Help us spread the word about "Living with Lymphedema"

• We've been busy in the last year. We are on the brink of making Upstate Monarchs "official" after a year of meeting and organizing. In the next few days, we will be registered with the State of South Carolina as a charitable organization. We will be able to add this to our list of completed goals for the year, which include the following items:Established a meeting time & location on the first Wednesday of the Month.

• Ratified new Constitution & Bylaws for the group.

• Elected Charter officers for our group's first year.

All of this is a testament to our efforts to make this group a functional part of our community. And many thanks go to all of you who have been working to get the group where it is to this point.

But we are just getting started, and we want you to be a part of our success.

In the coming months, we will start our speaker schedule and we are looking for your recommendations for topics and speakers you want to hear. Our purpose is to become a place for information, support and advocacy about Lymphedema in the Upstate. Your participation is the most important part of our effort. This must be a group effort, bigger than any one person, in order for this group to grow and serve the needs we all see in our community.

We need your help to spread the word about our group to those "Living with Lymphedema" in the community. We have updated the flyers and banners so you can download and print them for your Churches, Community Centers, Gyms, Doctors Offices and anywhere else you might find people dealing with Lymphedema-related issues. Lymphedema is often misdiagnosed and treatment options are not always well known by healthcare officials and the public. So Increasing awareness, especially in our local area, is an important part of dealing with the condition.

Join our effort and with your help, 2011 will continue to be an exciting time for our group.

Sincerely

Bobby Clark

President, Upstate Monarchs