UOAA UPDATES are our way of communicating to our members what is happening throughout the organization.
It is our hope that this information will be passed on to your members by including it in your newsletters or by discussing it at your local support group meetings. We continue to look forward to working with you and to being an active resource to ensure your success.
JUNE 2012 UOAA UPDATE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
The past few weeks have been quite the busy ones for UOAA. We have exhibited at 3 conferences and are continuing to try and spread the word of UOAA throughout the digestive community. Our two most successful exhibits were at ASCRS (American Society of Colon Rectal Surgeons) Conference and at the recent WOCN (Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse) Conference. We were able to meet and connect with a multitude of doctors and nurses and many of the nurses came up to us and inquired about starting new support groups in their areas! We met many WOC Nurses and spoke to them regarding their local ASGs and how they can make them better. We were given high praises by most of them commending the effort we, in UOAA, are doing to help our fellow ostomates. The nurses KNOW the value that we provide to the new ostomate and they also encourage the formation of new groups. The most common question asked by them was Is there a group in or near my area? After checking to see if our response was either, Why yes, there is one near you and here is the contact information. Or Right now there isnt one, but would you consider starting one? In many cases even after hearing that there isnt one in their area most of the nurses took information that will lead to the creation of a new ASG. I stress this point because I want you all to know that the WOC Nurses are our BEST chance to help create new support groups throughout the country. When we connect with them, they are thrilled to hear that we can provide information to help them create an ASG. I call upon all members who know a WOC Nurse who may not be associated with an ASG to connect with that nurse. They may be invaluable to the growth of your group or they may start a new support group. The mission of the UOAA is to provide assistance to our ASGs and by strengthening them and helping them grow, we in UOAA will grow with them.
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
On August 25th and 26th the UOAA will be holding a Leadership Workshop at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville FL. For anyone in the FL area (or anywhere), that leads a group or is a member of a local group, this workshop is a wonderful way to learn how to enhance your local group with tips and tricks for meetings, membership retention, how to get your local docs and nurses involved in your group & how to keep your group alive and kicking! For more information see the 2 attachments labeled Leadership Workshop.
WORLD OSTOMY DAY PHOTO CONTEST
Hollister Incorporated is pleased to announce its support of this years World Ostomy Day on October 6, 2012. As you may already know, World Ostomy Day is a global campaign held every third year designed to enhance public awareness of the challenges faced by people with ostomies, and the vital work of ostomy associations. This years theme is Lets Be Heard!
To support World Ostomy Day, Hollister Incorporated is again sponsoring the World Ostomy Day Photo Contest in conjunction with the International Ostomy Association (IOA) and its member associations (UOAA is one of the full member associations of IOA). The contest originated in 2006. Interested participants will be able to submit their favorite photos via mail or the Hollister website. Twelve winning photographs will be featured in the 2013 World Ostomy Day calendar published by Hollister Incorporated. The winning photographers also receive a certificate of recognition and if any of the winners are members of a UOAA ASG, their ASG will receive $250. All participating IOA chapters will receive a CD-ROM of the winning photographs. Hollister is currently finalizing the contest rules and developing promotional materials for the contest. It is expected that we will be able to send these to you by the end of July. We know that you will want to promote this contest to your ASG members. Hollister Incorporated is looking forward to working with ostomy associations worldwide in the celebration of this important global event.
and promote a better quality of life for individuals with ostomies. The scholarship Committee selected the following winners who each received $400.00 in May 2012: Donna Lehker, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix AZ, for her proposal to develop a program to accept donations of excess ostomy products and provide these products to indigent and homeless ostomates. Zoe Mann, Sacramento Valley Wound, Ostomy, Continence Practitioner Association, Sacramento CA, for her proposal to present their fourth Community Ostomy Education Day for ostomates. Judy Stask, Hartford Memorial Hospital, Havre de Grace, MD, for her proposal to enhance and grow the newly established local ostomy support group.
GYGIG MIDWEST RIDE
Get Your Guts in Gears Midwest ride is scheduled for September 79, 2012. Raise funds for a good cause, keep in shape and view the lush rolling hills of Southern Wisconsin. For more information see: www.ibdride.org
2012 GREAT COMEBACKS WINNER
The winner of the 2012 Great Comebacks Award is Joanna Burgess, RN. Click on the following link for her story. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/greatcomebacks-recognizes-joanna-burgess-rn-asnational-award-recipient-2012-06-09
UOAA SOCIAL BLOG
Did you know that we have our own social blog? We regularly post survey links, interesting stories, news articles, and so much more on the UOAA Social Blog! You can find our blog at blog.ostomy.org.
GENE GALINDO MEMORIAL AWARD
Pacific Coast Region proudly announces the first presentation of the Gene Galindo Memorial Award. This fund was established in August 2006 to pay tribute to an individual who was dedicated to improving the life of individuals with ostomies. He gave unselfishly of himself to clients whenever there was a need. The fund will help to provide financial support to qualified individuals, to promote those endeavors that are noted as worthy to continue his dream to educate, assist, support
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
Follow the UOAA on Facebook and Twitter. Currently we have 1570 likes on Facebook and 251 people are following us on Twitter. Go to Facebook.com/UOAAinc and Twitter.com/UOAA and join the crowd! Thank you for all your hard work!
Dave Rudzin
President
