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URGENT-CDN MSERS PLEASE READ

Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 7:58 pm
by Chrystal
Dear Fellow MSers,

Please read the message below from CCSVI Coalition (formerly known as the Blocked Veins MS Research group), forward to other MSers, and also post where ever you can.

The vascular health and the right to appropriate vascular healthcare of all MSers in Canada continues to be held hostage, by the actions and inactions of the MSSC and their advisors.

The MSSC has not been listening to so many of us. It has advocated against us where CCSVI is concerned. It has banned, blocked, ignored and muzzled many of us. And yet, it still continues to give the donating public the incorrect impression that it is representing all of us.

Whether you are a registered MSSC member or not, the MSSC continues to advise and influence the government on decisions that affect your life and health. If you are not a member, please become one. If you withdrew your membership or if it has lapsed, please re-apply. Our voices need to be heard, and our votes need to be counted at the upcoming MSSC AGM. Please read the message below from CCSVI Coalition, and act promptly to make sure this opportunity is not lost...there are deadlines involved. Thank you.

BTW, please do not assume that you are a "member in good standing" even if you have regularly received their fundraising letters, MSWALK promotions, etc., this happened to others last year who attended the AGM and voted, only to be informed they were "not in the system". You need to be a member in good standing and in the MSSC system, in order for your proxy vote to count.

Take care and keep well,
Chrystal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Is your Society acting on your wishes?

If so, you should let them know; if not, you really must let them know!

The Annual General Meeting of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada will be held Saturday, June 18 in Toronto . If you can attend – please do. If you cannot attend, consider sending in this proxy form and we will make your vote count.

http://ccsvicoalition.org/wp-content/up ... 1_2011.pdf

Last year we collected proxies and represented more than 300 members at the AGM. The MS Society collected slightly more proxies, largely from employees, and so we were not successful in electing members who are sympathetic to CCSVI to the board of directors.

Our goals are to:

1. Devote many more resources to researching CCSVI, including clinical trials, diagnosis, and post-treatment care.

2. Advocate for the immediate availability of treatment for CCSVI in Canada for all patients who have CCSVI and elect to have it treated.

If you support these goals, this is one way to be heard. Complete the proxy form at this link, and mail, fax, or e-mail it to the co-ordinates on the form. Please do it ASAP, we can’t use proxies received too late.

Note that you must be a member of the MS Society to vote. If you have
MS, membership is free.


To renew or obtain membership call 1-800-268-7582 or (416) 967-3036, or go to the MS Society’s membership page at http://mssociety.ca/en/involved/member.htm


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More info. about the MSSC AGM can be found on Page 7/8 of the Spring 2011 MS Canada Magazine
http://mssociety.ca/en/information/msnewsletter.htm

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of the members of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada will be held at the Marriott Bloor Yorkville, 90 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON. M4W 1A7, on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) for the following purposes:


i) Receiving the report of the members of the National Board of Directors and the audited financial statements for the year January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010; together with the report of the auditors thereon;

ii) Electing members of the National Board of Directors;

iii) Appointing auditors;

v) Such further and other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

One position for director-at-large will become vacant just before the AGM. Any member wishing to nominate a candidate as a director-at-large must do so on or before Friday, June 10, 2011, in accordance with the bylaws of the MS Society of Canada .

Membership in the MS Society of Canada is held through individual chapters or divisions of the MS Society. Each chapter or division has the authority to make and amend membership rules and regulations including stipulating a waiting period for new members to be eligible to vote at members meetings.

In light of this, members attending the AGM will be confirmed in good standing and provided with voting cards as appropriate in keeping with the governing rules and regulations of the chapter or division of which they hold membership.

Members in attendance at the AGM will be required to provide valid photo identification.

More info. about the MSSC AGM can be found on Page 7/8 of the Spring 2011 MS Canada Magazine

http://mssociety.ca/en/information/msnewsletter.htm

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 12:46 am
by Chrystal
REMINDER:

Please do not forget to check your Membership Status with the MSSC. You have to be a Member "in good standing" and in their "system", or they will not count your vote/proxy vote.

To renew or obtain membership call 1-800-268-7582 or (416) 967-3036, or go to the MS Society’s membership page at http://mssociety.ca/en/involved/member.htm

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 2:06 am
by 1eye
bump

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 3:22 am
by scorpion
It has banned, blocked, ignored and muzzled many of us.
Hey at least they have not adopted water boarding to their repertoire of means to quell the CCSVI movement! I would hope no one is being banned or blocked but as for muzzled well.......

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 4:59 am
by Blaze
Thanks for the update Chrystal. This is exactly the reason I did not cancel my MSSC membership--although I stopped donating.

I voted by proxy last year and will do so again this year.

I seem to remember in previous years MSSC actually sent out the proxy ballots. They didn't last year and I have not received one this year. Gee, I wonder why.

I will also pass this on to others. Thanks again.

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:20 pm
by bruce123
Ok, I joined. How do I know if I am a member in good standing?

I have a number of family and friends who I think would be interested in becoming "active" members of the MS Society.

Bruce.

Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 9:14 pm
by Chrystal
MORE INFO. I WAS ASKED TO POST:

Remember: MSers can join the MSSC for free. Also, for those who wish to join the MSSC but don’t have MS, it is less expensive to join the Ontario Chapter than the Toronto Chapter. $10 for Ontario, $15 for Toronto. There is no need to join both as being a member of either will give the right to vote at the AGM.


1eye – thank you so much for bumping this post!

Scorpion – Nothing would surprise me! The MSSC has banned many MSers from their Facebook site. It has also blocked us all from adding new posts on that site. The MSSC has also continuously ignored many letters, e-mails, phone calls, messages, questions, etc. from so many MSers.

Blaze – great thinking, not to cancel your membership to maintain your voting right! Even though so many of us no longer trust the MSSC and want nothing to do with them anymore…as long as they continue to manipulate the CCSVI situation, we have to make sure our voices are heard and our votes counted.

If you look at the page I referenced above for the MS Canada Newsletter, you will see that the MSSC proxy form gives voting power to an MSSC person. The proxy form created by CCSVI Coalition will ensure that our voice is heard and our vote counted (hopefully, it’s our only chance this time) at the AGM.

Thank you for spreading the word! Judging by what happened last year to keep just two CCSVI-sympathetic reps from getting seats on the Board, it is clear that the MSSC is serving its own interests and not a large number of its clients. Our proxy vote in the MSSC reps’ hands would amount to no vote and no voice for us.

Bruce – thank you for registering. I would contact the National Office (check www.mssociety.ca for contact info.) to confirm that you are in their system as a member in good standing, and that you are eligible to vote/have your proxy vote counted at the June 18 AGM. Keep a record of the date you called, the name of the person you spoke with, his/her position, and phone number extension. If they say you are not in their system – find out why this is and follow up with it further please…even post here so we can track what is going on.

YES, all MSers – please encourage family, friends and supporters to register as MSSC Members, attend the AGM and vote (with their photo ID, which is a new requirement this year), or send their proxy vote in to Janet Heisey. Remember, the MSSC Staff are eligible to vote.

Thanks again, everyone! Take care and keep well.

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 4:11 am
by bruce123
Membership in the MS Society of Canada is held through individual chapters or divisions of the MS Society. Each chapter or division has the authority to make and amend membership rules and regulations including stipulating a waiting period for new members to be eligible to vote at members meetings.
The MSSC follows the posts on this website closely. A large proxy vote from a pro-CCSVI group will be well anticipated. I doubt that this attempt will be successful, but I'll try.

Bruce.

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:18 am
by Chrystal
Hi Bruce,

I have no doubt that the MSSC has been trolling all of the CCSVI sites and pages, including this one.

The MSSC has probably been counting on us MSers to give up the CCSVI fight, knowing the many constraints we face - battling this illness, fatigue, etc., etc.

I never ever attended an MSSC AGM until last year, and I understand many other MSers also haven't been actively participating in the AGMs. With all that has gone on, this really has to change. CCSVI is just one issue (granted a major issue), but there are many others that need addressing.

Last year, the CEO made a point of saying that the Board of Directors are the MSSC "bosses"...how convenient that the MSSC staff is eligible to vote in the bosses of their choice (and keep out whomever they do not want). "Yes" men and women who won't rock the boat and won't challenge the status quo are likely their ideal candidates.

This effort to have our voices heard and votes counted may not be successful, but that really should not be from our lack of trying, so I really thank you for doing so.

Take care and keep well, Bruce.
Chrystal

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 4:30 pm
by 1eye
Got this email from Membership@mssociety.ca:
I see that you are an Active member of the Ottawa Chapter and your
membership will expire on October 8, 2011.

If you've received the most recent copy of MS Canada (Spring 2011), the
proxy form is available in that issue on page 7. You may also find the
on-line copy by clicking on the link below:
http://mssociety.ca/en/pdf/MSCanadaSpring2011.pdf

I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if I can be of any further
assistance.

Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 5:54 pm
by Chrystal
Hi 1eye - thanks for posting your response. Save it please, in case there is any question about proxy votes discarded. Yes the MSSC would love for you and all MSers to give their voting power to the people they've listed on their proxy form. Linda Lumsden is the Chair of the National Board of Directors. I wouldn't be surprised if the other people are also Board Members.

The above link is for those who are content with the status quo, the MSSC's unaccountability, lack of transparency, double talk, questionable actions and inaction on CCSVI.


The proxy form link below is for those who are unhappy with the status quo as described above...those who are deeply concerned because the MSSC's mishandling of CCSVI is a blueprint of how they will handle future pieces of the MS puzzle - unless the MSSC is reined in. Again - to really ensure your voice is heard at this AGM, please complete the proxy vote at this link...

http://ccsvicoalition.org/wp-content/up ... 1_2011.pdf

Make your voice heard.

Complete the proxy form at this link, and mail, fax, or e-mail it the co-ordinates on the form. Please do it ASAP, we can’t use proxies received too late.

Note that you must be a member of the MS Society to vote. If you have MS, membership is free.

To renew or obtain membership call 1-800-268-7582 or (416) 967-3036, or go to the MS Society’s membership page at
http://mssociety.ca/en/involved/member.htm

Thanks!
Take care,


Chrystal

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 11:52 am
by Chrystal
*bump*

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:30 pm
by 1eye
Sorry, that link is coming up blank in my browser. If you send me a PM to a different pdf address I will put a redirected URL to a copy of it on my own web page, or post a cut-and-pasted version nobody can mess with. If it's my fault I'd love to know how to avoid it in the future.

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 12:53 pm
by Chrystal
Thank you for the heads-up, 1eye! Sent you a PM - hope the links work this time.


This is a link for the actual proxy form:

http://ccsvicoalition.org/wp-content/up ... 1_2011.pdf


The proxy form is also at this site:

http://ccsvicoalition.org/

I hope that the links work. Don't know what I am doing wrong....Grrr.

Thanks for your help!

Take care and keep well.
Chrystal

proxy form

Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 3:23 pm
by 1eye
i dunno what happened but all of a sudden i can read it. computers... sheeeessh.