ITP Calendar

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Local Groups

Local support groups are doing a great job providing a forum for members to exchange information and learn about new treatments, accentuating methods to promote wellness. All groups are working to support PDSA in many ways. They are providing a forum to extend support on a personal basis to ITP patients, raising the awareness of PDSA among physicians by taking packets of our publications to their doctors and organizing fund raisers. Perhaps the most important role for local groups is the opportunity they provide to ITP patients and families to share their experiences. There is nothing more comforting than speaking with someone who understands your illness. Thank you to the facilitators who are providing this wonderful linkage for our membership.

Looking for a meeting in your area? For the information on the locations and times of the meetings, please email the group facilitator. If the group in your area does not have a meeting date, contact the facilitator for their next meeting.

Scottsdale, Arizona
Facilitator: Therese Dotson, dotsontre@msn.com

Los Angeles, California
Facilitator: Maryam Azarbayjani, mazarba@calstatela.edu

San Diego, California
Facilitator: Susan Ndiritu, suekui@yahoo.com

Washington, D.C.
Facilitators:  Sonia Vandama, svandama@aol.com  and
                         Annette Greene, annettergreene@yahoo.com

North Florida
Facilitator:  Irene Xynides-Rincon, xynidesi@bellsouth.net
2009 Meeting Dates: January 11, March 8, May 3

Tampa, Florida
Facilitator: Heidi Oberlin, heidi.oberlin@gmail.com
Meeting Date: December 10, 2008

Atlanta, Georgia
Facilitator:  Wendi Gilbert, wendigil@yahoo.com
2009 Meeting Date: January 10

Chicago, Illinois
Facilitator:  Trish Beattie, chicagoitpsupport@comcast.net    

Minneapolis, MN
Facilitator:  Suwanna Lee, gawsawadikul@yahoo.com

Omaha, Nebraska
Facilitator:  Heidi Green, bgreen6833@cox.net

North New Jersey
Facilitators:  Susan Anderson,  support@njpdsa.org and
Dianne Daniele, sonnydeeb@aol.com  and
Linda McGuirl,  support@njpdsa.org
2009 Meeting Dates: January 17, March 21, May 16, September 19, November 21

South New Jersey
Facilitator: Michael Vitale, mvitp@comcast.net
2009 Meeting Dates: January 17, March 21, May 16

Long Island, New York
Facilitator:  Claudia Montuori, roadmap5@verizon.net

New York City Area
Facilitators:  John Catalano, jc930@optonline.net  and
Jess (Jessica) Copperman, jecopperman@gmail.com

Charlotte, North Carolina
Facilitator:  Carol Mullis, carolhmullis@windstream.net

Cincinnati, Ohio
Facilitator:  Susan Hendrickson, sth1212@yahoo.com  
Magda El-Nokaly, elnokaly.m@gmail.com

Cleveland, Ohio
Facilitators:  Barbara Hise,  fourstrings@ameritech.net  and
Caroline Kruse, kencaroline@cox.net
2009 Meeting Dates:January 8, March 12, May 14, July 9, September 10, November 12

Dayton, Ohio
Facilitator:  Tina Garland, tgarland@woh.rr.com  

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Facilitator:  Michael Westfort, michael@platelethealth.org
2009 Meeting Dates: January 17, March 21, May 16

Chattanooga, Tennessee
Facilitator:  Sharon Putnam, pdsa.chattanooga@windstream.net

Sweetwater, Tennessee
Facilitator:  Christy Champ, pdsa_sweetwater@yahoo.com 

Ft. Worth, Texas
Facilitators:  Linda and Kris Dorasami, krld@flash.net
2009 Meeting Dates: January 17, April 18, July 18, October 17

Seattle, Washington
Facilitator:  Cathy Hendrickson, cah@stokeslaw.com

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Facilitators:  Kim Everett, keverett60@verizon.net and
Trudy Sensat, tsensat@sbcglobal.net
2009 Meeting Dates: January 17 (snow date January 24), April 18, September 12

Would you like a support group in your area? Are you willing to be a facilitator?

If so, contact Mary Ann Kibarian at makibarian@pdsa.org, or call toll-free (877) 528-3538 to receive more information.