2009 Newsletters

SAAS UPDATE - January 23, 2009

Upcoming Meetings
Hill Day, Board meeting and Member meeting: Feb. 17-20, Westin, Washington DC. Click
here to book your hotel. [http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=0812233637%26key=8B1ED]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Greetings!

I am still recovering from the excitement and frozen toes that were all a part of
Tuesday's Inauguration of President Barack Obama! Standing among the 1.8 million
people gathered on the Mall that day you could feel an unprecedented level of excitement
and energy that we have not felt for a political candidate in maybe decades. It
was truly contagious and inspiring.

SAAS UPDATE - January 16, 2009

As you are probably aware, things are very busy (and cold) in DC right now with
preparations for the Inauguration and more importantly, the new administration.
SAAS has been involved at many different levels, including work with our usual partners
in the field. However, this year we have stepped up our efforts to reflect the current
transition efforts and took part in an excellent meeting with members of the Health
and Human Services transition team.

SAAS UPDATE - January 9, 2009

2009 Resolutions:

1. Write a letter to the Editor emphasizing

  • The elimination of discrimination against people in recovery.
  • The need to expand and improve the availability and quality of prevention,
    treatment, and recovery support services.

2. Invite a policymaker to visit a program in your state.

3. Become a member of the Founding 500 by contributing to the National Advocacy
Campaign. [http://lac.org/index.php/lac/nac_membership]

4. Take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities at the NIATx/SAAS
Annual Conference. [http://www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com]
July 29-August 1 in Tucson, AZ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy New Year!!