Connections Get Connected with the Arthritis Foundation, Northern & Southern New England

Volume 1, No. 9 DECEMBER 2010

The Northern and Southern New England Chapter serves Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Upstate NY (Clinton, Essex & Franklin Counties). The mission of the Arthritis Foundation is to improve lives through leadership in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis and related diseases.

Arthritis Foundation

2010 Annual Meeting

On Wednesday evening, December 8, 2010, the

Arthritis Foundation Northern and Southern New

England held its final Annual Meeting as a chapter.

Please see page 2 for more on the Annual Meeting.

Stephen Evangelista

Chief Executive Officer of the New England Region

begins the evening’s events with introductory remarks.

CT Office 35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 411

Rocky Hill, CT 06067 Phone: 860-563-1177 or 800-541-8350

Fax: 860-563-6018

www.arthritis.org / info.sne@arthritis.org

RI Office 2348 Post Road, Suite 104

Warwick, RI 02886 Phone: 401-739-3773 Fax: 401-739-8990

ME, NH, VT, NY Office 6 Chenell Drive, Suite 260

Concord, NH 03301 Phone: 603-224-3778 or 800-639-2113

Fax: 603-224-3778

Let’s Talk RA Roundtable

Fifteen people in lower Fairfield County attended a

Let’s Talk RA roundtable discussion for people with

rheumatoid arthritis and their families at the Norwalk

Inn and Conference Center on November 16. The

roundtable discussions featured Erik Beger, MD, a

new rheumatologist at Soundview Medical Associates

in Norwalk, Advocacy Ambassador Michael O’Toole,

and Northern New England Program Director

Margaret Duffy. The roundtables focused on how to

communicate with your doctor and advocate for

yourself and others with arthritis. The program was

made possible by an educational grant from Bristol

Myers Squibb.

Dr. Erik Beger answers questions at the Let’s Talk RA

Roundtable Discussion in Norwalk, CT.

Arthritis Ambassador Michael O’Toole

discusses advocacy in the background.

Connections - Get Connected with the Arthritis Foundation, Northern & Southern New England

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David Dixon receives the

Joseph J. Cassidy Leadership Award

from Lisa and Katherine Cassidy. This award recognizes a volunteer for long-standing service who has made a significant difference to the chapter. The award is named in honor of Lisa’s (l) late husband and Katherine’s (r) father, Joseph J. Cassidy. Dave Dixon, Director of Relationship Management at Webster Financial, has dedicated over 5 years to the Foundation working as a volunteer, sponsor, event co-chair, Development chair and Chair of the Board of Governors. Congratulations, Dave!

David Dixon passes the gavel to Kumar Ramanan as the Chair of the newly formed Leadership Council for Hartford County.

Rosemarie Naples receives the Life Improvement

Series Volunteer of the Year Award

from Paula Haney.

Rosemarie received the national Arthritis Foundation

award at our Annual Meeting. This award, normally

presented at the Arthritis Foundation’s National

Annual Meeting in mid-November, was presented

locally so her family could be in attendance to share

in . Rosemarie was the only one chosen from among

thousands of AF volunteers in the country to receive

this award. She was recognized for serving 18 years as

an AF Aquatic Program Leader. Congratulations,

Rosemarie!

Stephen Evangelista pictured above with Diana

Vesely, PhD, Chapter Research Fellow Yale

University, who spoke on increasing our under-

standing of how ticks & the immune system interact

in the transmission of Lyme Disease.

2010 Annual Meeting, December 8, 2010 — Continued

Connections - Get Connected with the Arthritis Foundation, Northern & Southern New England

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Pizza for Arthritis

A New Canaan, CT pizzeria has teamed up with a

home care company to raise funds to support the

Arthritis Foundation. Joe’s Pizzeria will make a

donation to the Arthritis Foundation for every pizza

sold on Tuesdays. Arthritis Tuesdays will run from

Dec. 14th through the end of the year. Senior Helpers, a

home care company that serves Fairfield County, will

match Joe’s Pizza donation.

Lorenzo Colella (l), owner of Joe’s Pizzeria in New

Canaan, CT. Tim Daniels (r), President of Senior Helps.

Sue Nesci (c), Arthritis Foundation Chief Public Health &

Policy Officer is also pictured at the promotion’s launch.

Raise Your Hands Against Arthritis in 2011

with a FREE Trip to Washington!

Each year hundreds of people

living with arthritis storm the halls

of Capitol Hill to educate Congress

on the needs of the arthritis

community during the Arthritis

Foundation’s Advocacy Summit.

Over three days, participants learn

the ins-and-outs of Washington and meet with their

Members of Congress and their staffs to tell them that

arthritis is unacceptable and provide them with

substantive solutions. Our state has X new Members of

Congress to educate in 2011 and we want you to join

us! Click to learn more about the Advocacy Summit

and apply for a travel stipend today!

Jingle Bell Run in Rhode Island

Crisp and beautiful was the weather

on December 4th for the annual Jingle

Bell Run/Chili Walk at the Carousel

Village in Roger Williams Park in Rhode

Island (see pictures below). Over two hundred runners

and walkers came out to support the Arthritis

Foundation and the programs & services we provide.

The runners enjoyed a 5K course that was timed and

medals were given for the first, second and third place

winners in various age categories. Walkers had the

choice of a 5K or 1K Course Option. Chili’s Grill and

Bar provided the chili and chowder at the end of the

event.

The Pavement Pounders Team was the largest with

over 50 participants; they raised over $2,000. Dr.

Patricia Soscia and her RheumRIJinglers came in

second with almost $700. The Jingle Bell Run/Chili

Walk raised about $10,000; one of RI’s smaller events,

but the most energetic with plenty of Holiday Spirit.

Connections - Get Connected with the Arthritis Foundation, Northern & Southern New England

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Jingle Bell Runs a Success

in New Hampshire and Maine

The Portsmouth Jingle Bell Run/

Walk (10K run and 5K walk) brought

new people from Massachusetts and Rhode Island for

a total of 337 runners. Wilder Kats Kids, the largest

fundraising team, was led by 6 year old Katherine and

her Girl Scout Daisy troop (see picture below).

Katherine was able to walk the entire 3 mile route. In

the past she participated by riding in a wagon due to

her arthritis. We were so happy for Katherine!

We had our oldest runner back for her second year at

The Concord Jingle Bell Run. Betty Hutchinson, who

turned 90 in February, gained 3 minutes to her time

from last year. Betty started running at age 83 to

eliminate her arthritis pain. She won the first place

medal for her age division. Betty and her husband

John brought in over $450 from fundraising in their

retirement home (see picture below).

The Freeport Jingle Bell Run changed its location

this year due to the high number of participants. Last

year 375 people participated and this year that number

grew to 472. Thank you to Randy Spencer for

designing our new course at our new location. Thank

you also to Woody Laliberte who has been our highest

fundraiser for the past 4 years.

A special thanks goes out to all our sponsors, our

local businesses for donating food, prizes and volunteer

services at the events, and to our participants who

raised over 100% towards our goal at each Jingle Bell

Run.