First Friday Update - February 6, 2009
Greetings!
In my pre-nevus career as a performing artist, January was always the “famine” part of the “feast or famine” equation. We would always store up a lot of nuts over the holidays in order to eat after the holidays were over. At Nevus Outreach, January has also been a slow month historically – with so many people tying up their benevolent affairs at the “end of the year.”
Not this year. We noticed the most remarkable thing when the economy got tough – support for Nevus Outreach continued to increase. In these unlikely times, we are closing on the end of a record fiscal year! Thanks to all of you for supporting what you believe in and have confidence in. It’s incredible.
A Fond Farewell
Talk about "going out at the peak," This month we say farewell to Kathy Wright, the Nevus Outreach Director of Development, under whose enthusiastic guidance this record year has become a reality. Kathy has been with us for almost three years but she is now pursuing other activities. Kathy will remain in close contact with Nevus Outreach. Her last day is February 28.
A Warm Welcome
Many of you know Megan Fields, one of the most delightful faces of Nevus Outreach since 2002 when she attended her first conference in Salt Lake City. Megan is an adult with a giant nevus. She teaches Public Speaking at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We have been talking to Megan off and on since 2006 about coming onto the Nevus Outreach team. Now that she’s finished school, she’s ready to take it on!
A Smooth Transition
At conference 2008, we talked to Megan about coming on staff to oversee our registry ramp-up project, but as things have unfolded, she will accept the challenge of developing all the relationships in our organization that are so crucial to our ongoing success. Megan has been out to our office multiple times, and Kathy has been training Megan personally. Although her first official day on the job is March 1, she’s been hard at work for Nevus Outreach for months already. She will hit the ground running for sure!
On behalf of all of us at Nevus Outreach I want to express thanks to both of these professionals for their incredible dedication to the tasks before them. We wish Kathy all the best in the great things she’s moving in to. We welcome Megan with open hearts and all the support we can give.
In Other News
In 2007 we realized that “off-conference years” were the times to encourage people to pull together regional get-togethers. I encourage you to look at all of these events in the works:
March 20-22, 2009 – our 2nd family gathering in the Poconos of northeastern Pennsylvania. Details here.
April or May – potential gathering in Orlando.
April or May – Adults with nevi party in Las Vegas!
If you want to hold a gathering, or just throw a Nevus Party (!), our office stands ready to help you publicize it and help you make it a great success!
Science Does Not Sleep
Finally, I am pleased to tell you that over the past 48 hours we have laid the groundwork for another practical, cost-effective research/support opportunity. Dr. Miguel Reyes-Múgica has been teaching at Nevus Conferences since 1998 that nevus biopsies are very easy to mis-diagnose. If anybody can get the diagnosis right, Dr. Reyes can. At his new post as Chief of Pathology and Director of Laboratories at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, he is launching an informal program to offer patients a second opinion on pathology of nevus biopsies and excisions. In collaboration with Nevus Outreach, he will be making his expert services available at no cost to the patient. Stay tuned for details, or contact us now if you just can’t wait!
Our most heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Reyes for offering the highest quality assistance with this never-ending need.
So – science does not sleep and apparently neither can we! But that’s okay. Your appreciation and support, and the knowledge that we are all making a difference together in the lives of people affected by large nevi, is reward enough. Keep up the good work! Remember: if we don't do it, it won't get done.
Sleepy but happy,
Not this year. We noticed the most remarkable thing when the economy got tough – support for Nevus Outreach continued to increase. In these unlikely times, we are closing on the end of a record fiscal year! Thanks to all of you for supporting what you believe in and have confidence in. It’s incredible.
A Fond Farewell
Talk about "going out at the peak," This month we say farewell to Kathy Wright, the Nevus Outreach Director of Development, under whose enthusiastic guidance this record year has become a reality. Kathy has been with us for almost three years but she is now pursuing other activities. Kathy will remain in close contact with Nevus Outreach. Her last day is February 28.
A Warm Welcome
Many of you know Megan Fields, one of the most delightful faces of Nevus Outreach since 2002 when she attended her first conference in Salt Lake City. Megan is an adult with a giant nevus. She teaches Public Speaking at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. We have been talking to Megan off and on since 2006 about coming onto the Nevus Outreach team. Now that she’s finished school, she’s ready to take it on!
A Smooth Transition
At conference 2008, we talked to Megan about coming on staff to oversee our registry ramp-up project, but as things have unfolded, she will accept the challenge of developing all the relationships in our organization that are so crucial to our ongoing success. Megan has been out to our office multiple times, and Kathy has been training Megan personally. Although her first official day on the job is March 1, she’s been hard at work for Nevus Outreach for months already. She will hit the ground running for sure!
On behalf of all of us at Nevus Outreach I want to express thanks to both of these professionals for their incredible dedication to the tasks before them. We wish Kathy all the best in the great things she’s moving in to. We welcome Megan with open hearts and all the support we can give.
In Other News
In 2007 we realized that “off-conference years” were the times to encourage people to pull together regional get-togethers. I encourage you to look at all of these events in the works:
March 20-22, 2009 – our 2nd family gathering in the Poconos of northeastern Pennsylvania. Details here.
April or May – potential gathering in Orlando.
April or May – Adults with nevi party in Las Vegas!
If you want to hold a gathering, or just throw a Nevus Party (!), our office stands ready to help you publicize it and help you make it a great success!
Science Does Not Sleep
Finally, I am pleased to tell you that over the past 48 hours we have laid the groundwork for another practical, cost-effective research/support opportunity. Dr. Miguel Reyes-Múgica has been teaching at Nevus Conferences since 1998 that nevus biopsies are very easy to mis-diagnose. If anybody can get the diagnosis right, Dr. Reyes can. At his new post as Chief of Pathology and Director of Laboratories at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, he is launching an informal program to offer patients a second opinion on pathology of nevus biopsies and excisions. In collaboration with Nevus Outreach, he will be making his expert services available at no cost to the patient. Stay tuned for details, or contact us now if you just can’t wait!
Our most heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Reyes for offering the highest quality assistance with this never-ending need.
So – science does not sleep and apparently neither can we! But that’s okay. Your appreciation and support, and the knowledge that we are all making a difference together in the lives of people affected by large nevi, is reward enough. Keep up the good work! Remember: if we don't do it, it won't get done.
Sleepy but happy,
Mark Beckwith
Executive Director
Nevus Outreach, Inc.
