Three Rivers Kiwanis

MS Society Presentation

Three Rivers Kiwanis
    
Milo, Maine USA
January 21, 2009
Regular Meeting

There were fifteen members in attendance at the regular morning meeting at Sandee’s Restaurant.  We had a Dover-Foxcroft inter-club with five members in attendance.  Key Club had Josh, Camille, Stephanie, and Val.  Jim Macomber’s daughter Virginia was visiting and Bobby Ellison had Hilda, Tanya, and Tammy as guests today.

            Eben DeWitt led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and Herbie Dunham offered the Morning Prayer.  Jim Lord provided the Thought for the Day.  Joe Zamboni will have a birthday on January 24^th.

            We had seven Happy/Sad Dollars-Jim is happy to have received a grant to support establishment of Licensed Day Cares.  You can contact Jim Macomber at 564-7116 if you are interested in licensing your day care.  Ethelyn was happy to try out the Kiwanis on-line interclub; Tammy happy to speak on MS;  hope for the new president and that we as a nation can meet the president’s expectations; and Bonnie is happy to be tanning in California.

            An inter-club is planned for the 23^rd in Dexter.  Correction on January 14^th minutes, Tammy Cougle is not the YMCA director.  Sorry for any confusion. 

Dick, Cathy, Jim Lord, and Val have been attending Builders and Key Clubs and other members are invited to attend either Monday or Thursday mornings.

            Program Chair, Chris Almy, introduced Tammy (Ellison) Cougle as our speaker today on the MS Society.  Tammy graduated from Penquis Valley in 1994 and at age 24 was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Tammy is now a volunteer with the MS Society.  MS is a neurological disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve.  MS is actually difficult to diagnose and only those presenting with symptoms in two or more areas are ever diagnosed. 

            Though the exact cause is not known there are some factors that seem to be present in many cases.  Environmental factors seem to affect individuals where there are significant climate changes, such as those living further away from the equator, areas high in iron count, populations low in Vitamin D.  There is no clear evidence for any specific triggering factor.  Weather and climate changes are painful to individuals with MS.  This particular area of Maine does seem to have higher numbers of individuals with MS.

            MS does not seem to be hereditary and is usually diagnosed in the early 20’s.  Treatments are very expensive and require injectable medications.  There is hope for a pill form of the medication in the future.  The MS Society sponsors many different events to raise money to support FDA-approved therapy, education, and research.  Tammy describes herself as having MS—but MS does not have me. 

We want to thank Tammy for speaking today and if you would like to know more about the MS society visit their website at:  www. nationalmssociety.org.  If you would like to support this cause you can participate in an MS Walk scheduled for April 25^th.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Heidi Finson, Secretary

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