Sat., June 1st:  Casey Kho, Outreach Specialist with the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP), will be the guest speaker at our meeting on Sat., June 1st, 1-3:15 pm.  She will demonstrate telephone equipment that is free & adapted for California residents who have difficulty hearing, seeing, moving, speaking or remembering.  After the speaker, we'll have refreshments & then break into smaller support groups for people with Parkinson's and for families/caregivers.  We meet at 1717 Yulupa Ave. (near Hoen Ave.), Santa Rosa, CA.

July, 2013:  NO meeting in honor of the 4th of July.

Sat., August 10:  Dr. Deborah Swain & staff from the Swain Center VOICE Project will discuss & demonstrate the LVST-LOUD speech therapy approach for people with Parkinson's & atypical PD.  Several people in our support group have participated in the Swain Center's LOUD program.

Sept. 2013:  NO meeting in honor of Labor Day.

Sat., Oct. 5:   We are delighted to welcome back Parkinson's Institute Clinical Director Melanie Brandabur, MD.  Dr. Brandabur is a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease and other Movement Disorders.  The Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale is one of the leaders in Parkinson's treatment and research in the USA.

NEXT MEETING:  Saturday, APRIL 6, from 1:00-3:15       

WHERE:  Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave., Just south of Hoen Ave.

APRIL 6 SPEAKER: Meeting speaker will be Parkinson's Disease researcher and neurologist Allan Bernstein, M.D.  To celebrate April as National Parkinson's Awareness Month, Dr. Bernstein will do interactive Q&A about symptoms, medications, treatments, & research. 

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. We are in the process of updating our Membership Data Base.  Please fill out the form on the table after getting your name tag at our April meeting.  This is for ALL members.  We need your current updated information.

2.  April is Parkinson's Awareness Month.  PUT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, ON YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR MARY'S PIZZA SHACK FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR PSGSC.  We will get 20% of Dine-in, Take-Out orders, or Delivery orders ALL day on Wednesday, April 10.  Flyers/coupons have been e-mailed to you and are available here, and we will have more coupons available at our meeting. This fundraiser is ONLY at the Mary's Pizza Shack on Summerfield Road.  Start planning a fun lunch/dinner/pizza delivery/etc. with family and friends at Mary's on Summerfield Rd. on April 10. We had such a good time at our last Mary's fundraiser last October. There will be a sign-up sheet for all those that want to eat together for lunch in the party room at noon.

3.  We have been selling "Tulip Pins," the national symbol of Parkinson's Disease, for $5.00.  We will have them available at our meetings.  This is an on-going fundraiser for PSGSC.  Buy your pins and celebrate April as National Parkinson's Awareness Month!!  

4.  Library Materials such as books or CD's of past speakers that have been checked out need to be returned so they can be available to other members.

5.  Volunteers are needed to help set up and take down the chairs/library materials at our Saturday meetings.

6.  The DONATION JAR sent around at our general meetings helps PSGSC pay for the monthly meeting rental,  storage space, and mailing address at the church, plus speaker stipends, copying of materials, etc.  Thanks for your monthly donations!

7.  Website:  Don't forget that PSGSC has a website www.parkinsonsonomacounty.org where you will find our Mission Statement, Board Meeting Minutes, Meeting Announcements, resources, etc.  Check it out!!

6.  May 4 meeting : Guest speaker for our May 4 meeting will be Lin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D, Associate Professor of Neurology & a Parkinson's Specialist, University of Davis School of Medicine. 

-Kathy Osbun, Chairman PSGSC

Meeting Speakers for April 6th & May 4th programs:

April 6th:  To celebrate April as Parkinson's Awareness Month,Parkinson's Disease researcher & neurologist Allan Bernstein, M.D.,will do interactive Q&A about symptoms, medications, treatments & research.

May 4th:  Lin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D, Associate Professor of Neurology, UC Davis School of Medicine, will discuss recent research and what's in the "pipeline" for research and treatments of Parkinson's Disease.

NEXT MEETING:  Saturday, MARCH 2, from 1:00-3:15

WHERE:  Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave., Just south of Hoen Ave.

MARCH 2 SPEAKER: Some community resources & care options will be the focus of the guest panel which will provide overviews of the programs they represent and then do interactive Q&A.  Each of our panelists has extensive experience working with people with Parkinson's and their families.

Liz Claret, Social Services Supervisor of the Adult and Aging divison of the Sonoma County Human Services Dept., will share info about the  Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) and Linkages programs. 

Joy Lovinger is on the Advisory Council of the Area Agency on Aging of Sonoma County, a certified administrator for residential care facilities for the elderly, and owner of Senior Placement Services.  Senior Placement Service's mission is to help seniors & their families who are making critical lifestyle changes by evaluating each person's personal needs & wishes, including physical, mental, emotional  & financial factors--and matching them with the very best living situation.

Dorothy Foster is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who is Clinical Supervisor and a family consultant at Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (RCRC).  The RCRC is one of California's 11 Caregiver Resource Centers established in the 1980's to provide support to family members caring for a loved one with adult-onset disease that may cause cognitive impairment.  In Dorothy's role as family consultant, she meets with family members one-on-one, leads support groups, teaches classes, & helps guide family caregivers, providing information on diseases & disease management, local resources, and encouraging caregivers to practice self-care.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. We are in the process of updating our Membership Data Base.  Please fill out the form on the table after getting your name tag at our March meeting.  This is for ALL members.  We need your current updated information.

2. April is Parkinson's Awareness Month.  PUT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, ON YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR MARY'S PIZZA SHACK FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR PSGSC.  We will get 20% of Dine-in, Take-Out orders, or Delivery orders ALL day on Wednesday, April 10.  We will be getting more information and the flyers out to you as the time gets closer.  This fundraiser is ONLY at the Mary's Pizza Shack on Summerfield Road.  Start planning a fun lunch/dinner/pizza delivery/etc. with family and friends at Mary's on Summerfield Rd. on April 10. We had such a good time at our last Mary's fundraiser last October.

3. We have been selling "Tulip Pins," the national symbol of Parkinson's Disease, for $5.00.  We will have them available at our meetings.  This is an on-going fundraiser for PSGSC.  Buy your pins!!  

4. The DONATION JAR sent around at our general meetings helps PSGSC pay for the monthly meeting rental,  storage space, and mailing address at the church, plus speaker stipends, copying of materials, etc.  Thanks for your monthly donations!

5. Website:  Don't forget that PSGSC has a website www.parkinsonsonomacounty.org where you will find our Mission Statement, Board Meeting Minutes, Meeting Announcements, resources, etc.  Check it out!!

6. APRIL Meeting: SATURDAY, APRIL 6... Meeting speaker will be Parkinson's Disease researcher and neurologist Allan Bernstein, M.D.  To celebrate April as National Parkinson's Awareness Month, Dr. Bernstein will do interactive Q&A about symptoms, medications, treatments, & research. 

7. May 4 meeting : Guest speaker for our May 4th meeting will be Lin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D, Associate Professor of Neurology & a Parkinson's Specialist, University of Davis School of Medicine.

-Kathy Osbun, Chairman PSGSC        

Some community resources & care options will be the focus of the guest panel at the Sat., March 2, 2013 meeting of the Parkinson's Support Group of Sonoma County, 1-3:15 p.m., at 1717 Yulupa Ave. (near Hoen), Santa Rosa, CA.  Our panel will provide overviews of the programs they represent and then do interactive Q&A.  Each of our panelists has extensive experience working with people with Parkinson's and their families.

Liz Claret, Supervisor of the Care Management Unit of the Sonoma County Human Services Dept., will share info about the  Multi-Services for Seniors Program (MSSP), Linkages, & other county programs. 

Joy Lovinger is on the Advisory Council of the Area Agency on Aging of Sonoma County, a certified administrator for residential care facilities for the eldery, and owner of Senior Placement Services.  Senior Placement Service's mission is to help seniors & their families who are making critical lifestyle changes by evaluating each person's personal needs & wishes, including physical, mental, emotional  & financial factors--and matching them with the very best living situation.

Dorothy Foster is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who is Clinical Supervisor and a family consultant at Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (RCRC).  The RCRC is one of California's 11 Caregiver Resource Centers established in the 1980's to provide support to family members caring for a loved one with adult-onset disease that may cause cognitive impairment.  In Dorothy's role as family consultant, she meets with family members one-on-one, leads support groups, teaches classes, & helps guide family caregivers, providing information on diseases & disease management, local resources, and encouraging caregivers to practice self-care.

In celebration of April as National Parkinson's Awareness Month, our Sat., April 6th guest speaker will be Parkinson's Disease researcher and neurologist Allan Bernstein, M.D.
Dr. Bernstein will do interactive Q&A about symptoms, medications, treatments, & research.

Our Sat., May 4th guest speaker will be Lin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology at the UC Davis School of Medicine.   Dr. Zhang will speak about recent research on Parkinson's Disease and will do interactive Q&A.  The meeting will be 1-3:15 pm at 1717 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa.  Following the guest speaker, we break for snacks & then into smaller support groups for people w/Parkinson's and for families/caregivers.

NEXT MEETING: Saturday, FEBRUARY 2, from 1:00-3:15

WHERE: Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave., Just south of Hoen Ave.

FEBRUARY 2 SPEAKER: MATTHEW ARNOLD, MD, Movement Disorders Neurologist in private practice, Berkeley, CA

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. I am happy to report that at our PSGSC Annual Board Meeting in January, Barbara France was elected as Board Member and Secretary.  The Board accepted with regret the resignation of Barbara Stiling and thanked her for her longtime service to PSGSC.  At the same time, Marc Alexander was elected as a non-voting alternate Board Member who can take part in Board discussions and, when a Board vacancy occurs, can step in to fill that position. The following 15 PSGSC members were voted in as Board Members and Officers:

Kathy Osbun, President/Chair; Arlene Irizary, Vice Chair/Program Coordinator; Sandy Grant, Treasurer; Barbara France, Secretary; George irizary, Correspondence Secretary; Davis Brown; Dana May Casperson; Art Rosenblum; Suzanne deKozan; Jim France; David Getzoff; Karen Lovvorn; Phyllis Sands; Gloria Stubbs; Ann Walker; Marc Alexander, Alternate.

2. We are in the process of updating our Membership Data Base.  Please fill out the form on the table after getting your name tag at our February meeting.  This is for ALL members.  We need your current updated information.

3. We have been selling "Tulip Pins," the national symbol of Parkinson's Disease, for $5.00.  We will have them available at our meetings.  This is an on-going fundraiser for PSGSC.  Buy your pins!!

4. The DONATION JAR sent around at our general meetings helps PSGSC pay for the monthly meeting rental,  storage space, and mailing address at the church, plus speaker stipends, copying of materials, etc.  Thanks for your monthly donations!

5. Website:  Don't forget that PSGSC has a website www.parkinsonsonomacounty.org where you will find our Mission Statement, Board Meeting Minutes, Meeting Announcements, resources, etc.  Check it out!!

6. MARCH Meeting: SATURDAY, MARCH 2 will have a panel on community resources and other options. Panelists will be Dorothy Foster of Redwood Caregivers Resource Center; Liz Claret of Care Management/Sonoma County Adult and Aging Services; and Joy Lovinger of Senior Placement Services and a board member on the Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging.

-Kathy Osbun, Chairman PSGSC  

NO GENERAL MEETING IN JANUARY!!! Happy New Year!!!

NEXT MEETING: Saturday, FEBRUARY 2, from 1:00-3:15       

WHERE: Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave., Just south of Hoen Ave.

FEBRUARY 2 SPEAKER:  
Matthew Arnold, MD, Movement Disorders Neurologist in private practice, Berkeley, CA

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. New Board Members Needed

In the process of gaining State nonprofit status, the PSGSC bylaws state that there will be 15 Board Members, and we are required to have a quorum (8) present to take action.  Without a quorum (majority), business can be discussed, but no action can be taken if it requires a vote.  Each Board Member serves a one year term.

ALL Board Members and Officers annually will need a majority of Board Member votes at the Annual January Meeting (January 16, 2013) to continue as a Board Member for that year.  We will have one or two vacancies on the Board to be filled for 2013. 

Becoming a PSGSC Board Member means making a conscious effort to attend all monthly Board Meetings (usually the 3rd Wed. of each month from 10:00-12:00 at Vintage Brush Creek Senior Living facility off Hwy 12) so we do not have to worry about having a quorum each month. Needless to say, we ALL have emergencies or unexpected events that come up during the year that are unavoidable and make it impossible to attend a meeting. ANYONE can attend Board Meetings and join in on the discussions.  We just have to have a 15 "Voting Member" board. 

If you are interested in being considered for a Board vacancy for 2013, please let me know as soon as possible (e-mail:   osbun@aol.com). Contact me if you have any questions.   

Kathy Osbun, PSGSC Chairman

2. VOLUNTEER NEEDED: PSGSC DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
We are in the process of updating our Membership Data Base.  We need someone who will be responsible for "PSGSC Data Base Management" which is already in an Excel program.  This involves inputting data from new members in the existing Excel program and updating any new information (address, phone number, e-mail address, etc.) of other PSGSC members. This would be an on-going responsibility.  Please let me know if you have any questions and if you can help us out.   (osbun@aol.com) 

Website: Don't forget that PSGSC has a website www.parkinsonsonomacounty.org where you will find our Mission Statement, Board Meeting Minutes, Meeting Announcements, resources, etc. Check it out!!

-Kathy Osbun, Chairman PSGSC

January 2013: NO MEETING

February 2: Matthew Arnold, MD, Movement Disorders Neurologist in private practice, Berkeley, CA

March 2: Panel on community resources for home care & other options, incl: Dorothy Foster, Redwood Caregivers Resource Center; Liz Claret, Supervisor of Care Management/Sonoma County Adult & Aging Services; Joy Lovinger, Senior Placement Services & board member of the Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging.

April 6: Lin Zhang, MD, Movement Disorders Neurologist, UC Davis Medical Center.

May 4: Alan Bernstein, MD Neurologist (retired Kaiser, currently in private practice in Sebastopol & doing Parkinon's research through Radiant).

June 1: Casey Kho, California Telephone Access Program, to demonstrate the variety of telephone equipment available for free to any Calif. residents who have difficulty moving, speaking, remembering, hearing, seeing.

July: NO MEETING

August 10 (2nd Saturday): TBA

September: NO MEETING

October 5: TBA

November 2: TBA

December 14 (2nd Saturday): Holiday Party (Bring Finger Food)

NEXT MEETING: Saturday, OCTOBER 6, from 1:00-3:15

WHERE: Christ Church United Methodist, 1717 Yulupa Ave., Just south of Hoen Ave.

OCTOBER SPEAKER: Neuropsychologist Lisa Grossman, Ph.D, will be the  featured speaker at the Sat., Oct. 6th, meeting of the Parkinson's Support Group of Sonoma County. Dr. Grossman will focus on "Parkinson's Disease & Depression: Strategies for Improving Mood & Adjustment."  

Dr. Grossman notes: "Depression is a common challenge for individuals who have Parkinson's Disease, and for their families and caregivers. This presentation will focus on identifying symptoms of depression, as well as ways to facilitate improved mood, coping and adjustment."

Dr. Lisa Grossman is a rehabilitation neuropsychologist with over fourteen years experience working with older adults, their families, and medical and rehabilitation staff. She has provided consultation, assessment and treatment in hospitals, extended care facilities, and rehabilitation settings as well as in her private practice. Her areas of expertise include dementias, traumatic brain injury, anxiety and mood disorders, individual adjustment to disability, caregiver issues, and psychosocial aspects of normal aging. She is currently in private practice in Santa Rosa, where she provides neuropsychological assessment, cognitive rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and family consultation. She also provides consultation services on the acute rehabilitation unit at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.


OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10 ALL DAY: PSGSC Fundraiser at MARY's Pizza Shack (Summerfield Rd.)
20% of your purchase will be donated to PSGSC when you present their flyer with your order. Flyers will be sent out again before Oct. 10 as well as flyers will be available at our Oct. 6 meeting. PSGSC will get 20% of Dine-In, Take-Out orders, or Delivery orders ALL DAY on WEDNESDAY, October 10. When printing the Flyers, they may be in color or in black and white. PRINT SEVERAL COPIES TO GIVE OUT TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!! The more people we get to attend our fundraiser on Wednesday, October 10, the more money PSGSC will receive. Please help us out and join us for a fun lunch/dinner/pizza delivery/etc. at Mary's Pizza Shack on Summerfield Road in Santa Rosa on October 10.

We will have a sign up sheet at our Saturday, October 6, meeting if people want to meet at a special time and reserve the back room to gather together for lunch. This, of course, is optional. Again, we will have copies of the coupon for you to pick up and distribute at our meeting on Saturday, October 6.

2. Please pick up a "NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY" after you get your name tag at the meeting. Giving the Board your input will help us plan and set future goals for PSGSC.

3. There will be 4 Break-out sessions this month:
1) Caregivers
2) People with Parkinson's (two smaller groups)
3) Military Veterans with PD facilitated by Davis Brown

4. We have been selling "Tulip Pins," the national symbol of Parkinson's Disease, for $5.00. We will have them available at our meetings. This is an on-going fundraiser for PSGSC. Buy your pins!!

5. The DONATION JAR sent around at our general meetings helps PSGSC pay for the monthly meeting rental, storage space, and mailing address at the church, plus speaker stipends, copying of materials, etc. Thanks for your monthly donations!

6. Website:  Don't forget that PSGSC has a website www.parkinsonsonomacounty.org where you will find our Mission Statement, Board Meeting Minutes, Meeting Announcements, resources, etc.  Check it out!!

7. Next Month's Meeting:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3: Speaker Dr. Graham (Alec) Glass, Neurologist, UCSF Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology, Deputy Director of Parkinson's and Movement Disorder's Clinic at VASF (Veteran's Hospital)

-Kathy Osbun, Chairman PSGSC