Lisa Babbitt, Diane Warner & Terry Walker cutting the Volunteer cake.

THANK YOU to the many members and friends who contributed to our success — with donations and efforts — during the previous year. Predominantly a volunteer and membership driven organization, you make it happen. We couldn’t do it without you!

Held at the Poplar Creek Grill, Coyote Point, it was an opportunity for attendees to relax, mingle with old friends,make new ones, and generally enjoy themselves. Participants included family and friends, staff from BHRS, Mateo Lodge, the Mental Health Association, Heart and Soul, support group and program leaders, and many more.

Helene Zimmerman, our office manager, emceed the luncheon, and together with Debi Mechanic (our new office assistant) arranged the beautiful orchid centerpieces. Each table was decorated with chocolate kisses and bags of heart-shaped jellies that were generously donated by Gimbals Fine Candies. The room looked lovely. While 12 lucky raffle winners got to take home orchids, two others received a pair of ticketsto performances at the Bing Concert Hall, thanks to the generosity of the Orchestral Studies Department at Stanford University, Dept. of Music.

In between courses everyone introduced themselves, and Laurie Williams urged everyone to start thinking about the NAMI Walk on May 30.

Helene closed the luncheon by proposing a toast to the continuous and improved health and well-being of our loved ones with mental illness for whom we would move heaven and earth to have as easy and enjoyable life as possible, and thanked everyone for all that they do.