IMPORTANT SUPPORT GROUP ANNOUNCEMENT

It's hard to believe, but I've been a Support Group Leader for over 5 years now. I took over the weekly Men's Peer Support Group at Parkinson Place back in April 2020 shortly after it went online using Zoom during the pandemic. In January 2023 I went out on my own and started up the weekly “Training Wheels Off” Parkinson’s Support Group as Parkinson Place ended their OWN men’s support group. I had wanted to reach women with PD and Care Partners too. With the support of many of you, we got this group off the ground and I think we have created a very special community that I am extremely proud of. In 2024 the Neuro Challenge Foundation added our support group to their Program Calendar on their website.

During these past 5+ years I have rarely taken a week off and cancelled a meeting as I’ve always wanted to provide everyone with meaningful and helpful support group meetings each and every week. Unfortunately, I’m currently dealing with one of Parkinson’s cruelest non-motor symptoms, that of clinical depression. It has significantly impacted almost every aspect of my life. I can no longer continue to ignore my condition and press on like things haven’t changed, because they definitely have for me. As a result after much very serious thought and reflection, I’ve decided that I must make a change to our current support group meeting schedule so that I can take better care of my mental health.

Therefore, starting next week on Tuesday, May 20th we will be making the change from a weekly support group meeting to having a meeting every other week. Most months that will mean 2 meetings with the exception of the month of July 2025 with 3 meetings. I’ve included the meeting schedule below for the rest of 2025 up to the first meeting in 2026. I want to say a huge thanks you to each and every one of you in advance for your continued support and understanding. It means the world to me and will make this transition over to the new schedule easier for me.

Sincerely,

Roger

New Meeting Schedule

Date/Description of Special Activity that Week

May 20, 2025 - Member interview

June 3, 2025 - Monthly picture challenge - Baby pictures of ourselves (guess who is who)

June 17, 2025 - Member interview

July 1, 2025 - Monthly picture challenge - Severe weather related

July 15, 2025 - Member interview

July 29, 2025 - Question of the week

August 12, 2025 - Monthly picture challenge - Waterfalls and/or fountains

August 26, 2025 - Member interview

September 9, 2025 - Monthly picture challenge - Your favorite foods

September 23, 2025 - Member interview or Guest Speaker?

October 7, 2025 - Monthly picture challenge - Graduation pictures of ourselves (guess who is who)

October 21, 2025 - Member interview or Guest Speaker?

November 4, 2025 - Monthly picture challenge - Candy, Cakes and Pies

November 18, 2025 - Member interview or Guest Speaker?

December 2, 2025 - Monthly picture challenge - Winter wonderland

December 16, 2025 - Member interview or Guest Speaker?

January 6, 2026 - Monthly picture challenge – Music related