Regional News

For information on events and newly formed support groups, please call the phone numbers listed. When specific numbers are not given, please contact the MSAA Regional Office appearing below each listing. Established support groups are held in many other cities; please call the nearest MSAA Regional Office for details. All activities are free of charge unless otherwise noted. For MSAA Health Fairs, please contact Coordinator Anne Negrin at (800) 532-7667, ext. 105.

Northeast Region

Upcoming Events:

• Saturday, March 12th, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Fashion Show, Hilton of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; reservations required, please call the Northeast Regional Office
• Tuesday, March 15th, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm (EST), Teleconference Series on Care Partnering; please call office for dial-in instructions
• Wednesday, March 16th, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm (EST), Teleconference on Spasticity with Dr. Greenstein; please call office for dial-in instructions
• Saturday, March 26th, "Movement for Living" Medtronic Workshop, northern New Jersey
• Tuesday, April 19th, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm (EST), Teleconference Series on Care Partnering; please call office for dial-in instructions
• Saturday, April 23rd, "Women's Issues and MS" Educational Workshop, Massachusetts
• Saturday, April 30th, Educational Workshop featuring speakers focusing on care partner issues, Maryland

MSAA Northeast Regional Office:
Susan Freund, Director
706 Haddonfield Road
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002
(856) 488-4500
(800) 532-7667, ext. 106

Midwest Region

Upcoming Events:

• Saturday, April 23rd, MS Awareness Conference, Huntington, West Virginia
• Saturday, May 7th, MS Awareness Conference, Luddington, Michigan
• Saturday, May 28th, MS Awareness Conference, Chicago, Illinois
• Saturday, June 11th, MS Awareness Conference, Cleveland, Ohio

Newly Formed Support Groups:

• (Northeast) Cleveland, Ohio; contact Arnetta Pryor at (216) 707-0518
• Naperville, Illinois; contact Susan Kedzorski at (630) 753-0168
• Lake Orion, Michigan; contact Julie Cooke at (248) 935-4733
• Park Forest, Illinois; contact Coni Howard at (708) 747-2129

MSAA Midwest Regional Office:
Renée Williams, Director
13938A Cedar Road, #243
University Heights, Ohio 44118
(216) 320-1838
(800) 532-7667, ext. 140

MSAA Midwest Field Office:
Charmaine Cothran
Client Services Coordinator
PO Box 43504
Chicago, Illinois 60643
(773) 544-8751
(800) 532-7667, ext. 140

Southeast Region

Upcoming Events:

• Saturday, April 2nd, "Loving Life with MS," with Dr. Jay Simsarian, Arlington, Virginia

Support Groups Forming:

Support and therapeutic groups are planned for Alabama (new to the Southeast Region). To start a group, or if an existing group needs assistance, please contact the Southeast Regional Office.

MSAA Southeast Regional Office:
Linda Chaney, Director
PO Box 66565
St. Petersburg, Florida 33736
(800) 532-7667, ext. 154

Senate Majority Leader Dennis L. Jones, DC, donated $1,000 of his remaining campaign money (after running for his Senate District seat unopposed) to MSAA's Southeast Regional Office in October 2004. Accepting the check is MSAA's Southeast Regional Director Linda Chaney. This money will be used toward programs and services for individuals with MS in the Southeast Region.

South-Central Region

Upcoming Events:

• Thursday, March 3rd, 6:00 pm, "MS: Behind the Scenes," Dallas, Texas
• Saturday, March 5th, 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, "MSAA Health Fair," Renaissance Hotel, Austin, Texas
• Saturday, May 14th, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, "Taking Charge of YOUR MS," Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, Texas

Newly Formed Support Groups:

• Alpine in Brewster County, Texas; contact Ginger Roberts at (432) 837-1231
• Dallas in Dallas County, Texas; contact Jeff Chenoweth at (214) 697-7974
• Houston (Newly Diagnosed) in Harris County, Texas; contact Dorothy Nisbet at (713) 334-1765
• San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas; contact Adam Roberts at (800) 532-7667, ext. 153
• Texarkana in Miller County, Arkansas; contact Karen Coker at (870) 653-2255
• St. Louis in St. Louis County, Missouri; contact Frances Lenoir at (314) 985-0820
• San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas; contact Wende Jones at (210) 691-9455
• Breckenridge, Colorado
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Tahlequah, Oklahoma

MSAA South-Central Regional Office:
Adam Roberts, Regional Director
1515 N. Town E Boulevard
Suite 138, Box 320
Mesquite, Texas 75150
(817) 480-2125
(800) 532-7667, ext. 153

MSAA Arkansas Field Office:
Judith Bennie, Client Services Coordinator
107 Avonshire Terrace
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913
(501) 262-9380
(800) 532-7667, ext. 137

Northwest Region

Upcoming Events:

• "MS Update" with Dr. Bret Lindsay, Kalispell, Montana (date to be determined)
• April 2005, Educational Program, Wenatchee, Washington (speaker and date to be determined)
• May 2005, Public Awareness Program, Omaha, Nebraska (speaker and date to be determined)
• June 2005, "Living with MS," Yakima, Washington (speaker and date to be determined)

Newly Formed Support Group

• Lewiston, Idaho/Clarkston, Washington; contact Dennis Opdahl at (208) 743-3634

Support Groups Coming Soon:

• Bozeman, Montana
• Harlem, Montana
• Meridian, Idaho
• Thermopolis, Wyoming

MSAA Northwest Regional Office:
Sue Pencoske, Director
600 Central Plaza, Suite #13
Great Falls, Montana 59401
(406) 454-2758
(800) 532-7667, ext. 131

Western Region

MSAA's newest region is making plans for support groups, events, and activities. The Western Regional Director Amanda Montague (pronounced "Mon-taig'") is looking for calls from individuals who would like to be involved with support groups — as a participant or as a leader. She's also seeking individuals who would like to take part in any therapeutic programs or other regional activities, as well as volunteers who would like to help with events, activities, and/or fundraising. Anyone interested should call Amanda at (800) 532-7667, ext. 155.

MSAA Western Regional Office:
Amanda Montague, Director
1819 Polk Street
Mailbox #326
San Francisco, California 94109
(415) 260-6420
(800) 532-7667, ext. 155