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2009 Camp J.A.M. Draws New Families and Provides Fun and Education for All
One of the AAOLA's most popular and rewarding programs is Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me). Camp J.A.M. is an annual retreat for families affected by juvenile arthritis. Sponsorships and fundraising allow us to offer this weekend retreat virtually free for up to four people per family -- usually the parents, a child with some form of juvenile arthritis and a sibling. We charge only a minimal $35 fee to reserve the family's space at the camp's location, and if more siblings or additional guests are involved, we work with each family on an individual basis to make sure the whole family reaps the benefits of Camp.

Because many families attend Camp each year, we change locations annually. Sometimes we hold the retreat at a traditional camping facility or retreat center; we've also been to the beach! This year's camp was July 31-Aug. 2 at a beautiful retreat center in Eunice, La. Visit our Photo Gallery to see some pictures from the 2009 Camp.

We were thrilled to have 10 families attend, with numerous volunteers to help both adults and kids have fun and stay safe. Some of the volunteers and/or guest speakers who attend Camp each year include doctors and nurses with experience in pediatrics and/or rheumatology; financial planners; health insurance experts; psychologists or social workers; pharmaceutical company reps; and others who have been affected by arthritis in some way and want to "give back" to these kids.

We were happy to have several new families attend Camp J.A.M. this year, although it's tough to see young children struggling with the pain of arthritis. That's one reason why Camp is so important. A large part of the weekend is dedicated to fun. The kids are able to do almost all of the traditional camp activities, such as arts & crafts, horseback riding, swimming, skits, games, etc. in a safe environment.

Camp J.A.M. is also educational, with guest speakers invited to talk to the parents about aspects of juvenile arthritis. Past topics have included information on the latest treatments for JRA, how to work with your child's teachers and how to navigate the health insurance situation.

We'll be posting photos soon from 2009's Camp J.A.M. Please check back! And if you are interested in attending Camp next year or helping out as a volunteer, please e-mail us at any time or contact Karen Kennedy at (225) 761-8230 (toll free 866-390-8736).

2009 National Arthritis Month Activities
This year's National Arthritis Month was a busy one for the Arthritis Association of Louisiana.

A presidential proclamation established May as National Arthritis Month in 1972. Since then, people nationwide have used this month to focus on the prevalence of arthritis and the fact that it affects millions of people of all ages. In fact, some 47 million Americans have one of the more than 100 forms of arthritis. (Read more facts like these on our Arthritis Facts page.)

This year, the AAOLA celebrated by launching an e-newsletter. We're very excited about this new offering. Please sign up using the form at left, under the table of contents. We promise not to overload your in-box. We're planning to send a brief but informative monthly e-newsletter and occasional e-mails when we need to announce breaking news or special events.

The AAOLA also cosponsored two free joint pain seminars (one focused on knee pain and one on hip pain) on May 13 and June 10, along with Stryker Orthopaedics. We were partners in a wonderful charity golf tournament in Lafayette, La., on May 16. This tournament, sponsored by ULL basketball coach Robert Lee, raised funds through a live and silent auction as well. The auction was held Friday night, May 15, at Paragon Casino in Marksville, La., and we hope to have some photos soon from both the auction event and the golf tourney.

We finished off the month with two days of activities on May 29 and 30 at Life Fitness Therapy in Baton Rouge. Participants got all kinds of free screenings and access to free educational workshops on various joint-related issues. It was an exciting Arthritis Month! But there's always something going on at the AAOLA. Keep visiting our home page and calendar of events often to find out what's coming up!

Super Bowl Party Raffle Winner Announced
The board and staff of the Arthritis Association of Louisiana congratulate Rowena Eicker, who won our 2009 Super Bowl Party Raffle prize! Mrs. Eicker won a fantastic 42-inch Magnavox HDTV, jambalaya for 20 courtesy of the Jambalaya Shoppe, and beer for 20 donated by Mockler Beverage Budweiser.

The AAOLA thanks Mrs. Eicker for supporting our programs and services by buying a raffle ticket. Thanks go out to the nearly 300 people who also bought tickets and whose donations will help us continue to provide information, support, exercise programs and other services for people with arthritis in the Capital Area and beyond!

We expect to have our annual LSU season ticket raffle in the late summer, so check back then to learn how you might win four season tickets to LSU's 2009 football season.

Mayor Holden, WAFB's Phil Rainier and Volunteer Robin Mayhall Honored at 10th Annual Gala
Baton Rouge's newly re-elected Mayor-President Kip Holden was honored on Oct. 24 with the Arthritis Association's 2008 Tribute to Excellence Award for his longtime support of nonprofit organizations in our community and his tireless efforts on behalf of the Americans With Disabilities Act Task Force. The award was presented at the AAOLA's 10th annual Tribute to Excellence Gala, our largest yearly fundraiser, on Friday, October 24, at the Holiday Inn Select on Constitution Ave. in Baton Rouge. Holden is pictured at right with AAOLA supporters Van R. Mayhall, Jr., and Van R. Mayhall, III, both attorneys with Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson in Baton Rouge (click to see the full-size photo, courtesy InRegister magazine).

WAFB anchorman and Healthlines reporter Phil Rainier was presented with the Laurie Smith Anderson Award for Excellence in Healthcare Reporting, and Robin Mayhall, vice chair of the AAOLA board, was given a Distinguished Service Award for her longtime volunteer efforts.

The Tribute to Excellence Award is an annual recognition program that honors people who devote substantial time and effort to improving the quality of life for fellow Louisianans through their commitment and dedication to nonprofit organizations and those they serve. Past honorees have been individuals who demonstrated outstanding service and philanthropy in the greater Baton Rouge area. The only exception to this tradition over the years was the 2006 Tribute to Excellence winner, "Katrina hero" Patrick Pearson, a Kenner man who sent his family to safety ahead of Hurricane Katrina's arrival and stayed behind to help rescue, feed and shelter hurricane victims at his own expense.

Other past honorees include J.H. "Jay" Campbell Jr., CEO of Associated Grocers; Richard Lipsey of Lipsey's, Inc.; Gary Sligar, CEO of Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; Gary Mockler, Chairman of Mockler Beverage Co.; LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman; and Gerry Lane of Gerry Lane Enterprises.

In addition to the award presentations, the 2008 Tribute to Excellence Gala included dinner, a brief program about arthritis in Louisiana and a live and silent auction. You can see several photos from the 2008 Gala at InRegister magazine's online photo gallery (scroll down to find the Oct. 24 Arthritis Association Gala link), and others will be posted in our own Photo Gallery page soon.

Judy Walters Wins 2008 LSU Football Ticket Raffle
The winner of our 2008 LSU Raffle Ticket drawing was Judy Walters. The winning ticket number was 967055.

The board, staff and volunteers of the Arthritis Association of Louisiana thank Judy and everyone who bought a ticket. Every one of you is a winner for your support of this very worthy cause!

"JAM in the Tall Timbers" Held June 27-29
The Arthritis Association's seventh annual Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me) was held June 27-29, 2008, and was a big success. We'll be posting photos of the event soon on our photo gallery page.

One of our most popular programs, this weekend retreat for families dealing with the challenge of juvenile arthritis was held this year at the beautiful Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, La. That's why our theme for the year was "JAMmin' in the Tall Timbers!"

Coping with the challenges of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis can take up a lot of a family's time. The AAOLA has designed a special weekend getaway where the whole family — children, teens, and parents — can spend time together in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. Camp J.A.M. is specially geared toward families that are affected by juvenile arthritis but allows families to attend who have been affected by some form of arthritis. And thanks to the generosity of our donors, Camp J.A.M. is free to families except for a small $35 fee to reserve your space.

Interested in attending Camp next year or helping out as a volunteer? Please e-mail us at any time or contact Karen Kennedy at (225) 761-8230 (toll free 866-390-8736).

Free Seminar Covers Advancements in Joint Replacement
On Thursday, Nov. 29, the Arthritis Association and Stryker Orthopaedics presented a free seminar on "New Advancements in Joint Replacement Surgery" at the Baton Rouge General Health Center off Bluebonnet Blvd. The seminar, which featured Dr. Niels Linschoten of Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic, was well attended and covered a number of recent innovations in this surgical area that can have such an impact on many arthritis patients. Dr. Linschoten is also Chief of Orthopaedics at the Baton Rouge General.

Stryker Orthopaedics is working with the AAOLA to schedule future seminars on this and other topics. Watch our Calendar of Events to see when new dates are offered.

Gala Honors LeBlanc, Weatherspoon, Rockhold
The Arthritis Association of Louisiana presented its Ninth Annual Tribute to Excellence Award on Oct. 19 to Price LeBlanc, honoring the businessman, his wife Shirley and their family for their many years of service and philanthropy to the Baton Rouge community.

The AAOLA also selected WBRZ-TV anchorwoman and health reporter Sylvia Weatherspoon to receive the Laurie Smith Anderson Award for Excellence in Healthcare Reporting for her commitment to accuracy, awareness and relevance in healthcare reporting. The award was renamed this year in memory of its first recipient, Baton Rouge Advocate health reporter Anderson, who died of cancer in May. Her husband Bob Anderson, who also works for the Advocate, presented Weatherspoon with the award named for his late wife.

The final award presentation of the evening was a surprise to the recipient, Loyd Rockhold, an entrepreneur and self-made successful businessman who was a longtime supporter of the Louisiana Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and a major force behind the successful break with that group and the founding of the Arthritis Association of Louisiana. Rockhold's friend and fellow Marine Hillar Moore, retired CEO of Associated Grocers, presented him with a Distinguished Service Award, noting that Rockhold had singlehandedly underwritten Camp J.A.M. for its first five years and funded the 2004 Louisiana Arthritis Report. Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me) is an annual summer weekend retreat for children with juvenile arthritis and their families.

The Tribute to Excellence Award is a recognition program that annually honors individuals who devote time and effort to improving the quality of life for fellow Louisianans through their commitment and dedication to nonprofit organizations and those they serve. The award is given each year at the Tribute to Excellence Gala.

Past honorees have been individuals who demonstrated outstanding service and philanthropy in the greater Baton Rouge area. The only exception to this tradition over the years was the 2006 Tribute to Excellence winner, "Katrina hero" Patrick Pearson, a Kenner man who sent his family to safety ahead of Hurricane Katrina's arrival and stayed behind to help rescue, feed and shelter hurricane victims at his own expense.

Other past honorees include J.H. "Jay" Campbell Jr., CEO of Associated Grocers; Richard Lipsey of Lipsey's, Inc.; Gary Sligar, CEO of Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; Gary Mockler, Chairman of Mockler Beverage Co.; LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman; and Gerry Lane of Gerry Lane Enterprises.

The 2007 Tribute to Excellence Gala was emceed by Valentina Wilson, co-anchor with WVLA-TV NBC33 in Baton Rouge. In addition to the awards, the evening included a brief speech by AAOLA Chair Sharon Holder, a rheumatology nurse practitioner with Ochsner Clinic in Baton Rouge, on the impact of arthritis in Louisiana. Vice Chair Robin Mayhall, an arthritis patient and public relations practitioner with Blue Cross, made a brief presentation on Camp J.A.M. A spectacular silent auction and a live auction called by professional auctioneer Robert Burns helped raise funds in support of future AAOLA programs. Burns, of Auction Sells Fast, donated his services for the evening.

The AAOLA is the only local nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives through continuing community service, education and support of research for arthritis and related diseases. For more information, call the office at (225) 761-8230 or browse the pages of this website.

Gala Sponsors
Thanks and appreciation are due to the sponsors and contributors who made the 2007 Tribute to Excellence Gala possible. Major sponsors of the evening were:

• Gold Sponsor: Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
• Silver Sponsor: Gulf States Toyota
• Bronze Sponsor: WAFB-TV Channel 9
• Cocktails Sponsor: Stryker Orthopaedics
• In-kind printing: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Winner of 2007 LSU Season Tickets Raffle Announced
Representatives of the Arthritis Association of Louisiana drew the winning ticket on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, for a set of four LSU football season tickets. The winner is Roxanne Maddie.

Congratulations to Roxanne -- and a HUGE thanks to everyone who purchased tickets for this raffle in support of the AAOLA. Everyone who participated is a winner for contributing to the programs and services the AAOLA provides to people of all ages with arthritis. There will be more opportunities like this one in the future, too! Special thanks to the generous friend who donated the season tickets.

2007 Camp J.A.M. a Big Success
The 2007 edition of Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me), held at a family retreat center near Robert, La., was another big success. Several new families joined the group this year for a weekend of fun, fellowship and learning. Visit our Gallery page to see a selection of photos from this year's Camp J.A.M.

Blue Cross Joins AAOLA to Commemorate National Arthritis Month
The Arthritis Association of Louisiana was one of several exhibitors on May 23 at Jammin' for Joints, an employee wellness event held at the Baton Rouge headquarters of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. The event provided more than 800 participants with information on joint health as well as osteoporosis and related conditions.

The event was also a fundraiser for the AAOLA, with raffle tickets sold in advance and a live auction held at noon on May 23. Nearly $2,000 was raised to help continue AAOLA programs and services such as the upcoming Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me).

The AAOLA Board thanks the Blue Cross Wellness Committee and all the vendors who participated in the Jammin' for Joints event, as well as the raffle and auction item donors.

Arthritis Association Looks Back at 2006 Accomplishments
Board and staff seek support to grow in the New Year

The Arthritis Association of Louisiana (AAOLA) continued throughout 2006 to grow in the area of arthritis education and support — the area that sets us apart from the national organization. We wish all of our members, donors and supporters much happiness, prosperity and good health in the New Year and thank all of you for your help in putting together some of the following programs:

• May arthritis education series: During national Arthritis Awareness Month, we partnered with the Baton Rouge Clinic to conduct a series of arthritis education programs on rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and lupus. More than 480 people attended.

• RA 101: What the Newly Diagnosed Patient Needs to Know was the topic of a statewide education program for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in partnership with Centocor pharmaceutical company. This program was held in Alexandria in July and in New Orleans in November. Attendance for these two programs was 150. Seminars are scheduled for Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles in 2007.

• Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me) was held June 30 through July 2 at the Solomon Retreat Center in Robert, La. This was our sixth summer retreat program for children with juvenile arthritis and their families.

• 8th Annual Tribute to Excellence Award: On Dec. 1, we honored Patrick Pearson of Kenner with the 2006 Tribute to Excellence Award at our Annual Tribute to Excellence Gala. Pearson, a hero of Hurricane Katrina nominated by his peers, was honored along with Baton Rouge reporter Laurie Smith Anderson and rheumatologist Dr. Herb Dyer.

• We formed a partnership with the arthritis clinic at Earl K. Long hospital to make sure the needs of those patients are being met with services in our community. This program will expand in 2007.

• We reached out to more than 19,000 people with information on arthritis, quality of life issues and arthritis education and support through direct mail, news publicity, health fairs and programs.

Raffle Results
Carol Waszkowski of Livonia, La., was the lucky winner of our recent Super Bowl Party Raffle, taking home a 51-inch Hitachi color television as well as a catered party for up to 20 on Super Bowl Sunday.

Waszkowski works in Baton Rouge at Trinity Consultants. Her winning ticket number was 756862 and was drawn by Mr. Loyd Rockhold, Arthritis Association board member emeritus, at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, February 2, in front of a live audience at Bayou Bingo in Baton Rouge.

Many thanks to all who bought one or more raffle tickets to support this fun way of raising money for the Arthritis Association of Louisiana. With your help, we raised more than $3,000 to support programs like Camp J.A.M. and educational seminars on arthritis.

Pearson of Kenner Takes Top Honor at Arthritis Association Gala
Hurricane 'hero,' reporter Laurie Smith Anderson and Dr. Herbert Dyer
receive Tribute to Excellence awards at 8th Annual Gala

The Arthritis Association of Louisiana (AAOLA) honored Patrick Pearson of Kenner with its 2006 Tribute to Excellence Award at the organization's Eighth Annual Tribute to Excellence Gala on Friday, Dec. 1, at the Baton Rouge Hilton Capitol Center.

The Tribute to Excellence Award is a recognition program that annually honors individuals who devote time and effort to improving the quality of life for fellow Louisianans through their commitment and dedication to nonprofit organizations and those they serve. The award is given each year at the Tribute to Excellence Gala, which is the main annual fundraiser for the only local nonprofit organization serving the more than 1.3 million Louisianans who have some form of arthritis.

In a twist unique to this year, the gala honored heroes of hurricanes Katrina and Rita who were nominated by their friends and associates statewide. In addition to Pearson, nominees for the 2006 Tribute to Excellence Award were Mark Michaud of Slidell, Michael McKinney of Washington, Lt. Randy Lanoux of Gonzales, Wendell Broussard of New Orleans, Johnny Quillens of San Antonio, Lejon Miguel Roberts of Metairie, Liz Touchet of Abbeville, Angella Scott Gaines of Baton Rouge, Jay Blanchard of Marrero, and Mary Williams of New Orleans.

A special selection committee singled out Pearson, who sent his family to safety ahead of Katrina's arrival and stayed behind to help rescue, feed and shelter hurricane victims at his own expense.

The AAOLA also presented Baton Rouge Advocate reporter Laurie Smith Anderson with the inaugural Tribute to Excellence Award in Health Care Reporting for her commitment to accuracy, awareness and relevance in health care reporting. The group recognized Dr. Michael Burdine of the Spine Diagnostic Clinic as its Volunteer of the Year and gave a special award to rheumatologist Dr. Herbert Dyer for 30 years of devotion in developing and running the Earl K. Long arthritis clinic. In presenting this award. Dr. Stephen Pollet, rheumatologist with the Baton Rouge Clinic and AAOLA vice chair, called Dyer the "father of rheumatology in Baton Rouge."

In addition to the awards, the Tribute to Excellence Gala featured a brief program on the impact of arthritis in Louisiana. Board Chair Sharon Holder, a rheumatology nurse practitioner with the Baton Rouge Clinic, presented some facts and figures on the burden of arthritis in our state, where one out of three adults have some form of arthritis. The mother of a 12-year-old child with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis talked about the impact of the disease on her family and the importance of Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me), an annual retreat for kids with arthritis and their families sponsored by the AAOLA.

The gala included a live and silent auction to help raise funds for Camp J.A.M. and other AAOLA programs. Master of ceremonies Scott Rogers, host of the Around Town weekend television show and an international motivational speaker, also served as auctioneer for the live auction featuring prints by Louisiana artists George Rodrigue and Linda Schafer.

Past Tribute to Excellence Award honorees have been individuals who demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Baton Rouge community through service and philanthropy. The 2005 recipient was J.H. "Jay" Campbell Jr., CEO of Associated Grocers in Baton Rouge. Other past honorees include Gary Sligar, CEO of Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; Gary Mockler, Chairman of Mockler Beverage Co.; LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman; and Gerry Lane of Gerry Lane Enterprises.

This year, the Arthritis Association of Louisiana chose to honor those who went above and beyond in serving others after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Nominations were solicited statewide through Oct. 15, and an independent panel was asked to select the honorees.

LATAN Announces Online Marketplace for Used Assistive Devices
Julie Nesbit, ATP, President/CEO of LATAN, recently sent the following letter/announcement to nonprofit agencies all over the state of Louisiana.

People with disabilities in Louisiana need access to affordable assistive equipment and devices to enhance their quality of life and increase their independence. While access to and affordability of scooters, wheelchairs of all types, computers, modified vehicles and other types of assistive technology have always been a challenge for individuals with disabilities, recent storms in Louisiana have made this challenge even greater.

With that in mind LATAN has great news: The AT Marketplace is here!

With one click of a mouse (www.latan.org) or a phone call (225.925.9500 or 800.270.6185) a consumer can access an online database of previously owned equipment for donation or sale. Those with devices they no longer need or vendors with returned or overstocked equipment can list all available devices for use in education, employment, and community living environments, and connect with the consumers interested in finding these resources.

By the way, if your agency has equipment sitting around that no one is using, feel free to list that equipment in The AT Marketplace. You may restrict who you will sell/donate to (like only people in East Baton Rouge Parish or only people with XYZ condition) when you list the device in The AT Marketplace.

LATAN will host this new recycling program on its website. All responsibility for the sale, donation or acquisition of an item is between the consumer and the advertiser.

LATAN exists to help Louisiana citizens with disabilities achieve the independence they desire. The AT Marketplace is a key component to promoting the availability of assistive technology, just as your involvement will make it happen.

For more information, please call or e-mail Jamie Karam, The AT Marketplace Program Director, at (225) 925-9500, (800) 270-6185 or jkaram@latan.org.

LATAN assists individuals with disabilities to achieve a higher quality of life and greater independence through increased access to assistive technology as part of their daily lives.

Season Ticket Raffle Raises $6,000 for AAOLA
A raffle of a pair of LSU 2006 season tickets brought in more than $6,000 for the Arthritis Association of Louisiana.

The drawing was held Aug. 30 after several weeks of ticket sales by board members, staff and volunteers. The season tickets were donated by AAOLA board member John Paul Funes and his wife to provide some much-needed financial assistance to the association during the late summer, a traditionally difficult time for fundraising.

The next major fundraiser for the AAOLA will be our Tribute to Excellence Gala on Dec. 1; you can nominate your own Katrina Hero for the Tribute to Excellence Award if you download and return the nomination form by Oct. 5!

Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me) Brings Families Together
The 2006 edition of Camp J.A.M. was held June 30 to July 2, and as usual, it was a great time for all of those who attended. Parents, siblings, and most importantly — kids with juvenile arthritis — gathered at the Solomon Episcopal Retreat Center in Robert, La., for a summer camp-style retreat.

Free to the families, Camp J.A.M. is a priceless opportunity for them to connect with other people who share the same struggles they do, as well as to spend time with doctors and other medical professionals who can answer their questions. Several photos have now been posted in our Gallery.

Arthritis, Fibromyalgia Study Seeks Volunteers
U.S. researchers are seeking volunteers to take part in a study of a mail-based, self-management arthritis care program.

People aged 18 and older with arthritis, fibromyalgia or joint pain are invited to take part in the yearlong study of the "Arthritis Yes I Can!" program, being conducted by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Volunteers must by willing to spend eight to 12 hours in self-study over four to six weeks. The program is designed to enhance regular medical treatment by providing patients with the knowledge and skills they need to lead healthy lives. It does not conflict with existing treatments or programs.

The program toolkit includes: tips sheets on topics such as pain, exercise and fatigue; relaxation and exercise CDs; and a new edition of The Arthritis Handbook, which is also available in Spanish. The tool kit and study questionnaires will be mailed directly to study participants at no cost to them.

The "Arthritis Yes I Can!" program addresses the following areas: Techniques to deal with problems such as pain, fatigue, frustration and isolation; Exercises for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; Appropriate use of medications; Effective communication with family, friends and health professionals; Healthy eating; Planning to take action.

More information: To learn more about the study or to enroll, call 1-877-668-0682 or send an email to selfmanagement@stanford.edu.

Note: This study is not conducted by, affiliated with or endorsed by the Arthritis Association of Louisiana. Contact information is provided for informational purposes only.

2006 walk is a big success

The 2006 Team Up Against Arthritis! Walk was a big success. On Saturday, May 27, people with arthritis gathered with family, friends, co-workers and other supporters to walk for the day when we can all walk pain-free.

Our special thanks go out to all of our sponsors and volunteers and to the family of Paige Barrere, our 2006 Juvenile Arthritis Hero. Two-year-old Paige inspired a huge group of family members and friends to come out and walk on her behalf and that of other kids like her with arthritis. Paige is shown here with AAOLA staff member Amanda Sanders as they admire each other's face paintings.

Visit our Walk page and our photo gallery for more information and pictures from the 2006 walk.

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Week: Feb. 27 - March 3

One of the many misconceptions about arthritis is that "only old people get it." Most people don't know that children as young as 18 months of age can get juvenile arthritis. An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 kids in Louisiana have the disease.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are nearly 300,000 children in America with some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease. There are 8.4 million young adults between the ages of 18-44 who have arthritis and millions of others at risk for developing it.

While there are some issues that are shared by everyone with arthritis, its impact on school, social life, family relationships, dating, sports, and almost every other aspect of an active, growing young person's life raises special concerns. New coping skills for living with the everyday challenges of arthritis must be learned. Teens and young adults entering the workforce have new issues to face.

That's why every summer, the AAOLA hosts Camp J.A.M. (Juvenile Arthritis & Me), a wonderful summer camp-style retreat for kids with arthritis and their families. Free to the families, Camp J.A.M. is a priceless opportunity for them to connect with other people who share the same struggles they do, as well as to spend time with doctors and other medical professionals who can answer their questions.

You can help send a child to Camp! This year's Camp J.A.M. is scheduled for June 30 to July 2 in Robert, La. Just click the donation button below to sponsor a child's weekend at camp for only $350.

If you have a child with arthritis and are interested in attending Camp J.A.M., please e-mail Sharae rouse or call (225) 761-8230.

You may also be interested in contacting the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization (AJAO), a subsidiary of the Arthritis Foundation. For information about (non-local) programs or services and products for children with arthritis and their families, contact AJAO at (404) 965-7514. You may also request a complimentary issue of the Kids Get Arthritis Too newsletter by calling (800) 268-6942.

DeAngelo's Oatmeal Cintini Named Baton Rouge's Best Martini

The votes are in, and the Oatmeal Cintini — created by bartenders at Louis DeAngelo's restaurant — is the Best Martini in Baton Rouge.

That's according to guests at the Arthritis Association of Louisiana's Mardi Gras Great Martini Shake-off, held Thursday, Feb. 23, at Ashley Manor in Baton Rouge. Thomas Dirks, a staffer at DeAngelo's Coursey Boulevard location, accepted the trophy — a replica of a 1920s Prohibition Era martini shaker designed to look like a fire extinguisher — on behalf of his company.

More than 140 guests at the festive Mardi Gras party sampled a variety of unique martinis created by bartenders from Sullivan's, Churchill's, and Louis DeAngelo's, then voted on their favorite. In addition to martinis, revelers could taste red or white wines provided by Glazer's or domestic and imported beers from Mockler Beverage, or enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage along with Italian-themed hors d'oeuvres such as toasted ravioli with marinara sauce, fried mozzarella, and toasted mini-muffalettas. Dessert came in the form of a "chocolate fountain" with strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, rice krispie bites and other goodies for dipping.

Door prizes were awarded, and guests could try their luck by purchasing "grab bags" containing mystery gifts or bid on fine wines during mini-auctions throughout the evening. The event's proceeds will help fund programs and services such as information and physician referral, the Camp J.A.M. summer retreat for children with arthritis and their families, and assistance for arthritis patients displaced from their homes by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

2006 Officers and Board Elected

The Arthritis Association of Louisiana at its annual meeting on Jan. 26 re-elected Chair John Hightower, Vice-Chair Dr. Stephen Pollet, Treasurer Scott Mayeux and Secretary Sharon Holder to their officer positions on the board of directors.

Hightower works with AARP, and Pollet is a rheumatologist at the Baton Rouge Clinic. Mayeux is employed at SSA Consultants. Holder is a nurse practitioner in rheumatology at Oschner Clinic in Baton Rouge. The photo at right shows board member Dr. Dawn Vick, Treasurer Scott Mayeux, board member Robin Mayhall, Vice-Chair Dr. Stephen Pollet and Chair John Hightower at the annual meeting.

Pat Hutchins with SSA Consultants was newly elected to the board for 2006. The remainder of the board was re-elected, including Pat Chester Alford, Baton Rouge Community Clinic; Debbie Bueche, CHT, LOTR, BRPT-Lake; Dr. Michael Burdine, The Spine Diagnostic & Treatment Center; Clay Countryman, Kean, Miller & Associates; John Paul Funes, Stearis Corporation; Rep. Michael Jackson, Louisiana State Legislature; Lance Leger, RN, BSN, Abbott Immunology; Dr. Stephen Lindsey, Ochsner Clinic of Baton Rouge; Jennifer Marsh, Louisiana Network; Dr. Shelley Martin, Baton Rouge Clinic AMC; Robin Mayhall, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana; Sara McGriff, Louisiana Office of the Attorney General; Patrick Mockler, Mockler Beverage Company; Hillar Moore, Jr., Associated Grocers (ret.); Loyd Rockhold, Special Childrenˆīs Foundation (board member emeritus); Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez, Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic; Dr. Dawn Vick, The Pediatric Clinic; Phil Waterman, WVLA NBC 33; and Steven Winkler.

AAOLA Honors Jay Campbell with Seventh Annual Tribute to Excellence Award

The Arthritis Association of Louisiana (AAOLA) on Friday, Nov. 18, presented its Seventh Annual Tribute to Excellence Award to Associated Grocers President and CEO J.H. "Jay" Campbell, Jr. The group recognized Campbell for his longtime commitment to the Baton Rouge community and his gifts of time and funds to many charitable causes.

The gala, which is the group's largest annual fundraiser, was held at the Baton Rouge Marriott and included cocktails, dinner and a live and silent auction. The evening's emcee was Chico Moore, and Bobby Yarborough, owner of Manda Fine Meats, presented Campbell with his award. Arthritis Association of Louisiana Board Chair John Hightower welcomed the crowd, and vice chair Dr. Stephen Pollet and his wife, Dr. Mary Nell Anderson — both with the Baton Rouge Clinic — gave a brief presentation on Camp J.A.M., the group's annual weekend retreat for children with arthritis and their families.

Proceeds from the gala will fund programs and services such as information and physician referral, Camp J.A.M, and assistance for arthritis patients displaced from their homes by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Event photos

Left, Gala attendees browse silent auction items. Right, Sharae Rouse, AAOLA program coordinator, poses with John Hightower, chairman of the board.

Below, board member emeritus Loyd Rockhold poses before the Gala with his wife and guests.

Sponsors and contributors

Our heartfelt thanks go out to all of the sponsors, silent auction donors and volunteers who made the 2005 Gala possible. A full listing will be added here shortly.

If you or your company is interested in being a part of the 2006 Tribute to Excellence Gala, or any of our events or programs, please call the AAOLA office at (225) 761-8230.

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The Mission of the Arthritis Association of Louisiana
is to improve lives through continuing community service,
education and support of research for arthritis and related diseases.

Questions or comments?
E-mail Karen Kennedy

5222 Summa Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: (225) 761-8230
Toll-free: 1-866-390-8736
FAX: (225) 761-8520