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^^^^^^GLOBAL GREETINGS  FROM^^^^^^^^^^
Ivan Suzman  48/10         [log in to unmask]
Portland, Maine   land of lighthouses   28  deg. F  equinox
***********************************************************
  Dear Members of the LIST:

  Below you will find, just received from the Asst. Secretary of the
Maine State Senate, Judi Delfranco,
the final version of the Parkinson's Awareness Month Resolution (Senate
Paper 868) that passed the Senate yesterday afternoon, and the House this
morning.

  This is what survived from my original Draft Resolution I posted
earlier this week.

  I hope this is helpful to any of you who wish to activate Parkinson's
Awareness Month in your area.

  I have also just learned that Governor King is preparing a
Proclamation, using this Resolution for information....


  With best wishes on this happy occasion,


  Ivan Suzman and other Maine activists (Karen Bardo, Jay Forys, Jr. and
Greg Leeman)
************************************************************************************

On 20 Mar 1998 16:52:13 -0500 "Delfranco, Judi"
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
>JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PARKINSON'S
>DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH
>
> WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that usually affects
>
>adults over 40, although it can appear in younger persons; and
>
> WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease, or Paralysis Agitans, is a devastating,
>
>painful and incurable brain disorder of unknown origin that disrupts
>and
>can end the lives of those who suffer from it as well as overwhelming
>the
>lives of their families and friends; and
>
> WHEREAS, more individuals suffer from Parkinson's disease than
>multiple
>sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease combined; and
>
> WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease often takes an enormous emotional,
>psychological and physical toll on the families surrounding their
>suffering loved ones; and
>
> WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease appears eventually in approximately one
>of
>4 persons older than 80 years of age and in one of 10 persons older
>than
>60 years of age, thereby directly touching the lives of at least one
>of
>10 families in the State; and
>
> WHEREAS, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association
>there
>are approximately 1.5 million people in the United States diagnosed
>with
>Parkinson's disease, of which 7,000 or more are in the State of Maine;
>
>and
>
> WHEREAS, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease - stillness, tremors,
>slowness, poor movement and difficulty with balance and speaking are
>
>often mistaken as a normal part of the aging process; and
>
> WHEREAS, the cause of the disease is unknown, and drugs can only
>control
>some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease for a short period of
>time;
>and
>
> WHEREAS, the historic and crucial Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Disease
>
>Research Act of 1997, which would provide up to $100,000,000 of
>funding
>specifically for Parkinson's disease, has recently been passed by the
>
>Congress after a courageous 4-year struggle by Parkinson's sufferers
>
>usually too sick to go to Washington; and
>
> WHEREAS, the entire congressional delegation from Maine was the first
>
>delegation from any state to join in cosponsoring the Udall
>Parkinson's
>legislation; and
>
> WHEREAS, April 11th has been proclaimed to be World Parkinson's Day,
>a
>day for all to recognize the need for more research and help in
>dealing
>with the devastating effects of Parkinson's disease; and
>
> WHEREAS, increased education and research are needed to help find
>more
>effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Parkinson's disease and
>to
>provide more effective support programs and services to Parkinson's
>disease patients and their caregivers and families; and
>
> WHEREAS, the leading public officials of the State and leading
>officials
>in the State's medical community are now called upon to aid in
>reversing
>the invisibility and voicelessness of its citizens suffering from
>Parkinson's disease; now, therefore, be it
>
> RESOLVED:  That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Eighteenth
>Legislature, now assembled in the Second Regular Session, recognize
>the
>month of April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month throughout the
>
>State of Maine; and be it further
>
> RESOLVED:  That a suitable copy of this resolution, duly
>authenticated
>by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the American Parkinson
>Disease Association, Maine State Chapter.
>