NASW-CA Region A Unit Report

By Region A Director Shelly Kalmer, MSW, ACSW

Happy Social Work Month!  Region A has filled the month with lots of celebrations starting with the Speed Networking event hosted by the San Francisco Unit this past Thursday. The event was held in the beautiful retro-modern Swank Cocktail and Coffee Club. Please see the submission by Assistant Region A Director and San Francisco Unit Chair Mark Thoma for more details and photos. At the event, Mark Thoma was recognized for his service to the chapter as the Assistant Regional Director for the past six years. Thank you, Mark! 

Region A is also proud to be a part of the planning of the SFSU SW student event happening this Thursday, March 19 at Seven Hills Conference Center on the SFSU campus.  Along with a panel of professional social workers who are paving a way for change, professional social workers attending the event will be attended to and honored by the students who are following along the path being paved. There will be food, drink, networking and more. This will be an evening not to be missed. 

The Sonoma Unit will be hosting a celebration on Thursday, March 2 presenting two local social workers with the honor of Social Workers of the Year. Margie Helm and Catherine Arnold have, among many other accomplishments in the profession, spent the past nine years shepherding social work students through their graduate studies in the MSW Distance Ed program offered in Sonoma County through Cal State Long Beach.  Graduates and current students speak of them both with the regard of true mentors. 

Additionally, the Sonoma Unit’s event will host a silent auction as a fundraiser for the Region A MSW Student Scholarship established in 2012. Some of the items that have been donated to the auction include an original piece of art from a local Sonoma County youth who has benefitted from the services of social workers; handcrafted jewelry made by a local social worker working in the fields of medical social work and attachment therapy; a handcrafted doll made by a retired medical social worker; a basket of New Zealand goodies including New Zealand wines; a massage at Bliss Organic Spa; two movie passes good at select theaters throughout Sonoma County; and more.

The event will include a presentation by retired Sonoma County social worker, turned motivational speaker, comedian and writer Mary Carouba. A popular speaker and performer whose material shines a light on professional, personal and social issues, Mary is celebrated as a gifted storyteller whose presentations inspire and entertain. Using real-life examples and poignant stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, Mary vividly demonstrates to audience members the possibilities for their own lives. Mary’s background as an investigative social worker adds richness and depth to her presentations and performances.

In keeping with the theme of paving a way for change, the event is being hosted at one of Sonoma County’s renowned environmental centers, the Great Heron Hall at the Laguna de Santa Rosa. 

The Foundation is a nonprofit with the mission to restore and conserve the Laguna de Santa Rosa, and to inspire public appreciation of this Wetland of International Importance.  It will be catered by the Ceres Community Project, a project that “energizes communities by linking what we eat and how we care for each other with the health of people and planet.” 

The program supports people struggling because of a serious health challenge with free and home-delivered nourishing organic and locally produced meals, nutrition education and the caring support of the community. All meals are prepared by teens ages 14 to 19 who volunteer in the garden and kitchen, learning nutrition, meal prep and compassion. Additionally, serving utensils, plates, napkins, glassware, etc. will all be provided by Green Mary Event Waste Diversion and EcoEducation. 

All three of these organizations are paving a way for change through environmental education, nutrition education and compassion building.  It is an honor to be collaborating with them.

We hope to see you at some point throughout this month of honoring.  And we hope you are taking sometime this month (and always) to honor yourselves for your role in helping to improve the human condition—whether it be through macro, mezzo, or micro practice.

For more information on any of the events mentioned above please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NASWCaRegionA.SFtoDN