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Elijah Wood, who stars in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, accidentally locked himself out of his trailer on several occasions while filming on location in New Zealand. When he needed a rest or to relax and listen to his favorite music after a grueling 9-hour shoot, he could not reenter his personal space. Mr. Wood, myself and the volunteers responsible for New York City Voices' 8th annual awards benefit all have something in common: we are only human and make mistakes. With that said, I will share with you my reflections on October 4th's benefit/fundraiser for the fine publication you have in your hands. Carl Blumenthal (Carl), Susan Palm Blumenthal (Susan), and I were the main organizers with strong support from many volunteers. Carl, Susan and I arrived early to the Quaker Friends Meetinghouse near East 15th Street and 2nd Avenue to get things in order before people arrived.

The Quakers were good to the mentally ill in the late 1700s/early 1800s (read for yourself in Robert Whitaker's Mad in America) when psychiatry was demanding inhumane "cures" for conditions they could not understand. Cures such as ice cold baths, bleedings, blisterings and days spent in restraining chairs were the norm, yet the Quakers engaged patients in rewarding activities (games, work, arts, other diversions), treating them as human beings who required loving kindness. For this reason, the Quaker Meetinghouse was chosen for our benefit.

Susan brought the food prepared the day before from the Mental Health Association of New York City's (MHA of NYC) Harlem Bay Clubhouse. She forgot to bring the newspapers, which contained the benefit programs, and coffee urns. I responded to this emergency by taking a cab back to the clubhouse, which was luckily open by the time I arrived and brought the programs and coffee urns to the meetinghouse. Meanwhile, Susan and her helpers were busy decorating with large vases filled with maple branches, tablecloths, and banners.

The award-winners arrived early to go over the program. They were: Councilwoman Margarita Lopez; Patricia Cliff with her husband Karl von Frieling; Jody Silver with her usual spark; the angelic Miss New York State Jessica Lynch; Janice Jones with her entourage of supporters from the Baltic Street Mental Health Board (BSMHB); Janssen Pharmaceutica's Joe Valeriani arriving later from his traffic jam; Heather Barr with her parents, who came from Alaska; The New York Times reporter Erica Goode, feeling unwell, but determined to stay as long as possible; Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez's assistant Michael Dean Santos with his lovely companion; author Jay Neugeboren, loving brother to award-winner Robert Neugeboren, arriving to represent them both; and finally consumer-friendly psychiatrist Steve Goldfinger represented by a colleague of Andrea White, close friend to Steve.

Carl, as master of ceremonies, introduced me and I read a welcoming speech. In it I described our late founder Ken Steele as a "good-hearted tyrant" for his love of consumers and yet his style of running the newspaper. I offered our debt of gratitude to people like Giselle Stolper, executive director of the MHA of NYC, NAMI National board member Patricia Cliff, Voices' editorial board, and of late Carl for helping to shape Voices into a better newspaper and for organizing the benefit. Nonetheless, Carl failed to get everyone to sign up for the raffle. Not only was there a small group eligible for the raffle, but we had no record of who attended the event because the raffle was supposed to be our record.

The entertainers were mostly consumers performing for a friendly crowd very pleased by their show of spirit. Comedian and peer advocate Rick Sostchen provided continual lightness throughout the event, joking that he and Carl were planning a coup to oust me from my throne at Voices. I've built a bamboo cage in my apartment with which to jail Rick and Carl until they no longer entertain such ideas. The Baltic Street Band performed hits from the mid to late 20th century (see The Baltic Street Band, Jan-March '03 issue for more on this band). Star of stages around the world, Meera Popkin (see Coming Back: Don't Let Your Diagnosis Block Your Vision, Jan-March '03 issue for more on Meera) sang I Give My Life for You, which she originally performed as Miss Saigon in London's production of Miss Saigon, about a mother's willingness to sacrifice everything for the advantage of her child. Meera continued to delight the crowd with a display of Kung-Fu both powerful and graceful. Kathryn Fazio's poetry of reflection closed the entertainment portion of the event.

Unfortunately, hip-hop artist Ron Rosenberg failed to show with his group Prime Suspects due to a misunderstanding I had with him two nights earlier. The award-winners were awarded framed paintings created by consumers from Brookdale Medical Center, Interfaith Medical Center, and Baltic Street Mental Health Clinic, including Isaac Brown, director of advocacy for BSMHB. Many of the award-winners heaped upon me generous praise in their acceptance speeches, swelling my head to the size of a cantaloupe, which I carried home under my arm.

So, Susan, Carl and I made some errors, but the event went on as planned and ended as planned, making Voices $15,000 richer and its supporters happier.

If Elijah Wood can lock himself out of his trailer and still make a movie, we can also make errors, yet still keep this valuable mental health resource alive. If you've been a supporter, thank you.