‌
December 2018 NEWSLETTER
There is Still Time to Join PD Active's Annual Appeal
Please donate today to help ensure that PD Active will continue to support our local PD community. We have a busy year planned ahead, but it cannot be realized without you.

For those of you who are 70 1/ 2 years of age or older: You can direct funds from your IRA directly to PD Active. Save on taxes and help PD Active all at one time.

PD Active is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible. Tax ID: 26-3302461
Thank you for your support.
____________________
Third Annual Mini Info-Fair and Dessert Party
Photo Credit and Licence: https://tinyurl.com/yap4dkro
This is a chance to get to know members of our community who you may not have had an opportunity to speak to -- all in the company of desserts.

Class instructors, program organizers and organizations that serve our local PD community will participate, making this a great opportunity to learn more about programs and resources that may be of interest to you. We hope to see you at this sweet event!
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2019
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. ​
1606 Bonita Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
____________________
February Forum: Living with Parkinson's - John Vine, Author of "A Parkinson's Primer"
John Vine’s talk, Living with Parkinson’s, will address medical, practical, and emotional challenges presented by Parkinson’s disease drawing on lessons he learned from interviewing many Parkinson’s patients and their partners. 

Honestly told, these stories are instructive. Even while they are necessarily anecdotal, collectively these stories help to paint a picture that is neither gloomy nor rose-colored, but positive, constructive, and helpful.
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2019
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ​
1606 Bonita Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
*If you have trouble registering, please e-mail us at info@pdactive.org.
____________________
Save the Dates
Forum on the gut and PD with Dr. Ethan Brown of UCSF on April 13, 2019
Annual Community Town Hall on June 8, 2019
In The News
New Rock Steady Boxing Coach - Ashley Greene
PD Active provided a grant to Rock Steady Boxing Albany (RSB) to add classes on Thursdays (noon to 1:30 p.m.) with Ashley Greene who has trained and been certified as an RSB coach. In addition to the Thursday classes, Ashley will also teach classes on the 1 st and 3 rd Saturdays (9:00 to 10:30 a.m.). 

Ashley, a fitness, health and wellness professional has worked with adults and youth athletes for 15 years. Knowing how important it is for all to move correctly, she is excited to bring her love for movement to the team. Coach Daniel invited her initially to volunteer at RSB and once she did that she expressed an interest to become trained as a Rock Steady coach.

Ashley is working on her Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certificate as well as her Functional Movement Specialist Certificate. She has an AA in Allied Health and received a BS in Kinesiology from San Jose State.

RSB Albany information: https://rocksteadyboxingalbany.com/
Community Updates
Forum Report and Slides: Current and Future Treatments
Dr. Rima Ash, a Movement Disorder Specialist at Kaiser San Francisco, presented an informative talk,  Navigating Parkinson’s Disease: Current and Future Treatments, at the November 10th Forum to a full-house.

Dr. Ash reviewed current therapies for Parkinson’s disease mainly focusing on medications but also touched base on exercise and possible supplements that may be helpful. She was gracious to stay after her talk to answer questions and she has kindly made the slides for her presentation available to our PD Active community.

To view the slides from Dr. Ash's presentation, please click here.
____________________
Nuts and Bolts of Driver's License Renewal by PD Active Member Michelle Cheeseman
When it came time to renew my CA driver's license, the renewal form I received included a debatable question on medical conditions and driver safety. If only I had known about the piece Outing Yourself to the DMV — OR NOT, by Gary Sue Goodman, I would have harnessed this powerful collective knowledge as I approached answering the above question and then navigated a lengthy reexamination process. If your license is up for renewal, you may want to consider these nuts & bolts:

  • Befriend the DMV website: Find forms and FAQs at www.dmv.ca.gov.
  • Initiate the renewal process as soon as possible to avoid having your license expire.
  • Be conscious of how and when your symptoms present: Attempt to schedule your interactions with the DMV according to when you are functioning best. Consider what you would say if you were symptomatic.
  • Allot time to the medical evaluation component: Upon receipt of the evaluation form, and per the provider’s agreement, confirm the evaluation gets completed and sent in.
  • Know the facts and people's experiences: It's a fact that all hearings are recorded. In my experience, I answered questions regarding my symptoms, medications, life with PD, and cognitive function. The Hearing Officer told me I did not have to take the written or vision tests (which was incorrect) and would have to take the Supplemental Area Driving Performance Evaluation. She also approved me to have a temporary license.
  • Be prepared and accept the unexpected: Study California Driving Test Criteria and How to Prepare for Your Driving Test.
  • The last "nut & bolt" to consider is: It's possible to successfully navigate this process -- I succeeded in having my driver license renewed.

Click here for a more detailed account of Michelle Cheeseman's "outing" experience with the California DMV.
____________________
Coming this January: The Relaunch of PD Salon
After a brief hiatus, you can once again join fellow community members at PD Salon, a long-running,monthly gathering (in its 11th year) dedicated to creative expression. People with PD are invited to share creative work — art, music, dance, improv, poetry, prose, etc. — or just enjoy the talents of their peers. 

The relaunched PD Salon will meet on the 2nd Sunday of every month at Herb Heinz’s house in Berkeley. Donna Mickelson and Tim Gordon kindly hosted Salon for the last eight years. Thanks, Donna and Tim!

Date: January 13, 2019 (and every 2nd Sunday following that)
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Who: Everyone is welcome to attend and observe, but presentations by people with PD will have priority. We also ask that presentations be limited to a maximum of 10 minutes.
Bring: Snacks to share and don’t forget your artwork (both optional)
Questions: Contact salonhost@pdactive.org
____________________
Living with Parkinson's: The Wolf Runs Away - A Benefit Performance by Josh Gallup
This show will feature original music and lyrics by Josh Gallup accompanied by a live band. Josh will share his experiences living with PD and all proceeds will benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Date and Time: Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 6 p.m. ​
1606 Bonita Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Tickets: Contact Josh Gallup at gallup.josh@gmail.com.

Musicians: Chad Manning; Clayton Knight, Stephen Godbe: Michael Baefsky; Harry Robertson, Nate Gallup.
____________________
Don't Forget to Carry Emergency Contact Info
Here is a handy guide for preparing emergency medical information. We urge all community members to prepare this information and keep it accessible and on your person at all times. Above all keep the name of the person to contact with your health care card. 

If you have an iPhone you should fill out the  Health app that comes with the phone. This app can be used in emergency even if the phone is locked.

If you have an Android phone, here are  instructions for adding emergency info to your lock screen.

2018 Annual Appeal: Thank You, Donors!
John Argue and Mitzi Sales
Don Armbrust
Stuart Berde in memory of Larry Sirott
Amy Blasenheim in honor of "My Hero"
Jim Blume and Kathryn Frank
Wendy and Ray Bomberg
Annise and Arnold Brokstein
Warren and Sharon Brunetti
Suzanne and Italo Calpestri
Harriet Charney in memory of Larry Sirott
Penelope Chase in honor of Sarah Chase Hardesty
Tina and Stella Cheng
Debbie and William Collins
Chris and Kathryn Dann
Gloria Delgado
Sue Elkind
Meris Emory in memory of Rachel Emory
Jerry and Nancy Falk
Carol Fisher
Ann Freeman
Margo Garrison in honor of Karen Garrison
Gary Sue Goodman and Jack Appleyard
Gretchen Greene
Susan and Charlie Halpern
Homer and Zondra Martin
Richelle Jacobs in honor of Ann Van Steenberg
Kate Johnson
Patricia Kates and Henry Brady
Marjorie and Ted Keeler
George Keenen
Martin Kershaw and Celeste Hill
Dennis and Paula Krauss
Ira Lapidus in honor of Brenda Webster
Robb Lazarus
Raymond Lifchez in honor of Eva Yarmo
Joann and Martin Lorber
Sarah Lubman in honor of Stanley Lubman
Judith and Stanley Lubman
Robert Luhn
Tommie Mayfield in memory of Mary King
Lonnie McAllister
Michael McKenna
Karen McKie and Barry Krisberg
Reggy and Winnie Meeng
John and Justine Milani
Phil Miller
Anne-Marie Miller
Jay and Elise Miller
Sue and Bob Moss
Lynda Mounts in honor of Stanley Lubman
Stan and Pauline Moy
Larry and Nancy Munson
Carol and Joe Neil in honor of Eva Yarmo
Seyem and Vincent Petrites
Stuart Pivnick
Ray and Sandra Ponce
Patricia and Robert Raburn
Lynne Raider
Ann Rapp in memory of John Hammerman
Sarah and Jeffrey Robinson in honor of Peter Rugh
Lynne Rodgriguez in honor of Grace Grafton
Nancy Rothschild in honor of Eva Yarmo
Randy Schekman in memory of Nancy Walls
Ernie Scosseria
Annette and Irwin Shapiro
Lee Shapiro in honor of Amy Blasenheim
Katherine Shea
Sandra Simon
Mary Spletter
Susan Stein-Black and John Black
Chris and Annalisa Tay
Rayner Ternick in honor of Steve Graham
Stephen and Frances Tobriner
Gary Turchin
Joanna Uribe
Trip Van Noppen and Rivka Gordon
Greg and Selina Wajnowski in honor of Stanley Lubman
Mae and Raleigh Wong
Evie and Gordon Wozniak
Chad Zucker
Jeannette and John Zugnoni in honor of Warren Brunetti
How to Donate
PD Active is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible.
Tax ID: 26-3302461

We rely on you, our generous PD Active members, and your friends and family members, for our core financial support. It's easier than ever to help:

  • To donate by credit card
  • To donate by postal mail: PD Active, P.O. Box 9246, Berkeley, CA 94709
  • To donate by PayPal

Use Your IRA : You no longer need to wait until the end of the year to distribute your required minimum distribution (RMD) from your IRA. A quick reminder that if you are over 70 1/ 2 you are eligible to use your RMD to make tax-free donations to qualified charitable organizations. No gift is too small, so please keep us in mind when evaluating your IRA.

Here are some helpful  FAQs  on the topic.

Contact Judith Lubman at  development@pdactive.org   or call (510) 479-6119 for other types of donations such as:
    
  • Recurring credit card donations
  • Stock or Donor Advised Funds
  • Planned Giving - Property or other assets through your will or estate plan
  • Automobile
  Monthly Calendar

The calendar includes classes initiated with financial support from PD Active.

PD Active Activities, Descriptions & Locations

PD Active Class Information: www.pdactive.org/programs/

PD Active Support Group Information: www.pdactive.org/support-groups/
Local Classes for People with PD

‌
 www.pdactive.org - (510) 479-6119 - info@pdactive.org