Our summer social BBQ on August 3rd, was our last
gathering as a group. Declining attendance to the meetings has resulted in this
action. This "resource" has been something that is not available any other way,
including the internet. Our Meeting this past June with guest speaker Trisha England,
a nurse practioner, is a good example of the benefits of these meetings, and the
reason I became a member of the group shortly after it started almost 20 years ago.
We have lost this valuable resource, something that the remaining loyal members
were dreading to see come to pass. Arthritis has many 'names', and the cures still
haven't been found. More people are being diagnosed with these diseases every day.
They should be attending for their own benefit, but as our financial resources have
declined ( we were a non-profit group ), and the ability to get the 'word' out about
our meetings had become more difficult as well, to my knowledge, our group was the
last in Southwestern Ontario, and has left Southwestern Ontario without this valuable
resource.
I will continue to keep the website up, and make
additions to it from time to time, and if the situation changes, will post that
information here.
With a heavy heart,
webmaster
PS-1: And with a heavier heart,
I need to tell you that one person who had hopes of bringing the group 'back to
life', has lost hers. Liz Faubert who had looked after the Pain Management Course,
and had a leading role in the group, had passed away at home about the first of
October, 2010, (someone I had known for years , and I had also worked with her father
for many years.) For a eulogy given by Bev Bodnar at her funeral, go here.
I have since heard from another member, of the passing of another attendee to the
meetings, Mr.Ken Finlin, 96, who passed away on the first of November, 2010. PS-2:After
the dissolution of the club, some of the books from our library were donated to
the C-K Public Library, 120 Queen Street, Chatham. We have received a note of thanks
from the municipality's Director of Library Services, Kathryn Goodhue.
PS-3: We have lost another
of our members, Dene Hansen, March 25, 2011.Check for further details at McKinlay
Funeral Home Our condolences to Eleanor and family. PS-4:
Another of our members, Marilyn Cano, who missed a number of meetings in the latter
days of club, had been seen buzzing around town at different times, including by
me at the doc's one day, but I didn't get the time to catch up on things with her. UPDATE : I just recently heard that Marilyn passed away May 27, 2011. Marilyn was a long time member of the club and had been librarian for some of that time. I had first met her in the 60's when she was a secretary at John McGregor High School. PS-5 NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS: A new arthritis support group has just started up led by Jackie Dion. The group will have its next meeting at 10 AM July 23th, 2011 at the Chrysler Dealership, 351 Richmond St. in Chatham. You may contact her at 519-437-1506 for more information.
A non-profit OrganizationThe Arthritis Bluebird
Club is a self-help group for people with arthritis, which affects people of all
ages, including toddlers, teens, and young adults. In fact, arthritis affects more
adults between 26 and 64 than any other age group.Our aims
were:
to provide support, friendship and social activities
to provide education and information about arthritis
to raise the profile of The
Arthritis Society and services that are available
We met at the Chatham Retirement Resort Tuesday August 3rd, 2010,
for the last time.
Mom went to Heaven to be with
our Lord and my father April 10th, 2007. LAST
Update Apr. 10, 2007
Memorial Pages
NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK - AGES 8 TO 14 - "THE OLD MAN'S
SECRET" (First in a series)
Click on the book icon for more information. Authored by my sister-in-law. You may
ask, why am I 'advertising' a book written by my sister-in-law on a website for
arthritis and related diseases ? Click here
and find out why.
