For the past several months we have been meeting with Congressman Chris Gibson's District Director, Steve Bulger, to help him understand the issues that are involved with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses and why we need the Congressman's help with this issue. For a disease that's so relatively young, it's an amazingly complicated story to tell. We are extremely fortunate to have in Steve Bulger and Congressman Gibson people who have taken the time to really listen to us as we've explained the microbiology, the politics, the victims' suffering, and all the other complex issues that make up this mess.
Indeed it is a mess, but it's a mess that can be dissected into its various component parts and addressed piece by piece. With this in mind, we've worked with the Congressman's office to create a unique forum to look forward -- to ask "What Needs to Happen NEXT to Relieve the Suffering of the Victims of Tick Borne Diseases?" If we can find some ways to improve some things, that will be a good day's work.
Unlike a scientific conference where presenters need to offer and defend their research, this forum is an "ideas" event. We've asked a broad spectrum of leaders in various fields to come up with new ideas about what needs to happen NEXT. These are "ignition statements", presentations geared to start some new thinking, new solutions, collaborations, or whatever might be inspired by the event.
We hope to accomplish several things at the end of the day. First of all, we want to do what we can to help break the log-jam that is preventing significant advancement, and to identify ways to benefit the victims by advancing new, creative, and though provoking options to the current status quo. We know there is some common ground that all sides of the Lyme debates can occupy together to help move the effort forward. Secondly, we want to present a show of force that there are a LOT of victims suffering with Lyme and the other infections that come with it, and that we want attention and ACTION. It is our hope that the policy-makers and the media will get the message that this is a serious and significant issue that calls for accountability and action.
You are all invited to attend. Please request that your legislators come to hear the speakers, as well. If we want change, it's the legislators who will have to make that happen!
Everyone is welcome. Please be sure to pre-register at www.lymenext.org so we can get a clue about the headcount.
Indeed it is a mess, but it's a mess that can be dissected into its various component parts and addressed piece by piece. With this in mind, we've worked with the Congressman's office to create a unique forum to look forward -- to ask "What Needs to Happen NEXT to Relieve the Suffering of the Victims of Tick Borne Diseases?" If we can find some ways to improve some things, that will be a good day's work.
Unlike a scientific conference where presenters need to offer and defend their research, this forum is an "ideas" event. We've asked a broad spectrum of leaders in various fields to come up with new ideas about what needs to happen NEXT. These are "ignition statements", presentations geared to start some new thinking, new solutions, collaborations, or whatever might be inspired by the event.
We hope to accomplish several things at the end of the day. First of all, we want to do what we can to help break the log-jam that is preventing significant advancement, and to identify ways to benefit the victims by advancing new, creative, and though provoking options to the current status quo. We know there is some common ground that all sides of the Lyme debates can occupy together to help move the effort forward. Secondly, we want to present a show of force that there are a LOT of victims suffering with Lyme and the other infections that come with it, and that we want attention and ACTION. It is our hope that the policy-makers and the media will get the message that this is a serious and significant issue that calls for accountability and action.
You are all invited to attend. Please request that your legislators come to hear the speakers, as well. If we want change, it's the legislators who will have to make that happen!
Everyone is welcome. Please be sure to pre-register at www.lymenext.org so we can get a clue about the headcount.
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