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Melinda... My comments were not directed at you, personally nor were they meant as an attack on how well or not you personally do your job. Rather it's the organization itself I refer to and their overall efforts in making PD known nation-wide. And THAT - after many years in the business - they just haven't cut it, in my opinion. In all fairness... I believe that PD itself doesn't lend itself well as an "attention getter." The majority of the general public aren't aware there's' any other symptom's besides the "classic PD tremors." They haven't a CLUE of the misery it cna bring into not only an individual's life, but also to their loved ones. Publicly, PD's almost always referred to as an "old persons disease," as tho THAT excuses it! As I see it, the world around us isn't being made aware that Parkinson's is: 1. A physically, mentally, and socially destructive disease to those who are forced to live with it, and those same terms definitely fit PD-related drugs, too! 2. Parkinson's is much, MUCH more than an "old person's disease," NOWADAYS! It can and DOES strike young adults, as well as our Baby Boomers - who are entering middle age right now. And believe me, as one of them early "Boomers," we STILL have a lot of life, and a lotta living to do! Again, Melinda... I meant no personal attack on you as a representative of NPF, or upon your year's worth of effort while in the employ of that agency. The NPF has been around a loooong time and they STILL haven't brought Parkinson's out of the darkness, where we're invisible - and into the light where the disease will be KNOWN for what it TRULY is. And if anyone "out there'" wants to know 'bout this miserable disease, just ASK, 'cause we'll be pleased to let ya know! Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Melinda Brown Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 1997 1:54 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Re: Barb Mallut creating awareness FYI Ms. Mallut: Since NPF hired me a little over a year ago - I have worked very hard to create awareness for Parkinson's disease. This includes: 1. creating and sending out over 10,000 "Media Resource Kits" about the disease to health reporters across the United States. 2. Making it a point to contact at least 20 newspaper reporters a day about Parkinson's disease - ( I have hundred of article clippings to show for it) 3. Producing a 12 part series on Parkinson's disease which aired in several educational television stations. 4. Working with NPF's Chapters all over the U.S. to organize events and spread the word about PD 5. Establishg a national recognition award for PD Caregivers 6.Posting Press releases about various PD related issues on PR Newswire on a regular basis 7. Raising money to produce this PSA which you do not seem to think will make a differene. You may not be aware but the cost of producing and distributing a public service announcement nationwide is thousands and thousands of dollars, and I have worked very hard to raise this money. And, I am confident it will serve its purpose of increasing awareness. I could go on and on and on about the work NPF and the other organizations do to create awareness. But I am too busy trying to create this awareness for Parkinson's disease to waste any more time...