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At 21:40 1/21/97 -0500, Joyce Tames wrote: >MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY JAN. 21 > >I would like to start a PD support group from my home here in central NJ but >I must ask some questions first. > >Has anyone done this before ?? > >If so, can you offer any suggestions how to post an announcement, what >materials if any should I have available...how often should meetings take >place...best days and times for good attendence... etc etc. > >Joyce Tames >[log in to unmask] >908-679 8172 > Joyce, I have a support group running for about 1 1/2 yrs. Ours is small, about 20 members including PWP and the CG, about 12-15 are there regularly. The membership number is higher than the attendance primarily becuase their are 2 couples who never come because they live too far away but they want our material. We meet in my home once a month on the 2nd thurs evening from 7:00 until 9:00. I type up an agenda each time with usually 4 parts: Spiritual Time, Exercise Time, Humor Time and Sharing Time, which tells pretty much the emphasis I am using. Spiritual Time: I have my wife read a short piece from a book "Chicken Soup for the Soul" Exercise Time: We usually demonsrate exercises for PWP from the books on exercise from UPD or APDA. Humor Time: My wife and I have some stories pepared to tell and we go around the room to allow anyone who has brought something to tell. Sharing Time: It is called sharing because it is intended that all share experiences like we do on this list but it usually turn out that I am talking about items that interested me from this list or research that interested me from the UPD newsletter, etc.. I have a copy machine so I give everyone a copy of the items discussed. This may be more than you wanted to see. I am sorry I got started and could not stop. Sine we are on the subject, I would like to see what other people do with their support groups. These are just my own ideas. I havn't been to any other support group. I have posted at 2 nearby retiremnet centers and the local church bulletins. I got started this way. I had two former teachers and colleagues of mine who had Parkinson's. When I was diagnosed with Parkinaon's about 4 yrs ago my wife and I talked about what we might do to help and decided to start a support group. I hope this helps others who nay be interested in starting a similar undertaking. ---Milo 72/8/dxed 4yrs ago Milo V. Anderson, Ph.D. Knowledge is free at the library; Box 417 bring your own contianer. Angwin, CA 94508 voice 707 965 2508 ODE TO A METAPHOR fax 707 965 3148 Ilustrations are useful, e-mail [log in to unmask] Or what's a meta-FOR.