As president of the Inland Empire Chapter, I am thankful I was a part of a transforming year for CAMFT. I believe I was able to contribute to its original vision of promoting MFT’s and the needs of the profession. I chose to be a part of the “Save CAMFT,” now CAMFT United.com, effort to keep CAMFT an organization that remains focused on the needs and interests of MFT’s. Save CAMFT was instrumental in keeping CAMFT from becoming a generic mental health organization, which had been the CAMFT Board’s plan. I spent hours talking to people and handing out flyers to inform members of the CAMFT Board’s intentions.
Because of the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent by the CAMFT Board to defend that agenda, many of us have continued to seek transparency regarding this and other issues. I attended the CAMFT Board meeting in Berkeley to challenge the Board on their intentions and continued direction of vision. I took the opportunity to speak to the CAMFT Board and believe I was a voice for all of us, who are just trying to make a living and be heard. I went to the Leadership Conference in San Jose, and challenged them on the same issues, and also went to a CAMFT Connect event, where the medium for speaking was reduced to written questions to which the Board chose to respond.
I am handing over my role as chapter president to two strong leaders, Sherry Shockey-Pope and Judy McGehee. As you know, we are all volunteers and to maintain our voice and accountability, it takes all of us to do what we can. We need to continue to let the CAMFT Board know how their efforts can best serve us. You know that with any relationship, it takes communication and clarification. I hope you will find that place where you can be involved. We are CAMFT. We are what we make it.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and represent you.
Janine Murray, MFT
