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  Joanne V. Founder of SA  SA Leaders     Tracy M.

  Schizophrenics Anonymous exists primarily because of the remarkable efforts of Joanne Verbanic.  That is not meant to minimize the remarkable efforts and participation by those who are involved with the organization, but without her efforts and insight as to what can help people who suffer from the illness, the organization would not be in existence in its present state.  There are people who are recognized for many public accomplishments.  There are those who take up popular causes.  But there are remarkably few that take up causes and risk what Joanne did in reaching out to help others.  The stigma and potential to suffer personal discrimination and loss of income and opportunity should not be understated.  Her courage in following her desire to help others won out over taking the safe path and shielding from the view of others her own illness. Much is made over the efforts of sporting figures who compete in sporting events after suffering an injury.  As this is being written, Tiger Woods is playing in the 2008 US Open Golf Championship.  There is talk of his his effort as being heroic.  Determined and competitive, yes.  Heroic?  After viewing the following video, ask yourself who risked more.  Joanne Verbanic took far greater personal risks and never was presented with the potential to gain popular and monetary rewards.  We have plenty of competitors we view as heroes.  Would it not seem as though we would have a better world if there were more heroes like Joanne?   The SA Story Part 1   Schizophrenics Anonymous celebrated the 20th anniversary (2005) of their organization with a video that conveys the message of hope and inspiration that organization brings to those who suffer from schizophrenia.  We invite you to view the video to gain an understanding of the power of this valuable program.   To further demonstrate the power of SA to make a difference we offer this excerpt from an e-mail written by the SARDAA director to SARDAA board members. "I had a conversation today with Larry A and he said something that really touched me: SA's monthly "Spirit of SA" calls (to provide training and technical assistance to SA group leaders) might need to be moved from daytime to evening in the future because more and more leaders are working during the day. Why is this important? Because less than a generation ago most were in a hospital or on disability, so they had no daytime conflict. It is a testament to SA's power to help people recover that they now have jobs as a part of their full lives in the community." SA Group Listing by State   California Bakersfield Chula Vista Downey Hollywood Lancaster Long Beach Palmdale Sacramento San Diego Santa Rosa Tehachapi Van Nuys Visalia Colorado Denver Lakewood Littleton Connecticut Ansonia Bridgeport (2) Danbury Enfield Middletown Milford New Haven West Haven   Florida Goldenrod Hollywood Jacksonville Lauderhill Oakland Park Port St. Joe St. Petersburg West Palm Beach Georgia Atlanta Illinois Evanston Hoffman Estates Wheaton Indiana Bloomington Lafayette Noblesville Richmond Kansas Wichita Kentucky Covington   Maryland Rockville Wheaton Massachusetts Quincy Michigan Adrian Ann Arbor (7) Benton Harbor Big Rapids Detroit (2) Eastpointe Ferndale Flint Fowlerville Grand Rapids Hartford Ionia Kalamazoo (2) Lansing Livonia Muskegon Northville Oak Park (2) Roseville Royal Oak Saginaw Ypsilanti (14)   Missouri Kansas City (2) Nebraska Lincoln New Jersey Bridgewater Jersey City Lakewood Madison New Brunswick New York Binghamton Bronx (2) Hudson Falls Rego Park Rochester (2) N. Carolina Carrboro N. Dakota Grand Forks   Ohio Amelia Cambridge Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus (3) Dayton East Liverpool Elyria Mansfield Middleburg Heights Newark Port Clinton Portsmouth Springfield Toledo Worthington Youngstown Zanesville Oklahoma Tulsa Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Erie Greensburg Morrisville Pittsburgh   S. Carolina Camden Columbia (2) Texas Richardson El Paso Houston Lubbock San Antonio Virginia Falls Church Washington Medical Lake Wisconsin Madison Abroad: Australia Brazil Canada Mexico Venezuela  Programs like Schizophrenics Anonymous really do change lives.  With your support we can make a difference.

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Last modified: 11/15/08