Hamilton Center, Inc. - October 2005

Hamilton Awards Presented
Five Awards Presented at Annual Dinner of the Board of Directors

Hamilton Center, Inc. is pleased to announce the recipients of this year's Hamilton Awards. The awards were presented on October 25, 2005 at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors at Hulman Center, Terre Haute, IN. Officers of the Board presented the awards. Dr. Frederick Frese, a trained psychiatrist and a diagnosed schizophrenic, gave the keynote address to an audience of close to 500 people.

Hamilton Awards, which are selected by the Executive Committee of Hamilton Center’s Board of Directors, are presented annually. Winners have significantly contributed to the cause of mental health and/or the care of people with mental illnesses, addiction problems, or developmental disabilities. Hamilton Awards have been presented annually since 1981 and are named in honor of Katherine Hamilton, a woman who was devoted to the cause of mental health and improving the care of those in need.

Community Award winners:

This year there were two Hamilton “Community” Award winners. The first winner was Freebird’s Solution Center, which opened their doors to people of the Wabash Valley in December of 2004 for people who might not have anywhere else to go if this organization did not exist. They provide a safe place for people to transition to drug-free and alcohol-free living. The center treats residents with dignity and respect, and was established with an all volunteer staff. They were represented at the ceremony by Teri Evans.

The second Hamilton “Community” Award was presented to the New Life Wesleyan Church of Mecca, Indiana. This organization proves their dedication to their community through such things as a food pantry and clothes closet for people who are in immediate need. They are also working on having a church bus outfitted to provide a portable clothes closet that will go where the need is. These are just a few of the many community efforts displayed by this recipient. They were represented by Pastor Chet Todd.

Volunteer Award winner:

Frank Volkers was the winner of this year’s Hamilton “Volunteer” Award. Mr. Vokers has been involved in Maryland Community Church, The Samaritan Project (which he founded in 1982), Lifeline (which he co-founded in 1970), as well as president of Wabash Valley Urban Connection, Inc. Since 1982, he has given financial counseling to over 2500 indigent or financially struggling families.

Staff Award winner:

This year there were also two Hamilton “Staff” Award winners. The first winner was Virgil Macke, MSW, LCSW, who works in the Client Support Services Division of Hamilton Center. Mr. Macke works as a gatekeeper to the state hospitals. In addition, one of his most notable accomplishments is his leadership of the P.A.I. R. Program. In March of 1999, Hamilton Center was the second county in Indiana to establish a psychiatric assertive identification and referral program (also known as P.A.I.R.). P.A.I.R. is a mental health diversion program designed to address the needs of persons with mental illness charged with minor criminal offenses. The nominator of this recipient put it best by saying, “His work with the P.A.I.R. program makes Hamilton Center and Vigo County enviable models for the humane treatment of the mentally ill in the judicial system.”

The second recipient of the Hamilton “Staff” Award was Dr. Randall L. Stevens, Physician with Hamilton Center’s Medical Services Division. Dr. Stevens’ career with Hamilton Center began in 1972 as a Psychiatric Technician. He is now providing services on the Inpatient unit and Addiction Services. His dedication to Hamilton Center does not stop there. He works as Medical Director at St. Ann’s Medical Clinic, donating services to indigent and low-income residents of Vigo County. He is currently the Medical Director of Vigo County Juvenile Center, Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at IU School of Medicine, as well as Medical Director for the Vigo County Jail. His dedication to fighting addictions in The Wabash Valley could be considered one of his most notable achievements. His involvement with the methamphetamine task force is invaluable.

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Hamilton Center Annual Meeting & Hamilton Awards Dinner October 25, 2005

Hamilton Center Inc.'s Board of Directors announces their Annual Meeting and Hamilton Awards dinner Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Indiana State University’s Hulman Center, 200 North Eighth Street, Terre Haute.

The social will begin at 6:15 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling Hamilton Center at (812) 231-8317. The dinner is $20 per person.

Dr. Frederick Frese is this year’s keynote speaker. He is a psychologist who served for fifteen years as Director of Psychology at Western Reserve Psychiatric Hospital, one of Ohio's largest psychiatric hospitals. He is presently Coordinator of the Summit County Ohio Recovery Project. Thirty-five years ago, while a young Marine Corps officer, Fred was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and over the next ten years was in and out of mental hospitals, often on secure wards. Despite his disability, he earned a degree in International Business Management from the American Graduate School of International Management in Phoenix, as well as Masters and Doctoral degrees in psychology from Ohio University.

Dr. Frese speaks frequently on mental illness to a wide range of groups across the United States, Canada, and other countries. He has keynoted national and state-wide conferences of health care providers, consumer and family groups and has presented at national conferences for psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists and other groups of health professionals. He describes the process of developing schizophrenia, living with the disorder, and has developed 12 aspects of coping for persons with serious mental illness. His long experience in treating mentally ill persons and his extensive networking with various professional and consumer groups also equip him to discuss present trends and future directions in the treatment of serious mental illness.

Hamilton Awards will be presented to businesses, organizations, and individuals that have significantly contributed to the cause of mental health and/or care of persons with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities or substance abuse problems. An award also will be given to a Hamilton Center staff member who has demonstrated a personal commitment to the cause of behavioral health and advanced the mission of Hamilton Center through service above and beyond the normal duties of his/her position.

For further information, call (812) 231-8152.

Community/Volunteer Award Nominees
Linda Cates, Hendricks County
Covered Bridge Special Education District, Vigo County
FreeBirds Solution Center, Vigo County
Glenburn Nursing Home – Alzheimer’s Unit, Greene County
Craig Hanks, Sullivan County
Mary Rose Hemminghouse, Vigo County
Sebrina Johnson, Vigo County
Jon Marvel, Vigo County
Mecca Wesleyan Church, Parke County
Andrea Myers, Vigo County
Parke County Local Coordinating Council – Anti-Meth Subcommittee
George Ralston, Vigo County
Rural Healthcare, Marion County
William Schad, Clay County
Patty Spier, Vigo County
Claire Thorsen, Vigo County
Vigo County Drug Court
Frank Volkers, Vigo County
Mary Yelton, Clay County

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