April 2006 Meeting Newsletter
Hello Everyone,
Roundtable discussions are always enlightening and give people an opportunity to introduce themselves as well as discuss topics of interest.
Sometimes it is amazing to see how many subjects can be covered in one meeting as was the case on Saturday. It was clear that each person represented a different facet of MS.
We covered some business agendas first….the ongoing question of where to have our social being offered by the MS Society in late May or June is still undecided. We have not arrived at anything specific yet, however, after some discussion I think we all felt that where we go is not as important as going someplace that can be enjoyed by everyone in a comfortable social setting. We’re still open to ideas so if you have any, let us know.
The MS Walk will be held in Redding at the Sundial Bridge Sunday, May 7th. Volunteers are still needed for many jobs so if anyone would like to help with this annual fundraiser call Beth Aarhaus at 246-8404 or try the MS Society @ 1-800-FIGHT MS for information.
We are very pleased to announce that as well as the National MS Society (NMSS) nationalmssociety.org , HOPE4MS is now affiliated with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) msaa.org. Our support group is now recognized on their website and they are another source of support for us and our cause. Amanda Montague from MSAA will be coming to speak to our group in the near future. Currently, MSAA is compiling a list of assisted living and nursing homes appropriate for persons with MS in our area. Any input is welcome.
Through our discussions Saturday it became apparent that there are several people unable to attend the group meetings because of lack of transportation. The group fellowship is very important to many who appreciate being in a setting with others who understand their frustrations and feelings. Someone came forward who had a van with wheelchair access, and offered the use of it should the foundation find a “lift” that would make it fully operational. This is certainly an exciting prospect and we will focus our attention toward securing a lift!
The benefits of exercise were emphasized again and we were told about a great Adaptive PE class Shasta College offers that involves stretching, weights and swimming. A couple of our group members take it and say it is a really good class. Several times a week and only about $50 per semester.
Last but certainly not least, we had a special guest present. Elinor Reynolds, a clinical psychologist, came to get a basic overview of our group’s general psychological & emotional needs. Elinor has graciously offered to speak at our next meeting, Saturday May 6th, to discuss stress management.