A Tribute to our Volunteers

by Michelle Sawicki

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the following people for volunteering regularly with DINET throughout 2005:

Jane Bennett

Jane Bennett runs DINET’s Meet Others Program. This program puts both patients and caregivers in touch with people in their vicinity who have been affected by dysautonomia. In 2005 alone, Jane added 390 new people to the Meet Others Program. Jane’s hard work and dedication to helping others truly has been a blessing to DINET’s members.

Valerie Fenston

Despite her own health struggles in 2005, Valerie Fenston mailed hundreds of our POTS brochures to physicians around the world. She also worked diligently to survey new doctors to be added to DINET’s physician list. Because of Valerie, DINET members are able to locate physicians that can get them on their way to feeling better. Thank you, Valerie!

Nina Wilde Dedication and determination are the words that come to my mind when I think of Nina. Even though POTS and EDS significantly affect her health, Nina managed to run a 5K race in 2005! She also held DINET’s second fundraiser, selling hundreds of bracelets to keep DINET going for yet another year. On top of this, Nina does an excellent job of moderating our forum. Nina is truly an inspiration to all of us.

Nina running a 5K benefit in her dysautonomia awareness T-shirt

Melissa Mambort

Caring and generous with her time, Melissa is a cherished DINET forum moderator. She always takes other’s viewpoints into account and is truly concerned for members’ well-being. Melissa’s levelheaded, thoughtful attitude has been a wonderful addition to our forum. We’re very lucky to have her aboard.

Katherine Munson Katherine runs Faces of DINET, an online photo album featuring pictures of a number of DINET’s members. Katherine continually updates the album and posts on DINET’s forum to let members know when new pictures have been added. Katherine has significantly enhanced the sense of community on DINET’s forum, and we are very grateful for her assistance.

Katherine & daughter, Giuliana

Pam Reichers

Pam is a busy person who still finds the time to skillfully make DINET’s newsletters look great! We’re very appreciative of her eye for design.

Judith Pettibone Judith is a gifted writer, and she has blessed DINET with her superb editing skills. We can’t thank Judith enough for her help in 2005.

Judith & daughter, Katie

Emma Nicholson

Emma started writing a column for our newsletter a couple years ago, when she was confined to a wheelchair. Through experimental treatment Emma is now walking and living a normal life. Members have been able to follow Emma’s progress in her newsletter column, and she has become a source of inspiration and hope for us all.

Dr. Raj

A busy physician from Vanderbilt, Dr. Raj has kindly taken the time to answer questions from DINET. Because of Dr. Raj, we are better able to answer our members’ questions. We are very grateful for his shared expertise.

Dr. Stewart

Dr. Stewart was kind enough to voluntarily look over and suggest changes to the educational brochure we published in 2005. His efforts have led to a better understanding of dysautonomia worldwide. We are extremely thankful for his help.

DINET would also like to thank the following individuals for taking on special projects in the year 2005:

• Lori Valenti, for modeling for the cover of our educational brochures.
• Ashli Jones and family, for donating postage costs for and mailing hundreds of educational brochures to members.
• Stephanie Thompson, for contacting numerous physicians in an attempt to gather educational materials that DINET could pass on to members.
• Mylene van der Meulen, for checking DINET’s website for broken links and searching for updates to the ones she found.
• Forum members Emily (aka Dancinglight) & Ann (aka Nantynannie), for updating DINET’s Physician list.
• Gena Stokes & Realistic Media, for helping DINET get brochures for members printed at cost.

Does your place of business or family give to charity? If so, please let them know about the Dysautonomia Information Network, www.dinet.org. DINET is completely funded by member’s donations and can’t exist without them. Thank you!

Dysautonomia News is a quarterly publication of the Dysautonomia Information Network.
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