Happy December! Shorter days and chilly nights! Good weather for curling up with a mug of hot tea and a cozy afghan! I hope everyone is enjoying the change of season and finding time for self-care during this busy holiday time!

Despite the year winding down, we have a few exciting things left to bring your attention to in 2022! And of course, there are lots of things to look forward to in 2023!  

THE SGV CAMFT BOARD INVITES YOU TO PARTICIPATE!

The SGV CAMFT Board currently is looking for some new participants! Although we are currently in desperate need of a Treasurer to replace our invaluable Shana Pallotta in 2023 (see below), you don’t have to make a huge commitment or even sign up as a Committee Chair. We would be happy for some additional peoplepower to pull off some projects that we have big ideas for! Of course, we also welcome folks who are interested in joining the Board in a more official capacity. You don’t have to be a licensed member to help us out. Students and pre-licensed are some of our most valuable assets! Jobs/tasks can be as large or small as the amount of time you have to offer!

Here are some areas in which we could use your help!

• Treasurer position is open in 2023 (Interested but not sure? Don’t worry, Shana will stick around to tutor you into the job! See below for details)
• Social Media posting (IG, FB, etc.) 
• Membership outreach (could be a couple of hours of phone calling!)
• SIG (Special Interest Group) program coordination (see below for details)
• Mentors for our Mentor-Mentee program (it’s such a hit, we need more mentors!)
• Secretary position may be opening up 
• SIG group leaders and SIG Program Coordinator (Have an idea for a SIG? Let us know! See below for details)
• Interested in a pipeline for leadership? Join the board and see how you can build your leadership skills and step into your role as a leader in your professional community!
• Just because you don’t see a position listed, doesn’t mean it isn’t available. Let us know your interests in serving on the board and we’ll see how we can help make that happen!

If you have questions about volunteering on our Chapter’s board in any capacity large or small, please contact Kathryn Bikle at president@sgvcamft.orgor, Kathryn.bikle@gmail.com We look forward to welcoming you to help us better serve the SGV CAMFT community!

UPCOMING EVENTS and PROGRAMS

MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL EVENTS 

Membership Appreciation Event

Plans underway for January 21st 11 am

Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens, Red Car Cafe

SAVE THE DATE!

SGV-CAMFT is grateful to all the members who have enriched and supported our chapter in 2022. We are delighted to be returning to an in-person Membership Appreciation Event for the first time since 2019!

We invite all SGV-CAMFT members to mark SAT JAN 21st 11 am on your calendar and join us for a complimentary* afternoon at Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens.

Stay Tuned - More details to come in the New Year!

*Limited number of admissions available by RSVP to SGV-CAMFT members in good standing - refreshments will be provided to all members

This wonderful event is still in the planning stages. However, we look forward to showing our appreciation for our fabulous members and announcing our new Board of Directors. We’ll keep you posted!

Coffee Connection

Keep your eyes peeled! These popular casual coffee hangs take place about once a month at various coffee shops around the San Gabriel Valley. Look for notices on Instagram or FaceBook for the next SGV CAMFT Coffee Connection. All are welcome! SGV CAMFT members, board members, students, and people interested in learning more about SGVCAMFT or just getting together to chat are encouraged to come!

Thanks to all who were able to join us at Bean Town in Sierra Madre on Nov 6th! We hope to see you next time!

Questions? Email Deanna Hudgins at hudginsdeanna@gmail.com or Michael Bauer at michaelgeraldbauer@gmail.com

Programs 

We’d like to send a shout -out to Lynne Azpeitia for her excellent work in putting together so many exciting, diverse, and informative programs in 2022! Thank you, Lynne! We have all benefitted so much from your skillful and adept commandeering of talented speakers on interesting topics! And online!!! For those of you who don’t know, gathering all the necessary information required to host a CE Credit program online is quite an undertaking! And yet, you have managed it all with such grace and aplomb! We look forward to what you have in store for us in 2023!

Programs in 2023 will be held online unless otherwise advertised. In general, both CE Credit and Connect & Learn Programs are scheduled from 11:30- 1 pm on the third Friday of each month with the exceptions of January, August, and December. (In January we have our Membership Appreciation Event)

In February (exact date TBA) look for an exciting Panel presentation discussing issues pertinent to pre-licensed and early career therapists. Details to come!     

 

Book Club

December 4th, 7:00 - 8:00 pm Meeting Canceled 

Look to join the Book Club Meeting Online in 2023 and meet with other book lovers eager to talk about things they have read or seen that have provided inspiration as a therapist or as a person! Come prepared to share your current favorite book, article, documentary, or movie and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded bibliophiles! 

The SGVCAMFT Book Club meets online once a month on a Sunday evening usually the first Sunday of the month unless it is a holiday weekend. Registration needed to receive meeting Zoom link. This event is offered free of charge to SGVCAMFT members.

Register for Future Book Club meetings on our website at: https://www.sgvcamft.org 

SIGs (Special Interest Groups)

Join our exciting new SGV Supervision Collaborative (SIG)!

The SGV Supervision Collaborative will meet December 3rd from 9- 10:30 am and will continue monthly through the end of 2023. Current and potential supervisors gathered via Zoom to share resources, offer best practices, and discussed different types of support that this group might offer. Feel free to join us for peer consultation and clinical supervisor support. Check our Events page on the sgvcamft.org website for upcoming meetings and to register for this free ongoing special interest group! 

Dec 3rd 9:00-10:30 am 

Jan 14th 9:00-10:30 am

Facilitators for the SGV Supervision Collaborative are Natasha Morisawa and Mayte Salazar. Questions? Email Natasha at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org

3000 CLUB – Message from our 3000 Club Team!

"Hello everyone! The 3000 Club is making a comeback!”

After a brief hiatus the 3000 Club valiantly returns to serve the needs of San Gabriel Valley's pre-licensed members. This includes students, practicum interns, and associates alike. We aim to support these members through community and connection. If there is demand, we will provide informative workshops or presentations, but the bulk of club meetings will be informal social gatherings. This includes getting together in a park, lunches, renting out a movie theatre, board games, and any other activity members might request.

Connecting with other people at varying levels of licensure is the overall goal of this 3000 Club but meetings will also be a place to ask questions and share solutions with the frustrating process of licensure.

If you'd like to join our meetings or have any questions or comments please email Joe Girillo at jgirillo_57@joegirillo.com 

Mentor – Mentee Program

Putting out a call for Mentors!

Have you been secretly longing to share your professional wisdom with a less experienced colleague? Here’s your opportunity! SGVCAMFT Mentor-Mentee Chair Jessica Ruiz is currently seeking additional Mentors for our popular Mentor-Mentee program. Being a Mentor does not take a huge amount of time, just a willingness to share your expertise and offer support to a Mentee for an hour a month, or whatever feels right to you! Requested areas of expertise include: Supporting a Shift to Private Practice, Developing your Treatment Modality, Exam Prep Support, TeleHealth Technology Support, and Your Expertise Here! Contact Jessica if you would like to become a SGVCAMFT Mentor or are interested in the Mentor-Mentee program: Jessicaruizmft@gmail.com or secretary@sgvcamft.org. Information about our Mentor-Mentee program can be found on our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Mentor-Mentee-Program  

A special thank you to our departing Treasurer,

Shana Pallotta

The Board would like to offer heartfelt thanks to Shana Pallotta who is stepping down from her position as SGV CAMFT Treasurer 2019. In that time, Shana has carefully overseen SGV CAMFT’s finances through the challenges we faced as we transitioned from in-person meetings and venues to virtual during the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown. She has guided us into the digital age, setting up most of our billing online as well as setting up our programs and membership payments to the online format. Most importantly, in her years as Treasurer, Shana has been a vigilant steward of our financial health and has brought savvy recommendations and concerns to the attention of the board on a regular basis. In preparation for her stepping off the Board in 2023, Shana has also thoughtfully, created a detailed template for an incoming Treasurer or Financial Oversight Committee to follow. 

Thank you, Shana! We will miss you! Wishing you all the best in 2023 and beyond!

Seeking New Treasurer!

Treasurer Job description: Term 2-3 years. Serves on the Executive Board. Oversees the fiscal policies and procedures of SGV-CAMFT. Ensures that regular bills get paid and works with the bookkeeper to track finances and file tax forms. Attends regular Board meetings on the first Friday of the month and gives a financial report to the Board. Helps SGV-CAMFT find best practices and reliable resources to help fulfill its purpose. Approximate time commitment is 5-8 hours a month, 2 of those hours are fixed at the Board meeting, the rest are flexible at the Treasurer's availability.

Interested? Have additional questions? Think you might be interested but are worried about the learning curve? Please know that Shana will be available to help train the new Treasurer as needed. Please email Kathryn at president@sgvcamft.org or Kathryn.bikle@gmail.com 

Seeking New SIGs Program Coordinator!

SGV CAMFT’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Program Planning is actively looking for Participants and Facilitators to help launch this program! 

SGV-CAMFT is forming a Special Interest Group Program for professionals to come together around topics and interests related to our field. A Special Interest Group (SIG) is an opportunity to make connections, dig deeper into specialty areas, and form relationships around common interests. We are currently looking for participants and facilitators to help us launch this program! 

Do you have a passion for working with couples, trauma, or a specific diagnosis, and would like to share that with your colleagues? 

Do you work with a specific population and could use some support? 

Would you enjoy co-hosting educational or social programs for Marriage and Family Therapists? 

We are open to your ideas for SIGs. What group would you like to see form? What group could you imagine being a part of? Check our website for details on how to apply to become a facilitator: https://www.sgvcamft.org/Special-Interest-Group-(SIG)-Program Contact Natasha Morisawa for more information at Pastpresident@sgvcamft.org or Natasha@mindfulmft.com

Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Program

Applications for the Rudy Hayek Honorary Scholarship Program are accepted year-round. You must be a member of SGVCAMFT and a current student in pursuit of a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in order to qualify. Applicants are evaluated on their dedication to serving the community and advancing the profession of Marriage and Family Therapy. Visit our website at https://www.sgvcamft.org/Rudy-Hayek-Honorary-Scholarship-Program for instructions on how to apply for 2023. 

 

A Final Note from the SGV CAMFT Board:

As the holidays are fast upon us, we, the SGV CAMFT Board would like to wish all our members a joyful, safe, and healthy holiday season! 

All the best in 2023!!