---------- Dear List, Karen Bardo & I (Greg Leeman) decided a couple of months that it was time to make a list of our commitments. It turned out to be quite a list. In order to make our lives more manageable, we each had to make decisions as to which commitments had to be eliminated. We both decided to unsubscribe to the PD list because we did not have enough time to read the messages we received each day. We miss all of you! The information, support, and friendship we both received from all of you helped us a lot during a time when we were struggling. At this point, we feel we need to focus our attention and time on helping Maine PWP. But, when Harold Jones, a fellow board member at the Maine Parkinson Society, forwarded Tom Kelley's e-mail it reminded us of all the thoughtful and caring people who had become our cyberfriends. We left the PD list rather abruptly, and just wanted to give you an FYI as to what we have been up to. One of the biggest pieces of the pie was and still is the Maine Parkinson Society. It was established by Maine people with Parkinson's Disease (PWPs) to improve the lives of people with Parkinson's Disease in Maine. I am one of the people from Maine who decided it was time to help Maine PWPs. After 10 years battling the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD), fearing that I would lose my ability to perform simple daily functions (driving a car, personal grooming and dressing and cooking and cleaning) before I reached the age of 37, I decided to see what my options were to improve the quality of my life. What I found was a system not able to provide information as to what surgical options were accepted by insurance companies, what drug treatment options were available and any other alternatives that might be worth trying. After researching what was available and pertinent to my current condition and demographic background, I found there were practical surgical options and possible drug treatment improvements that could be accessed. In the end I decided to have brain surgery, pallidotomy, to alleviate my worsening symptoms. As a result, my quality of life has improved greatly. Therefore, in an effort to help people know that this option and others are available I decided to form the Maine Parkinson Society. There are two other co-founders who have worked with me to obtain our articles of incorporation, bylaws, 501 (c) (3) approval (all of which we have acquired) and organizational development to date. One is Karen Bardo, age 45, diagnosed 2 years ago and currently employed by the Wiscasset School District as an administrative secretary. The other is her father, Harold Jones, a retired C.P.A. and banker.The rest of our Board of Directors are Peter Price, Vice President of Livada Securities, Ellen Moscinski, Director of Social Services at the Maine Medical Center and former Executive Director of the San Diego Parkinson Disease Information and Referral Center, Dr. Leonard Kaminow, Neurologist at Maine Neurology and Christine Bateru, Pharmacy Manager at Shop n' Save. They all are wonderful people. Our intent is to provide a better source of information by bringing all concerned parties together to identify current problems, concerns or obstacles in the existing information delivery systems. Then, further discuss and develop solutions to these problems and provide a vehicle to correct and streamline the overall current information process. Some of the current problems include: 1) Maine is a large but rural state with a low population base. The current support system is a casualty of a poor health care system that financially can not support the resources (attract specialists) necessary to provide even an adequate form of health care to PWPs . The trend looks like it will continue as long as we have a gatekeeper system. 2) There is only one movement disorder/Parkinson's Disease specialist practicing in Maine (on the southern border of the state). 3) There are not any neurosurgeons in Maine that perform the accepted surgical procedures for people with Parkinson's Disease. 4) There are not any data collection methods being used to gather information about patients backgrounds, medical histories or symptoms management methods for treatment of Parkinson's Disease in Maine. Possible solutions to these impediments include the following two pronged approach: A-Involvement 1) Involve the health care community by including all factions (Drs., patients, nurses and therapists) in the process of determining better treatment methods and options to serve PWPs in Maine. 2) Establishing a "think tank" to identify, discuss and develop alternatives for a better treatment system for Parkinson's Disease. 3) Organize and provide seminars, round table discussion and local classes for the health care community to gain knowledge of and disseminate the newly formed treatment methods for PWPs . B-Communications 4 Improve an established Maine Parkinson Society Web presence through upgrades of its design and accessibility capabilities by adding a unique IP address and domain name. 5) Design, publish and deliver a quarterly newsletter with current information on drug and surgical treatments, research news and features about the Maine PD community. 6) Work with the established APDA support groups to establish an outreach program that includes a database and will increase efforts to find local PWPs in Maine and deliver current information to them. Currently we have projects scheduled for 1999. Some of these include: The following events are co-sponsored by the APDA and MEPS. 1) World Parkinson's Day, Saturday, April 10th at Dana Auditorium (Maine Medical Center) in Portland. Invited guests and speakers include: Senator Olympia Snowe, Dr. John Growden - Movement Disorder Director at Mass. General Hospital/Harvard University, Dr. David Roberts - Neurosurgery Staff at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital and a special keynote speaker whom will be announced as soon as details are complete. 2) APDA Maine Conference in September of 1999 at the Sonesta Hotel in Portland. More details will be forthcoming. The following event is sponsored by MEPs. 3) The sale of Tulip Bulbs and Tulip Pins for our adopted symbol of hope. More details will be available at a future date. As you can see, we have quite an ambitious agenda. We hope to make a difference in Maine for PWPs. Respectfully, Maine Parkinson Society (MEPS) Greg Leeman - President Karen Bardo - Vice President