Friends of Yahara House is a group of volunteer citizens who play a key role in attracting private resources to improve the quality of members’ lives.
The Friends of Yahara House Advisory Board, also known as the Friends Board, is a volunteer group of individuals who represent Yahara House and are committed to recovery. Yahara House is a certified Clubhouse where people with severe and persistent mental illness can come to recover by building relationships through meaningful work. Since 1986, the Friends Board has been working to raise funds, advocate, educate, and connect Yahara House to resources and opportunities that the Clubhouse needs. The Board meets once a month using conscious model, a Clubhouse standard, for decision-making. Furthermore, the Friends Board meets not only as a group, but also extends to working with the Clubhouse as colleagues. They participate in various Clubhouse activities working side-by-side. The Friends of Yahara House Advisory Board embrace the Clubhouse standards in order to carryout the board's mission.
Mission:
* To attract private resources, to improve quality of member's lives as well as the Clubhouse overall effectiveness.
* To open doors at local businesses, advocate for Yahara House, educate the community, and to de-stigmatize mental illness.
* To keep the hope of recovery alive at Yahara House.
Vision:
Our long-term vision is to help Yahara House become financially sustainable.
Current Board Members:
Jaquelynn Rothstein, Board President, Wisconsin Supreme Court, Director, Wisconsin Board Bar Examiners
Mike Ivey, Board Treasurer, Award-winning reporter, Business Section, The Capital Times; brother of YH member
Shawn Doherty, Award-winning free lance journalist; recipient of NAMI Dane County Media Award for Excellence
Mary Beth Gaffney, Businesswoman; mother and sister of former YH members
David LeCount, Field Faculty Associate, U.W. School of Social Work; former Coordinator of Dane County Adult Mental Health Services
Joe Mannchen, YH member; colleague at 2012 Gateway House Training
Jerry Pasdo, Investment Real Estate
April Scheel, YH member, spokesperson for community education
