Celebrate That April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

Join us on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 3:00 pm for our 3rd Annual "Q & A Open Forum Panel of PD Specialists"

You have some questions and we have some answers.

**Does your support group have a website?  Yes, please visit our website at the following link 
www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org

**Where can I find more information about this meeting?  Please visit the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group website events and calendar web page at this address
www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meet_calendar_2014.htm#April

** Why was the regular meeting date changed from April 20, 2014 to April 6, 2014?  Our monthly meeting date was changed because Easter Sunday falls on the 3rd Sunday in April this year (on April 20, 2014); thus, our regular monthly meeting has been moved to April 6, 2014. 

This change is "only" for the month of April.  There will be "no" regular meeting on April 20, 2014.  On May 18, 2014, we will resume our normal meeting schedule of meeting on the 3rd Sunday.

** Can I submit my questions before the meeting?  I do not want anyone to know what I am asking.  Yes, you can email us your questions for the doctor's panel "before" the meeting.  The panel members will not be provided with any of the emailed questions prior to the meeting.  All questions emailed to us will be presented anonymously to the panel - no names or email address will be given.  We always respect your privacy.  Send your questions to this email address contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org  

**When will my emailed questions be asked at the meeting?  All questions emailed to us by Friday, April 4, 2014 will be asked "first", at the beginning of the open forum meeting.

** What is the deadline for emailing my questions?  This Friday, April 4, 2014 is the deadline date.

** Where do I email my questions?  Send your questions to this email address contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org  

** Will I be able to ask questions during the meeting?  Yes, you will be able to ask your questions during the meeting.  We will have slips of paper for you to write questions on and give to our volunteers who will be collecting them.  The panel members will answer as many questions as they can during the time allotted for our meeting. 

** Who is going to be on the panel?  On our panel, we will have doctors and specialists, who treat Parkinson patients.  You will have an opportunity to meet our panel members, and to ask your questions during the meeting in an open forum about Parkinson's disease and/or living with Parkinson's disease.  More information about our panel members can be found on this webpage
www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meet_calendar_2014.htm#April

** Are the panel members the same people as last year?  This year we are pleased to have on our panel: John Floyd (Pharmacist) - Dr. Gregory Wych, DDS (Dentist) - Dr. Travis Turner (Neuropsychologist) - Dr. Danielle Englert, MD (Movement Disorder/DBS Specialist) - and Dr. Tom Faber, MD (Neurologist).

More information about our panel members can be found on this webpage
www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meet_calendar_2014.htm#April

** What is the meeting time?  3:00 pm - 5:00 pm <<< Note this meeting time is longer than our regular meetings.  The April 6, 2014 meeting will last "a little longer" than our regular meetings, due to the special "Q & A Open Forum Panel" program.  We are allowing a longer meeting time for the questions and answers. 

** Last year I was able to talk with the panel members and some of the meeting attendees after the meeting, will I be able to do that this year?  We are allowing time after the meeting for meeting attendees to have one-on-one time, with each other and with those doctors who can stay a little longer.  We must be out of the auditorium at 6:00 pm.

** Is the meeting at the same place?  Yes, it is at the Lexington Medical Center - Park 1 Building - Auditorium - 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169
Directions and maps of our meeting place location can be found at this website link www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meeting_info.htm#Map

**How much does the meeting cost?  Our meetings are FREE - Donations to our support group are always appreciated.

**Can I bring guests?  Yes, we look forward to having you and your guests join us for this special meeting, and for any of our regular meetings of Columbia Parkinson's Support Group.  Our regular meetings are on the 3rd Sunday of each month (except June) at 3:00 - 4:30 pm. 

Anyone interested in Parkinson's disease, and their guests are always welcome to attend our meetings!  We believe that the more 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 to the patient and caregiver/care partner. 

**Can students from local schools attend this April 6, 2014 Open Forum meeting?  We "always welcome" having students from our universities, colleges, and the members from our medical community attend our meetings! 

You have questions, and the doctor's will have answers.

Please send us your questions for the "Q & A OPEN FORUM PANEL of PD SPECIALISTS" by Friday, April 4, 2014.  Send your questions to this email address contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org  

Help Us Celebrate That April Is Parkinson's Awareness Month!

Please feel free to share this information with anyone else who has an interest in Parkinson's disease.  Please visit our website at  www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org

We are proud to announce that SC Governor Nikki Haley has issued a Governor's Proclamation declaring that April 2014 is Parkinson's Awareness Month throughout the State of South Carolina.  Please see photo of Proclamation below.  Please visit this webpage for more information about April 2014 Parkinson's Awareness Month.    www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/proclaim_2014.htm




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3rd Annual 'Q & A Open Forum Panel of Doctors and Pd Specialists' coming up in April...

Mark your calendars! Columbia Parkinson's Support Group are having a very special program at their April 6th meeting.  The meeting program will be a "Q & A Open Forum Panel of PD Doctors and Specialists". 

You will have an opportunity to meet the panel members and ask your questions in an open forum about Parkinson's disease and/or living with Parkinson's.    



Date: April 6, 2014
Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Place: Lexington Medical Center Auditorium --- Meeting information, directions, and map can be found on this web page http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meeting_info.htm
We Encourage You To  Submit Your Questions Before This Meeting!
If you have questions for the Doctor's Panel, we encourage you to submit your questions "before the meeting".  Send your questions to:  contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org
Please enter in the "Subject" line of your email "Question for the April 2014 Meeting".  
You Can Submit Your Questions Now! 


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Topic: Dementia and Difficult Behaviors
When: February 16th 2014
Where: Lexington Medical Centre Park 1, 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC, 29169

Speaker: Janet Altman will be the facilitator [Harbor Chase Assisted Living]jaltman@hraonline.net


We will be dividing into two separate discussion groups - of Patients and Caregivers/Care Partners - allowing for an intimate discussion by each group. Then we will gather back together to discuss the topic together. Do not be concerned if the patient needs to have a caregiver - we will accommodate this need.

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Columbia Parkinson's Support Group

Bring Guests:  Please don't forget, Columbia Parkinson's Support Group 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.
Contact:  Please call us between the hours of 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Zone or you can send us email Dottie Gantt, Email:contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org - Telephone: 803-604-0061
To view when meetings take place please visit: http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/


To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

Our next meeting is Sunday - September 15, 2013 at 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm

  

Topic: “Sleep Disorders In The PD Patient”

Speaker: Richard K. Bogan, MD, FCCP, is Associate Clinical Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and the Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of SleepMed Inc. He is one of the founders of SleepMed, the largest sleep diagnostic company in the U.S.

Dr. Bogan received his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Alabama Hospitals and Clinics and hisPulmonary, Critical Care fellowship at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, both in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Bogan is board certified in sleep medicine, pulmonary medicine and internal medicine with previous certification in critical care. He has served as the medical director for several hospital departments and serves on various business,community, and civic boards. He has dedicated the majority of his medical career to creating standards of excellence insleep disease management. In addition to operating a Columbia-based, 9-bed, accredited sleep center that serves astheir flagship operation and training site, he has been involved in numerous clinical research trials and has published numerous articles in sleep medicine. He has been a consultant to the pharmaceutical and device industry and haslectured in local, regional, and national meetings.

Where: Lexington Medical Center Park 1 - Auditorium - 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169

Time: 3:00 pm until 4:30 pm
Cost: FREE - Please Bring Guests.
Contact: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org


 To learn more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Columbia Parkinson's Support Group

The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group is incorporated as a non-profit in the State of South Carolina. The mission of the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group is to provide the Parkinson's Community with a safe environment to obtain SUPPORT, INFORMATION, EDUCATION, create AWARENESS about Parkinson's Disease, and FUND RAISING to further research for the cure of Parkinson's Disease.
Our support group is located in the mid-lands of South Carolina; serving the counties of (but not limited to) Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Orangeburg, Newberry, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter. 

Meetings are open to anyone regardless of race, color, and national or ethnic origin. We welcome anyone afflicted with Parkinson's disease; anyone who has an interest in Parkinson's disease; as well as all visitors, family, friends, and guests to our monthly meetings. There is no cost to attend our meetings

All visitors are welcome. Please feel free to bring your family, friends, and anyone interested in Parkinson's to any of our monthly meetings. 

When - 3rd Sunday of every month (except June) 

Time - 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. With time available after our meetings for socialization among guests and support group members

Cost - FREE/ Donations Appreciated

Where - Lexington Medical Park 1 - Auditorium

2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169

Please 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 - and professionals from the medical community!

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To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Columbia Parkinson's Support Group and Vital Energy Fibromyalgia Support Group Meeting

     

Our first monthly meeting in the New Year of 2013, will be a "very special meeting" hosted by the "Columbia Parkinson's Support Group" and of the "Vital Energy Fibromyalgia Support Group" are hosting this meeting together.

Date: January 20, 2013

Topic: "Managing Chronic Pain with Traditional and Alternative Treatments"

Format: Open Forum - Doctor's Q & A Panel - At this "Open Forum Meeting", you will have an opportunity to meet doctors and specialists who treat chronic pain in Parkinson patients and Fibromyalgia patients. You will have an opportunity to ask your questions about living with and managing chronic pain. Information about our panel can be found on our website, by clicking here.

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. To allow more time for questions and answers by the Doctor's Panel, this meeting will last longer than our normal meeting times (no later than 5:00 p.m.)

We encourage sending your questions about managing pain for the panel to this email address: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org. Enter in the "Subject" line of your email "Questions for the January 2013 Meeting". As always, we respect your privacy and we will not reveal your personal information (name, email address,etc.).


NOTE >>>> Questions submitted to the Doctor's Panel by email "before the meeting" will be answered first.

For information about the panel members  please visit the January entry on the 2013 calendar page, or click here.

Where: Lexington Medical Park 1 - Auditorium - 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169 - For meeting location maps go to this link.

Cost: FREE - Please Bring Guests. 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 - and professionals from the medical community! Meetings are open to anyone regardless of race, color, and national or ethnic origin. We welcome anyone afflicted with Parkinson's disease; anyone who has an interest in Parkinson's disease; as well as all visitors, family, friends, and guests to our monthly meetings. There is no cost to attend our meetings.

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To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Columbia Parkinson's Support Group Meeting and News

Meeting Date: November 18, 2012 - Sunday

Meeting Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Meeting Place: Lexington Medical Park #1 Auditorium
 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169

Speaker: Stephanie Scharf, OTR/L, DRS, C/NDT
Stephanie is an Occupational Therapist working for Palmetto Health Richland in the Geriatric Mobility Research Clinic. She has started a Driving Rehabilitation Program. She will be discussing the Driving Program and evaluation process, driving safety/warning signs and adaptive equipment for the vehicle. Stephanie will bring some simple adaptive equipment tools,which may help with transfers, seat belt management, or blind spot assistance for lane changes

Our Meetings Are Free, But.... Yes, there are no dues "but" we always need your donations. Every dollar you donate is one dollar more that allows us to continue to provide support, information, education, awareness about Parkinson's disease, and fund raising to further research for the cure of Parkinson's disease. Without your donations, there would be no "Columbia Parkinson's Support Group"!

Please Feel Free To Bring Guests - 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!

SPECIAL NOTE:  The support group website was moved to a new server over the weekend - as a result we are having difficulty updating (FTP)  to the website with new information - hopefully we will have the problem resolved soon.  I still encourage you to visit the website, because you may have missed the last time we updated it.

To Contact Us:   Please call us between the hours of 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Zone - Because we screen our telephone messages, please leave a message on our answering machines, and mention "Parkinson" -or- you can send us email

    Dottie Gantt, President 
          Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org 
          Telephone: 803-604-0061

    Carol Baker, Vice President 
          Email:  caroltbaker@bellsouth.net 
          Telephone 803-781-6193

                                                                                                        
You + One Phone Call + One Email = EXPD2

Dr. Tom Faber has an on-going interest in trying to discover if exercise has any influence on the progression of dementia in Parkinson's disease (PDD). Because of his interest, Dr. Faber and the Exercise Science department at USC are developing a clinical study called EXPD2 (EXercise for Prevention of Dementia in Parkinson's Disease). EXPD2 will consist of two groups of PD patients over the age of 50, without dementia, and without any limitations to exercise (e.g., no major heart or lung problems, no severe arthritis, etc).The patients will be split into high and low intensity exercise groups. They will be followed for a period of time to determine if there is any apparent difference in cognitive testing between the two groups. 

The exercise programs and any testing will be "FREE" to all participants. Dr. Faber said, "I would envision PD evaluations twice yearly visits with our neurology department for dementia and PD evaluations, and perhaps some blood work. As of this date, we do not have the funding for the EXPD2 study, so I can’t make any promises, but I can tell you that several investigators here at USC have a high degree of interest in the study as proposed."

ONE PHONE CALL - If you think you "may be" interested in participating in the EXPD2 study, please call Hannah or Joselyn at the USC Department of Neurology - 803-545- 6078 -- to add your name to a list of patients interested in participating. By putting your name on the EXPD2 list, there is no commitment at this time. Once funding is obtained,they will contact those who are on the EXPD2 list to see if you are still interested.

ONE EMAIL - You can help EXPD2 become a funded clinical study by sending just one email expressing your support for funding the EXPD2 clinical study about dementia and Parkinson's disease. Note: Your privacy "will be respected". Your email address will not be kept after the email is received or used for anything else - no spam - no solicitations - no nothing.

What if you are "not interested" in participating in Dr. Faber's EXPD2 study, but you want to help? You can still help by sending just "one email" expressing your support for funding the EXPD2 clinical study about dementia and Parkinson's disease.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO -- send your email to expd2_support@live.com Please include a short statement about the following 4 questions:

1. Who you are? I am a ... (patient, caregiver, family member of a patient, co-worker of a patient, etc.)

2. Why this study is important to you? The EXPD2 clinical study is important to me because ...

3. What you think about the condition of Parkinson's disease? I think that the condition of Parkinson's disease ...

4. What you think about the condition of dementia in Parkinson's disease? I think that the condition of dementia in Parkinson's disease ...

THAT IS ALL IT TAKES TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR EXPD2!

ONE PHONE CALL to 803-545-6078 to tell them you "may be interested" in participating in the EXPD2 clinical study.

ONE EMAIL to expd2_support@live.com to let them know you support funding the EXPD2 clinical study (even if you decide not to be a participant in the clinical study.)

                                                                                                        
Mark Your Calendars!

December 16, 2012 - Our monthly meeting in December will be a party! Join us for our Annual Christmas / Holiday Party. Entertainment and Refreshments will be provided. Just bring yourself and any guests you wish to invite. We will be having live entertainment by Bob Michalski, who plays a wide variety of contemporary and jazz instrumental selections. Bob has appeared in many locations around Columbia, including WIS TV, churches, weddings, and corporate events. This is an excellent opportunity to meet, talk with, and socialize with other members of our support group.

January 20, 2013 - Our first monthly meeting in the New Year of 2013, will be a "very special meeting". The meeting topic will be "Managing Chronic Pain with Traditional and Alternative Treatments". The meeting format will be our Doctor's Q & A Panel. This meeting will be a joint meeting with the "Vital Energy, Inc. Wellness and Rehab Center - Fibromyalgia Support Group" and the "Columbia Parkinson's Support Group. More details to come about who will be on the Doctor's Panel as participants!

REMINDER -- Be sure to visit our "Meetings & Events & Calendars" web page often. We update our calendars with dates and information frequently!

                                                                                                                                
Medicare Open Enrollment - December 7th Deadline

Every year, all people with Medicare have the opportunity to enroll in or change their prescription drug plan, also known as Part D. The Annual Enrollment Period for Part D opened October 15 and runs through December 7, 2012. The costs and benefits of each plan vary from year to year, so it is important for beneficiaries to carefully review their options and make the best choices possible for the coming year. Coverage begins for enrollees in January 2013. For more information on how to navigate the Annual Open Enrollment Period, we encourage you to visit www.medicare.gov for information about enrolling in or changing prescription drug plans.

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Columbia Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

Meeting Date: October 21, 2012 - Sunday


Meeting Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Meeting Place: Lexington Medical Park #1 Auditorium
 2720 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29169

Meeting Topic: Helping caregivers and patients to make critical decisions that impact their quality of life


Speaker: Debbie Kelly, LMSW, CMC

         A licensed social worker, Debbie Kelly is the principle owner of Geri-Advocates Care Management, LLC. With more than 15 years combined experience in behavioral health, managed care, geriatrics, and
hospice social work, Debbie is experienced in advocating for the needs of the elderly and disabled. She
works one-on-one with families to develop both short and long-term care plans that meet the needs of
both family members and their loved ones. http://www.geriadvocates.com/

 "Our mission is to provide support and encouragement for aging persons and to assist family caregivers with helping their loved ones make critical decisions that impact their quality of life. Our goals are to advocate for the best possible solutions to the challenges aging persons face and to ease the minds of family members who care for them." 

Debbie Kelly Debbie will cover some of the questions you may have asked about resources during times of stress and financial need.

We will allow time for Questions & Answers from the audience. Examples of topics are below.
 What do we do when we have a crisis such as hospital discharge, placement decisions, or securing in-home care needs post-discharge?
 Who is available to assist persons with physical and / or cognitive impairment or decline, living alone in the home or in assisted living / nursing facilities?
 What help can family caregivers have with aging parents or other family members with mental or physical disabilities who are struggling to balance their jobs and personal lives with the demands of caretaking? Very often, the cost of caretaking in terms of salary reduction or job loss is significant, and the long-term effects on earnings potential and personal retirement plans can be devastating.


Our Meetings Are Free, But.... Yes, there are no dues "but" we always need your donations. Every
dollar you donate is one dollar more that allows us to continue to provide support, information, education,
awareness about Parkinson's disease, and fund raising to further research for the cure of Parkinson's
disease. Without your donations, there would be no "Columbia Parkinson's Support Group"!

Please Feel Free To Bring Guests - 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!

To read more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.

Parkinson's Support Group Meeting

Meeting Date: September 16, 2012 - Sunday

Meeting Topic: Your Pharmacist Can Be Your BFF (Best Friend Forever)

Your pharmacist is a very important member of your medical team. While due to legal reasons, our speaker cannot discuss certain topics (for example whether or not your doctor wrote the correct prescription for your symptoms), you will be able to ask your own questions. You will learn the answers to the following questions, and much, much more.

• What kind of training does a pharmacist get?
• What are the things that pharmacists can do and cannot do?
• What kind of information does a pharmacist needs to know about the customer?
• What should the patient need to know before they bring the prescription to the pharmacist?
• What does the patient need to know, and do when the pharmacist fills the prescription?
• Can a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter medications for everyday illnesses?
• What is the difference between generic and name brand drugs?
• How long should medications be retained? and How should medications be disposed?

Speaker: Pharmacist W. Walker Gaddy from the Medicine Mart
348B Columbia Ave - Lexington SC - 29072
Phone: 803-957-5969

Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

SPECIAL NOTE:
Temporary Meeting Place: LMC Hospital - North Entrance - Lower Level - Classroom #1
The Auditorium where we normally meet is going to be under construction, so we have to move our meeting location "temporarily" to another place. We suggest that you print out a copy of the map at this link and then follow the directions below.

To get to the North Entrance - Lower Level - Classroom #1

• If you come in at the light on Hwy 378 - turn on East Hospital Drive - go past the Emergency Department (a.k.a. ER)

• go straight, down the hill and park in either parking lot "F" or "G" as indicated on the map.

• Go to the "North Entrance" of LMC Hospital --- do not go to the "North Tower Patient Pick-Up Entrance".

• Take the elevators down to the Lower Level and go to Classroom #1.

We suggest that you arrive earlier than usual to find parking.

Just in case - The employees/volunteers at the hospital entrances will also be able to give you directions. Just tell them that you want to go to the "North Tower Entrance and Classroom #1" in the Lower Level of that building.

Meetings Are Free: No dues, but we really need your donations. Every dollar you donate is one dollar more that allows us to continue to provide support, information, education, awareness about Parkinson's disease, and fund raising to further research for the cure of Parkinson's disease.

Please Feel Free To Bring Guests: 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!

To Contact Us: Please call us between the hours of 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Zone - Because we screen our telephone messages, please leave a message on our answering machines, and mention "Parkinson" -or- you can send us email

Dottie Gantt, President
Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org
Telephone: 803-604-0061

Carol Baker, Vice President
Email: caroltbaker@bellsouth.net
Telephone 803-781-6193


Feel Free To Share This With Others

We look forward to seeing you at our meetings!

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Meeting Reminder: Columbia Parkinsons Support Group

Meeting Reminder

Date: December 18, 2011

Topic: Join Us For Our Annual Christmas / Holiday Party

Time: 3:00 pm

No RSVP is required - Just Join Us For The Party!

Place: Lexington Medical Center Auditorium - For our meeting information (time, place, map) please visit our website page of http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meeting_info.htm

Entertainment and Refreshments will be provided - Just bring yourself and your guests (family, friends, and anyone interested in Parkinson's)

We will be having live entertainment by Bob Michalski, who plays a wide variety of contemporary and jazz instrumental selections. Bob has appeared in many locations around Columbia, including churches, weddings, and corporate events. http://www.bobthesaxplayer.com/

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to enjoy the music, have some refreshments, have fun, and get to know other members of our Parkinson support group in a relaxing environment. This is where you can share information, ask questions, and learn more about our support group and its members.


VERY URGENT NEWS ABOUT SC ASSISTATIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM (SCATP) FUNDING ISSUE ~ December 16th is the deadline for a Congressional vote on this issue.

For more information click on this link http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/news.htm


Please Don't Forget To Visit Our Website at http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/ The NEWS FOR YOU web page has been updated with "new" news and information that may be of interest to you http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/news.htm


We have been busy scheduling speakers and topics for our 2012 meetings. The 2012 MEETING & EVENTS CALENDAR web page has been updated on our website at
http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.or/meet_calendar_2012.htm We have some really great programs planned for 2012.


Please Volunteer - We Really Need You! Our support group is operated and run by volunteers who are Parkinson patients themselves, caregivers / care partners of Parkinson patients, or people who have an interest in and support Parkinson's disease. We can always use volunteers. Please contact us if you have other experience or skills that you think can be used by our group.

A special "Thank You" to Karen Basso for volunteering to do the
Newspaper Media PR position we had advertised last month!

Below are some other positions that we need volunteers for now.

Greeters - At the beginning of our meetings, you would greet meeting attendees at the door. Requirements are ability to smile, say hello, make people feel welcome, and encourage them to sign-in. Ability to send Email is needed. Having more than one "greeter" would be desirable so that they could alternate meetings.

Program Committee Member - Currently Carol and Dottie are doing all the program planning. We could use some help. Ability to send Email is needed. You will have the opportunity to meet some really nice people who interface with the Parkinson's community in many ways. We already have the year 2012 booked up for speakers, so you will have a whole year to work with Dottie and Carol to learn how to be a member of the Program Committee. You won't be doing this by yourself, Dottie and Carol will be working with you on the committee.

Contact either Carol or Dottie if you are interested in volunteering; or if you have other experience or skills that you think can be used by our group.

Carol Baker, Vice President
Telephone 803-781-6193
Email: caroltbaker@bellsouth.net

Dottie Gantt, President
Telephone: 803-604-0061
Email: contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org

We look forward to seeing you at the December 18th meeting / party.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays - and Best Wishes for the New Year!

Dottie

-- 

Dottie M. Gantt, President

Columbia Parkinson's Support Group

Email  contact@columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org

http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/

Telephone 803-604-0061

Columbia Parkinson's Support Group

Meeting Reminder

Date: November 20, 2011

Topic: OPEN FORUM & DISCUSSION

For our open forum meetings we usually start with a theme or topic and go from there. Our members have an opportunity to share their own experiences; ask questions of each other; and help each other by proving solutions that they have for various issues, concerns, problems, etc. Our members tell us that at the open forum meetings, they learn about information and things that they can't find in anywhere else, because they are learning directly from other Parkinson patients and their caregivers.

For meeting information (time, place, map) please visit our website page of http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/meeting_info.htm
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Join Us For Our Annual Christmas / Holiday Party on December 18th, 2011

In December, our regular meeting will be our Annual Christmas / Holiday Party.

Refreshments and Entertainment will be provided. There is no charge or fee. Please feel free to invite and bring guests.

Back by popular request --- We will be having live entertainment by Bob Michalski, who plays a wide variety of contemporary and jazz instrumental selections. Bob has appeared in many locations around Columbia, including churches, weddings, and corporate events.

Visit http://www.bobsdinnermusic.com/ to hear a short sample of Bob's dinner music -and- you can also go to Bob's website at http://www.bobthesaxplayer.com/ for more information and music.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to enjoy the music, have some refreshments, have fun, and get to know other members of our Parkinson support group in a relaxing environment.

Bring yourself and your guests - Come to the party! No RSVP is needed.
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Visit Our Website at http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/ The NEWS FOR YOU web page has been updated with "new" news and information that may be of interest to you http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.org/news.htm

We have been busy scheduling speakers and topics for our 2012 meetings. The 2012 MEETING & EVENTS CALENDAR web page has now been posted on our website at
http://www.columbiaparkinsonsupportgroup.or/meet_calendar_2012.htm We have some really great programs planned for 2012.
----------------------------------Please Volunteer - We Really Need You! Our support group is operated and run by volunteers who are Parkinson patients themselves, caregivers / care partners of Parkinson patients, or people who have an interest in and support Parkinson's disease. Contact us if you have experience or skills that can be used by our group. See below for some of the positions we need filled

Newspaper PR - This very easy position that can be done at home on your PC - 30 minutes a month - need to know how to "Google" and send email.

Greeter - Another position is to be a Greeter at the door for our meetings at the beginning of our meetings. Ability to smile and say hello are required.

Program Committee Member - Currently we have Dottie and Carol doing all the planning of programs. We could use some help. We would definitely be working with you. Computer skill with email needed. You will have the opportunity to meet some really nice people who interface with the Parkinson's community in many ways.
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We look forward to seeing you at the November 20th meeting.