Regional News

Northeast Region
The Northeast Region introduces Helene Hoffman as the new regional coordinator. Helene’s home base is in the Cherry Hill office working from MSAA’s National Headquarters in New Jersey. Helene will actively be involved in the expansion of regional support groups, regional fundraising, home modification program, and assistance with regional program planning. If you have questions concerning services in the Northeast Region, please contact Helene directly at 1-800-833-4672, ext. 149.

Monthly support groups are on hold, and summer regional events have slowed down due to the summer heat. The Northeast Region will spend the summer months gearing up for the fundraising season approaching in the fall featuring the “Sweeten the Season” campaign, involving the sale of foil candy canes for $1 throughout the Christmas season. Please contact the Northeast Regional office at 1-800-833-4672, ext. 106, if you are interested in purchasing candy canes.

Currently, regional support groups are meeting in New York City, NY, Stanford, CT, Tacoma Park, MD, Waldorf, MD, Ligonier, PA, Langhorne, PA, East Swanzey, NH, Gloucester County, NJ, Burlington County, NJ, Sussex County, NJ, Ocean County, NJ and Camden County, NJ. If you are interested in starting a support group, please contact the office at 1-800-833-4672, ext. 149, for further information.

The Northeast Region recently had their annual MS Awareness Conference in May which focused on “Inner Awareness.” Speakers included Lisa M. Celia, RN who presented on her “Journey Back to a Life Filled with Happiness and Goals;” Ina Cochran, RN presented “Keeping Yourself Encouraged;” Dr. Donald Barone discussed “Hidden Symptoms” and Dr. Mark Stern spoke on “Inner Awareness.” This particular conference was well received because of the uplifting tone expressed throughout.
MSAA Northeast Regional Office: Susan Freund, Director; 706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002; 1-800-833-4672, ext. 106.

Mid-South Region
The Walton Auditorium at the Arkansas Cancer Research Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas was the venue for Mastering MS 2002 – A New Look. The conference, held on Saturday, May 4, was sponsored by Teva Neuroscience, Immunex Corporation, and Biogen.

The program featured four presentations: Michael Steven Valphiades, DO, Changes and Choices; Adam Roberts, Alternative Therapies: An Alternative for MS?; Robert Fallis, MD, Controlling MS: Is the End in Sight?; and Victor Riviera, MD, Updates in Research and Management of MS.

Free breakfast and lunch were provided, with refreshments available throughout the day. Door prizes were given away during the break periods. In spite of inclement weather, nearly 130 people attended the program and gave it excellent ratings.
We wish to thank all the sponsors and the wonderful participants who made all the speakers feel welcome. We look forward to next year’s event in Little Rock, scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2003.

With major conferences in Houston and Little Rock, our sincere hope is to expand this program to other cities in the near future. One way to develop these conferences is through active support groups. If you are interested in starting a support group in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas, please contact your Mid-South Regional Office toll-free at 1-877-677-6884, extension 137.

MSAA Mid-South Regional Office: Adam Roberts, Director; 107 Avonshire Terrace, Diamondhead, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913-2205; 1-877-677-6884, ext.137, or 501-262-9380.

Northwest Region
Group leaders from Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Wyoming were brought together at our recent support group conference at the West Coast Hotel in Helena, MT. Guest presenter Cindy Richman, director of client services at MSAA’s national headquarters, did a terrific job of outlining the resources available through MSAA programs for families affected by MS.

Cindy discussed group dynamics and the role of support group facilitator. Each leader also took the opportunity to discuss their individual group, and we all took a team approach to finding solutions to specific issues. The ideas shared during this conference will be of benefit to everyone involved in a group, and we are already looking forward to next year’s conference.
If you are interested in starting a support group in your area and want to know how to begin, please call the office at (800) 565-6722 or (406) 454-2758. WE CAN HELP!

Once again, Josephine Moss of Vaughn, MT has donated one of her beautiful quilts for our annual raffle. This year’s pieced and hand-quilted work is titled, “Big Sky Indian Arrowhead.” A sincere “thank you” goes to Josephine for her years of support.
The annual “Parade of Homes,” sponsored by the Great Falls Home Builders Association, will be held September 14 and 15. We will need a large number of volunteers again this year, so if you are interested in helping with this fun event, please call the office.

Our “Celebration Picnic in the Park” will be held in Gibson Park in Great Falls on Sunday, September 22. Don’t miss this annual family tradition!

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
The MSAA Midwest Regional Office has moved. The new address is:
13938A Cedar Road, #243
University Heights, OH 44118
The phone number has remained the same – 1-800-LEARN MS (1-800-532-7667), extension 140.

The MS Awareness Program was held on June 22 at the Hilton Cleveland South. Speakers included Dr. Michael Deveraux, a neurologist from University Hospitals of Cleveland; Dr. Julie Elder from the Women’s Health Center at the Cleveland Clinic; Alma Krekus with LEAP (Linking Employment, Abilities & Potentials); Ken Rubin, who spoke about self defense and crime prevention; Tyrone Walker from the Cleveland Fire Department, and Diane Timbrook from Horseback Haven, a therapeutic riding center.

“Knowledge is Power” was held in the Chicago area. Speakers were MS peer advocates Jil Deabler and Mike Silverstein, who discussed their experiences while “Living Beyond the MS Diagnosis.”

The Steubenville support group hosted its MSAA Banquet at Lenore’s Club Hollywood in Steubenville. Speaker Patricia Whiteside gave an inspirational message.

We had our Invitational Volunteer Luncheon on April 24. MSAA Spring Fling social events were held in Twinsburg, OH on April 11 and in Morris, IL on April 25.

The support group that formerly met at the Midwest Regional Office in Twinsburg now meets at the Northfield, OH Public Library on the second Monday of each month. Other Midwest Region support groups meet in Morris, IL; Proctorville, OH; Steubenville, OH; Warrensville Heights, OH; Ironwood, MI; Sagamore Hills, OH; and Hobart, IN.

MSAA Midwest Regional Office:
Renée Williams, Director;
13938A Cedar Road,
#243, University Heights, OH 44118;
1-800-532-7667, ext.140.