Germany
I am Ursula Mauro, the first president of the German Myelitis Society which exists since May 2006. We are pleased with our progress over the past 16 months. Our membership in Germany has increased to 90 people.
The Society’s committee members have been meeting to tackle some significant administrative hurdles. As in the past, we have applied for and have received grants from the German insurances. These funds are being used to translate medical articles about TM into German for the TMA and German Support Group web sites, to help subsidize the hotel cost for our members to attend meetings, to send our TMA/German Myelitis Society flyer to neurological rehabilitation centers, to neurological ambulances and other institutions, and to cover the costs of our office materials and postage. As a support group of the TMA, we share the policy of no membership fees. As our members do not support our group in the same way that the US members support the TMA, we depend on these funds to cover almost all of our operating costs. We are grateful to be able to receive this funding.
Our group has found a webmaster who has created and maintains the German Myelitis Society website. Jim has also installed a chat room to the German message forum, and we are using this communication opportunity on a regular basis.
For the first time, we held a meeting in northern Germany to facilitate support networking in this region of our country. Johann Lienemann, our Society Treasurer, organized the meeting and 13 people attended. It was a great event, people enjoyed meeting each other, and this group plans to get together on an annual basis. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend, because my health condition does not allow long journeys. Our general meeting was held in October in southern Germany. Fifteen of our members attended the meeting. Everyone enjoyed being together and the meeting lasted from 2:00 in the afternoon until midnight!
I am regularly in contact with Lew Grey and Geoff Treglown from the UK TM Society. We collaborate on developing and providing a German information packet for new members. We also work to keep our support group member information accurate and up to date. I am grateful for their help and co-operation! I am also in regular and close contact with Sandy and he helps me in every way he can. And Jim always is there for us to provide support with all of our internet and computer issues. I am very thankful to work with such great people!
If you live in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, please get involved in our support group. We want to get everyone involved and are so pleased with the participation of every new member!
Take care!
Ursula Mauro
The Transverse Myelitis Association German Myelitis Society
1. Vorsitzende Myelitis e.V.
Neugasse 32
77743 Neuried
Telefon: 07807-3154
mailto:umauro@t-online.de
http://www.myelitis.de |
