Money, money, money,
money---------M-O-N-E-Y. So goes the theme song that introduces each
weekly episode of “The Apprentice”, Donald Trump’s “contribution” to
reality TV. NEMSN bears absolutely no resemblance to Mr. Trump or The
Apprentice. However, it requires money to provide services.
NEMSN members, friends
of the organization and victims of EMS have been very generous. Over
the past four years that I have served as NEMSN’s Treasurer, $22,000 in
donations have landed in my mailbox, destined for NEMSN’s bank account.
For such a small group, we have big hearts and a lofty willingness to
donate----money, energy and time.
Yes, I receive $5
checks, $25 money orders, the occasional three-digit donation and, very
rarely thankfully, greenbacks. All are deposited expeditiously. All,
regardless of their size or frequency, generate a written thank you.
All make a difference!
In 2004, NEMSN
prudently spent a substantial sum of money. $8,159 to be precise. This
covered our normal expenses for producing and distributing the
newsletter ($1,200 per issue). NEMSN continued with its upgrade of our
webpage (nemsn.org). The NEMSN Board of Directors continued to meet by
conference call (averaging $125 per meeting call; eight calls in 2004).
In other words and regarding the past four years, NEMSN typically
expends $4,000 - $5,000 annually to provide you with information,
access, assistance and, hopefully, a sense of “being in this together.”
The Board of Directors
decided last summer to participate directly in the National Institutes
of Health conference on EMS conducted in October, 2004 in Bethesda,
Maryland. The conference was borne out of NEMSN’s successful
congressional lobbying two years ago. NEMSN incurred approximately
$4,100 in one-time extraordinary costs. It was money well spent as
several of the other articles in this issue explain. The Board made
numerous personal contacts with key scientists, providers and
clinicians. We got a sense of what future research opportunities could
be pursued to address EMS and other immune-mediated diseases. We sent a
face-to-face message to those who have studied EMS – but don’t have to
live with it daily. In other words, the Board used your generous
contributions wisely and effectively. The Board members returned home
from the conference reinvigorated, realistic and with restored hope.
NEMSN ended 2004 with
$7,132 in the bank. $2,400 of that is designated solely, per your
previous donations, for resolving issues regarding the MDL documents.
It cannot be used for other purposes. Therefore, we start 2005 with
about the amount of money ($4,732) it takes to provide basic services
and conduct our normal business.
Like many nonprofit
organizations, NEMSN hit a bump in the road regarding total
contributions received during 2004. NEMSN contributions totaled $2,923,
substantially under amounts from previous years. The Board hopes that
you can find it in your heart and resources to contribute more in 2005.
Possibilities for renewed research, new congressional language, an
ever-improving webpage, our periodic newsletter all take-------money!
Contribute if you can. Contribute more if you can. And, whether you
contribute or not, NEMSN is about all of us.
