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IVAN, THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS! You and your fellow Maine PWPs should be extremely proud of yourselves, expecially you, Ivan, and Karen Bardo, who worked so hard to help create the resolution. This is certainly NOT just 'a piece of paper to hang behind the office door". This is a viable piece of legislation. I particulalrly liked Paragraphs 9 and 12. I am certainly going to try and persuade the local chapter organisers here to copy this resolution and try and get one very similar, but tailored to our state specifications in front of the governor at least, and if possible before the state lsegislature (if they are still in session) so that we can bring these important facts and viewpoints to the attention of not just the public, but the law makers and policy directors of the Commonwealth. And I hope other states will do the same.- those that haven't already done so, that is. For it is very important, not only that people, the man in the street, the professionals, doctors, should know about us, but the people who count, the ones who ultimately decide what happens to us should know who and w hat and why we are. If we hurry, we can do it in time to be part of April's PD Awareness programs. My apologies if I have been rambling - it is late and I and very tired, but I wanted to get my thoughts and opinions on the list - jumbled as they are. I hooe I have made my self clear, and not tread on anyone's toes. Hilary Blue Ivan M Suzman wrote: > > ^^^^^^ WARM GREETINGS FROM ^^^^^^^^^^^^ :-) > Ivan Suzman 49/39/36 [log in to unmask] :-) > Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 57 deg. F :-) > ******************************************************************** > > Preliminary News Flash!! Today (Monday April 5, 1999), at 10:45 AM in > the Senate, and at 12:36 PM in the House of Representatives, in the > Maine Capitol building in Augusta, Maine, the > JOINT HOUSE-SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PARKINSON'S DISEASE AWARENESS > MONTH, Senate Paper 753, was passed. Senate President Mark Lawrence and > Speaker of the House Steven Rowe presided successively during the > presentation and debate in the two houses. > > In addition to myself, Maine Parkinson Society leaders Greg Leeman, > Karen Bardo, and Martha Cushing, Maine APDA Chapter President Carl > Barker, TEN Capitol Area support group members, > and my personal care attendant, Janice Hollis, were all present during > the voting. > > The text follows here, and will appear on the legislature's web site. > It is also obtainable from (207) 287-1540--the Maine State Senate Office. > > Please feel free to contact me if you may be considering acting in your > local area, and need advice. > > Ivan Suzman > 49/39/36 > ************************************************************************* > ******************************************** > OFFICIAL VERSION OF PD RESOLUTION FOLLOWS: > > State of Maine > ____________ > > In the Year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine > ____________ > > JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PARKINSON'S > DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH > > WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease, or paralysis agitans, is a brain disorder > > that usually affects adults over 40 years of age, although it can occur > > in any of 3 forms: late life Parkinson's disease, young onset > Parkinson's disease, which affects adults under 40 years of age, and > juvenile Parkinson's disease; and > > WHEREAS, Parkinson's disease is a devastating, painful and incurable > brain disorder of unknown origin that disrupts and may end the lives of > > those who suffer from the disease, 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 and friends 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, touching the lives of at least one of every 10 families > > in the State; and > > WHEREAS, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association there > > are approximately 1,500,000 people in the United States diagnosed with > Parkinson's disease, of which an estimated 7,000 or more are in the State > > of Maine; and > > WHEREAS, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which are tremors, > slowness of movement, shuffling gait, difficulty with balance, > malfunction of vocal cords, intestinal difficulties and emotional > changes, are often mistaken as a normal part of the aging process; and > > WHEREAS, the cause of Parkinson's disease is due to a loss of cell > function deep within the brain, and the reasons for this loss are > unknown. Medications can only control some of the symptoms of > Parkinson's disease for uncertain periods of time; and > > WHEREAS, there is a great need for further training and education in the > > health care and legal professions to protect the rights of persons with > > Parkinson's disease; and > > WHEREAS, full implementation of federal law, the Morris K. Udall > Parkinson's Disease Research Act of 1997, which, starting with the > current fiscal year, directs the National Institutes of Health to spend > > up to $100,000,000 annually on Parkinson's disease research, is critical; > > 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 to find 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 Nineteenth > Legislature, now assembled in the First Regular Session, recognize the > month of April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month throughout the > State; and be it further > > RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated > > by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Maine Parkinson Society > > and the American Parkinson Disease Association, Maine State Chapter. > > House of Representatives > Under Suspension of the Rules > Read and Adopted > April 5, 1999 > In Concurrence > > JOSEPH W. MAYO > Clerk > > In Senate Chamber > Read and Adopted > April 5, 1999 > Sent Down for Concurrence > Ordered Sent Down Forthwith > > JOY J. O'BRIEN > Secretary > > Sponsored By: > President Lawrence of York County > Cosponsored By: > Representative Norbert of Portland > Senator Rand of Cumberland County > Senator Kilkelly of Lincoln County > In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the seal of the State to be hereunto > > affixed, GIVEN under my hand at Augusta, this fifth day of April, in the > > year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety -nine. > > ________________________________________ > Dan A. Gwadosky > Secretary of State > Seal > S.P. 753