The Chapter’s Annual Meeting and Recognition Breakfast was held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center on Saturday, November 19, 2011. Approximately 225 guests were present at the event to hear from Chapter Board of Trustees Chair Dean Munger, and Chapter President, Elana Sullivan, who presented the annual state of the Chapter address. Sullivan gave a detailed report on the Chapter’s year and successful events and programs.
Keynote Speakers Dan and Jennifer Digmann,
have taken on MS for nearly 25 years combined and together they demonstrate the extremes of how this disease impacts people so differently. Jennifer was diagnosed in 1997; Dan was diagnosed two years later. She has secondary-progressive MS; his is relapsing-remitting. After meeting at a National MS Society event in 2002, the couple was married in 2005.
Dan and Jennifer’s mission is do as much as they can through their writing, speaking and living life to the fullest to increase MS awareness and help people throughout their community and beyond to move forward with their lives. The couple’s recently released book – “Despite MS, to Spite MS” – is their newest way to advance this mission.
Numerous volunteers and members of the community were also recognized for their achievements during this year’s Annual Meeting.
Some of Leonard’s accomplishments include:
- Serving as an enthusiastic delegate to the MS Society’s Public Policy Conference in 2006 and 2008
- Presenting testimony to the Senate Health Policy Committee to maintain access to affordable, adequate coverage in the Michigan individual health insurance market reform. This person was the only actual individual market consumer to testify.
- Meets regularly face to face with their state and national legislators
- Serves as co-writer on chapter position papers annually on insurance and health care reform
- Through his participation, he has infused new energy, enthusiasm and intensity to the chapter's interaction with legislators through the creation of In-District Days, a teleconference activist training
- He has also served on the daVinci Awards Selection Committee for ten years; Is a Member of the Detroit Metro Advocacy Committee of National MS Society, serving as co-chair for 2004-2006; And finally was a very active and impactful Member of the Troy Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities from 1998-2005 and was the chair from 2001-2005
Linda Maier received the 15th Annual Richard Ennis Award for her accomplishments and dedication to the National MS Society. She led a Self Help Group for more than twenty five years.
Linda led the Monroe County Self Help Group for 25 years. She worked closely with group members to select speakers and discussion topics for their monthly meetings.
Linda also is a very committed activist. She communicates regularly with her state and federal legislators and is among the top 50 most frequent Action Alert responders in Michigan. She and others she recruited met with her state Senator at the chapter’s Long Term Care Forum. She also has attended every “MS Day at the Capital” and has encouraged others to attend as well.
Linda is a frequent attendee at Chapter Programs and Walk MS events. She regularly posts chapter updates on her Facebook page, giving excellent visibility to the Michigan Chapter.
Mary Ablan received the Public Servant of the Year Award for her role in the significant advancement of home and community long term care services throughout Michigan.
Mary is the Executive Director of the Area Agencies on Aging Association of Michigan. Mary plays a major role in the significant advancement of home and community long term care services throughout Michigan.
She skillfully articulates the needs of seniors and people with disabilities and is widely known for her impeccable credibility among legislators, regardless of party. She is also known as a great collaborator with many advocacy colleagues.
Mary works tirelessly to educate and advance a sophisticated network of grassroots advocates. She has undaunted fortitude in the face of what others see as insurmountable.
Margaret Power received the Milton I. Firestone Advocate of the Year Award for being a highly committed public policy advocate.
Margaret is a highly committed public policy advocate. She attends MS Day at the Capitol every year, meeting with her Senator and Representative in the Michigan legislature.
She eagerly and repeatedly attends public rallies to support long term care and insurance issues. Margaret is among the top ten most frequent responders in national calls to email legislators.
She enthusiastically distributes MS information to legislators during MS Awareness Week. She recruits self-help group members to get involved in advocacy, including the couple who provided her transportation today.
Margaret Power radiates positive energy. She has led the Lansing self-help group since 2004 and is a very active Walk MS volunteer, both locally and statewide as a Power Partner.
The 2011 George A.L. Gant Award was presented to four extraordinary Chapter volunteers:
Brenda Johnson of the Eastern region.
Karolyn Davis of the Southeastern region.
Rick & Kim Lanting of the Western region.
Fred Schaafsma of the Northern region.