Department Updates

************** From the office of Public Relations **************

-PAL (Patient Awareness Liaison)- 
We have a brand new program beginning during the month of August!
The PAL or (Patient Awareness Liaison) program is now being
implemented! This program is a phone support network for anyone
having questions about Gastroparesis, problems and procedures.
Volunteers of G-PACT will be manning this system.  Soon you will be
able to access the volunteers personal profiles, areas of knowledge
and contact phone numbers at the G-PACT website www.g-pact.org  

-Regional Support Meetings-
Regional Support Meetings will be forming in several areas at first
and based on the need and success of these first meeting we will be
expanding to more locations and the help of additional volunteers.  

The meetings will be for GP group members, those who are newly
diagnosed in the area, and friends and family members of the GP
sufferers. The focus of these groups will be meeting and interacting
with others who have Gastroparesis. The Regional Support Meetings
will give those involved the extra support and information they need
to better cope with this disease.

Meeting locations and contact information

If you know of anyone willing to donate such a space in any of the
below-mentioned locations, please contact Carey at cmamich@g-pact.org

     * Pittsburgh PA - Carey Mamich - email
       cmamich@g-pact.org . Date- August 26, 2003 . 
       Time and location are TBA due to the intense construction in
       the Pittsburgh Metro area.
       Please email me if interested in attending and I will try
       to have the meeting in an easily accessible location. 
     * Hershey/Harrisburg, PA - email Carissa Haston at
       chaston@g-pact.org  for more
       information on the time, date and location of the meeting.
     * Orlando , FL - email Lila Litter at llitter@g-pact.org for
       more information on the time, date
       and location of the meeting.
     * Rochester , MI - email Jo Fick at jfick@g-pact.org  for
       more information on the time, date and location of the
       meeting.
     * Columbus , OH- email Veronica Pennington at
       vpennington@g-pact.org  for more information on the time,
       date and location of the meeting.

G-PACT hopes to continue to provide public awareness about
Gastroparesis by getting in touch with local GI physicians across
the United States for their permission to place our G-PACT brochures
in their offices along with information regarding the Regional
Support meetings and the PAL program. If you know of a physician
that would benefit from having G-PACT information please send the
physicians name, office address as well as phone number to Carey at
cmamich@g-pact.org.  

G-PACT is trying to compile a state by state guide to be placed on
our website of reputable GI doctors and motility specialists; If you
would like for us to contact a physician please send their name and
office information to the Public Relations Department at
publicrelations@g-pact.org

************ Volunteers Needed ************
-Volunteer Coordinator-
G-PACT is always looking for volunteers in all areas. If you feel
that you would be interested in helping in any capacity please
contact our Volunteer Coordinator Jo Fick at volunteer@g-pact.org 
or jfick@g-pact.org. Jo will be happy to assist you with the
necessary information and forms

Jo Fick, Volunteer Coordinator, Lila Litter, Administrative
Assistant, and Carey Mamich are working on ideas for recruiting
volunteers for the vacant Board of Directors positions, as well as
the Fundraising position and general volunteer work. One way they
are planning to do this is by attending the GP group sponsored
chats. We feel this would be a good indicator of who can handle
questions as well and adversity, in an informal manner.