Good news for our Medi-Cal patients!

Thanks to a grass root effort from our PCR members and UOAA in conjunction with industry (Adva Med, a group companies which Convatec is part of) the California Assembly voted down the cuts to the Medi-Cal program. While the governor can overturn this decision even if the senate and assembly both voted the cuts down, this takes a lot of pressure off the situation.

Thanks to all who contacted their legislators. You made it happen!

Marilyn Magoffin  G/A Chair

Ken Aukett President, UOAA Steering Committee P.O. Box 318, Collingswood, NJ 08108 Tel (856) 854 3737 Fax (856) 854 5637 kenaukett@uoaa.org September 9, 2005

UOAA - 'A NEW BEGINNING'

What is UOAA?

The United Ostomy Associations of America or, "UOAA", is a national network for bowel and urinary diversion support groups in America that has been organized to fill the void left by the dissolution of UOA.

It is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, incorporated in New Jersey, managed by volunteers with the cooperation and utilization of outside professional help when required.

What does UOAA hope to accomplish?

The goal of UOAA is to provide a non-profit association that will serve to unify and strengthen the support groups in America, those former UOA chapters and other non UOA groups, that are organized for the benefit of people who have, or will have intestinal or urinary diversions, and for their care givers.

Therefore UOAA's mission is...

UOAA is an association of affiliated, non-profit, support groups who are committed to the improvement of the quality of life of people who have, or will have, an intestinal or urinary diversion.

It is dedicated to the provision of information, advocacy and service to, and for, its affiliated support groups, their members and the intestinal/urinary diversion community at large.

It is organized to grow and develop while remaining independent and financially viable.

Who can join UOAA?

Membership in UOAA is open to any former UOA chapter, or support group, such as those that have been formed by a medical professional, hospital or allied agency, that chooses to affiliate with it. Affiliation is also open to the former UOA network groups.

So then the members of UOAA will be the support groups?

Yes. You can look at it as an association of associations.

What about individual memberships in UOAA?

Members of affiliated support groups will be members of UOAA. UOAA will have no national or association members. UOAA will not compete with the support groups for members!

With no individual memberships how will UOAA communicate with former UOA members and those new ostomy and continent diversion patients looking for information?

UOAA will publish a quarterly magazine, the "PHOENIX ", to which former members of UOA, members of WOCN and any other interested party can subscribe.

Please explain what you mean in your mission statement when you say UOAA is dedicated to the provision of information, advocacy and service to, and for, its affiliated support groups, their members and the intestinal/urinary diversion community at large.

UOAA will provide the following:

• Non-Profit status: UOAA will provide an IRS 501(c)( 3) non - profit tax "umbrella" for its affiliated members. Support groups can take advantage of this coverage and do not have to apply for their own IRS tax exemption.
• Advocacy: UOAA will continue to serve as an advocate for our community as it did in the past. It will provide a national forum to unify our voices for the common good of all people with bowel and urinary diversions at local, State and national levels, with emphasis on both private and governmental health care insurance, and on discrimination issues. The Advocacy Hotline will continue to be available via advocacy@uoaa.org
• Information:
  • UOAA is establishing a comprehensive, interactive website, www.uoaa.org that will include an advocacy section, general and network message boards, an open chat room with dedicated network chats and a directory of all affiliated support groups. A section will be dedicated to support group achievements and notable activities. Links will be established to all pertinent websites and to our industry supporters. Design of this site and ongoing maintenance, will be provided by Bob Baumel, UOA's present Webtech.
  • UOAA will have an official quarterly magazine, the "PHOENIX ", that can be obtained through subscription. A complimentary issue of the PHOENIX will be sent to all former UOA members and to the members of WOCN by late December 2005 or early January 2006, together with information about UOAA, and an invitation to subscribe. The annual cost for a subscription will be $ 25.00 payable directly to the publisher. UOAA is pleased to advise that it has contracted with Ian Settlemire, current Editor of UOA's OSTOMY QUARTERLY, to publish the PHOENIX.
  • UOAA will send periodic electronic newsletters to the affiliated support group leaders.
  • UOAA will maintain a library of articles on the website, suitable for use in member newsletters.
• Conferences: UOAA conferences will be held annually, alternating between Regional Conferences one year, and an Annual Conference the next. UOAA will provide logistical support. Regional conferences will be held in 2006 and a national conference will be held in 2007.
• Referral Service: An 800 number will be established in UOAA's Administrative Office. People seeking information about rehabilitative support will be directed to their local area UOAA affiliated support group.
• Network Support: Logistical support will be provided as needed and requested to the following UOA Network support groups: the Teen network; the Young Adult network; the 30+ network; the CD network; and to GLO. UOAA will support the endeavors of the two groups that have recently incorporated and will be operating as independent entities: the Youth Rally Committee, & the Pull-Thru Network.
• Liaisons: In order to promote better working relationships between the UOAA affiliated support groups and their Allied Agencies, Liaisons will be appointed to, and invited from: ACS, ASCRS, CCFA, DDNC, FOW USA, FOW Canada, IOA, The Oley Foundation, The Pull-Thru Network, QLA, The Youth Rally Committee, UOA-Canada, and WOCN.

Who are the people putting UOAA together?

In the Fall of 2006 the Affiliated Support Groups will elect a new Managing Board of Directors. The new officers and directors, including a President-Elect, will take office on January 1st, 2007.

In addition to the Officers and Directors serving on the Organizing Steering Committee the following people are also serving UOAA: Linda Aukett as Advocacy Chair; Bob Baumel as Webmaster; Ian Settlemire as publisher of the PHOENIX ; and Sheldon Sokol as Legal Advisor.

It is the intent of the Organizing Steering Committee to enter into a contractual agreement with an individual to serve as UOAA's Office Administrator. This person will work from their home.

How will UOAA be financed?

UOAA will receive income from the following:

• UOAA will receive 50% of the income from PHOENIX subscriptions. The other 50% and the advertising fees will go to the publisher who will produce and distribute the magazine and maintain the subscription list for UOAA.
• The Managing Board of Directors has the right to set an Annual Affiliation Fee payable by the affiliated support group members. For UOAA's FY 2005 & 2006, this fee will be waived. A fee of $ 2.00 for each member reported to UOAA on the affiliation form submitted by the support group, will be payable on January 1, 2007. The Annual Affiliation Fee for a support group that wishes to join, but differs from the UOA Chapter organizational model, and does not have any members per se, will be $ 25.00 payable on January 1, 2007
• UOAA will solicit advertising for the website.
• UOAA will seek industry sponsorship of key programs.
• UOAA will have a board of trustees who will be responsible for fund raising activities.
• Individual and corporate contributions. As an example, UOAA has been advised that it will be a recipient of funds from the "Get Your Guts in Gear" bike-a-thon that will raise funds for charitable entities like UOAA in two bike races scheduled for 2006, one on the East coast, and one on the West coast.

Note: UOAA's operating budget for FY 2006 will be approximately 20% of UOA's budget for FY 2004/05.

One question that has not been addressed is that of support group voting rights.

A support group will receive one vote for every member that is used in the calculation of its Annual Affiliation Fee. Support groups that do not have any members who pay an Annual Affiliation Fee of $ 25.00, will be eligible to cast 12 votes.

OK, now that I have read the above information and the UOAA Constitution, how does our group go about affiliating???

To affiliate with UOAA complete the enclosed Affiliation Form. In doing so you are attesting that you have read and understand UOAA's requirements for membership which include:

• Acceptance of UOAA's Constitution and agreement to support UOAA's mission, programs and activities;
• Payment of the Annual Affiliation Fee as determined each year by the UOAA Management Board of Directors; (which is waived if you affiliate now).
• Agreement to encourage support group members to subscribe to UOAA's magazine, the PHOENIX;
• Provision of an e-mail address where communications can be sent; Note, affiliations will not be accepted if an e-mail address is not provided!
• Agreement to have an active patient "Visiting Program".
• Agreement that upon dissolution of the group it will give any remaining funds in its treasury to a viable 501(c)(3) charity/s, with strong preference to UOAA, or to other organizations that provide support to ostomates.

On behalf of the UOAA Organizing Committee I hope that this information will answer your questions about becoming one of our affiliated support groups. If I can be of additional assistance please do not hesitate to e-mail me.

Ken Aukett, President

"By affiliating with UOAA you will be joining an organization that is dedicated to increasing your viability as a support group, and, to improving the quality of life, after surgery, of your group's members and the ostomy/continent diversion community it serves."

SELECTION CRITERIA
UOAA YOUTH RALLY COUNSELOR
SPONSORSHIP

PCR BOARD RESPONSIBILITY

• Approves funds to cover registration fee at the transition meeting annually
• Vice President to post application on the PCR website no later than January 31 of each calendar year or earliest date applications available
• Board members to review applications and select an applicant(s) to receive the designated funds by June 30 of each calendar year

CRITERIA

• Active member of PCR
• Completed UOAA application
• Acceptance by UOAA as counselor
• PCR Board members will review all applications and assign designated funds to partially cover registration fees
  • If a Board member is applying for the funds then that member(s) will refrain from the review process
• If no applications are received the PCR Board will exercise one of the following options
  • Roll the funds over to the next calendar year
  • Make the funds available to defray costs for a youth attending the rally from the PCR region
  • Return the funds to PCR region's operating budget