Please, everybody, do what you can to distribute the informaton. A flyer that is clearly formatted can be found at http://www.lymeinfo.net/lobbyday2004.html

Below is a not so formatted version of the flyer:

LYME DISEASE PATIENTS:
YOUR ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE MEDICAL CARE
IS IN SERIOUS DANGER

What would you do if your Lyme doctor lost his or her license and no other doctor would treat your chronic Lyme disease?

As frightening and unbelievable as this might sound, it has already happened to Lyme disease patients in other parts of the country. It can soon happen in New York State, if we do not fight for our right to
treatment.

The New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) the medical disciplining agency of the Department of Health has harassed MOST Lyme disease doctors in New York State who are willing to treat Lyme disease with more than the very short term cookbook treatment.

TWO - THIRDS of those Lyme doctors have been targeted for investigations which can lead to revocation of their medical licenses.

The climate of fear created by this persecution has discouraged physicians all over the country from treating Lyme disease.

NEW YORKERS:
JOIN US IN ALBANY ON TUESDAY MAY 18TH WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

LET'S URGE THE NY LEGISLATURE TO STOP STATE HARASSMENT OF LYME DOCTORS.

LOBBY FOR PASSAGE OF TWO BILLS THAT WILL PROTECT OUR PHYSICIANS' ABILITY TO TREAT US.

1) OPMC REFORM BILL (S5221) which will give ALL physicians much needed DUE PROCESS to protect themselves from unjust prosecution by the OPMC.

2) BILL A7365a which specifically prohibits the legislature from targeting doctors solely because of their treatment of Lyme disease.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. PLEASE JOIN US!!!

ADVANCE SIGN-UP IS NECESSARY.
To sign up and get more information:

PHONE OR EMAIL:
1) In Westchester: Call Dawn at 917-319-2591; Email [email protected]
2) In NYC: Call Bob at 718-332-9082 or 917-363-4162; Email [email protected]
3) On Long Island: Call Anna at 631-331-3940; Email [email protected]
4) In Dutchess: Call Lia at the Hudson Valley LDA 845-486-7099; Email [email protected]
5) All Other Areas: Call Ellen at 212-799-2554; Email [email protected]

Wonderful job done by you and your forces. I met you at the hearing in New York way back in Jan. of 2002. You are a crusader for all of us and I thank you.

Maybe you should run for an assembly seat. As I remember you were very personable, and worked the room wonderfully and introduced yourself to everyone. You would be quite a foe, one because you are informed, and two because you don't wear a fruit basket on your head.

I will see you on lobby day if I'm not working.

Thanks for fighting for the docs.

Oh well. Having an ego that loves being stroked, I was about to plan a political career just on your say so alone. Good thing I got to the basket of fruit part.

See you at Lobby Day you are in New York on May18th and are not working (you do deserve a vacation day, and come to think of it you look like you are getting the flu and need a sick day).

Please , please come and bring friends. We need to show up in numbers to get these bills passed as we approach the deadline. Fruit hats and fruitheads are completely acceptable on Lobby Day. This is, after all, a Lyme event.
Ellen

quote:

---

Originally posted by Discreet Keet:
Ellenlu,

Wonderful job done by you and your forces. I met you at the hearing in New York way back in Jan. of 2002. You are a crusader for all of us and I thank you.

Maybe you should run for an assembly seat. As I remember you were very personable, and worked the room wonderfully and introduced yourself to everyone. You would be quite a foe, one because you are informed, and two because you don't wear a fruit basket on your head.

I will see you on lobby day if I'm not working.

Thanks for fighting for the docs.

---

"I don't know about you, but I am tired of being on the defensive for so long, having to use all our energy to protect our doctors from losing their licenses.

In the next few weeks, we have an opportunity to turn this around. WE CAN FINALLY PASS OPMC REFORM AND NO LONGER HAVE TO FEAR LOSING OUR DOCTORS..

SO PLEASE COME TO ALBANY TO LOBBY ON TUESDAY MAY 18th AND TELL THE LEGISLATURE WHAT YOU THINK

Then we can finally turn our energy to getting funding for a cure for this lousy illness.

PLEASE EMAIL ME ASAP TO TELL ME IF YOU CAN COME and how many friends or relatives you can bring with you."

Cheryl writes:

WHAT A GREAT CHANGE THAT WOULD BE!!!!!

Hey all yas in NY State...don't forget to sign up for this very important day!!!


Cheryl

------------------
Lyme Disease Information Online:
http://www.lymeinfo.net
Lyme Disease Information By Email:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lymeinfo/

Huge Thanks to each one of you who are acting on the behalf of us all!!!

Much Love and Appreciation,
Melanie

Please come and stand for all Lyme patients everywhere,

You have the access to legislators to help create a change in the climate by helping to pass 2 bills that have HUGE implications for everyone with Lyme disease.

We are the epicenter of the injustice of the Office of Professional Medical Conduct targeting Lyme doctors.

Come and stand for those who live with the results of this injustice, but have no voice in the politics of changing it.

Eveyone pays for this, but they do not have as much power as you do to help change it.

The effect of these bills passing or not passing will be felt by every Lyme patient across the country.

Please come; even speaking isn't necessary; just your presence is all that is required.

Your time will not be wasted; as you spend a few hours on one day-know that you are there representing the hundreds and thousands of others who share your fate.

And you'll know that, despite anything else, on this day, you didn't just let it happen.

Sincerely,
Regina
[email protected]

Please sign up; make the call.

Anyone can come; the reason we need New Yorkers is to try to cover all the senators by constituents, but more is better.

Senators tend to listen to voters; but this bill effects everyone, so by all means, do!

Please feel free; you can be put in with a group of new yorkers.

Sincerely,
Regina

Have someone with me who wants to help. Can hold me up too!

See ya!

It will be a bit of a challenge, with the two kids, but I feel my son will come out of the day with a good education in standing up for what's right.

We're making the trip precisely because of everything Regina put into words..want to thank her again for putting forth such a moving summary of what's at the heart of the matter.
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/010109.html

"If we don't show up, how will it ever stop? History has demonstrated
that for great change to happen; great effort over many years by many
people was required. Great change generally happens slowly;
sometimes there are leaps, but they never occur without the years of
plodding along against all reason. Great change also includes great
sacrifice."

Thank you for reminding us, Regina...from what I have seen..the grassroots efforts of the Lyme community involved in this movement have made a few leaps..to the senate floor in only three years time. Collectively, maybe we can make another one on Teusday.

Mo

OK; below (again!) are the directions and where we are meeting. Give ellen a call if you can just to let her know that we have you and your trusty pole-person.

Since it can be confusing to figure out who everyone is, when we meet in the hearing room; look for me:

I'll likely be spacy so don't take offense; I'll likely be wearing black (my favorite color- and a staple attire for one from manhatten); I have short blonde hair; my face is kind of red and swollen and I often can't talk or breath well right now from this darn pulmonary embolus I'm trying to get rid of;

please come up and tell me who you are!

I've done several out of state events; it's always worth it.. that day and the days that follow.

See you there-
Sincerely,
Regina

FROM ELLEN:

We desperately need a strong turnout on lobby day!!

PLEASE join us in Albany on Tuesday, May 18 to lobby for passage of 2
very important bills. If you haven't signed up, please contact the
representative from your area right away. Tell them you will be going
and, if needed, talk with them about transportation.

You will be in groups with others, and details on how to lobby will be
provided to all who attend. We really need to get these bills passed!
We encourage you to join us regardless of whether or not you have
lobbied before.

To SIGN UP by phone or email:

1) In Westchester: Contact Dawn at 917-319-2591: Email at
[email protected] To carpool, call Linda at 914-737-4331 (answering
machine will say personalized counseling) or 739-2997
2) In NYC: Call Bob at 917-363-4162:
3) On Long Island : Call Anna at 631-331-3940; Email at -
[email protected]
4) In Dutchess County: Call Lia at the Hudson Valley Lyme Disease
Association 845-486-7099; Email at - [email protected]
5) All Other Areas: Call Ellen at 212-799-2554; Email at -
[email protected]

Flyer and more info at: http://www.lymeinfo.net/lobbyday2004.html

Please sign up for lobby day if you haven't already!
-----------------------------------------------
To those who have signed up:

We will be meeting in Hearing Room C, 2nd floor of the Legislative
Office Building. There will be someone there to organize you starting
at 10:15 am and continuing for the rest of the day.

Each person attending **MUST BRING A PHOTO ID** to park AND to enter
the building.

We will be sending you details on what to say and what legislators you
will be meeting with. For now, here are the directions and parking
information.

There is a parking map at the website listed below. There won't be
reserved parking. You can park under the plaza in visitor parking P-3
North or P-3 South. After parking, take the elevator up to the
concourse and follow directions to the LOB. The buildings are
connected inside. (Overflow parking is in the Grand Street lot).

** http://assembly.state.ny.us/directions/

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING:

Directions and Maps
The New York State Assembly chambers are located in the Capitol
Building. Most Assembly offices are in the Capitol, Legislative Office
Building and Agency Building 4. These buildings are all part of the
Empire State Plaza complex in downtown Albany, New York.

The Empire State Plaza also houses many State agencies and
commissions, as well as the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, New
York State Museum and Empire Center at the Egg.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

From the North: Take Interstate 87 (Northway) to Interstate 90 (East)
exit, proceed east to Interstate 787 and take Empire Plaza exit.

From the South: Take New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) to Exit 23
- straight through Toll Booth to Interstate 787, then take Empire
Plaza exit.

From the East: Take Interstate 90 and cross Hudson River. Take exit to
Interstate 787 South, along river. Take Empire Plaza exit.

From the West: Take the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) to Exit
24 (Albany), proceed east on Interstate 90 to Interstate 787 South,
along river. Take Empire Plaza Exit.

VISITOR PARKING

Please see parking map at: http://assembly.state.ny.us/directions

This is a VERY effective and refined communication on the issues, with great supportive info.

(Much better than my unbridled approach, which would consist of crawling across tables, grabbing shirt collars, and hissing..."Jussst Passs the Bills!")

OK, I promise I'll follow your guidelines.

Mo

Mo

getting pick up and brought home to NY so that I'll be there for the van;

hope to see you there;

and I'll be thinking of everyone...

Regina, your conviction is astounding.

We'll see ya there!

Hope everyone who can possibly make it will join us! Everybody else..your well wishes have helped allot...we surely need it.