Dear Friend of the National MS Society, NJ Metro Chapter,
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Please read this message to learn of program announcements and updates, links to research reports and other community news!
Newly Diagnosed?
The Chapter has planned for a series of Newly Diagnosed seminars throughout 2010. These seminars provide a great deal of information about living with a diagnosis of MS and are ideal for anyone who has been recently diagnosed or anyone who needs more education about it.
· The first one day seminar is scheduled for Jan 16, 10am-2:30pm at CentraState Hospital in Freehold.
· The next seminar is a 4 part evening series (dinner provided) scheduled for April 1, 8, 22 and 29 in New Brunswick.
· Another opportunity for newly diagnosed education is tentatively planned for September 12, in Livingston.
To register and to learn more about any of these opportunities, contact Lauren at the Chapter at 732-660-1005 or Lauren.pisaniello@nmss.org.
NEW PROGRAM! Boys Night Out - All men living with MS or caring for someone with MS are welcome!
What: a new event from the NMSS offered and created for men only. It is a time to share, joke and tell stories. It is a night out with the guys in a relaxed setting, with no formality. Jokes and fun are welcome - complaints and whining are not. It is intended to be a fun evening to help men deal with MS, to unwind, to make friends, to learn a little and perhaps to laugh a lot!
Date: Tuesday January 12, 2010 (snow date - January 26th)
Time: 6:00pm -8:00pm
Location: 100 Southgate Parkway 1st floor
Morristown, NJ 07046
(a totally accessible building, right off I-287 in Morristown)
Registration Required: contact lisa.torre-janssen@nmss.org or call 732-660-1005 ext 312.
Free Seminar on Wills and Estate Planning
What: Wills and Estate Planning
When: Tuesday, 1/19/10, 7-9pm
Where: the NJ Law Center, One Constitution Square off Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ
Sponsored by: NJ State Bar Foundation
RSVP and more information: the website at www.njsbf.org or call 1-800-FREE-LAW
Free Educational Teleconferences – from the comfort of your own home!
The Chapter Programs department has planned a schedule of educational teleconferences for the year. The teleconference calls provide you with a wealth of information while you listen from the comfort of your own home! This is an ideal way to learn about a variety of issues that may affect you and your loved ones. Participation in a call is a simple process - you just have to register with the Chapter and you will be provided with a toll free number. For more information about educational teleconferences, contact Sharon at the Chapter at 800-344-4867 or Sharon.merritt@nmss.org. The next educational teleconference is noted below:
What: Ask the Lawyer
When: 2/3/10, 7-8pm
Speakers: panel of attorneys
Registration is required by Jan 5, 2010: contact Sharon at the Chapter at 800-344-4867 or Sharon.merritt@nmss.org- be sure to indicate the specific area of concern that you are interested in – this is not meant to be a personal consultation, just an overview of specific topics.
Future teleconference issues that will be addressed include: Cognition and MS; Employment; Getting Around (traveling with a disability); and Knowing Your Resources. Please know that you can register for as many of the calls that you are interested in and that other family/friends can listen in on the call with you. Early registration for the calls will guarantee that you receive reminders and updated information, as necessary.
Do You Care For A Loved One That Lives in a Nursing Home?
Then join the Chapter's special educational teleconference call dedicated to the needs of our friends with MS who reside in long term care facilities!
What: Family Issues: understanding your loved one in a nursing home setting
When: Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 6:00-7:00pm
Where: from the comfort of your own home. Register today and a call-in number will be provided to you before the call takes place.
Speaker: Debbie Tobias, LCSW
RSVP: by March 31, 2010 to Pat at the Chapter at 201-967-5599 or pat.evertz@nmss.org
National Scholarship Program
MS shouldn't stand in the way of an education. This is why the National MS Society's scholarship program exists - to help highly qualified students who have been diagnosed with MS or who have a parent with MS achieve their dreams of going to college. The Society established its scholarship program in 2003 and the program continues to grow both in terms of support and scholarships awarded. In its first year of operation the program awarded 36 scholarships for a total of $68,000; in 2009 a total of $1,021,600 was awarded to 510 scholars. Support for the scholarship program comes from foundations, chapter donors, our own employee giving program and other sources.
2010 Scholarship applications for 2010 awards will be accepted between October 1, 2009 and January 15, 2010. Scholars receive notice in May, 2010. For detailed guidelines and application information for the 2010 program, click on this link:
Chapter Scholarship Program
The Chapter has a similar scholarship program. Details and applications will be available on 12/15/09 and will be accepted until 3/15/09. Students may apply to both the National and the Chapter Scholarship Programs. For more information contact the Chapter at 800-344-4867.
Scholarship Opportunity for Monmouth County Residents
The Woman’s Club of Spring Lake offers a college scholarship each year to a female resident of Monmouth County who has had an interruption in her education and is now returning to school. The applicant must now be seeking an associate or bachelor’s degree and be currently enrolled or newly registered at an accredited two or four year institution. After January 15, 2010 the application is available on the following websites: www.springlake.org and www.springlakehts.com.
Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS)- What You Need to Know: a comprehensive book that discusses the diagnosis of PPMS, treatment and research, rehabilitation, wellness, family and social issues, and life planning. It also comes with a companion DVD, Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis- Perspectives on Moving Forward. The DVD profiles four people living with the significant challenges of PPMS who share their strategies for maintaining health, quality of life and planning for life with primary-progressive MS.
If you are interested in receiving your free copy of this book and DVD, please contact Lauren at the Chapter at Lauren.pisaniello@nmss.org.
MS Wellness at Kessler
The MS Wellness Program at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is now interviewing interested individuals for its next offering of the 10 week program, which is slated to begin in February at the West Orange and Saddle Brook campuses. Past participants have reported:
· an increased awareness of emotional and social factors that impact their quality of life;
· an overall improved enjoyment of life;
· an increased ability to cope more effectively with the unpredictability of living with MS.
For more information and to register, please contact the Neuropsychology Dept at 973-324-3634.
MS Wellness at CentraState
The MS Wellness Program at CentraState Healthcare is designed to optimize the quality of life for those living with the challenges of MS. To learn more about this program and future classes, contact Ruth Memoli CSW, MS Wellness Coordinator at 732 637-6334 or rmemoli@centrastate.com.
Educational Programs from Pharmaceutical Companies
The National MS Society, New Jersey Metro Chapter is making this information available to you, about these educational opportunities. The National MS Society, New Jersey Metro Chapter is not sponsoring these programs. The Society has had no role in developing the content of these programs:
What: Examining the Evidence: MS Therapy Selection
When: 1/16/10, 10am
Where: at the meeting of the self-help group, Faith is Our Pathway
Ebenezer Baptist Church, 216 4th Street, Englewood
Speaker: Andrew Pachner, MD
Sponsored by: Pfizer
RSVP: Irvina 201-569-3613
What: Efficacy & Treatment for Relapsing/Remitting MS - Rebif
When: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 7pm
Where: at the meeting location of the Morristown Self-help group:
Presbyterian Parish House, 65 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Speaker: Amos Katz, MD
Sponsored by: EMD Serono
RSVP: Evelyn at 973-727-7175
What: Examining the Evidence- MS Therapy Selection
When: Monday, February 8, 2010, 7:00pm
Where: Livingston Senior Community Center, 201 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039
Speaker: Andrew Pachner, MD, Professor of Neurology, UMDNJ
Sponsored by: Pfizer
RSVP: Marlene 973-992-5313 or Roy 973-338-9693
What: Examining the Evidence: MS Therapy Selection
When: 2/20/10, 1pm
Where: at the meeting of the Saddle Brook Self Help Group
Kessler Rehabilitation Center, 300 Market St, Saddle Brook
Speaker: Andrew Pachner, MD
Sponsored by: Pfizer
RSVP: Yvonne 973-246-6476
Recreation Programs for People with Disabilities – held in Union County
What: a variety of recreation programs designed for people with disabilities: programs range from ceramics and cooking to modified exercise programs.
When: January to March, 2010
Where: a variety of locations in Union County – Please be advised that although the programs take place in Union County, you can be a resident of any county to register for these programs.
Presented by: the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Dept of Parks and Community Renewal
For more information: call Margaret at 908-527-4806 or view the Union County Parks website at www.ucnj.org/parks and click on the tab for Recreation for People with Disabilities.
Research News
For the latest in MS research news, visit the website of the National MS Society: www.nationalMSsociety.org.
For more specific topics:
2009 Review: Substantial Progress Propelled MS Research Forward
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2486
Crucial Evidence Supports Autoimmune Nature of Neuromyelitis Optica, an MS Mimic
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2493
Please read this message to learn of program announcements and updates, links to research reports and other community news!
Fairway Supports the Chapter!
Fairway Market is partnering with the National MS Society to bring awareness to our community to support our mission toward a world free of MS.
You can help by food shopping at Fairway Paramus, Wednesday, March 10, 2-10 pm when Fairway will donate 10% of sales to the New Jersey Metro Chapter. For more information, please visit www.fairwaymarket.com. Join the Movement and shop towards a world free of MS during MS Awareness Week. For more information on the NMSS New Jersey Metro Chapter, please visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/NMJ. To register or donate to the Chapter’s WALK MS event, please visit us online at walknjm.nationalMSsociety.org.
Walk MS
Walk to Create a World Free of MS on Sunday, April 18th!
Central NJ Locations: Belmar, Flemington, Freehold, Hamilton, North Brunswick, Sandy Hook, Seaside & Somerville
Northern NJ Locations: Cranford, Hewitt, Jersey City, Ridgewood, Roseland & Roxbury
For more information and to register, please call Patricia Tupycia (Central Sites) at 732-660-1005 or Jennifer Hivry (North Sites) at 201-967-5599
Great Volunteer Opportunities also available! Please call Samantha Farulla at 201-967-5599.
Newly Diagnosed?
The Chapter has planned for a series of Newly Diagnosed seminars throughout 2010. These seminars provide a great deal of information about living with a diagnosis of MS and are ideal for anyone who has been recently diagnosed or anyone who needs more education about it. The next program is a series of four evenings:
April 1, 8, 22 and 29 in New Brunswick. Dinner will be provided
Another opportunity for newly diagnosed education is tentatively planned for September 12, in Livingston.
To register and to learn more about any of these opportunities, contact Lauren at the Chapter at 732-660-1005 or Lauren.pisaniello@nmss.org.
NEW PROGRAM! Boys Night Out - All men living with MS or caring for someone with MS are welcome!
What: For men only, this group had their first meeting on Jan 12; they look forward to meeting again. It is a time to share, joke and tell stories. It is a night out with the guys in a relaxed setting, with no formality. Jokes and fun are welcome - complaints and whining are not. It is intended to be a fun evening to help men deal with MS, to unwind, to make friends, to learn a little and perhaps to laugh a lot! The next evening-theme will be food and fun and restaurants and more jokes.
Date: April 20, 2010
Time: 6:00pm -8:00pm
Location: 100 Southgate Parkway 1st floor
Morristown, NJ 07046
(a totally accessible building, right off I-287 in Morristown)
Registration Required: contact lisa.torre-janssen@nmss.org or call 732-660-1005 ext 312.
Free Educational Teleconferences – from the comfort of your own home!The Chapter Programs department has planned a schedule of educational teleconferences for the year. The teleconference calls provide you with a wealth of information while you listen from the comfort of your own home! This is an ideal way to learn about a variety of issues that may affect you and your loved ones. Participation in a call is a simple process - you just have to register with the Chapter and you will be provided with a toll free number. For more information about educational teleconferences, contact Sharon at the Chapter at 800-344-4867 or Sharon.merritt@nmss.org. The next 2 educational teleconferences are noted below:
What: Ask the Lawyer
When: 2/3/10, 7-8pm
Speakers: panel of attorneys
Registration is required by Jan 29, 2010: contact Sharon at the Chapter at 800-344-4867 or Sharon.merritt@nmss.org - be sure to indicate the specific area of concern that you are interested in – this is not meant to be a personal consultation, just an overview of specific topics.
What: Cognition and MS
When: 3/11/10, 7-8pm
Speaker: John DeLuca, PhD
Registration is required: contact Sharon at the Chapter at 800-344-4867 or Sharon.merritt@nmss.org
Future teleconference issues that will be addressed include: Employment; Getting Around (traveling with a disability); and Knowing Your Resources. Please know that you can register for as many of the calls that you are interested in and that other family/friends can listen in on the call with you. Early registration for the calls will guarantee that you receive reminders and updated information, as necessary.
Attention all Nurses: Opportunity for 6 Free Continuing Education Credits!
What: MS: A Comprehensive Approach
When: Tuesday, March 2, 1010
Where: UMDNJ - Newark Campus
UMDNJ - New Jersey Dental School
Oral Health Pavilion - B963 and B965
50 12th Avenue
Newark, NJ
Validated parking available at Parking Deck P2 or P3
Sponsored by: UMDNJ, School of Nursing
This program is made possible through generous support from Teva Neuroscience
You can learn more about this program and register online at: http://sn.umdnj.edu/cont_ed/multiplesclerosis.htm
Do You Care For A Loved One That Lives in a Nursing Home?
Then join the Chapter's special educational teleconference call dedicated to the needs of our friends with MS who reside in long term care facilities!
What: Family Issues: understanding your loved one in a nursing home setting
When: Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 6:00-7:00pm
Where: from the comfort of your own home. Register today and a call-in number will be provided to you before the call takes place.
Speaker: Debbie Tobias, LCSW
RSVP: by March 31, 2010 to Pat at the Chapter at 201-967-5599 or pat.evertz@nmss.org
Chapter Scholarship Program
The Chapter has a scholarship program for college students who either have MS themselves or have a parent with MS. Details and applications will be available on 12/15/09 and will be accepted until 3/15/10. Students who have already applied to the National program may also apply to the Chapter program. For more information contact Patti at the Chapter at 201-967-5599 or patti.pasquino@nmss.org.
Scholarship Opportunity for Monmouth County Residents
The Woman’s Club of Spring Lake offers a college scholarship each year to a female resident of Monmouth County who has had an interruption in her education and is now returning to school. The applicant must now be seeking an associate or bachelor’s degree and be currently enrolled or newly registered at an accredited two or four year institution. The application is available on the following websites: www.springlake.org and www.springlakehts.com.
Interested in Volunteering for Community Health Fairs?
The Chapter is often called upon to participate in a variety of community health fairs. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate the public about MS and to spread the word about all that the Chapter has to offer. To put our best foot forward, we have scheduled 2 volunteer workshops that will educate individuals in representing the Chapter at these events. The workshops are scheduled for:
3/23/10, 6:30-8pm (at the Chapter office in Paramus)
3/24/10, 6:30-8pm (at the Chapter office in Oakhurst)
Light refreshments will be served. If you are interested, please contact Samantha at the Chapter at 201-967-5599 or Samantha.farulla@nmss.org.
Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS)- What You Need to Know: a comprehensive book that discusses the diagnosis of PPMS, treatment and research, rehabilitation, wellness, family and social issues, and life planning. It also comes with a companion DVD, Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis- Perspectives on Moving Forward. The DVD profiles four people living with the significant challenges of PPMS who share their strategies for maintaining health, quality of life and planning for life with primary-progressive MS.
If you are interested in receiving your free copy of this book and DVD, please contact Lauren at the Chapter at Lauren.pisaniello@nmss.org.
MS Wellness at Kessler
The MS Wellness Program at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is now interviewing interested individuals for its next offering of the 10 week program, which is slated to begin in February at the West Orange and Saddle Brook campuses. Past participants have reported:
· an increased awareness of emotional and social factors that impact their quality of life;
· an overall improved enjoyment of life;
· an increased ability to cope more effectively with the unpredictability of living with MS.
For more information and to register, please contact the Neuropsychology Dept at 973-324-3634.
MS Wellness at CentraState
The MS Wellness Program at CentraState Healthcare is designed to optimize the quality of life for those living with the challenges of MS. The next series of classes begins on February 11 and runs through to April 29th.
There are also a variety of ‘graduate’ classes (for anyone that has completed the 12 week wellness class)
· Stretching and Balance Class – Wednesdays from 12pm-1pm
· Tai-Chi- Thursdays from 1 pm- 2pm
· Stretching and Balance Class (advanced) 2 pm- 3pm
In addition, plans are being made for aquatic and adult scuba classes. To learn more about these programs and future classes, contact Ruth Memoli CSW, MS Wellness Coordinator at 732 637-6334 or rmemoli@centrastate.com.
Educational Programs from Pharmaceutical Companies
The National MS Society, New Jersey Metro Chapter is making this information available to you, about these educational opportunities. The National MS Society, New Jersey Metro Chapter is not sponsoring these programs. The Society has had no role in developing the content of these programs:
What: Efficacy & Treatment for Relapsing/Remitting MS - Rebif
When: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 7pm
Where: at the meeting location of the Morristown Self-help group:
Presbyterian Parish House, 65 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Speaker: Amos Katz, MD
Sponsored by: EMD Serono
RSVP: Evelyn at 973-727-7175
What: Examining the Evidence- MS Therapy Selection
When: Monday, February 8, 2010, 7:00pm
Where: Livingston Senior Community Center, 201 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039
Speaker: Andrew Pachner, MD, Professor of Neurology, UMDNJ
Sponsored by: Pfizer
RSVP: Marlene 973-992-5313 or Roy 973-338-9693
What: Examining the Evidence: MS Therapy Selection
When: 2/20/10, 1pm
Where: at the meeting of the Saddle Brook Self Help Group
Kessler Rehabilitation Center, 300 Market St, Saddle Brook
Speaker: Andrew Pachner, MD
Sponsored by: Pfizer
RSVP: Yvonne 973-246-6476
Office of Disability Employment has Listening Sessions
From January through March the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and its federal partners will hold a series of six Listening Sessions in DOL regions across the country. These sessions will provide an opportunity for members of the public to provide input to senior federal officials on their ideas for more effective ways to employ women, Veterans and minorities with disabilities, and what is currently working in their communities to increase employment among people with disabilities. Register online to find the location of a session in your region. https://www.disabilitylisteningtour.com/register/index.php
ODEP seeks input particularly from:
· Individuals & Consumers: youth and adults with disabilities, parents and
caregivers.
· Employers: public and private.
· Service Providers & Advocacy Organizations: Independent Living Centers,
One-Stops, State Rehabilitation.
For further information on the ODEP visit: http://www.dol.gov/odep/about/about.htm
Research News
For the latest in MS research news, visit the website of the National MS Society: www.nationalMSsociety.org.
For more specific topics:
MS Trial Alert: Investigators in Ohio Recruiting 24 People for Study of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2525
UPDATE: Research into Blood Flow in the Brain and Venous Insufficiency, or CCSVI, in MS - Letters of Intent Received from Request for Research Applications Released Worldwide -Updated January 7, 2010http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2206
Results Published from Phase 3 Study of Oral Cladribine in Relapsing-Remitting MS
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2569
Positive Results Published on Clinical Trials of Oral FTY720 (Fingolimod) for Relapsing MS -- Novartis Applies to FDA and European Regulatory Agency for Approval
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2568
Fast Forward, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Axxam SpA Join Forces to Accelerate Development of Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis and Type 1 Diabetes
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2561