Meeting date changed to April 23rd

Due to the expected high attendance of our meeting we have had to enlarge our meeting space and have moved the meeting to the Odenville Town Hall at 2:00 on the 23rd. 

Affiliate of the MSF Independent Support Group Network

Friendly Times MS Support Group

Friendly Times MS Support Group is striving to bring MS people together.

Meetings are fun and educational and we believe laughter is the best medicine.

Friends and family are always welcome.

 APRIL TOPIC

DIET AND FITNESS

SPEAKER JOEY JONES, Chiropractor

WHEN

SATURDAY APRIL 23, 2011

TIME 10:30 A.M.

LOCATION

ODENVILLE TOWN HALL

For more information about group meetings, contact:

Kristal: 205-629-7685

Email: kristalmccray@yahoo.com

Just a Note

Mom told me to write it down, soooo....I sat and thought about why I became a support group leader so quickly (about 8 months ago).  I felt more secure with my MS because I am not as uneasy withou myself any longer.

If I am unsure about anything, I can look forwad to seeing my fellow MSains.  Knowing I am not alone in daily MS trials and tribulations.

My name is Kristal

March 12th Meeting

Our first meeting was a tremendous success and we would like to thank the following:

Attending the meeting was Kristal McCray, Rebecca Burnley, Todd Burnley, Johnny and Shannan Studdard, Ashlie McKinley, Shane and Elizabeth Wilson, Alyssa Carter and Mark Bossert. 

We would like to have a special recognition for our newest member Tony Hodges.  Tony we thank you for supporting our group and look forward to many more meetings with you. 

Becky Burnley
Co-Leader

First Meeting Speech by Kristal McCray Saturday March 12, 2010

HI MY NAME IS KRISTAL I HAVE MS.  MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT MS IS.  THIS GROUP WILL MAKE THAT CHANGE.

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST MEETING.  OUR GROUP IS THE FIRST SUPPORT GROUP AFFILIATED WITH THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FOUNDATION IN THE BIRMINGHAM AREA.

THIS GROUP WAS FOUNDED ON THE THOUGHT THAT THERE IS NO SUPPORT GROUP IN OUR AREA THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDES MSIANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OTHERS LIKE THEMSELVES.  I WOULD LIKE OUR GROUP TO BE CENTERED ON CONNECTION WITH EACH OTHER.  I WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORIES GOOD AND BAD.  I WANT TO HEAR YOUR CONCERNS.  IT CAN BE BIG IT CAN BE SMALL.  BUT THE MAJOR THING WE WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS GROUP IS CONNECTING WITH OTHER MSIANS AND HAVING A GREAT TIME DOING IT.  WE WILL BE LAUGHING WE WILL BE CRYING BUT TOGETHER WE WILL ACCOMPLISH MUCH.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE?

TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO GET STARTED BY LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THIS MONTH IS MS AWARENESS MONTH.  WE WILL BE STUDYING MS ADVOCACY.  IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY PLEASE GET A PACKET MARKED MS AWARENESS.

IN THE PACKET GET THE BROCHURE ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS BROCHURE.  I AM NOT GOING TO READ THE WHOLE BROCHURE TO YOU BUT WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THIS BROCHURE CAN HELP THE MS FOUNDATION HELP PEOPLE WITH MS HAVE A BRIGHTER TOMORROW. 

NOW THE REST OF THE PACKET HAS VERY USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MS IS, FACTS ABOUT MS, ACCESSING RESOUCES IN YOUR COMMUNITY, DISEASE MODIFYING DRUGS FOR MS, SEARCHING FOR EMPLOYMENT AND A POSTER DESCRIBING THE MY SEARCH THEME. 

THE SEARCH THEME IS CLOSE TO WHAT THIS GROUP WAS CREATED FOR.  RESEARCH WILL ONE DAY LEAD TO A CURE FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE THIS CHRONIC DISEASE.  THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR, TALKING WITH OTHERS, AND EXPLORING DIFFERENT OPTIONS, MSIANS ARE DISCOVERING TREATMENTS, THERAPIES AND LIFESTYLE ADAPTATIONS THAT HELP IMPROVE LIFE WITH THEIR MS-BECAUSE MS IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. 

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WEAR THE ARMBAND SUPPLIED IN THE PACKAGES.  THIS WILL MAKE PEOPLE ASK YOU WHAT IT IS FOR.  YOU WILL BE SURPRISED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT MS IS. 

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR FIRST MEETING AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE.  OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE APRIL 9^TH AT 2:00 P.M.  BECAUSE WE WILL BE HAVING A SPEAKER I WILL LET YOU KNOW THE LOCATION SOON AS WE WILL NOT HAVE ROOM HERE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE ATTENDING.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TALK AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

New Members

All the new members attending Saturday's meeting will be added to our blog for easy access.  Hope to see you there!

New Member Shannan Studdard, Kristal's assistant

I wanted to introduce you to Kristal's assistant.  She helps Kristal tremendously.  Shannan Studdard is with Kristal 5 days a week reading material to her, helping her with her exercise and anything else that needs to be done.  She is a blessing to Kristal and we want to recognize her for that.

Becky Burnley
CoLeader

First Meeting Saturday March 12th is upon us!

We are very excited to meet our new group members this Saturday.  We have a lot to talk about and hope you do too.  Email us for the place to meet.  NEXT MONTH IS GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER!  We have a speaker from Alabaster, AL a chiropractor that has helped Kristal in the past.  He is basing his speech on nutrition and diet  This is very exciting for us and hope you will join us.