Dr. Reid Meloy Will Emcee NAMI San Diego's Inspiration Awards on Nov. 7

International speaker and forensic psychologist, Dr. J. Reid Meloy, will emcee the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI San Diego) 30th Anniversary and Inspiration Awards Dinner on Friday, November 7, 2008. The following individuals and organizations will be honored: Geni Cavett, Channel 10 News; Community Alliance for Healthy Minds, Connie & Rex Kennemer, founders; Richard Conklin, LCSW, San Diego Sheriff's Department; Ellen Frudakis, Co-founder - Impact San Diego; NAMI San Diego's Multicultural Advisory Board - including representatives from San Diego County Mental Health Services, Community Research Foundation, Family Health Centers of San Diego, UCSD Geriatric Psychiatry, Union of Pan Asian Communities, and NAMI families and consumers; and Vista Hill - represented by Robert Dean, CEO.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) August 13, 2008 -- International speaker and forensic psychologist, Dr. J. Reid Meloy, will emcee the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI San Diego) 30th Anniversary and Inspiration Awards Dinner on Friday, November 7, 2008.

J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D., is a board-certified forensic psychologist, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and adjunct professor at its School of Law. He is a recognized expert on the Rorschach ("inkblot") Psychodiagnostic Test. Dr. Meloy has been a retained consultant and expert witness in both civil and criminal investigations and trials throughout the U.S., and was the forensic psychology expert for the prosecution of Oklahoma City bombing defendants Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. He lectures throughout the U.S. and Europe on his specialties and his most recent work focuses on investigation and analysis of what he terms the "violent true believer."

Dr. Meloy is the author or co-author of 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers and seven books. For years, he faithfully attended NAMI's Thursday education and support group meetings and helped founder Helen Teischer and others get the organization going.

"We are thrilled to have Dr. Meloy emcee our 30th Anniversary event," said Bettie Reinhardt, Executive Director of NAMI San Diego. "He was here in our early years, has seen us change and grow, and is the perfect host for the evening's festivities."

These festivities will include honoring the following individuals and organizations that have inspired us all, and that have helped NAMI San Diego achieve its mission of improving the quality of life of everyone affected by mental illnesses:

• Geni Cavett, Channel 10 News

• Community Alliance for Healthy Minds, Connie & Rex Kennemer, founders

• Richard Conklin, LCSW, San Diego Sheriff's Department

• Ellen Frudakis, Co-founder - Impact San Diego

• NAMI San Diego's Multicultural Advisory Board - including representatives from San Diego County Mental Health Services, Community Research Foundation, Family Health Centers of San Diego, UCSD Geriatric Psychiatry, Union of Pan Asian Communities, and NAMI families and consumers.

• Vista Hill - represented by Robert Dean, CEO

The celebration will be held on November 7 at the Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island from 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm. An indoor/outdoor cocktail hour and door prizes will precede the dinner and awards ceremony. An ocean sunset, marina view and gourmet cuisine will help make this event a special night to remember.

Please plan to join us as we commemorate NAMI San Diego's 30 years of service in the community and honor those who helped us along the way. If you have any questions or would like to become a Dinner Sponsor, Table Sponsor or place an ad, please contact Trisha Gooch at any of the following--cell: 619-616-0602; voice mail: 619-584-5564, Ext. 302; email: trishagooch@namisd.org

The deadline for Dinner Sponsorship is August 29 and the Table Sponsorship is October 1. The deadline for program ads is October 24.

###