AN OPEN INVITATION

Dear Miami-Dade Colleagues,

Herman Hesse said “A magic dwells in each beginning” and this I believe is so true with what is occurring with the re-activation of our Miami-Dade Chapter. Spring is in the air and the days are longer, flowers are blooming and life looks brighter with the sun shining.

Greetings to all of you! I hope that you are getting a "spring break" in the midst of your hectic schedules. Spring does offer a time of renewal and reflection and it is a good time to remind ourselves to take the advice many of us give to our own clients. Take time to breathe, take a walk and enjoy the South Florida climate, and smell the flowers as well as the occasional “Café Cubano”. We have so many opportunities in this area to, walk the beach and drink in the natural beauty to which we are so privileged to live in.

For me, there is a magical quality to the energetic flow that is presently being felt with our new beginnings, a sort of an excitement for what lies ahead for all of us. I see it as a collective marching towards a return to being in full swing again, as we begin anew with monthly meetings, newsletters, and preparation for what awaits us in the coming year.

I am grateful to all the members whom have participated thus far, and have made a commitment to renew their pledge to our profession as Marriage and Family Therapist. I am especially grateful to our past board members, especially to our past chapter board presidents Gilza Fort Martinez and Robin Stilwell, for their commitment in lending their valuable experience to facilitate our goal of re-activation and in providing their support and encouragement as well. I appreciate so much their willingness as well as our other members in taking time from their busy schedules to make our Chapter work for all of us. With their leadership and assistance, I am confident that we will have a very productive Executive Board elect to come.

The remainder of the year will be filled with several different opportunities to meet and connect at the chapter level. Our mandate is a simple one; to grow and meet the professional needs of our membership. With our re-activation of our Chapter comes the opportunity to:

• Networking at our monthly meetings;
• Plan for our professional development through the viability of a subscription-based program to comply with CEU requirements;
• Developing workshop topics of interest;
• Incorporating a Member-to-Member E-mail Service to facilitate access to colleagues for announcements, job openings & referrals, etc.;
• Communication through our developing monthly newsletter, and;
• Volunteer opportunities and a voice in the future of our profession.

These are but some of our highlights for the coming year. More detailed information on these events will be provided in future editions of the newsletter.

I think that I can speak confidently for those members that have participated thus far in affirming our resolve to be your representative, and continue our firm and steadfast resolution to accept your input in working to keep in touch with our membership and the communities we serve. Please feel free to call or e-mail us at miamidadechapter@hotmail.com.

I along with our members hope to see you all at the upcoming Florida Association for Marriage and Family Therapy 2010 Annual Conference in Deerfield Beach, and encourage you to join us in re-establishing the Miami-Dade Chapter.

Thanks for your support and continual participation.

Michael J. Alicea, MS, MSW, (Ed.D. Candidate)- Organizer




Location:

1000 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
Conference Room
Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 144448
Coral Gables, FL 33114

Meeting Day:

May 2010:
No Meeting Scheduled -Visit our Table at the FAMFT 2010 Annual Conference -
Deerfiled Beach, Florida - May 15 thru 16, 2010

June 2010:
Saturday Meeting - Scheduled for June 2010 - TO-BE-ANNOUNCED