I

OUR NEXT MONTHLY MEETING IS AT 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2005
We are pleased to announce the evening's presentation by Dr. S. D. Sehdev, Oncologist, titled "The Latest in Chemotherapy Treatment". Back by popular demand, Dr. Sehdev is a well known specialist in Chemotherapy. At his last appearance at our October 2001 meeting, Dr. Sehdev presented an excellent and informative talk on 'Hormonal Therapy'.
This is a 'not-to-be-missed' opportunity to learn about the latest advances in Chemotherapy and to have your questions and concerns addressed by an expert in the field. Please send your questions for Dr. Sehdev to: Fred Norris, Chairman, (905) 877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.
We continue to meet in Room #2, The Terry Miller Recreation Center, 1295 Williams Parkway at the southwest corner of Williams Parkway & Bramalea Road. Parking is free.
 

DECEMBER 14, 2004 HOLIDAY POT LUCK & SOCIAL EVENING
Some 65 members, wives and guests braved the winter to enjoy this delightful Christmas Pot Luck and year-end social event.
We were privileged to have Mark Dailey of City TV, well known as Co-anchor of "CityPulse Tonight" and "The Voice of City TV" as a guest speaker at our event. Mark was accompanied by a cameraman, so the event enjoyed media coverage. And back by popular demand were Bruce Laing and Josh Crocker to provide us with live entertainment. What more could we ask?!
Chairman Fred Norris made his opening remarks and then invited Mark Dailey to share his sentiments following his diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer. Mark is an avid supporter of our cause and we are very grateful to have his support. Mark has produced a 5-part TV series on prostate cancer: "Journey To A Cure". The series has been aired on City TVand it can be viewed online at: http://www.pulse24.com/News/Newserials/page.asp Once on the page scroll down to the video "Journey to A Cure".
Members then enjoyed a sumptuous meal accompanied by live music. Everyone knows Bruce and Josh by now but for our newcomers, 'B' & 'J' are our 'homegrown' talents from Georgetown. The duo delighted us at our June 2004 pot luck and later that month played at the 'Relay for Life' event. For this Christmas pot luck they were back with another program specially for Us-Too! Brampton. The live performance added a festive dimension to the evening, as members listened and tapped to their Christmas favorites and enjoyed many old time favorites. The mood is captured in a number of photographs on our web site. Our thanks to Bruce and Josh for livening up the evening!
The event concluded with our customary Charity Raffle, which kept members smiling as they won the many wonderful prizes. The top prize, the Afghan, ultimately ended up with 5-year-old Alisa Luthra and has become her favorite snuggle in these wintry times. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all those who contributed to the prizes. The Raffle is not only a worthwhile cause - it always adds an interesting and exciting closure to the event.
This was one very delightful evening. Thanks, everyone!
 

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
This is going to be an eventful year with the 2005 CPCN Conference being held in Toronto and our goal to hold at least two No Charge P.S.A. Clinics during the year. This will take money, determination, cooperation and commitment to achieve. In the meantime we must continue to keep abreast of the disease and make sure that we continue to obtain all the latest information for our members. Your Steering Committee continues to address these problems. The Speaker Committee continues to strive to obtain the best available speakers, while recognising that we must have some levity along with PCa information.
Please continue to give us your support both financially and in body. A Happy, Healthy New Year to You All!
Chairman, Fred Norris, (905) 877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

2004-2005 GUEST SPEAKERS
Our confirmed speakers and events for the remainder of the 2004 - 2005 season are:
Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - Dr. David Evans (Topic to be Confirmed).
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 - Dr. Ian Tannock will present a talk on the side-effects of hormone treatment and how they may affect individuals differently.
We are actively seeking interesting speakers to fill the balance of our 2004 - 2005 season!
Mukul Luthra, Speaker Committee, (519) 853-4075, e-mail mukul.luthra@ustoo-brampton.com

NEW MEMBER MEETINGS
New Member meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month throughout the year. The next scheduled meeting will be held between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25.
Please be sure to phone ahead to confirm meeting time and location. Contact: Sean Butterly, Special Consultant at (905) 454-4237 or Chairman, Fred Norris, at (905) 877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

FINANCE
So ... another year comes to a close, and hopes for an even better year ahead take precedence in our minds. It behooves us to glance back at our performance over the last twelve months, and to assess our operation in financial terms. This gives us a yard stick to measure our potential future actions and functions for the year ahead. We have many ideas that will hopefully create more PCa Awareness in the minds of the public.
Raising funds to finance the future is a must of course. I need hardly say that what we want to do requires cash; precious little of substance can be done without it.
Over the past twelve months the Golf Tournament, Theatre Night, Membership subscriptions, donations from AstraZeneca, The Rotary Club, The Knights of Columbus, donations from individual members and other sponsors have enabled us to keep things in reasonably good shape.
As you know, our costs have risen with such things as room rentals for both the General membership and new member meetings, the No Charge PSA Clinic that we ventured into last April and costs to attend the 2004 CPCN Convention in Calgary. Fortunately, income has been able to keep ahead of expenses, but this may not be the case for the coming year unless we continue to work hard.
So ... we have made a NEW YEARS' RESOLUTION. Put simply... raise the necessary capital to hold at least two No Charge PSA Clinics in 2005. I think you will agree that this is a great way to raise PCa Awareness, which after all is our mandate.
Your committee has therefore seen fit to form a subcommittee for fundraising. With Ian Smith at its helm and Bob Vandrish and myself to spur him along, wish us luck as we venture into the big time money raising business. Well... nothing ventured nothing gained. If you have ideas or suggestions, we would love to hear from you. Wishing all a Healthy, Happy and Harmonious NEW YEAR!
Sincerely, Gerry Brunjes, Finance, (905) 791-3043, e-mail gerry.brunjes@ustoo-brampton.com.

 

US TOO! BRAMPTON 5th ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT, JUNE xx, 2005
Peter Barhydt, our Golf Convener for the 2005 Tournament, held the first Golf Committee meeting on November 4. The next meeting is to be held in January, so we should have more information in the February Newsletter. As always, your suggestions and participation are welcome.
Contact: Peter Barhydt: (905) 459-8516, peter.barhydt@ustoo-brampton.com OR Fred Norris: (905) 877-8092, fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

 

AWARENESS
At the December Steering Committee meeting, it was decided that Gerry Brunjes, Bob Vandrish and Ian Smith will form a fundraising subcommittee. Allowing for the Christmas and New Year break, we certainly hope to report some progress in the February Newsletter.
As Gerry and Fred mention above, the No Charge PSA Clinics that we would like to hold during 2005 depend upon the success of our fundraising efforts.
Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, (905) 454-3880, or e-mail ian.smith@ustoo-brampton.com.

 

THIS IS YOUR NEWSLETTER - PLEASE PARTICIPATE
As you have gathered, I love to see myself in print, but I'd rather edit your items than write my own. PLEASE feel free to send items of interest or to complain about the content or lack thereof of this newsletter. Submissions are welcome: E-mail jim.dorsey@ustoo-brampton.com OR "Snail Mail"
J. Dorsey, 5 Lisa Street, Suite 908, Brampton L6T 4T4.

CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE - www.ustoo-brampton.com
As always, Mukul Luthra, our Multimedia Specialist, has spent many, many hours updating the web site with articles, photos, video clips and other features. We owe him much thanks for his tireless efforts!
Contact Mukul Luthra, (519) 853-4075, e-mail mukul.luthra@ustoo-brampton.com.