizations are encouraged to attend.  The cost is $5 for  AFP members and $10 for not-yet-members.  Reservations may be made at www.afpmash.org on or before February 15.  Contact Linda Kostka, Co-Chair, AFP Program Committee, at 330-702-3000 for more information.
As fundraisers, we're great at our jobs.  We understand our donors' needs, what they can and can't do financially and we show them ways to maximize their giving potential.  But what do we do for ourselves?  We cultivate others, but what professional and personal cultivation do we do for ourselves?  Do we have a financial plan?  Do we ask for a raise, promotion or additional resources?  Are we exploring our best potential or are we so bogged down with our own complexities that we ignore or postpone development.  This audio conference will explore who you are at work and how you can unleash undiscovered talents.  Begin 2010 by empowering yourself "full circle" in your life so that you ask for everything that you need and deserve?
About the Presenters:
Sarah L. Holland is a fundraising consultant and strategic coach. As President of the Visibility Project, she works with organizations and individuals on managing diversity, developing leadership, and leveraging workplace identity for maximum effectiveness. Before founding the Visibility Project in 2000, Ms Holland served as Vice President, Corporate Relations, at Catalyst and held top development jobs at The Fresh Air Fund and the Karen Horney Clinic. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and has served on the boards of the Direct Mail Fundraisers Association and Women in Development New York.
Laura Fredricks, JD, vice president for philanthropy at Pace University in New York City, is an internationally known fundraiser, speaker and author of Developing Major Gifts (Jones and Bartlett) and The Ask (John Wiley & Sons.)
Cindy Sterling is a financial planner with her own firm. A member of the Garrett Planning Network and National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, Cindy helps clients define and achieve their financial and personal goals. Before financial planning, Sterling served as the director of gift planning at Vassar College. She still consults on charitable gift planning with Washburn & McGoldrick, Inc. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in economics (B.A.) and psychological services (M.S.Ed.), she also has her Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) certification. Cindy is a frequent speaker at financial, educational and gift planning conferences, and received the Steuben Apple Award for teaching excellence from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Sterling is a faculty member for the Academy of Gift Planning. She has also conducted and published research on women's philanthropy and giving patterns.
About AFP:
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) represents more than 27,000 members in 180 chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education, and certification programs.  Locally, the Mahoning/Shenango Chapter of AFP consists of 60 members who are active fundraising professionals for numerous nonprofit organizations, schools and hospitals.  Each year, the local chapter hosts numerous educational workshops as well as the local celebration of National Philanthropy Day.