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. . . till it's over, folks. Sure the bill passed and it's now law. We worked hard and achieved our goal . . . almost. The goal is to cure PD. The means is money. Congress has shown they are willing to help but we still have work to do to turn authorization of funding for research into REAL DOLLARS. We do it through the appropriations process. DON'T QUIT NOW! The next few weeks are critical. Q: But what can I do? A: This gets a bit more complex than convincing your Congressman to co-sponsor the bill. What we need is to keep pushing the Appropriations Committee members in both houses of Congress that the Udall Act be FULLY FUNDED. Q: But my Congressman is not on an Appropriations Committee. As much as I'd like to, there's nothing I can do at this point to help. A: BALONEY!!! You can contact a friend, relative, business associate (even someone you don't like so much) in a critical Congressman's district to give a PUSH. Q: When? A: Now! The second half of May and into June is critical. It's "mark-up" time for the appropriations bill. Congress is attaching numbers to all those budget items. If we don't push hard now, you can kiss another year good-bye. Do we want all the effort we put into passing the Udall bill to go to waste? NO. Want an example? Congressman Bill Young of Saint Petersburg, Florida is on the appropriations committee in the House. His fellow Republican, John Porter - also from Florida, is the Chair of the committee. Young has considerable influence with Porter but Porter is Mr. Anti-Earmarking. We need Bill Young, a co-sponsor, to exert some influence on John Porter to fully fund the Udall Act. Does anybody on this list know anybody in Saint Pete? Does anybody know anyone who knows someone in St. Pete? Does anyone do any business with a company from there? Does anyone have a daughter who has a friend who dated Bill Young's son? Heck, I don't even know if Bill Young has kids, but you get the message, no? If you can help, please contact Paul Smedberg at APDA, NOW! APDA has a very active group down in St. Pete but a lot of them are snowbirds who have returned to the North in the spring. The few left think that the "fat lady has sung" and there isn't much left for them to do. Please help yourself by getting this darn bill funded. Contact Paul at APDA, Bill Turenne at NPF and Michael Claes at PAN to offer your help. We need help in Clinton country - ARKANSAS - as well. And while you're at it. Please come to Washington in June. It's beautiful - not as hot as July. Sign up for the Advocacy Forum hosted by the Parkinson's Action Network. There's a lot to do and you will meet the nicest people in the world - like ME! REMEMBER: IT AIN'T OVER. -Ken Aidekman Fund the Research. Find the Cure. Parkinson's Unity Walk: www.phontonetwork.com/walk