 |
 |
before i get started on my post, i want to join hearts with everyone on this list to mourn the loss of two such dynamic contributors: Murray and Jo Ann. May they rest and enjoy afterlife to their hearts content. as many of you know, for the past 5 or 6 years, i have been affiliated with the Parkinson's Alliance as the umbrella under which i was able to hold my fundraisers: Shake, Rattle & Roll for Parkinson's Disease. this year, we have come to an amicable parting of the ways. we both thought that it was time for my involvment to take a more localized direction. these past few months, i have been very busy putting together a board of directors, electing officers, writing a mission statement and having meetings. our board has voted to go with the Community Foundation of Central Illinois as our not-for-profit sponsor and we are all quite happy with this arrangement. the board will decide where our money raised will best help out with local PD projects; such as Dr. Craig Cady's stem cell research lab at Bradley and Dr. Marc Katchen's movement disorder clinic at Methodist Hospital. we are calling ourselves CALIPSO for Central Il Advocates for Lives Interrupted by Parkinson's Support Organization (it's a mouthful, i know!!) but people remember us by Calipso. My astute partner and friend, Holly Angus has started a Young Onset Support group, so we are all happy, trying to make a differnence with our own skills. My particular gift has been with fundraising but i'm not sure how many more of these large events i can still do by myself or with just Holly. so i have enlisted the help of the Peoria Jaycee's and a service fraternity at Bradley University who will both help out planning and working at my events from now on. this year our Shake, Rattle & Roll will be held on Sunday, September 11th. it just happens that this date is the only one where all of my bands can come. we are not nor do we intend any disrespect for the solemnity of this date. It will be held at Kelleher's Irish Pub on the beautiful downtown riverfront in Pat Sullivan's currantly-under-construction parking lot which will become a park. we have plans though not written in stone yet. everyone is invited to make the trip to illinois. please contact me off-list for details. we hope to have a parachute jump in by a friend of mine who is a double amputee and then he will give a short message about "it's the ability; not the disability." this will be followed by a walk/run and getting those participants fed. after noon, my friend, Jay Goldberg with Jam Productions will be promoting the entertainment which will include a tasteful rememberance of those who gave their lives on September 11th. we are planning a young group of pre-teens, a older group(ala Four Freshman) to do standards, Applegate & Co. (a local, woderfully talented bluegrass group, a special reunion of Ken Carlyle & the Cadillac Cowboys (their first time together in over 20 years-coming in from all over the country), an appearance by Sally Weisenberg and a list of All-Stars and we're also bringing back, the legendary bluesman, Patrick Hazell from Iowa. we will also be serving beer and food and have a silent auction. it sounds as if this will be a wonderful time with plenty of great entertainment, good folks and plenty of awareness...so please wish us good luck and good weather and a great contribution from all involved. thanks-hope to see you here!! -- Joan Blessington Snyder 54/14 [log in to unmask] http://www.pwnkle.com/jes/jes_web/index.htm “Hang tough……..no way through it but to do it.” Chris in the Morning Northern Exposure ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn