May 27th Annually is "World MS Day". I recently was scouting websites promoting this fact. I found one that listed a map for locations worldwide. Perfect and just what I wanted to reference. I got upset as it seemed like Canada was omitted from the map. Following is the conversation we had:
From: Prince George Multiple Sclerosis Self-Help Support Group [mailto:pgmssupport@gmail.com]
Sent: 13 May 2010 18:37
To: Info
Subject: Your world map
On the page http://www.worldmsday.org/global-map showing locations of MS Chapters globally, you have locations for every place on the globe except Canada... WHA? Canada has the highest population of MS Patents in the world!!! Why are we not on this map?
From: Info
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 2:30 AM
To: Prince George Multiple Sclerosis Self-Help Support Group
Subject: RE: Your world map
Hi there
Thank you for your message. I have checked and Canada is on the map – there is a pin in Toronto, which is where the headquarters of the Canadian MS Society is located.
Best wishes
Sarah
From: PG MS Self-Help Support Group [mailto:pgmssupport@gmail.com]
Sent: 14 May 2010 14:46
To: Info
Subject: Re: Your world map
Canada is so much more then Toronto, I apologize for missing that one location. The MS Society of Canada is broken down by Provincial and territorial Districts though. Those districts control Chapter offices through out it's borders. Would you like more information to help you complete your map? At the MS Society of Canada's Website, there is a complete listing of all of their operations www.mssociety.ca
I represent the MS Affected population in my community (Prince George, British Columbia). Our Self Help group is not part of the MS Society of Canada, even when most of our members are, as I am. I facilitate the Self Help Group. At our last meeting I promoted the fact that World MS Day will happen soon and impressed the scope of affected persons nationally and worldwide. Did you know that nationally, every week another person is diagnosed? They wanted more information and I would have referred them to this website. You have a lot of information worldwide but leave a big hole in Canada!
From: Info
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2010 6:52 AM
To: PG MS Self-Help Support Group
Cc: Ayesha Ali
Subject: RE: Your world map
Thank you for your message. It’s great to hear that you promoted World MS Day to your group – it is amazing to hear of so many activities going on and we will be adding a news section to the World MS Day website so that we can report on these.
Because of the way our map works, we can only have one flag per country, so unfortunately we can’t link to the regional and local organizations which exist in many countries. This is frustrating and we are considering how to improve this, and other aspects of the site, for next year’s World MS Day.
As it is, the map shows where the headquarters of the national MS Society is in each country, with a link to the national body so that people can search for local contacts.
Feedback on the site is very welcome as it will help us to improve it.
Best wishes
Sarah Finch
Administrative Officer, MSIF
--
MS Walk for the cure 2010 in Prince George-
See it live at Fort George Park June 6th 2010 : Info coming shortly- Thanks for the support!
http://msofs.mssociety.ca/2010WALK/Sponsor.aspx?&PID=1162137&L=2
PGMSSHSG does not send spam. If you would like to be removed from this list please reply with "Remove" in the subject line. We comply with e-mail restrictions set out by the MS Society of Canada by sending out BCC copies to recipients to protect your confidentiality. We hope you enjoy this information we have gathered to help you in the struggle against the MonSter.
Ken, Facilitator Prince George MS Self Help Support Group
I decided not to send the text below, I will reply to Sarah with a link to this post
Ahhh... I C. It is our fault for having a dam large country lol... here in Prince George, input from the 3 sides of MS Support- the Prince George MS Clinic, our local chapter of the MS Society of Canada (*(and the Provincial office as of 2010) and the Prince George Self Help Support Group combine to produce a "Wellness Day Event" in April; just prior to MS Awareness month. The event welcomes the entire population of MS Affected individuals in our particular corner of remoteness.
My area of Canada is in the West, between the Rocky Mountains East and the Pacific Ocean to the West. California, Portland Washington are just a few hundred miles south. right down the road. We are at the geographical "Center" of that province. Our Medical Support covers the North Quarter of that land of Snow and ice in the midst of the great Mountain Pine beetle infestation of the first decade of the Millennium. It covers the territory north of us as well, a great tundra of remoteness. Our MS Chapter of the MS Society of Canada's responsibilities cover a few of the nearby communities., the rest in that remoteness are supported by our Provincial Office In Burnaby BC I cover the social needs of the persons affected by Multiple Sclerosis in my local community. We are independent of but recognized by the MS Society of Canada, we have a symbiotic relationship with the Society and the Clinic as we live with MS directly every day. A Self Help Group is in every community, most are recognized by the presiding Chapter. All of the ones listed are anyway. The Prince George MS Self Help Group realized that we are a Provincial force that is part of the national network of Canada. Canada is internationally connected to the North American network which is globally connected to the world of MS.
Since 2009 when the people of the world realized that Multiple Sclerosis lives in every community we have been thinking of how we can recognize this fact in our local community. Whatever we do must be inexpensive. Our Self Help Group has no extra funds as we provide a Christmas meal annually to fulfill the social needs of the MS Community and we have no incoming funds or the means to gather more. Have a happy World MS day on Wednesday, May 27th 2010!
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