Home | Annual Meeting – 2023

Annual Meeting – 2023

DBSA Boston 2023 Annual Meeting

Monday, June 26, 7 p.m. ET

Please join us for the President’s message, presentation of service awards, and the announcement of our election results.

DBSA Boston has three open director positions, as well as the executive positions of president and vice president. Nominations closed on March 27, 2023.

Our ballots will be sent via email on Monday, June 12, and need to be returned no later than 11:59 p.m. ET, Monday, June 19.

Only current DBSA Boston members as of June 1, 2023, are eligible to vote. If you are unsure of your membership status, please email Office@dbsaboston.org
You can join DBSA Boston or renew your membership on our website.

Our DBSA Boston Annual Meeting is on Monday, June 26, at 7:00 p.m. The results of the election will be announced at this virtual meeting on Zoom. All are welcome to attend the DBSA Boston Annual Meeting.

Zoom link for Annual Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/6178550001
Send an email to ZoomInfo@dbsaboston.org for the passcode.

Slate of Candidates for the Board of Directors

The election slate approved by the Board of Directors is as follows:

Officers (The officer candidates are running unopposed.)
President: Mary Johnston* (One-Year Term)
Vice President: Joe Battenfeld* (One-Year Term)

Four Nominees for Three Director Positions (Two-Year Terms)
Marissa Cremin
Bruce Greene*
Cynthia Piltch
Susan Reynolds*

*Have served on the board.

Mary Johnston – President

My name is Mary Johnston. I have been honored to be president of DBSA Boston for the past year.

I first came to DBSA-Boston in 1995 after a hospitalization for mania and psychosis. I was confused and frightened at what my brain had done to the reliable, sane person I thought I was. My therapist suggested I try this support group.

I was terrified when I first came to DBSA. I knew no one with a mental illness. I’m so grateful for the members who generously share their feelings, experiences, and coping strategies.

When I was depressed or anxious, the daytime groups were a destination for me to organize my day around and fill some empty hours.

I have been a facilitator for thirteen years. It has been extremely satisfying to give back to an organization I love.

I love DBSA Boston. I was so impressed at the way our leadership turned on a dime and moved swiftly from in-person meetings to Zoom in the spring of 2020. I was honored to join the board of directors in August of 2020, and look forward to continuing to contribute to the community that has given me so much.

Thank you.

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Joe Battenfeld – Vice President

Hello, I’m Joe Battenfeld and I’m the current vice president of DBSA Boston, seeking another term as VP. In my position, I’m also chair of the Share Care Committee, which oversees all the mental health support groups at DBSA Boston.

It’s been an extremely rewarding and exciting year as vice president, as we’ve added groups and activities and continued to build on the successes we’ve had. For the last few years, I’ve gotten to see first hand just how important these groups are to our members and attendees, and I promise to make sure the Zoom and in-person groups continue to be run smoothly and safely for all.

I’d like to ask for your vote for vice president in the upcoming election. Thank you.

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Marissa Cremin – Director

My name is Marissa and I am running to join the DBSA Boston Board of Directors. I first attended a Newcomers group back in December of 2020. I immediately felt welcomed and supported. Ever since then I have been regularly attending the Young Adults group.

There is such an amazing sense of community within DBSA. I have been so inspired by so many people here and this led me to wanting to become a facilitator myself a few months ago, so that I could give back to the organization that has given so much to me and changed my life in so many ways.

What’s so special about DBSA is that the peer support assures people that they aren’t alone in their struggles. People listen with such empathy, and it’s truly a place where hope can be found for anyone. It’s so much easier to ride the waves of life with peer support especially when dealing with a mood disorder. I only wish that I had found this organization sooner!

In my full time job throughout the past five years I have worked in philanthropy. I have also volunteered as a member of the alumni board for my alma mater for the past two-and-a-half years. Throughout the course of the last year I have been helping out with the operations of the DBSA office. I really love being a part of this kind of work! I hope that I can bring my past experiences to this new leadership role. I would also love to be involved with fundraising, and helping to recruit people to lead as facilitators, tech buddies, and volunteers within the organization.

I want to bring more representation to the board for Young Adults since we have such an incredible community within DBSA Boston. I hope to join the board as a compassionate and thoughtful leader.

I hope you will consider voting for me. Thank you so much!

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Bruce Greene – Director

My name is Bruce Greene and I am running to keep my seat as a board member. I find it rewarding to use my first-hand experience in facilitating DBSA support groups. I like taking part in the mental health community at McLeans, and being part of something I never dreamed I could do before treatment. I am proud to be a professional, as opposed to never getting beyond being a patient.

I also have been able to use my talents in Music therapy at DBSA. My best accomplishment in DBSA is facilitating Maintaining Connections, held on Wednesday nights. I have worked to keep this group alive for many years. So please vote for me at our annual election if you wish. Thank you.

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Cynthia Piltch – Director

Becoming a DBSA Boston Board Member would enable me to contribute to DBSA in exciting new ways. As a lifetime member, I currently facilitate Women’s and Newcomers groups, serve on the membership committee, and co-direct the Speakers’ Series.

As a board member, I would use my strong public health and organizational skills to work with other board members in “giving back” to help DBSA grow in membership and programming. Thank you.

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Susan Reynolds – Director

Hi! I’m Susan Reynolds, and am running for a seat on the DBSA Boston Board of Directors. I have been an active member of DBSA Boston since 1999—as a share care participant, facilitator, editor of the Polars’ Express for 23 years, and on the board for 18 years—8 terms as secretary, 1/2 term as treasurer.

It has been 24 years since my mom and I walked into our first MDDA Boston meeting… distraught, confused, and feeling totally lost. The understanding, caring, and support this group has given is extraordinary. You are the main reason our family has managed to stay together through the turmoil of affective disorder. I am profoundly grateful and try to give back as much as possible.

I currently am editor for the Polars’ Express, chair of the Communications Committee, and am a member of the committee to redesign our website.

I hope you will support my candidacy for board member. Thank you.

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Last updated: 6/1/2023