winter 2014/2015 north state: Programs & services in your community
open enrollment!
It’s that time of year again to evaluate your current health insurance plan for whether it still meets your medical needs and considering different coverage if it doesn’t. The three month Open Enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace, the online health insurance shopping ‘portal’ through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ends February 15, 2015. What You Should Know: Open Enrollment is the only time of year that people who are not already insured can apply for coverage and tax credits, unless they qualify for a special enrollment due to certain circumstances. It is also the only time current enrollees in a Marketplace plan can compare their current coverage to other options and enroll in another plan. Before enrolling in a new plan, people with MS should check to see if their prescription drugs and health care providers are covered. Visit www.healthcare.gov to register or switch plans. If you have questions about MS and the Health Insurance Marketplace, call our MS Navigators at 800-344-4867 for assistance.
UPCOMING PROGRAMs Registration is required for all programs unless otherwise stated. Register by calling 1-800-344-4867 or visiting our Calendar at www.nationalMSsociety.org/calendar/ norcal.
Online Newly Diagnosed Orientation Thursday, January 8th Thursday, March 12th 6:00pm - 7:30pm Online and over the phone Are you Newly Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? A diagnosis of MS can create many unexpected emotions that leave you with a strong need to understand the changes you are facing. This web based program will be conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Crabtree, Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology at UCSF and Director of Patient Program Development at UCSF’s MS Center. Dr. Crabtree will address the most common concerns for people who are newly diagnosed. This orientation provides an excellent opportunity to have any questions you may wish to ask answered and learn more about the resources available to persons with multiple sclerosis. A phone and computer with internet access will be necessary to join this program.
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north state: Programs & Services: winter 2014/2015
AXS Mapathon Saturday, January 24 1:00pm - 4:00pm Peet’s Coffee and Tea 650 4th St, #100, Santa Rosa th
Saturday, March 14th 1:00pm - 4:00pm Peet’s Coffee and Tea 5 Petaluma Blvd S., Petaluma Axsmap.com is a website data base that houses ratings on both bathroom accessibility and overall accessibility for people using wheelchairs. We will meet at Peet’s Coffee & Tea and split off into groups and comb the streets of downtown Santa Rosa and downtown Petaluma to rate the accessibility of downtown businesses via the AXS Map smart phone app. People of all ability levels are welcome to participate in our AXS Mapathon. Please bring your smart phone fully charged! We need you! For more information, please contact Amy Clark at 530-863-7818 or email amy.clark@nmss.org.
Chico MS Soiree Friday, January 30th 6:30pm Women’s Club 592 E. 3rd St, Chico Come one and all to the Chico MS Soiree, a benefit for the Northern California Chapter. Our 3rd MS Soiree will include fabulous music artists: The Brother’s Comatose, John Craigie and The Mondegreens. There will be a raffle
prize drawing, Sierra Nevada beer, vino from Counter Punch Wines and delicious fare from Blush Catering. This event is open to the public and all proceeds will go to Walk MS Chico. Tickets are $22 pre-sale and $25 at the door. This event promises to be one you don’t want to miss! For more information please visit chicomssoiree.com, search “Chico MS Soiree 2015” on Facebook or contact Amy Clark at 530-863-7818 or amy.clark@nmss.org.
Lagunitas Brews and Blues Against MS! Monday, March 30th 5:30pm - 8:30pm Lagunitas Brewing Company 1280 North McDowell Blvd, Petaluma Mark your calendar! Lagunitas Brewing Company has joined the movement against a world free of MS by donating 100% of the beer proceeds to the National MS Society for this one night. We will have a pizza and salad buffet and feature Petaulma Blues Band Favorite Randy and the Special Agents. Bring the family, friends and fun to this event celebrating the last day of MS Awareness month! Ticket sales at the door and proceeds go back to supporting Walk MS Santa Rosa teams and Walk MS Goal 2014! Tickets are $10 at the door.
register at nationalmssociety.org/can | 1-800-344-4867
Walk MS Santa Rosa, bring it on! Santa Rosa Walk MS Team Captains who have the most ticket sales in support of their team will win the night’s beer proceeds towards their team’s fundraising! Southern California & Nevada One-on-One Newly Diagnosed Orientation
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what’s happening in northern california See page 4 for the dates, times, and locations of our Mood and Cognition programs.
Bay Area • Newly Diagnosed Orientation, February
Are you newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? A diagnosis of MS can create many unexpected emotions that leave you with a strong need to understand the changes you may be facing. This informative program will address the most common concerns for people who are newly diagnosed as well as family and friends who want to learn more.
4th in San Francisco • Everyday Matters: Living Your Best Life with MS, February 4th - March 4th in San Francisco • Walnut Creek Mix & Mingle Walk KickOff, March 3rd in Walnut Creek • Easing Make Up Application with MS, March 22nd in Pleasanton
To schedule a one-on-one Newly Diagnosed Orientation, please contact Amy Clark at 530863-7818 or email amy.clark@nmss.org.
• Newly Diagnosed Orientation, February
Adaptive Yoga for MS Tuesdays 11:00am - 12:00pm Gaya Shelton-Ostadi’s Yoga Studio 724 Leo St, Santa Rosa Join us for weekly gentle yoga classes and practice asanas (exercises) that emphasize lubricating joints, gentle movement and balance skills for students of all abilities. Classes are $11/drop in or $72 for 8 weeks. Contact Gaya at 707-2393650 or email yogawithgaya@gmail.com.
Central Valley
3rd in Modesto • Rally in the Valley, March 14th in Oakdale • Yoga Class for People with MS, Tuesdays in Modesto
Sacramento
• Learning Your Options: An Update on MS
• • • •
Treatments and Clinical Trials, January 20th in Carmichael Free From Falls, January 29th - March 19th in Citrus Heights UC Davis Medical Center MS Support Group, February 4th in Sacramento In-Person Newly Diagnosed Orientation, February 5th in Carmichael 2nd Annual ReUseIt Clothing Drive, March 2nd - 15th in Carmichael, Citrus
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north state: Programs & Services winter 2014/2015
Heights, Rocklin, and Sacramento • Sacramento Mix & Mingle Walk MS Kick-Off, March 4th in Sacramento • Bladder Problems & Impact on Life with MS, March 18th in Sacramento
South Bay
• Tara Talks, January 8th in Salinas, 15th in • • • • • • •
Santa Cruz and 22nd in Monterey Partners of MS Support & Social, February 7th in Santa Clara Newly Diagnosed Orientation, February 10th in Santa Clara Wine Down Wednesday, February 18th in Los Gatos Crafting for a Cure for Kids, March 3rd in Santa Clara MS Awareness Fair, March 6th in Marina Stretching, Strength and Aquatics, March 31st - April 16th in Marina San Jose Sabercats, coming soon in San Jose
MARIN COUNTY
• Corte Madera - Vicki: 415-892-7370,
Anita: 415-892-5548
MENDOCINO COUNTY
• Fort Bragg - Alice: 707-964-7850
SHASTA COUNTY
• HOPE 4 MS - Beth: 530-246-8404,
Patricia: 530-222-7277
SONOMA COUNTY
• Petaluma - Rebecca: 209-327-8050 • Santa Rosa - Susan: 707-544-9654,
Debbie: 707-548-8437 • Windsor - Kate: 707-433-9194, Becky: 707-303-5207
SUTTER COUNTY
• Yuba City - Evon: 530-701-2189yo
ONLINE
• “Second Life” - John: 916-708-9708
self-help groups BUTTE COUNTY
• Chico - Amy: 530-863-7818, Tracy:
530-343-3623
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
• Eureka - Ann Louise: 707-839-0177,
Kim: 707-445-9803
connect wtih a self-help group in your community or connect online at msconnection.org!