[bostoncure.org] status since last reported on 02/23/05

[Art Mellor]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status since last reported on 02/23/05:

Information on our other mailing lists is at the bottom of this message.

>>> Joining/Leaving Us This Month

o Marketing Strategist Gabe d'Annunzio has agreed to join our Board of
  Advisors. His bio will be posted shortly.

>>> Cure Map/Tissue Bank

o Hollie continues to diligently review the scientific literature on
  pathogens as they relate to the causes of MS. Art reviewed Hollie's
  first draft her write up of the major pathogens that have been
  studied. 

o Hollie and Art have been interviewing potential summer intern
  candidates to work on the Nutrition and Toxic Agents phase 2
  documents this summer. We've seen a lot of qualified people.

o Our sample bank continues to enroll people. The current rate is
  slower than we would like due to unforseen personnel turnover at
  each of the sites. We expect things to pick up as soon as they have
  filled these positions again.

o Art is talking to more clinical research organizations (CRO) to see
  what they may bring to our main study efforts. It looks like we can
  accelerate the pace of our collection considerably in exchange for
  appropriate funding. "Time is Money" is certainly true in this case.

o Hollie found a very interesting report written by the think tank
  RAND which is a case study of human tissue repositories done for the
  National Cancer Institute. It's conclusions of what needs to be done
  and what best practicies are match up with our efforts almost
  exactly. 

o We will host a special interest group meeting on MS sample banking
  at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in April. This is
  shaping up to be a very interesting get together. Teva Neuroscience
  has agreed to provide an unrestricted educational grant to cover the
  costs of hosting this event.

>>> Fundraising

o A reminder that the Water Cove Charitable Foundation is currently
  matching, up to $150,000 total, any gift or pledge of $1,000 or more
  made through June 30, 2005.  Please help us meet our goal by making
  a qualifying gift today.

o If you like our work and would like to see more things happening in
  your community to support Accelerated Cure Project, check out our
  Expansion Team program.  We are looking for individuals willing to
  do letter-writing campaigns, run events, and set up a named funds:
  http://expansion.bostoncure.org/bcpanemone/supporters.asp

>>> Education

o After the disappointing news on Tysabri, Art spent a fair amount of
  time on the phone with the press and with individuals who had
  questions. We were quoted and a number of our supporters were
  featured in various articles. E.g.:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/news/bcp/20050301-bostonglobe.php

o Volunteer Rob Lester is following up his LDN interview with a paper
  on the economics and politics of MRIs - it's much more complicated
  than you would have guessed.

o Volunteer Lisa Desautels completed another book review available
  here:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/msresources/library.php#bookreviews

o 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

o We had a number of meetings and phone calls:
  - We met with Biogen Idec, who has agreed to be our headline sponsor
    for our annual event again.
  - Art met with Michele Van Leer and Jim Benson (CEO of Hancock) to
    get his insights into running a nonprofit. Jim founded World TEAM
    Sports, a very successful nonprofit.
  - Melissa and Art met with volunteers Louisa Kasdon and Michael Hynes
    to discuss potential volunteer projects
  - Art spoke to Randy Carpenter of Sention about ideas on spinning
    out non-blockbuster drug targets as a nonprofit
  - Art presented at Olin College on different types of startups

o Hollie was one of five guest panelists at the March 15 Boston
  Women's Network meeting, speaking broadly about her personal and
  professional accomplishments, including her role at Accelerated Cure
  Project.

o Volunteer Joyce Ananian has added more quotes from people about our
  organization which can be seen here:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/news/feedback.php

o As usual, a few more T-shirt pictures are available:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/events/tshirt.php

>>> Events

o Director, George Peabody, and his daughter, Anna, spoke at the
  St. Clair River MS Fundraiser's annual fundraising party event in
  Marine City, Michigan on March 5.  The event attracted over 200
  people and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Accelerated
  Cure Project.  For details and pictures, visit
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20050305_stclair.php

o Join us in cheering on our wonderful Boston Marathon runners on
  Monday, April 18 as we don Accelerated Cure Project t-shirts and
  signs en route in support of their efforts.  Our five runners have
  already raised over $17,000 for our work in determining the causes
  of MS and you can find information about each of them as well as how
  to sponsor them here:
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20050418_marathon.php

o The Medeiros Family Third Annual Sports Scholarship and Multiple
  Sclerosis Research Fundraiser Party is scheduled to take place on
  Saturday evening, April 23 in Somerville, MA.  For details about
  this fun night out visit:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/events/eventpages/20050423_medeiros.php

o Sign up today for the fourth annual Hunt to Cure MS scavenger hunt
  taking place Saturday, May 21 at the Skellig pub and restaurant in
  Waltham, MA.  You can put your own team together for this fun event
  or have us place you on an existing one.  All details can be found
  here:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/hunt

o We are seeking players and sponsors for the 3rd annual Tee Off to
  Cure MS Golf Tournament taking place Monday, September 26 at Charter
  Oak Country Club in Hudson, MA.  For further details visit:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/events/eventpages/20050926_golftourney.php

o Save the date for the Accelerated Cure Project's Annual Party which
  has been scheduled for Saturday evening, October 29.  More details
  to come!
  http://www.bostoncure.org/events/eventpages/20051029_bcp_party.php

o Director, George Peabody, and his daughter, Anna, will be guest
  speaking at the St. Clair River MS Fundraiser's annual fundraising
  party event in Marine City, Michigan on March 5.  For details visit
  http://www.thetimesherald.com/news/stories/20050221/localnews/2011819.html
  or Contact Dorothy DeBoyer at 810/794-7218.

>>> Operations

o Dave Kaffine continues to improve the donor tracking database he has
  created for us.

o Dave Baker is helping us upgrade our server

o Julie is preparing us for our exhibit booth at AAN annual meeting
  2005 in Miami in April

o 2004 Annual Report is at the printers. Big thanks to Clockwork
  Design Group, Dave Henderson Studio, Kirkwood Printing, and RIS
  Paper for making this possible. You can download a copy in PDF
  format here:
  http://www.bostoncure.org/about/annualreport.php

o We ordered new signs, t-shirts and a banner with the Accelerated
  Cure Project logo on it.  The ACP t-shirts will be available in two
  weeks.  If you promise send us a picture of yourself in the shirt,
  we'll send you one for free (include address and size in your
  request)!

o We took Red Spot employees out to lunch to show them our
  appreciation for their fine work.

o We finished preparations for the 2004 audit.

>>> Volunteer Efforts that have been reported since last time


February Volunteers

Administrative Assistant
Sue Mellor

Accounting Advice
Mike Gonnerman

Appeal February 2005
Jane Shapiro

Boston Marathon Fundraising
Mark Aher
Carol Rose
Angela Robinson
Greg Higgins
Jacqui McCoy
John Gannon
Kelly Corrigan

Dine to Cure MS 2005
Debbie Mellor

Donor Database
Dave Kaffine

Fitsense Fundraising
Ashley Brody

Golf Tournament
Jacqui McCoy
Jayne Casey

LDN Project
Rob Lester

Letter Writing Campaign
Mike Yashko

Neuroanatomy Paper
Jen Tobin

NYC Event
Philip Luongo
Operation Missing Link
Debbie Mellor
Katherine Mosley
Lily Towers

Quote Project
Joyce Ananian

Scavenger Hunt to Cure MS
Amanda Song
Nancy Costello
Nancy Medeiros
Debbie Mellor
Stephanie Sisto

Sing to Cure MS 2005
Marion Leeds Carroll

Volunteer Introduction Document
Peter Schmidt

Contributed Goods and Services
Clockwork Design Group, Inc.
Debbie Frattaroli
Lisa Desautels
Mail Perfect, Inc.

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