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Good points. We are lucky to have found a great group in the SouthBay area of L.A. sponsored by an organization called Parkinson's Resource Organization. The leaders of our group are a husband and wife, neither with PD, but did this to honor a friend. They bring enthusiasm and fun to the group, line up good programs concentrating on health and fitness, and see that everybody participates up to the level they can. For more info on PRO, see http://www.parkinsonsresource.org/index.html Sue, Southern California ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carolyn Stephenson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:09 AM Subject: Re: Support Groups - My Two-Cents worth > Yes, support groups are only as good as those who lead the group. It > takes > a lot of energy to be a support group leader. And when you add being > chronically ill, which most SG leaders are, it makes the job that much > harder. > > The key characteristic of a good leader is openness...open to suggestions, > open to constructive criticism. No member of a support group should be > fearful of saying something to a leader who needs help. Of course, we all > know that a good support group is are sharing as well as learning. If > neither of these is present then the group will fail. > > Sadly many leaders have very good intentions, but need help and don't ask > for it or don't see that they need help. I am fortunate to have the > support > of two of our regional hospital affiliated speech therapists who > volunteered > to help me before I even started the group here. And they are both LSVT > certified too, so I have double the joy of their help. > > If you are in a group that is foundering, I would suggest that you > volunteer > to help with meeting agenda; e.g. obtaining speakers. Support is an > important part of illness...support through education, support from family > and friends, etc. > > Carolyn > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn