[bostoncure.org] informal status since last reported on 12/16/02

[Art Mellor]

Boston Cure Project informal status since last reported on 12/16/02:

>>> Joining Us This Month

Since our last report we've had a couple of additions:

o For the month of January we are getting help on the Cure Map
  document from Hillary Stanton, an MIT Sophomore who is participating
  in MIT's new January "externship" program.

o We are happy to announce the addition of Melissa Baker to our
  full-time staff as Development Manager. She will be in charge of our
  fundraising efforts. You can read her bio here:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/default.php?nav=bcp&topic=people&bio=MelissaBaker

>>> Cure Map

Hollie and Hillary are plowing ahead on the phase 2 genetics
effort. Currently we are working on the inherited vs. spontaneous
mutation analysis. Completed are the sections on mitochondrial DNA and
chromosomal abnormalities. These 2 sections will be put up on the web
site as soon as Art takes the time to put them there.

The Blood & Tissue Bank work is moving forward, we are in possession
of a draft Informed Consent Form and hope to have the subject 
questionaire first draft done soon.

>>> Education

MSNews (http://msnews.bostoncure.org) continues to run daily updates
on MS related items. If you come across anything MS related and new on
the web, please submit it to our site.

>>> Community Building

We've been meeting with a number of people, including Marc Pollick of
the Giving Back Fund and Cure Parkinson's, the folks from Timeblaster
- software to help do scientific literature searches on genetics, and
the local area representative for Serono.

We also took a company outing to see "Lord of the Rings: The Two
Towers" on opening day :-)

>>> Events

Hollie attended the MIT Computational and Systems Biology Initiative,
a new symposium on the topics to be covered by MIT's new department in
this area.

>>> Fundraising

We are launching our 2003 effort at the moment. We've been getting
help from Rita Fuerst-Adams, Alison Glastein, Kate Richardson, Ronda
Jacobsen, and Betsy Campbell.

We'll be announcing an exciting challenge gift we have been pledged
shortly, but in addition we've had help from these unique
contributors: 

  - Just Books' day to benefit the Boston Cure Project
  - A significant gift from the Toleo Foundation for the Anna Peabody Fund
  - A successful letter writing campaign by the Anna Peabody Fund
  - Five Star Quality Care, Inc. instead of having a holiday party, takes 
    suggestions from employees on charitable contributions and Ben
    Pressgrove recommended  us.

Remember, you can support our efforts by contributing:
http://www.bostoncure.org/default.php?nav=involved

>>> Volunteer Efforts Not Mentioned Elsewhere 

Clockwork Design Group, Inc. has been designing our Annual Report
Sue Mellor and Krista Milne continue to work as volunteer staff
Maggie Harling is continuing work on the newly diagnosed brochure
Brian Del Vecchio has been helping upgrade the MSNews server
Lisa Sargeant is helping write articles for the next newsletter
Maria Samuel and Mark Dombeck have contributed articles to MSNews

-- 
...............................................................................
    Art Mellor     : HTTP> http://www.bostoncure.org : Boston Cure Project
art at bostoncure.org :       * Donate Online *         : for Multiple Sclerosis
Cell> 617/899-2360 : Main> 781/788-0880              : Fax> 781/788-8118

The deeper the understanding that people have of the basic issues, the
       less likely they are to be misled.  -- Bernadette Devlin