We have two meetings that occur every month, our regular monthly meeting and a Ladies with PD support group meeting. For more info see – gfpsg.org/our-meetings/

Our next meetings are: • 03/04/2019 –

• 03/09/2019

• 04/01/2019 –

• 04/13/2019

• 05/05/2019 –

• 05/11/2019

Keep an eye on our website & Facebook page (facebook.com/fresnoparkinsons)

for updates on all our events.

Upcoming Programs & Events March 9th – This meeting will have small group breakouts for caregivers and people with Parkinson’s. April 7th – Moving Day Fresno: A Walk to Fight Parkinson’s. See last page of the newsletter for more information. April 13th – Speaker/Topic TBD April 29th – 9th Annual Ice Cream Train to Hanford! Pre-registration is required, see the third page of this newsletter for details. May 11th – Dr. Pomaville, Graduate Coordinator, CSUF and Sabrina Nii, M.S., CCC-SLP, CSUF, Clinic Director for Speech and Hearing Clinic. A new speech program, The Voice Program, was developed for People with Parkinson's. The originator in Texas offered CSUF a full-ride scholarship to pilot the program. Several of our members have already participated and they have three more classes we are helping to fill! June 1st – Save the date! The Hard Pan Classic annual Disc Golf fundraiser for our group will be held on June 1st. We will be needed volunteers to help with lunch and registering players.

March/April 2019

BRING ON THE CURE

After Meeting Lunch After our monthly Saturday meetings, we like to gather again and share a meal! The location for lunch will be announced at the meeting.

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STEERING COMMITTEE ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Co-Leaders/Emcee:

Patty Stratton Ron Schiller Treasurer:

Barbara Burmeister Hospitality:

Ken and Marcie Rivera Membership Committee:

Linda Jones Information Desk:

Lisa Jones Newsletter & Website:

Meg Bateman Additional Members:

Arlene Beard Douglas and Sue Jackson

Linda Jones Mark and Lisa Jones

MaryAnne MacDonald Bruce Medlin

John and Judith Nino Sheron Schiller

Ben and Karen Shaver Dorothy Starr Mel Stratton

Earl and Laura Taylor Emeritus Members:

Winston Field Martin and Marianne Weil

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PEER COUNSELORS FOR OUR CARE

PARTNERS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Valley Caregiver Resource Center www.valleycrc.org Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging:

(800) 510-2020 National Parkinson Foundation Helpline: 1-800-473-4636 Caring From a Distance: www.cfad.org Family Caregiver Alliance: www.caregiver.org Natl. Family Caregivers Assoc.: www.thefamilycaregiver.org Well Spouse Association: www.wellspouse.org

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FOR MORE INFO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.FresnoParkinsons.org www.facebook.com/FresnoP

arkinsons

How to Donate Non-Tax-Deductible Donations can be made directly to GFPSG at our meetings or by check mailed to: Treasurer - GFPSG, c/o 106 W Paul Ave, Clovis, CA 93612. Tax-Deductible Donations/gifts to support GFPSG can be made through the Central Valley Community Foundation (formerly known as the Fresno Regional Foundation). Checks: Make your check payable to the Central Valley Community Foundation, and on the memo line indicate “Fresno Parkinson’s Support”. The mailing address is: Central Valley Community Foundation, 5260 North Palm Avenue, Suite 122, Fresno, CA 93704. For additional information, you can call them directly at 559-226-5600. Online donations: Online tax-deductible gifts/donations through FRF can be made using the PayPal interface with any major credit card on the Greater Fresno Parkinson’s Support Group (GFPSG) website at www.gfpsg.org, simply click on the “Donate” button and follow instructions.

Please respect the confidentiality of personal medical information revealed to one another in our meetings. Always check with your own doctor before changing your medications or treatments based on what you read in this Newsletter or hear at our meetings from others, even medical experts, as Parkinson's disease is such a complex disease and our respective bodies react differently to the disease and to the medications and treatments prescribed to treat it.

Parkinson’s Exercise Classes

Rock Steady Boxing is at Cen Cal Fitness (7084 N Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA 93720, northeast corner of Cedar and Herndon) contact John Bowers (559-392-8842) for information. Classes are every Tuesday and Thursday and cost $85 for nine sessions.

Quote of the Month

“I often say now I don’t have any choice whether or not I have Parkinson’s, but surrounding that non-choice is a million other choices that I can make.” – Michael J. Fox

All Aboard the 9th Annual Ice Cream Train

The Greater Fresno Parkinson’s Support Group is taking its 9th Annual Amtrak trip to the Hanford Civic Center Park and the famous Superior Dairy Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop on MONDAY, April 29th, 2019*

Bruce Medlin and Arlene Beard are planning this trip and taking reservations. Deadline is the March 31st

Tickets are $15.00 round trip per passenger, with a possibility of a reduction in price, and will be purchased as a group by Bruce. If you are unable to register at the March meeting, mail your form and check to: Bruce Medlin 2811 W. California Ave. #2A-227,

Fresno, CA 93706 No refunds will be available as per Amtrak

Arrive at the Amtrak Terminal (2650 Tulare St, Fresno CA 93721) at 9:00 a.m. as parking can be limited. Park in the fenced lot and gather inside the terminal. Obtain a free parking pass to place in your vehicle. The train can accommodate wheelchairs, scooters and walkers in the handicap lower level of the train. If you can climb the steps please sit in the upper level. You can bring snacks and water. No glass bottles. The conductor will help us board as a group. Must have valid ID: driver’s license, military card, etc (not expired).

Freddie the Firetruck is scheduled to pick us upon arrival at the Hanford Train Station and drive us to Superior Dairy Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop, then take us back to the Hanford Station at12:45pm. There are musems, antique shops, and thrift stores to enjoy in town. * Tentative Date – Amtrak now requires us to pre-register before they will give us an official date. We do not anticipate a date change, but we will call registrants if there is any change.

Any questions, call Bruce Medlin at (559) 246-9111

Registration Form: Passenger name____________________________ Age____ able bodied_______

Passenger name____________________________ Age____ handicapped_______

Phone No.___________________email-____________________________

Using Walker___,Cane___, Electric Scooter__,Wheelchair___ W/C Collapsible?___

Are you able to climb the steps? yes______no_____ Able to transfer to train seat? yes______no_____ Amtrak requests we all sit upstairs, if capable. Registration due March 31st

AMTRAK TRAIN Train departs from Fresno Amtrak at 9:43 am

Arrives in Hanford at 10:15 am

For return to Fresno gather by 12:45 pm at Amtrak Train departs from Hanford Amtrak at 1:22 pm

Arrives in Fresno at 1:55 pm

Upcoming Webinars on Parkinson’s Several Parkinson’s groups host regular webinars to discuss the disease, latest research, and answer questions from patients and their loved ones. Webinars are like internet-based TV shows where the viewers can participate by calling in. These webinars are free to attend and most can be found online after the recording if you can’t attend the live broadcasts.

• The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s webinars are every “Third Thursday.” The next webinar will be held on March 21st at 9am. The topic is “Better Conversations and Care: How Patients and Doctors Can Work Together”. Panelists - people with Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s physicians - will discuss strategies for discussing symptoms and working together or treatment decisions. See the MJFF website for information on how to attend.

• Parkinson’s Movement is holding a webinar on “Sleep and Parkinson’s” on Wednesday, March 6th, 9:30-10:30am. Chair Professor Patrik Brundin will discuss Sleep in Parkinson’s, as well as the recent paper ‘The sleep-wake cycle regulates brain insterstitial fluid tau in mice and CSF tau in humans’. See the Parkinson’s Movement website for information on how to attend.

• The Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s is holding a webinar on March 21st at 11am all about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). This webinar is for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners who want to learn about DBS and if it’s right for them. See the Davis Phinney website for information on how to attend.

See https://parkinsonsblog.stanford.edu/ each month for a full list of webinars on Parkinson’s.