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Hello to one & all: Here is an update on our plans in central Illinois to observe PD Awareness Day. On Monday, I was invited by the mayor of Chillicothe to attend the City council meeting. There, the mayor read and then presented to me a letter of Proclamation naming Sunday, April 11,1999 officially PD Awareness Day in Chillicothe. It was entered into the minutes of the meeting and reported in both area newspapers. Monday was also our first full day of fundraising under the auspices of The Tuchman Foundation. I am thrilled to report that in 3 days of fundraising to underwrite the expenses of putting on the Art Exhibit: The Letting Go-A Parkinson's Story by local artist Jane Scott & her photographer friend Mark Esser; we have collected $1230 and expect to close our at around $1500. The real "star" of this show is Jane's father Claude Scott who was a local educator for 35 yrs. Since beginning this project, I have become overwhelmed by the outpouring of love generated by this man, who's battle w/ PD is so powerfully portrayed in this exhibit! Thus, I have had to rethink my original numbers from 250 to 500 people. An old friend of mine, internationally known artist & musician Preston Jackson has offered to bring four players with him & to play two sets of jazz-Claude Scott's music of choice. He will be playing for free-asking only nominal fees for his players. His name alone will bring in a large number of our target crowd and help to make the day an EVENT! My girlfriend, Connie Hellman, who owns "A Matter of Taste" catering business has offered to cater the event for $1 a person. She will be making fruit ka-bobs w/ dip, veggie trays, her signature "tureen" appetizers among others. The local Subway has offered sandwiches for us to serve & my friends from church are making desserts. We will offer coffee, raspberry iced tea & punch. Available to be ordered will be white sweatshirts painted w/ navy blue varsity letters: PD with a pink tulip growing between the letters. Also available to be ordered will be T-shirts w/ the logo: "There's nothing wrong with __________ (choose one: me, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, sister, brother, friend, my wife or my husband) that a cure for PD wouldn't fix!" (Logo courtesy of my friend Dennis Greene.) We will also be passing out ribbonsthat will be navy blue (signifying the young onsetters) looped like the aids ribbon but tied with a silver bow (representing the older people who get PD) united in their struggle w/ this disease. Yesterday I received a large box of handouts from APDA-if anyone has additional materials to be used as hand outs for this large crowd that we are expecting, please let me know! Also prominately located on this yable will be a large box for donations. If anyone lives in the Peoria area, I invite you to come out. Sandy Norris from North Carolina will be making the trip back and Carter Stewart from Chicago will make the trip back. If anyone else is interested in coming, please let me know. Next step is a massive media blitz! I will update you as that unfolds. Please continue to keep our project in your prayers! -- Joan E. Snyder (47-8-10) <[log in to unmask]> "In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer" Albert Camus http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/snyder/page1.htm