Regional News

Northeast Region
The Northeast Regional Office staff worked diligently over the summer planning their activities and events for the year. Many new programs and services are being closely reviewed in order to serve the Northeast Regional clients more efficiently and effectively. Expanding MSAA’s exercise program to hold classes in another state is just one of the changes anticipated for the coming year.

Along with improving programs and services, MSAA has a new field office to better serve the Northeast Region. This is located in Stamford, CT and opened in September. Marva Llewelyn is the regional coordinator and she will oversee many MSAA programs in her area, such as Pathways for Independence, client networking, expansion of support groups, and fundraising activities. A new aquatics class is planned in the Stamford area for October, and this field office will also host one of our Northeast Regional conferences in March 2003. (Other upcoming regional conferences for 2002-2003 will be held in Connecticut, Virginia, and New Jersey, although the dates are not yet confirmed.)

The Northeast’s Common Vision regional newsletter has been well received by our readers. We encourage our regional clients to continue submitting articles and helpful hints. These submissions inspire other folks, help with everyday activities, and offer valuable information. If you have a submission, please contact the office at (800) 833-4672, ext. 106, for more information and submission due dates.

Helene Hoffman, regional coordinator, has been extremely successful in implementing the “Sweeten the Season” fundraiser during the summer months. Foil candy canes will be offered to various organization, retail stores, schools, etc. for $1.00 each and the program is designed to take place between Thanksgiving and Christmas. All proceeds will be dedicated to further expanding our services and programs. If you wish to assist with this fundraiser, please contact Helene at (800) 833-4672. ext. 149.

MSAA Northeast Regional Office:
Susan Freund, Director
706 Haddonfield Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
(800) 833-4672, ext.106

Mid-South Region
Our support groups are at the heart of our direct service and therapy programs for people with MS. We personally work with each support group to discover what topics and activities are important to everyone, and what things are available in their area.
For instance, we have provided massage therapy classes in Arkansas (Little Rock, Camden, Conway, and Springdale), and in Texas (El Paso and northwest Houston). We have held low-fat/low-cost cooking lessons in Lubbock, TX; self defense classes for the physically challenged in Little Rock; water aerobics/exercise in Lubbock and El Paso; and hippotherapy (therapeutic horseback riding) in Little Rock. All of these were made possible through MSAA grants to the support groups.

The focus of our support groups is to provide a forum to learn and share experiences of multiple sclerosis, and to provide support, friendship, disability awareness and education. We strongly encourage our groups to go out into the community and regularly visit those people with MS who are homebound or in care facilities. A good example is our Arlington, TX support group, which provides donated treats in their “visit in a box” program.

We would like to welcome four new support groups to the Mid-South Region. We now have new groups meeting in Malvern, AR, Ruston, LA, Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans, LA. Our sincere thanks to the new support group leaders who have made these new groups possible. We would also like to thank ALL of our support group leaders for their gifts of time and commitment.

How To Start A Support Group
If you and at least two other persons are interested in forming a support group in your area, please write to the Mid-South Regional Office. Please state your formal intention to launch the group and list your fellow members.

MSAA Will Provide:
1. An allotted stipend for expenses such as printing costs, advertising, postage, etc.
2. Educational material, updated news, information on upcoming events at MSAA, etc., mailed directly to members’ homes.3. Grants for programs such as the ones mentioned above.
4. Posters, press releases, and other
materials related to the launch party that will help start off your new group.

If you feel that there is a need for an MSAA support group in your area, please contact the MSAA Mid-South Regional Office. We will do everything we can to help you reach out and be of service to others.

MSAA Mid-South Regional Office: Adam Roberts, Director
107 Avonshire Terrace, Diamondhead
Hot Springs, AR 71913-2205
(877) 677-6884, ext.137 or
(501) 262-9380

Northwest Region
The record-breaking temperatures of summer kept many of us inside, confined to air-conditioning. Now that fall is in the air, our programs are in full swing.

The 4th annual “Parade of Homes” fundraiser in Great Falls, MT was held Sept.14 and 15. A very special “thank you” goes to the 75 volunteers who helped make this event a huge success.

Our ninth annual “Celebration Picnic in the Park” in Great Falls, was once again the perfect way to bid summer good-bye. As in previous years, “Local Motive” entertained us, Bert & Ernie’s fed us, and Mother Nature was kind to us – giving us a beautiful fall day!
We are looking forward to our “MS Education Day” in Hoquiam, WA on October 19. In addition to the program, we will be assisting in the development of a new support group for area caregivers.

Our “Harvest Dinner” will be held in Kalispell, MT on November 14. A traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings is planned. Our speaker will be Kimberly Gibbard, account specialist in neurology with Serono, Inc.

December 10 is the date of this year’s “Holiday Dinner” in Missoula, MT. This year we will be dining at the “Grant Creek Inn.” With great food, entertainment and prizes, this event is always a favorite.

Our paper foil candy cane fundraiser kicks off November 25. If you would like to help raise important funds while helping to make the candy cane a recognized symbol for MSAA, please call the office and we’ll send a packet to get you started.

The TransMontana 2003 Snowmobile Charity Ride will be January 19-24. The 500-mile, six-day ride will start in West Yellowstone and end at the Canadian border near Eureka. If you like to snowmobile, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind adventure.
Please call the office to register for our programs. Enjoy this beautiful time of year!

MSAA Northwest Regional Office:
Sue Pencoske, Director
600 Central Plaza, Suite #13
Great Falls, Montana, 59401
(800) 565-6722 or (406) 454-2758

Midwest Region
We are happy to announce that we have officially opened our Chicago Area Field Office. Scott McDonald is the client services coordinator at this location, and he may be contacted by calling (708) 223-0734 or (800) 532-7667, ext. 140.

MSAA is proud to work in conjunction with Berlex (manufacturers of Betaseron) to present an exciting program in the Cleveland/Akron area. On November 12, Dr. Glenn Kolluri and Dr. Manoj Malhotra will speak at the Sheraton Four Points in Independence, OH. The program theme will be, “Yes you can live with multiple sclerosis.” Marie Namey, nurse practitioner of the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center, and MS peer advocate Rhonda Grossman, will also speak about MS from their perspectives. A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation. The program is free of charge. For more information, call the MSAA Midwest Regional Office event hotline toll-free at (800)-532-7667, ext. 121.

Please also join us on November 16, when MSAA and Teva Neuroscience (manufacturers of Copaxone) welcome Dr. Robert Lisak of Wayne State University and MS patient advocate Alan Osmond of the famed Osmond Family to the Cleveland/Akron area. They will speak at a breakfast seminar presented at the Holiday Inn-Hudson. This is also a free program. For more details or to reserve a place, please call the MSAA Midwest Regional Office event hotline at (800) 532-7667, ext. 121.

The Pathways for Independence program continues to help people with safety, mobility, and accessibility issues in their homes. Please contact MSAA for more information about the program or to get information about becoming a Pathways volunteer.
Our list of support groups is growing by leaps and bounds. Active MSAA support groups are located in Northfield, OH; Proctorville, OH; Hobart, IN; Morris, IL; Wauseon, OH; Cleveland, OH (southeast side), and Steubenville, OH. We also have several more support groups in the forming stages throughout the Midwest Region. If you need more information about MSAA support groups in your area or if you would like more information about starting a support group, please contact us at (800) 532-7667, ext 140.

Please contact the MSAA Midwest Regional Office if you and others in your area are interested in Client Services activities such as therapeutic horseback riding, water therapy, fitness exercise, yoga, and massage. You may also call us to hear about upcoming MSAA holiday season socials that will be scheduled throughout the Midwest Region.

And finally, we have officially begun our MSAA “Sweeten the Season” fundraiser. You can buy a beautiful festive cardboard and foil candy cane to use as holiday decorations for $1 each. Order one for each one of your family members or to give as gifts during the upcoming holiday season. Please contact us for more information.

MSAA Midwest Regional Office:
Renée Williams, Director
13938A Cedar Road, #243
University Heights, OH 44118
(800) 532-7667, ext. 140