Columbia Parkinson's Support Group Meeting Announced!

Date: May 20, 2012
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm New Meeting Time!
SPECIAL NOTE: By popular request of our members, our new meeting time will start at 3:00 pm
and end at 4:30 pm. With time available "after" our meetings for socialization among guests and
support group members!
Location: Lexington Medical Park #1 Auditorium - 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169 --- For more
information and maps about our meeting location, please go to this webpage
www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meeting_info.htm
Meeting Topic: OPEN FORUM - "If you don't care, who will care?"
Because this year is an important political year, it is even more important for all of us in the Parkinson's community to
understand how our voices can be heard in Washington, and how we can make an important difference for the
Parkinson's community.
During this Open Forum Discussion, we will not discuss, express our political opinions, or indicate support of one political
party versus another. This meeting is not about political parties - it is not about red versus blue. We will discuss why we
should become Parkinson advocates; how we can become active advocates; and how we can influence Washington's
support of dollars for research, adequate care options, future better treatments, and finding a cure for Parkinson's
disease.
Adrienne O'Neill, the South Carolina State Director for PAN (Parkinson's Action Network), will help lead our Open Forum
discussion on becoming advocates -and- educating the public in our communities and our government leaders on better
policies for research and an improved quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s. For more information about PAN
visit this link www.parkinsonsaction.org/about-pan
Join us for this very interesting, challenging, and thought provoking Open Forum Discussion.
All of our meetings are free!
Please Feel Free To Bring Guests: Please don't forget, we always welcome any guests to come with you. The more
your family, friends, neighbors, business associates, or anyone who has an interest in Parkinson's disease can learn
about Parkinson's disease, the more support they can provide. We always welcome students from our universities and
colleges!
Our April 15th "Q&A Open Forum Panel" meeting was a very special meeting. We had standing room only! The 5
Parkinson's specialists on the "Q&A Open Forum Panel" were excellent and very informative. We had so many questions
submitted by email prior to the meeting and during the meeting that we ran out of time after 2 1/2 hours of Q&A. After the
meeting, the panel members graciously were available to answer personal one-on-one questions.
Thank you Dr. Tom Faber, Dr. Gonzalo J. Revuelta, Dr. John C. Morgan, Dr. Nathan "Ben" Herz, and Michelle Morton of
Medtronic Inc. for being on our panel! Contact information for all of these panel members may be found at the following
link on our website www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meet_calendar_2012.htm#Apr_Drs_Panel

Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org
Website: www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/
5/10/2012
Based on the positive response from your meeting feedback, we will definitely consider having this type of meeting format
for next year's April Parkinson Awareness Month.
Unfortunately at the end of April 15th meeting, our copy of the "2012 Governor's Parkinson's Awareness
Proclamation for South Carolina" was missing. Perhaps it was accidentally picked up with some of the free books,
literature, and handouts that we had available for everyone. Please look through anything that you picked-up from the
meeting and see if you have a "blue folder with the Governor's seal on the front and the proclamation inside the folder.
This is a very important document to the South Carolina Parkinson's Community, and we would appreciate if it was
returned it to us. You can contact us at phone #803-604-0061 -or- mail it to us at
Columbia Parkinson's Support Group
1254 Holley Ferry Road
Leesville, SC 29070-7248
Our "NEWS FOR YOU" web page on our website at www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/ always has "New - News"
and information that may be of interest to you. It is updated often. If you looking for information about dates of new
events, seminars, symposiums, and of course information about our monthly meetings - visit our "2012 MEETING &
EVENTS CALENDAR" web page.
Donations In Memory or To Honor - A member of our support group shared that they didn't want to send flowers for
special holidays, as a memorial, or to give presents to honor loved ones, family, and friends. They said that they receive
great support and information from our Parkinson's support group, and they wanted give a lasting gift in "memory of" and
"to honor" by helping their local Parkinson's community with their donations. In keeping with this idea, any time is an
excellent time to show your support of your local Parkinson's support group by making a donation.
The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group does not charge any fees or dues. Our support group is operated and run by
your donations; and by volunteers who are Parkinson patients, caregivers / care partners of Parkinson patients, or people
who have an interest in and support Parkinson's disease. Our officers and board members volunteer their time, they do
not receive compensation or salaries. Without your donations our support group would not be able to continue to provide
support, education, and information to the local Parkinson's community.
Please add the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group to your list of donation groups. You can send a donation "In Memory
Of", "To Honor Someone", or just "To Show Support". Your donation will be much appreciated by the Columbia
Parkinson's Support Group. We will send a letter from our support group to the family or individual, acknowledging your
donation; and include any personal message you wish to send to them. You can donate when you attend any of our
meetings, or you can send your donations to the following address. If you need a letter for an IRS tax deduction, please
let us know. Yes, we accept cash and checks - unfortunately, at this time we don't have PayPal or accept credit cards.
Columbia Parkinson's Support Group
c/o Carol Baker, Treasurer
2 Arrow Lake Road
Irmo, SC 29063
If you have any questions about making donations, please don't hesitate to contact either Carol Baker or Dottie Gantt.
Carol Baker, Vice President
Telephone 803-781-6193
Email: caroltbaker@bellsouth.net
Dottie Gantt, President
Telephone: 803-604-0061
Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org
Again, Please Feel To Bring Guests: Please don't forget we always welcome any guests to come with you. The more
your family, friends, neighbors, business associates, or anyone who has an interest in Parkinson's disease can learn
about Parkinson's disease, the more support they can provide. We always welcome students from our universities and
colleges!
Columbia Parkinson's Support Group Page 3 of 3
Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org
Website: www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/
5/10/2012
To Contact Us: Please call us between the hours of 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Zone and leave a
message on our answering machines -or- send us email
Carol Baker, Vice President - Email: caroltbaker@bellsouth.net - Telephone 803-781-6193
Dottie Gantt, President - Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org - Telephone: 803-604-0061
We look forward to seeing you at the May 20, 2012 meeting, or at any of our meetings!
Regards,
Dottie M. Gantt, President Columbia Parkinson's Support Group
Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org - Telephone 803-604-0061
Website: www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/
“Every PD patient is unique and everything about his or her disease is specific to him or her and ONLY to him or her. PD
has only one time - NOW, the present. The previous hours do not forecast how you are going to feel. The only