Up Front
MSAA is celebrating 35 years of service to individuals with MS, their care partners, and their families. To commemorate this important milestone, MSAA held a very successful fundraising gala in Philadelphia on May 19th. The evening honored MSAA's Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jack Burks, for his 30-plus years of working, mentoring, and leadership in the field of service to individuals diagnosed with MS. Vendors, supporters, volunteers, staff, and friends, all enjoyed a wonderful evening commemorating this important anniversary, and we all look forward to MSAA's future achievements.
In June, MSAA held its Board of Directors meeting concurrently with the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers' (CMSC) annual conference. Some of MSAA's Board members, along with MSAA staff from various departments, were able to attend this informative conference. Activities included poster sessions, educational seminars, and exhibits, where MSAA had a booth to share information and public education awareness.
Together with the CMSC and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF), MSAA co-hosted a special workshop at the conference. Focusing on the issues of children affected by MS, this was the first collaborative effort by this group of MS organizations, and the workshop topic was one of the highlights of the conference.
Joining MSAA for her first Board meeting was Sue Rehmus. Sue works for General Motors in Michigan and also heads up her own volunteer organization: Children's Hope for Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (CHUMS). Sue is a communications specialist who personally experienced MS in her family as a child and she brings a wealth of passion and dedication to our cause.
MSAA is also expanding its programs to meet the needs of the Hispanic community with MS. Thanks to a grant received from the Medtronic Foundation, MSAA's Programs & Services Guide has been translated into Spanish and is available now by calling MSAA at (800) 532-7667. A second publication, All About Multiple Sclerosis will also be translated. We held our first Spanish-language public education day in June in Bethesda, Maryland with Dr. Raul Mandler, and we anticipate the demand for these types of sessions to grow in the months to come.
I hope everyone is finding a way to avoid the hot summer temperatures. Those particularly sensitive to heat may benefit from MSAA's Cooling Equipment Distribution Program, which provides cooling garments free of charge. For more information, please contact MSAA at (800) 532-7667 or visit our website at www.msaa.com. I would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer season.
Douglas G. Franklin joined MSAA as President & Chief Executive Officer in 1999 and has strategically guided its national outreach and corporate partnership support to unprecedented levels. Mr. Franklin is a former national trainer for the Drucker Foundation and is an internationally published expert in the field of social marketing who holds degrees from four universities. He currently serves on the national board of the Key Philanthropic Organizations Committee of the American Society of Association Executives and is a member of the Executive Committee of Health First - America's Charities Board in Washington, DC.
Meet MSAA Board Member Mark Stine
Mark Stine joined MSAA in the spring of 2001 and brought to the organization an extensive background in corporate communications and marketing. Mr. Stine, a graduate of the University of Arizona, has been involved in the communications field working with both corporate and nonprofit organizations. He has served as vice president of corporate communications/senior director of corporate affairs for Arby's, Inc. In this position, Mr. Stine worked to establish a relationship with various nonprofits and was the founding director of the Arby's Foundation.
Mr. Stine continued his work in the nonprofit sector as the director of marketing and licensing for D.A.R.E. America, a drug and anti-violence education program. In this position, Mr. Stine helped to develop successful partnerships with numerous corporations in establishing the D.A.R.E. brand. Currently, Mr. Stine is the director of business development for Nathan Adelson Hospice Group, which encompasses the Center for Compassionate Care, Nathan Adelson Hospice, and the Nathan Adelson Foundation. Mr. Stine currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As a member of MSAA's Board of Directors, Mr. Stine serves on the development committee and the nominating committee and has taken an active role in recruiting new members for the Board. One of MSAA's newest Board members, Jeri Canter, was recommended by Mr. Stine.
Mr. Stine describes his experience on the MSAA Board as "very educational, enlightening, and progressive." He explains, "It has been wonderful to see the evolution of the team at MSAA. They are doing great things such as improving and increasing our programs and services, as well as bringing The Motivator to a higher level. I have really enjoyed being a part of this and watching MSAA grow."
Mr. Stine is particularly proud of how MSAA makes a real difference in the MS community. "One of the first things I realized was the impact we have on the lives of those who have MS," states Mr. Stine. "By being an advocate, you realize more about the assistance MSAA provides. Once I was sitting on an airplane and the person next to me had a family member with MS. I began talking about MSAA and gave the person my business card. The client called MSAA's Helpline and MSAA was there to answer the client's questions. It's great to see how the whole process works. We are truly helping people."
