2017 Rral Voices Real Choices conference

Another year down for the Real Voices Real Choices Conference. Our committee puts on an annual conference, at Tan Tar A Resort on the Lake of the Ozarks, for people with developmental disables, mental illness and substance abuse issues. We are all people with lived experience and do the best we can to educate, motivate and inspire almost 900 attendees. We feed them, passed out eclipse glasses and watched it, karaoke and even a dance too. Along with a keynote speaker. It is exhausting but rewarding. Some of these attendees I only see them at the conference. I love this event!

The packing of the bags, Only 900

Calm before the storn

My friend Amy and I checking out the eclipse

The committee members 

2016 Real Voices Real Choices Conference

Every year, Mo Mental Health foundation & Mo department of Mental Health, puts on a conference at the Lake of the Ozarks. I'm proud to say I'm a committee members of this conference. We welcome people from across the state of Missouri with substance abuse issues, mental health issues as well as developmental disabilities. This year we had over 850. We work hard on getting donations like shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes & toothpaste for people who attend. We have a keynote speaker & many breakout sessions over two & a half days. It's exhausting running around but seeing the smiles on the faces, makes it all worthwhile! In another year, we will be back at the Lake of the Ozarks again. For now, time to relax.

View from my room

Some of my friends and i

karaoke and dancing 

dance

Committee members