********************************************** British Prostatitis Support Association (BPSA) ********************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002 Meeting notes published on: http://www.bps-assoc.org.uk/ Slightly abridged/amended from the original Meeting notes as published in the Yahoo! group list for members: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Alan Cocks Date: Sat Jul 27, 2002 9:56 pm Subject: Notes from Meeting 27 July 2002 Toddington ------------------------------------------------------------------------- +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ --------- *Summary* --------- A successful and valuable meeting, which could have continued longer. Mutual support and future strategy discussed. Information was shared, and actions accepted. Future meetings likely. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -------- *Detail* -------- The contact and strategy meeting took place as planned at Toddington Village Hall, 2pm. Attenders : Paul H, John Hamblett, Sabri R, Keith P, Alan Cocks. Apologies received from Mike K, Rene, Ian S, PC. The hall opened on time. A pleasant building, with good facilities. ----------------- 1) Introductions: ----------------- Such was the need to discuss and share experiences that this happened naturally and with energy and some relief, and in fact, probably could have continued throughout the whole meeting! It was unfortunately true that it can be very difficult to find an understanding ear about prostatitis, and even more difficult to find a well informed one. The time between meetings has been a long one, and two early comers (Alan and John), committee members, at first walked past each other several times without recognising the other! We should perhaps meet more frequently..... (or have web cams?). (Prostatitis web cam? perhaps not). --------------- 2) Email list: --------------- Alan summarised the options that the Yahoo! group’s bps-assoc main web page offered. These included a choice of email, daily digest, and web only delivery. Uploading of files was available to members, also voting facilities. A Yahoo ID (free) was not needed for the email option, but was needed for other facilities, including reading archives etc. ----------- 3) Website: ----------- Our new WEBSITE was summarised, and a sample printout shown and briefly discussed. The site had been initiated and created after a new member had discovered us only *after 9 months* of searching, eventually through emails with Prostatitis Foundation (USA)! We obviously needed a web presence, and visibility on search engines. The same new member took action. He is now our webmaster and is responsible for obtaining our sponsorship and funding! The site has links to other significant prostatitis sites and two sponsorship links (Please support our sponsors). Please see our website: http://www.bps-assoc.org.uk/ It may be useful to note that the group now has *Two* web sites. The original one is hosted by Yahoo! groups, and can be seen by non members as the group Main Page, but may only be used in detail by Yahoo! Members who have joined us, AND we now have the new website http://www.bps-assoc.org.uk/ which has no restriction (or privacy) and will have the function of giving us good visibility, partly from its existence in search engines. ----------- 4) Funding: ----------- The sponsorship of the website is from two respected products. The advertising income is modest, however, it is more than sufficient to fund the domain name and website hosting, and occasional meeting hall costs. Alan stated that there was a logical sequence: donations via a website required a bank account, an account with standing charges waived was available for registered charity status organisations. There would be an advantage in becoming a registered charity. Sabri volunteered to investigate this status. -------------- 5) Membership: -------------- Just over 100 members and steadily rising. Most new members are arriving via the web and existing membership of Yahoo!. there had been an increase in rate of new membership from April/May 2002. -------------- 6) Activities: -------------- Poster project on our website is nearly in place. This had been slowed by Alan's recent family bereavements and other recent commitments. Posters will be available as A4, A5, A6 sizes. When these are available on your website, members and others are encouraged to print and request display in your Doctors surgeries, Meeting halls, Libraries, notice boards, car windows, wheel barrows and dog kennels. In fact anywhere (legal) where an adult male or family might see them. MP Dr Howard Stoate was a key government figure, and very active in Men's health interests. Keith volunteered to further investigate the best approach to this type of contact, and follow up if possible. Possible future research - Sabri had investigated a number of leading edge possibilities for research and volunteered to compile a list of suggestions for discussion and consideration by others for research. Post meeting note: Alan forgot to mention that a pamphlet is also planned for the website - A4 folded. ---------------------- 7) Future activities: ---------------------- Towards charity status, more funding/donations, objectives to make best use of the money. ---------------------- 8) Any other business: ---------------------- Alan read out an email from Lennart who not only is a BPSA member, but runs a site in Sweden, single handed. The meeting appreciated his good wishes and support, and hoped very much he can continue the good work. The email contained heartbreaking details. Many of us know what these could be, without being told. ------- Future: ------- · Use of Yahoo Messenger and group chat room for BPSA live chats and debates. · Next meeting (when webmaster Mike can attend perhaps?) · Meeting location Toddington Village Hall seemed good for some future meetings · All members please request links to our site: http://www.bps-assoc.org.uk/ from other sites discovered. · Get more members please! · Promote your site! www.bps-assoc.org.uk +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Alan Cocks Berkshire UK For Prostatitis Support in UK - see http://www.bps-assoc.org.uk/ Contact: info@bps-assoc.org.uk *Thank you for reading!* +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++