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By & for those affected by Parkinson’s disease

February 2023

From The Board

Annual Appeal 2022 Thank you one and all for your contributions to the Annual Appeal. We are tremendously grateful for your steadfast support and dedication to PD Active. In this issue we pay special tribute to “Sustainers”, those who choose to donate throughout the year with regular monthly contributions. Monthly income of this sort helps us plan ahead with confidence that funding is in place. And, thanks to the generosity of our entire community of donors we are able to deliver a full range of resources year round in support of those affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Save the Date

February Round Table Is It Time to Park the Car? Date: Tuesday, February 14 Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm PT Speaker: Melanie Henry; CEO & DriveABLE Licensed Assessment Provider, Driver Cognitive Assessment Center In this interactive Round Table we will address and discuss the often-challenging, frequently sensitive discussions and decisions around driving with PD. Topics may include: * Impairment signs to look for * Initiating the conversations * Resources to consult * Options after you “park the car”*, and more. If you don’t think you or your partner are planning to “park the car” just yet, please join us so you’re ready when that time comes. More information here.

Melanie Henry REGISTER NOW

PD Active depends on donations to bring programs like this to our members free of charge. We remain grateful for your contributions.

DONATE HERE

Classes & Programs

Tai Chi Weekly Classes with Otto Dittmer  Otto Dittmer teaches two classes weekly on Zoom; Tai Chi for Parkinon’s and Tai Chi for Gait and Balance. Tai Chi is a mind-body, low-impact movement practice that has been shown to reduce balance impairments in people with Parkinson’s as well as improve functional capacity and reduce falls. People with Parkinson’s often have balance or gait challenges. Otto has designed the Tai Chi classes to address these issues.

Since I became a regular at Otto’s Friday class, my balance—and my self confidence—have significantly improved. I’ve had fewer falls. I like the way Otto integrates Tai Chi lore into his teaching and makes us feel connected to an ancient mindfulness practice. He’s an exceptional teacher. I love Otto’s class. – Karen Garrison

Register here for Tai Chi for Gait and Balance and for Tai Chi for Parkinson’s.

New! DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) Virtual Support Group Begins Monday, March 6 Are you considering getting DBS but have concerns and questions?   Have you had DBS and would like to talk to others who are living with DBS? If so, we welcome you to join the new support group to share experiences and learn from and support one another as we navigate this awesome and daunting surgical procedure and treatment for Parkinson's disease. Meeting: First Monday of every month (begins Monday, March 6), 5:00pm – 6:00pm PT Moderator: Jane Summer, PD Active member For more information, please email Jane Summer at janewitkin@me.com.

January Speaker Forum on YouTube  In Case You Missed the January Speaker Forum on Sleep Disorders & PD, you can see the video here.

Check out the PD Active Monthly Calendar for listings of upcoming live-stream movement classes such as Tai Chi, boxing, yoga and voice.   For more information, contact programdirector@pdactive.org.

Community Update

Remembering Paula Blaiser Paula Blasier (1947–2023) Paula was a dynamic board member from 2014–2017 who brought her many skills from her past — including how to design and communicate — to help PD Active. She put PD Active on a new path and helped the organization mature. The redesigned logo is only a small part of her efforts and dedication. Her wit and her strive for perfection were contagious. In 2017 she left Berkeley to move to Cambridge, Mass. to be closer to her sister. She has been missed since then. The obituary posted by her family asks in lieu of flowers please donate to PD Active in her memory. We are grateful for their thoughtfulness.

Free Physical Therapy Sessions & Exercise Classes Begin February 28, 2023 Samuel Merritt University is looking for participants for the spring Community Participant Lab (CPL). This session is focused on neuromuscular or balance-related problems. Tuesday afternoons from 02/28/23 through 03/28/23 at 1pm, 2pm, or 3pm, in-person at the Samuel Merritt campus in Oakland.  Sign up using this link. For more information, please contact; Krissy Waller, P.T.DPT kwaller@samuelmerritt.edu (510) 879-9200 X7346

Thank you to our Recent Donors

Thank you to everyone who donated during our Annual Appeal. Your donations make everything we do possible.

Donors Alicia Benito Grant Bennett Mary Pat Boersma Jenny Bowen James Duff and Valerie Yasukochi Diana Dunn Candice Eggerss Jerry Falk Christopher Flores Richard and Janet Hack Paul Hathaway Trish and Anthony Hawthorne Catherine Huston and Jerry Hurtubise Daniel Jarmel Rise Justman Joanna Kao Sally Lappen and Nik Warren Jane Lawhon Bill and Suzanne McLean Linda Metcalf

Adam and Lauran Mizock Robin Newlin Devan Reiff Janelle Reinelt and Gerald Hewitt Priscilla Rice Howard and Ellen Rosenberg Jackie and N. Garison Ruggles Diane Russell Renee Sheehan Peter Smith Paul Staley Susan Stein-Black and John Black Karen Sundheim Kathryn Swallow Hope and Lee Tollefsrud Deborah Whittle and Benjamin Bowser Kiwanis International/Kiwanis San Francisco — thanks to Michele Shoshani for making this donation possible.

Donations In Honor Of Tuyet Cong-Ton-Nu – in honor of Judith and Stanley Lubman David Goldstein – in honor of Michele Shoshani Gregory Howe – in honor of my support group Jim and Tracey Lubman – in honor of Stanley Lubman Sarah Lubman – in honor of Stanley Lubman Gail and Greg Marell – in honor of Larry Cuneo Kathie Stein – in honor of Sue Stein Black Robert Stein and Jessica Pers – in honor of Stanley Lubman

Donations in Memory Of Stuart Berde – in memory of Larry Sirott and Linda McCradden Shireen Burns – in memory of Garth Burns Gail Chmura – in memory of Paula Fuchs Blasier Judith and Stanley Lubman – in memory of Paula Blasier

Sustaining Donors Michael Clancy and Caryn Dombroski Brooke Deputy Robin Duryee Susan Felter and Bill Mastin Nancy Gardner Wade and Beth Greene Mary Haan and George Kaplan Kerrie and Mark Halmi Jane House Daniel Jarmel Michelle Johnston Sal and Betty Kadri

Janet and Robert Kohne Mitch Landy Stanley Leibowitz and Paula Millman Lauren Livingston Bill and Suzanne McLean Donna Mickleson Josie Mooney Ilana Novak Cathy Quides Ronald Rioux and Marianne Glaspey Gary Turchin George Turner

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