Edna Elkins and Supervisor Jim Beall
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 14:54:26 -0700
To: "CINMHC Backup List" <cinmhc-bak@egroups.com>
From: "Andrew Phelps" <starfish@northcoast.com>
Subject: [CINMHC-BAK] outstanding service award

Today — Tuesday May 23 2000 — the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors passed a unanimous resolution honoring Edna Elkins for 30 years of volunteer contributions to the community. Edna received a plaque and a pin in the presence of the 5 supervisors, the County M.H. Director, Edna’s mentor Jim McEntee the County Human Relations Director, and a number of client activists.

Edna’s contributions include helping pioneer the Homeless program for Santa Clara County, AIDS/HIV support work, and helping get ‘mental disability’ included in state Hate Crimes legislation. She also served two separate terms on the Santa Clara County Mental Health Board where she distinguished herself by challenging the discrimination clients face in public life.

When Edna addressed the chamber she emphasized the importance of the issue of discrimination. She stressed how much more work needs to be done in this area, and encouraged the clients to speak out and be heard about this.

Andrew Phelps

Tom Jurgensen