United Ostomy Associations of America

UOAA UPDATES are sent via email bi-monthly to our affiliated support groups, and will also now be available here on our blog. They are our way of communicating what’s happening within UOAA to you, our members.

THEMED PHOENIX PATIENT RESOURCE MAGAZINES

UOAA hit a homerun with this project!! I am most pleased to report that the 4 Phoenix Patient Resource magazines, i.e. those written specifically for new Colostomy patients, new Ileostomy patients, new Urostomy patients, and new Continent Diversion patients, have met with overwhelming approval by Hospitals and medical professionals throughout the US. Designed to be part of the information given to new patients by ASG members making visits, many WOC Nurses have requested copies in those areas where there are no UOAA affiliates. The cost of these magazines is being underwritten by UOAA as a service to its affiliates and the ostomy communities they serve. While supplies last, if you want to receive additional copies, contact Joan McGorry in the UOAA office. Because the quantities are limited, orders may not exceed six copies of any one themed magazine per order, and, there needs to be a minimum of 2 months between repeat orders. There will be a $ 5.00 charge per order to cover shipping expenses.
* Please note that these magazines are available to support group leaders only, and will not, at this time, be sold to the general public.

ASG LEADERSHIP ADVISORY BOARD

The ASG Advisory Board, which presently consists of the ASG Leadership Award recipients, will be increased to 8 members this Fall when the MBoD appoints 4 more members. These new members will serve a two-year term commencing January 1, 2009. In order to identify candidates for the ASG AB, members of the MBoD, those presently serving on the Advisory Board and the members of UOAA’s Board of Trustees have been asked to communicate with people they think would serve well at the national level. Those ASG leaders who are contacted, who say “Yes, I am interested in serving”, will be asked to send a letter to our Office Administrator, Joan McGorry, by November 1st, describing why they should be selected. These letters will be distributed to the MBoD, and the top 4 judged to be most qualified by the MBoD at its November 21st Annual Meeting in Cherry Hill, NJ, will be appointed.

OFFICE STAFF

Have you called the 800-826-0826 number lately expecting to speak with Joan, only to find out there was someone else on the other end? Earlier this year Joan hired an assistant, Linda Torres, to work with her part time serving UOAA. Linda also helps Joan with mailings and will be very active as we start to prepare for next year’s conference in New Orleans.

UOAA has entered into a contract agreement with Rita Hillis, a retired WOC Nurse (RN, BSN, CWOCN to be exact) who will answer the questions of people who call the 800 # looking for some stoma-related advice. If a WOC Nurse cannot be identified who lives near the caller, contact information will be given to Rita. This is yet another free service UOAA provides to the ostomy community.

UOAA ANNUAL AFFILIATION FEE

At its meeting held on August 22nd and 23rd, the UOAA Management Board of Directors voted to keep the Annual Affiliation Fee at the same rate of $ 2.00 per member or $ 25.00 for those support groups that report “no members”. Payments for 2009 at due January 1st, 2009.

In another action the MBoD determined that those ASGs that have not paid their 2008 affiliation fee, will have information about their group removed from the UOAA website on January 1, 2009, and their listing in The Phoenix

magazine removed from the support group listing beginning with the Winter 2008 issue. If the group chooses to pay the fee, their listings will be reinstated. Notes will be added to the website and magazine advising persons not finding a listing for a group in their area to contact the UOAA Office for further information.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

One of the projects that UOAA is undertaking is the production of a short DVD designed to inspire and encourage new ostomates, helping them to realize that it is possible to live a happy and productive lifestyle with an ostomy of any type. We are looking for volunteers of all ages and ethnicities who are willing to participate in this video. Their role would be to show, by example, either their employment, hobbies, outside interests or volunteer work and thereby demonstrate to the general public that having an ostomy does not prohibit a person from living a life of quality, productivity and happiness.

If you are interested in being a participant in this project, please contact the UOAA office at 1-800-826-0826 and we will put you in contact with the project director. Please understand that we expect to receive many more applications than we can include in this brief video, so do not take it personally if we cannot include you.