> To Ivan and all readers of the Listserve, > > I am really quite surprised that Ivan, and it > appears at least one other > reader, took my reference to him as an "aggressive > Parkinson's > go-getter" as > some sort of slight or attack. Nothing could be > further from my intent. > I > meant only to compliment the years of hard work, and > admirable > persistence, > that Ivan has devoted to the cause of Parkinson's > advocacy. I take > responsibility for the words, and sincerely > apologize to Ivan and anyone > who > may have taken it any other way. I will be more > careful in future > postings. > > But I did choose that characterization of Ivan for a > reason. Like other > individual advocates, Ivan has different freedoms > and limitations than > PAN > or other national organizations. An advocacy > movement, like that of the > Parkinson's community, relies on different types of > leadership. > Parkinson's > has become a more visible disease and cause through > the combined > contributions many individuals and entities - > including the national > organizations, public figures like Ali, Graham and > Fox, and the > "we-won't-take-no-for-an-answer" community advocates > like Ivan, Jim > Cordy > and the late Elliott Haynes, to name three of many. > > To defeat Parkinson's as soon as possible we need > people like Ivan who > are > willing and able to push the envelope with the force > of their > personality > and conviction. We also need organizations like PAN > and others to > perform > functions individuals cannot. > > Lastly, I would like to apologize to the Listmembers > for whatever > distraction my post has caused. One of the jobs of > staff people like > myself > is to help focus and coordinate the energies and > efforts of the members > of > the community, and clearly for some I have succeeded > in doing just the > opposite. I truly regret that, and recognize that > none of us have the > time > for such distractions when there is so much > important and difficult work > to > be done. > > Sincerely, > > Michael Claeys > Senior Policy Coordinator > Parkinson's Action Network > (800) 850-4726 > > > _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com