VASCULITIS FOUNDATION
KC Chapter Meeting
Jerry Niebaum opened the meeting at 1:00 p.m. on June 21, 2008 at the Peet Center Conference Room at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO.
Attending were: Jerry and Judy Niebaum, Mary and Julie, Richard, Dean and Ruth, Tish, Kalli, Joyce Kullman, Glenn and Arlene, Shelly and Todd, and Tim.
On the agenda for this meeting were to hear reports and comments from those who attended the VF Symposium on June 6, 7 and 8th of June in Rochester, MN.
Jerry reported on the Chapter Leaders meeting on the Friday morning of the Symposium. Their suggestions were: To conduct regional one day symposia
To enlarge VF’s International presence by having symposia
similar to the one held in the UK last year
Establish regional offices ( in a home, vs. renting a building)
similar to the two in Florida.
Organize volunteers thru the Chapters worldwide
The next topic was: Awareness Week, September 21-27th. Brandi of the KC Chapter will take the lead for organizing events. We will hear more about what this chapter will be doing to get the word out to the public.
Medical Awareness Week will be held in 2009 but the date has not been announced.
At the Symposium, Christie Abele of California spoke about the Medical Advisory Board and the annual report on Vasculitis research. The discussion was to develop a Vasculitis Research Center.
In 2007, 35 events by different Chapters raised $113, 940; many of these events have been publicized in the NEWSLETTER.
Jerry talked about the statistics showing the state of Kansas has the most known members of the Vasculitis Foundation; Hawaii has the least.
Tish told about the “tulip” project. At the end of Spring when landscape companies are digging up the bloomed tulip bulbs; she asks for them. She then sells a grocery bag full for $5.00. That serves 2 purposes: it recycles the bulbs and it makes money for the VF.
Jerry stressed Vasculitis patients should be checked by a dermatologist frequently to rule out the possibility of skin cancers. He talked about his history and how quickly the cancers can appear.
Discussions on medications, symptoms, doctors who are very good at answering questions and about finding a doctor or doctors who know what they are doing.
The next meeting has been tentatively set for September 27th and will include a picnic potluck.
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Minutes by ARLENE