NEXT US TOO MEETING - TUESDAY JUNE 11, 2002
CAMPUS AUDITORIUM, WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH CENTRE, 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
BRAMPTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, 20 LYNCH STREET, BRAMPTON, ONTARIO.

JUNE 11 "COMPUTER NIGHT" - DON GRANT & CO.
The first half of our final meeting of 2001 - 2002 will be hosted by Don Grant, who will attempt to shed some light on the wonderful world of computing. If you are considering the purchase of a home computer and / or Internet and e-mail services, this session could help you out. (Remember: there is no such thing as a stupid question! You learn by asking questions of people. Even if they are only slightly ahead of you, they may still have the answer.)
Don is a talented novice who has done wonders over the past few years by setting up and maintaining the US TOO! Brampton web site with help from our English webmeister, Peter Dutch. Don has recruited two new members, who are technically inclined, to help US TOO! make use of high tech tools to better deliver our services.
Jim Dorsey is a full-time computer trainer and consultant and a genuine "propeller head" who often has to be physically restrained around computers. He serves as Newsletter Editor, Database Manager and Report Designer.
Mukul Luthra is the fourth and newest member of our "high tech" team. Mukul is an engineer and a full-time consultant to computer component manufacturers around the world. Mukul functions as our audiovisual expert and is also a very skilled computer user. He has just set up our new web site, www.ustoo-brampton.com (see below).
Through the efforts of this team, we can demonstrate our existing US TOO! web site and its powerful links to the Internet at this meeting. If time and interest allow, we will also provide an overview of an advanced multimedia tool for Prostate Cancer awareness, "Understanding Prostate Cancer", which has been developed in Ontario.

JUNE 11 "POTLUCK DINNER"
Finally, our June potluck dinner will follow. This event has become a highlight of each year's activities with the welcome and increasing participation of our partners in life. If you have not yet volunteered to bring a contribution of food or drink, please contact our Secretary, Marg Butterly at (905) 454-4237. Margaret advises that so far attendees will be sharing a box of doughnuts and a bottle of water. Please give her a call and save us from starvation!

MAY MEETING
Arlene Dalton's presentation on "Yoga, Meditation and Health" was well received by some 50 members and guests even though a major NHL hockey game was underway. A highly experienced Hatha Yoga instructor with a background in Social Services, Arlene cleared up some common misconceptions about yoga. She then led the audience through some basic yoga postures, followed by a brief "mindwatch" and ending with a short relaxing meditation. All agreed that Arlene should be asked to speak at future meetings.

"LIVING PROOF" NATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
As described on Page 3 of the Canadian Prostate Cancer Network News in March, 2002:
"CPCN seeks funding to launch national campaign
"Over the past year, this poster [omitted: it shows a rogue's gallery of nine Newfoundland PC survivors.] and variations of it have been appearing in communities across Newfoundland. Men featured in the poster are prostate cancer survivors living in the province. The message of the campaign is 'Early detection of prostate cancer saves lives and these men from every corner of the province are Living Proof that it works.'
"As you read this, CPCN is negotiating with possible funding partners to take this idea and send it across the nation. Each province of Canada will have representatives from each region of the province. The posters and brochures will be distributed through pharmacies, clinics, libraries, in every corner of the land sending a united, strong message to 'Get the test!'"
Your Steering Committee and other members are very excited that the CPCN is taking this major step on behalf of Prostate Cancer victims, existing and potential. As we are all aware, Prostate Cancer is the often neglected brother of Breast Cancer. This campaign should do a lot to change that situation.
For more information, check the CPCN web site at www.cpcn.org.

NEW MEMBERS
The June New Member meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 in the auditorium   The following people joined our group in May: Bob & Debbie Allan, Robert & Mary Lou Gormley, Mohindar & Inderjit Gujral and Vincent and Maureen Marino.

FINANCES
As the end of the current term approaches we can reflect on our successes and shortcomings over the past year. Significant progress has been made with our financial standing. A year ago we had a bank balance of close to $6,000 and today we are close to $10,000.
However, we can foresee significant capital expenditures and commitments that will strain our resources considerably in the next year. Two examples are...
(1) Our area's growth and aging population has resulted in a 40% membership growth in the last 12 months. Hence the growing need for a local information centre, which will require both capital investment and monthly operating funds.
(2) "Living Proof", the planned campaign by the Canadian Prostate Cancer Network described above will rely upon funding from pharmaceutical companies, groups like ours and individuals. It will seek to significantly increase national awareness of prostate cancer. We must be prepared to participate in funding this effort..
We have resumed our trek toward registration as a charitable organization now that that the Ontario civil service strike has been settled. The first step, incorporation, is well underway. It will take another 6 to 8 weeks to complete the process. Our official name will be "US TOO! Prostate Cancer Support Group, Brampton Inc."
Over the past year we have been saddened by the passing of both members and loved ones. Friends have contributed to our cause in memory of our members. Likewise, we have contributed to other charities in memory of loved ones. Last year's golf tournament, the play 'The Wild Guys', a raffle, the sale of reef knot pins, donations from the Fountain of Hope, Pinnacle Pharmaceuticals, membership donations and others, helped our treasury considerably. We hope that such more pleasant events will continue to occur.
- Gerry Brunjes, Finance

AWARENESS REPORT
Training for the Coast-to-coast walk in September continues - it is of course only 3 months away! - and I plan to squeeze in several day-long walks during the summer. Our Ontario summer should be much hotter than September in northern England, so the extra physical exertion due to heat should add an extra dimension to my training schedule. I plan also to use the "Relay for Life" event as part of an endurance test even though it will mean going around the race track until one is dizzy. (Check out Ian's web site devoted to his walk at http://www.coast2002coast.net/)
I have made a start organizing presentations to outside groups for later in the fall session. These will include the Shrine Club and the Canadian Legion, both of whom are definitely interested. I plan to call the City concerning a combined presentation to their staff and the Rotary Club.
Volunteers will be needed to restock the Brampton pharmacies with our various awareness flyers but that likely will not happen before August. This will involve going to every pharmacy in the city - all 55 of them - with information packages of leaflets and brochures. A good way to see the city! Those interested in helping out, please call me so that we can plan routes etc. closer to the actual date.
- Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator (905) 454-3880 iclacewood@globalserve.net.

RELAY FOR LIFE
A final reminder that US TOO! Brampton is entering a team in this year's Relay For Life, operated by the Canadian Cancer Society. We are seeking a total of 10 to 12 team members to participate in this overnight noncompetitive relay.. You can call Jim Dorsey at (905) 453-3038 or Ian Smith at (905) 454-3880. This year's Relay will be held at the Caledon Fairgrounds starting at 7:00 PM on Friday, June 21st and finishing at 7:00 AM Saturday, June 22. Each team member must collect a minimum of $100 in pledges in order to participate.
If you don't fancy a night out with the boys, you are welcome to sign up for just the "Survivors' Victory Lap" on the Friday evening. Many of our members have done the Victory Lap over the last few years and have always enjoyed the both it and the other activities immensely. So much so that several of last year's group didn't get home until quite late!

THE US TOO! BRAMPTON 2002 CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT STATUS REPORT
We can still accommodate more golfers. The total cost per golfer is only $60. (If you have already signed up, this amount should have been paid by now.) Please contact me if you are interested in playing. In addition to more players, additional prizes are still welcome; our goal as always is one prize per player.
Finally, if you don't want to play but would like a day out with pleasant company, we can use volunteers to help run the tournament. Please contact me.
We have ordered both golf shirts and golf caps which will be available at the tournament for subsidized prices of $30 and $10 respectively. These products feature the US TOO! logo.
Again, this year's tournament will be held on June 24 at the Acton Golf Club, the same venue as in 2001.  So far this tournament is shaping up to be even more successful than last year's!
- Morris Rambout (905) 793-8843 mrambout@idirect.com.

CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE
A Tumultuous Year! Our ranks grew, and we were saddened by the loss of Gary Lang, Keith Stoddart, Ena Brunjes {Gerry's wife] and my own dear wife Ivy. They say a man functions at his peak with a good soul mate at his side. How True! But life must go on and our group will continue to grow and to help those that seek our guidance.
However, if we are to continue in this vein we must also expand our committees and positions to ensure that our work does not stand still. The burdens placed upon our present volunteers must be reduced and positions rotated to keep this dream alive.
One small task undertaken by a fresh face will go a long way in achieving our aim. Since 1994 we have come a long way in building our chapter into one of the best in the country. This has been acknowledged by other people and organizations, but we cannot stand still.
With the summer looming and creating a minor break for some, please think hard and long. Reflect on what we have achieved and add your name and/or your spouse's to the present group of volunteers. You will not be left to linger; we have immediate requirements on the telephone and steering committee and several smaller tasks that are presently handled by the few regulars. Give me a call anytime or e-mail me.
We welcome your input. Even if you have never done anything similar and feel underqualified, remember that we are all amateurs and that there are no "cliques" here. You will be warmly welcomed and your efforts will be greatly appreciated. We will learn together as we help our fellow cancer victims.
- Fred Norris (905) 877-8092 fred.norris@sympatico.ca.

OUR NEW WEB SITE www.ustoo-brampton.com IS CLOSE
Our existing web site has been developed and maintained by Don Grant and Peter Dutch, our friend and Web Master in England. Don has provided the web site location at no cost to us as part of his Bell Canada service.
Our web site is also growing, so your Steering Committee has approved the registration of our own "domain name" so that we can find the least expensive way to "host" an increasingly powerful web site.
Very soon now, www.ustoo-brampton.com will be become a functioning web site. We will notify you when that happens. In fact, we hope to show it to you at the June meeting.
We thank Don for his efforts and for his generosity. Both Don and Peter will continue to develop and maintain US TOO! Brampton's web site in the exciting years to come.

WE HAVE TO CUT OUR COSTS
As you have gathered by now, we are going to have to spend a lot more money to operate in the future. We will now be paying out money every month to operate our web site. We will be contributing to the "Living Proof" campaign. And hopefully we will be opening an information centre in Brampton.
One way we can reduce costs is to reduce the number of bulletins that we mail out each month. Accordingly, we must regretfully advise that members who do not pay the $10 membership fee will no longer receive the Newsletter.
Furthermore, any member can help reduce our mailing costs by agreeing to receive the Newsletter via e-mail instead of "snail mail.". Just advise one of the Steering Committee members.
Thank you for your understanding and assistance.