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With gratitude to Barb Patterson for her gracious permission in permitting me to post the following proposition on her list. To those whom are interested in the following, you are urged to save or print this message as I'll only be posting it this once since I don't want to interrupt the normal flow of conversation on the List. Message follows: ------------------ This is a classic case of "the shoemaker's kids going barefoot" 'cause the shoemaker's too busy making everybody else's show to make 'em for his own children. My job in the "real world" is as the forum manager of The Microsoft Network's (hereafter called "MSN") "Chronic Disease & Disorders Forum. In the 18 months that CD&D has been online, I've watched many of our disease-related discussion/chat areas grow into active, warm and supportive online groups... almost family-like in their care and concern for each other. I attribute much of this feeling to my staff of 13 individuals, each living with their own chronic disease(s). They're a terrific bunch... Of COURSE there's been a PD support area in my forum - how could there not be?! <smile> PWPs ambled in one at a time over the months and because there was only ME as the "resident Parkie," in my forum, I instinctively referred all to our PD List, 'cause I felt it very important they "connect" with SOME Parkinson's group. REALLY DUMB on my part 'cause this was counter-productive to building a viable online PD community on MSN. Still... I was too busy to devote any time to building up the PD area, and there wasn't many PWPs to approach to offer that jo to. THE PROPOSITION: I need an individual with Parkinson's as the Assistant and eventually the Chat Host of the MSN's Chronic Disease & Disorders Forum's Parkinson's Disease Newsgroup and Chat. I need a DETERMINED individual who's willing to coax, cajole, sneak 'round, grab, coddle, plead and otherwise get PWPs to not only LOOK at the Parkinson's Newsgroup/Chat but to convince 'em to STAY and to POST, CHAT and otherwise become the nucleus of a lively Parkinson's Disease presence on MSN. In return, I can offer a free unlimited full-service account on MSN - but ONLY if you dial direct to one of MSN's phone numbers (this cannot be done thru an ISP). We're now on the Internet so you'd have full Internet/WWW access as well. Access to our hidden Staff Lounge BBS is also included which is not only in information source, but also an "online family within an online family." By the way, residence in the USA is NOT a requirement, as our staff isn't hampered by international borders. Ya DO need to have Windows 95, and will find it necessary to download the upgrade to the MSN Internet program (it's free) We DO require a compassionate individual, and one who has a lively sense of humor because in my forum, laughter is looked upon as almost a form of medical treatment. Patience is needed because the PD Newsgroup won't grow overnite... but it WILL grow if there is someone dedicated to seeing that it is nurtured and attended on an almost daily schedule. This job does NOT require a lot of TIME (yet) but will require determination to hang in there for the time needed to permit growth. It will also require nerves of steel as MSN's new Web interface is STILL very buggy, and is in a constant state of evolution and development... In other words, the system itself is crotchety, and unpredictable as all get out! But them of us who call it "home" bolster each other up throughout it's 'lectronic shenanigans, figuring it's BOUND to get better SOME day! <grin> IF this sound like your cuppa tea, please email me at the address listed below. I look forward to hearing from ya.... (VIA EMAIL!! Not to the List) Barb Mallut [log in to unmask]