Up Front
I
am pleased to report on many recent events and milestones relating to MSAA
and the MS community. We are witnessing new medical advancements, a greater
understanding of MS and its challenges, and increased programs and services.
We feel very positive about our progress and direction.
I would like to welcome Joseph R. King of Dallas, Texas as our new chairperson for MSAA's Board of Directors. Joe has served on our Board for more than two years and previously served on our Executive Committee as Board secretary. He has extensive charity development experience and I look forward to his enthusiastic leadership of the Board.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Tim McHugh who completed his two-year term as Board chairperson. Tim's service to MSAA over the past five years is greatly appreciated and we will miss his dedicated service when his Board membership expires in spring, 2005. All of our Board members are volunteers, generously dedicating their time and expertise and we are fortunate to have the commitment of so many good people.
One very notable new event was the launch of our newly designed website at www.msaa.com on June 4th. This internet site has been two years in the making, and features extensive information from all of MSAA's departments. From programs and publications to support groups and volunteer opportunities, you can find just about everything associated with MSAA on msaa.com. Please log on regularly to find out about MSAA's upcoming events, MS news, MSAA programs, and much more. You can even find previous issues of The Motivator! It has just about everything and we are very proud of its user-friendly design and navigation. Our new website is highlighted in this issue's Program Notes on page 30.
I am also very happy to announce plans for a new MSAA Regional Office to be opened in northern California later this year. This is all part of MSAA's mission to reach as many individuals with MS as possible, and to help ease their day-to-day challenges. The California office will provide programs, host events, offer activities, and coordinate the development of support groups throughout the Southwestern Region.
As we are all enjoying summer activities and the hot weather, MSAA's development department is busy at work preparing for another "Sweeten the Season" effort of distributing card candy canes to be sold by local volunteers, support groups, organizations, and retail businesses from around the country, to raise funds for MSAA. Last year, sales of these $1 card candy canes brought in more than $53,000, which goes directly to client programs and services. I want to thank everyone who was involved with this fund-raising program in 2003, and hope these individuals, along with many more, will contact our development department to order more to sell in 2004. For more information, please see the inside back cover. Additionally, to view the specifics for all of last year's fundraising activities and program expenses, the new annual report is available by either logging onto msaa.com or calling MSAA at (800) 532-7667.
Many things are happening outside of MSAA as well. This spring, the American Academy of Neurology held its annual meeting in San Francisco, while the Consortium of MS Centers held its annual meeting in Toronto, Canada. As always, MSAA had representatives present to attend classes, promote awareness of MSAA, exhibit MSAA services and programs at our booth, and to develop new relationships with researchers, neurologists, nurses, other associations, and pharmaceutical as well as medical-device companies. These conferences were well attended and provided MSAA with a greater understanding of the latest research and treatments going on today. Please refer to Research News on page 22 for more information.
I am also pleased that MSAA took part in advocating for the new Medicare Modernization Act. Dr. Burks and I both spoke in public forums to support this Act which will extend coverage on prescription medicines to some of those enrolled in Medicare, and will include medications used to treat MS, as well as medications for other serious conditions including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and pulmonary hypertension. Two lotteries to be held this fall will determine who will benefit from this initial demonstration program. Please see page 31 for more information.
Much is happening here at MSAA, and in the MS community. From the expansion of our offices to the development of our new website, MSAA is devoted to its mission of helping individuals with MS. Research into a cause, cure, and better symptom management, is ongoing, and national conferences enable researchers and medical professionals to share information. The passing of the new Medicare Modernization Act is another milestone, enabling many to get the medications they need despite their financial challenges. Exciting things are happening and MSAA is strategically realigning itself to meet these challenges and maximize our ability to help people with MS — we have no other agenda and we're proud of it!
