Good idea. Tulips ane pretty,  PD is not.  Nita

Mary Sheehan wrote:

> Felt the need to put my two cents in.
>
> Even though the tulip is an international symbol of PD, it is not recognized
> as such in the US.  A tulip doesn't send a message about PD as effectively as
> an hourglass with its accompanying slogan, "Time is running out". Therefore,
> as nice as it would be to adopt an international symbol, I vote for the
> hourglass.
>
> Regarding ribbons: Yellow, purple, silver, puce....it really doesn't matter.
> Every group has its ribbon nowadays.  If we really want to stand out, we
> should do something different, for example, we could tie a balloon (imprinted
> with an houglass and slogan) on walkers, wheelchairs, canes, antennas of cars,
> doorknobs, mailboxes, etc.
>
> I keep bringing up this idea, but no one ever replies to my suggestion.
> However, I'll trot it out once more because I think it would work.
> 1.  Pick a day in September when all the congressmen will be back from
> vacation. Proclaim it PD Awareness Day.
> 2.  On that day we make a great effort to see that every PWP and caretaker
> sends a   nominal donation (could be as little as $1) to their favorite PD
> organization.
> 3.  Then we each send a letter (and a balloon?) to our senators and
> congressman and to our local newspaper saying that time is running out and
> we're tired of waiting for Congress to appropriate the money promised to us
> and the NIH to stop playing games.  Therefore, we have sent in our own
> donations to keep research going until Congress stops procrastinating.  Send a
> photo of yourself or a group of Parkies and caregivers holding balloons.
> Include a fact sheet about Parkinson's and the inequality of funding.
> 4.  Try to get additional spots on radio, TV, etc.  Hand out balloons to all
> your friends and family. Ask them to display them on that day.  Support groups
> could hand out balloons and literature at local malls. There are lots of
> things we could do.  The thing is to do it on one designated day and be sure
> that the press, radio and TV are informed.
>
> Any comments?
> Mary Sheehan