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****Reminders****
Rays of Inspiration- Reminder to all people who deal with GP in some fashion that they can be a participant in the G-PACT website and express their feelings about GP through art. This includes literature, poetry, visual art, and/or music. Please review the "Rays of Information" portion of the G-PACT website at www.g-pact.org/inspiration.htm for ideas and guidelines on how to submit work. Please contact Carissa at webmaster@g-pact.org or 1-888-820-0729 x 81 for more information. -Carissa Haston, President/Webmaster, is sponsoring a fundraiser based on "someone you know has GP". This fundraiser involves gathering information from patients with GP, as well as a picture, and personalizing cards and donor forms for each patient to send to his/her loved ones in an effort to raise support from those closest to them. If you have questions about this fundraiser, or would like to participate, please contact Carissa at chaston@g-pact.org or the Fundraising Department at fundraising@g-pact.org. -As a reminder, G-PACT is also registered with www.guidestar.com so more information about us can be obtained through that site. -G-PACT is always looking for contact information for all personal contacts and professional contacts to add to our mailing list for graphics work and G-PACT introductory materials ****Updates**** If you would like to receive printed information about G-PACT, please contact Lila, administrative assistant, at llitter@g-pact.org or 1-888-820-0729 x 83 with your contact information. Please include name, mailing address, e-mail address, phone #, fax # (if applicable), and please state if you are a medical professional, family, friend, caregiver, patient, etc. G-PACT is beginning to establish a portion of our website dedicated to providing medical professionals with more information about GP. If you are a medical professional, or know of one who deals with GP, and have written and/or published articles about the condition, research studies, treatment options, testing, etc that would benefit other medical professionals seeking to learn more about it, please contact Carissa, President/Webmaster, at chaston@g-pact.org or, 1-888-820-0729 x 81 to express an interest or ask questions. You may also mail the article to: G-PACT, Carissa will contact you with questions or to gather more information as needed. ****Check us out on the Web**** The website is available to anyone interested in learning about GP and G-PACT. The site is unique from other organization websites for many reasons including the "rays of inspiration" section which provides GPers a way to express themselves and share their feelings through the creative mind including art, music, and writing. In addition, each page has a picture of someone with GP as well as a little bit of information about the type of GP and hometown. There is a section for people to nominate a spotlight patient and read stories of others with GP, as well as view items available in the G-PACT store. On top of that, the G-PACT site is loaded with solid medical information about Gastroparesis which is easy for patients and loved ones to understand. The site is also unique in that it was not designed by someone with no connection with GP at all, but instead by someone who suffers from severe GP on a daily basis. Therefore, a lot of TLC has been a part of the design process. Carissa,(President/Webmaster), is working on creating a professional portion of the website for medical professionals to have access to articles and publications written by doctors who treat GI motility disorders. The papers can include all aspect of Gastroparesis and gastric motility that will benefit other doctors who deal with these problems, as well as doctors who know very little about them and want to learn. She welcomes doctors to contact her at webmaster@g-pact.org or 1-888-820-0729 x 81 if they have questions or are interested in submitting some information Carissa is also looking for additional assistance in order to maintain and add to the website, so please write to webmaster@g-pact.org if you have an interest in this or further questions about the responsibility. Requirements for this position include advanced knowledge of web design, experience in designing using Microsoft Front Page 2000, excellent writing skills, software such as Front Page 2000 and the latest version of Photoshop, at least 10-15 hours a week to focus on the website, link to one or two websites you have designed using Front Page 2000, as well as all information requested on the detailed application form which will be sent to you once you know you are seriously interested in this position. ****G-PACT-The Unknown Facts**** 1. Officers and Directors are scattered all over the country (PA, OH, FL, MN, VA, IL, WV). 2. G-PACT is run completely through the Internet, Phone, or Faxes 3. We are the first organization in the 4. All Officers and Directors work on a 100% volunteer basis 5. All volunteers with G-PACT have some sort of personal connection to GP. Most of those people actually suffer from GP themselves and are not able to work, so therefore G-PACT is a way we are able to have a positive focus in life and help others. It also gives us a personal perspective on the illness which enhances our interactions with our clients since we can relate 6. None of the G-PACT staff has any previous experience in starting or running a non-profit organization or other type of business, yet we have pulled together this non-profit organization in spite of the odds against us, and in spite of less than ideal working situations (i.e. long distance, illness, etc). G-PACT continues to grow and we are nearing our two year anniversary 7. G-PACT does not require membership for patients, general population, or medical professionals. All of our services are free of charge to anyone interested in what we do and/or those who have a desire to work with us in some capacity 8. Five out of the nine regular G-PACT volunteers (meaning those who are department heads and/or board members) are between the ages of 25-35. 9. G-PACT is very people oriented which is apparent through our website. Each page has a picture of someone who is dealing with GP. The website also provides several opportunities for people to get involved, meet others, and share their GP experiences 10. All but one of the top six positions are run by volunteers under the age of 35. Those positions include President/Webmaster, Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, Director of Research and Development, Director of Fundraising, and Director of Public Relations. Our young group of leaders will continue to contribute to the strong growth of G-PACT as we work together for many years to come. We also share an eagerness and ambition to fight this illness so we can strive towards other goals in our lives that we have not been able to achieve due to our illness. 11. G-PACT has been published in two local newspapers in Harrisburg, PA where the home office is located (the articles can be reviewed on our website), and has also appeared on the local Fox News station on two separate occasions 12. Our goals are very ambitious and include: a. Increasing awareness of GP among the medical profession, patients, and general population b. Providing patients with financial assistance as needed to be seen by a doctor who specializes in GI motility disorders. c. Funding and assisting researchers with GP related research d. Establishing a network of doctors across the US who treat GP and would like to work with G-PACT, and are willing to see patients we refer to them e. Establishing local support groups nationwide |
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