Our Legacy In 1994, Sonoma County Mental Health Board instructed Alan Rawland, the Mental Health Director of Sonoma County, to send 9 clients to the national Alternatives Conference in Los Angeles. This group of clients came back with the intention of opening a self-help center in Sonoma County. When they approached Alan Rawland about their idea, he told them to form a committee and write up a proposal and a budget and to "think big!" The committee met with Sam Tuttelman, from Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire to accomplish this task. In 1995, the proposal was approved and Goodwill was hired as the contract agency to implement and oversee the Interlink Self Help Center. A Coordinator, Lisa Eckhart, was hired to organize, find a building and make all the arrangements for opening the Center. There were many members who came to the center at 1033 Fourth Street to spackle and paint before the opening day, July 10, 1996. Interlink was founded on the idea of "teams" by the members of the Interlink Committee. Four Team Leaderswere hired. Kathy Clementi was hired as the Administrative Team Leader; Maria Mar was hired as the Outreach and Activities Team Leader; Amy Breckenridge was hired as the Peer Counseling Team Leader and Mike Kneidel was hired as the Environmental Team Leader. The center began with the equivalent of 3 Full Time Team Leaders; 2 full-time team leaders and 2 part-time team leaders. Each Team Leader hired 1 or 2 Interns, who volunteered 15 hours a week and who were reimbursed for expenses up to $100 a month. Lisa and the Committee met to organize the Membership Council, a group of 7 members who were elected by the General Membership. The Council met to write by-laws, rules, and consequences for breaking rules. The Interlink Advisory Committee was formed to be a source of advice and support for the Interlink Coordinator. The Interlink Advisory Committee is comprised of 3 members from the Client Liaison Committee, 4 elected members from Interlink, and 6 members from the community. With these structures in place and the direction of Lisa Eckhart Interlink grew and thrived. Helen Lara became Interlink's manager in 1998. Helen has an undying committment to the philosophy of self-help. She led Interlink to be what the Executive Director of the California Network of Mental Health Clients called "a model self-help center for the State of California". To this day, Interlink operates under the same format and organization. We offer an average of 30 groups a week, activities in the community, picnics, BBQs, parties and birthday celebrations, peer counseling and support. Although some of the staff have been with Interlink from the opening day or shortly thereafter, there are some newer members. We maintain the original philosophy and operation, which has always been based on individual choice, self-motivation and involvement, empowerment and the idea that peers can understand and help peers.