Up Front

By Douglas G. Franklin
MSAA President and CEO

Douglas G. Franklin

After a particularly harsh winter, we are all looking forward to the promise of spring and warmer weather. Thankfully, regardless of the season or the weather, MSAA's programs and services are always in full swing enriching people's quality of life every day! We are welcoming applications for our MRI programs from individuals in need of advocacy or financial assistance for an MRI to help diagnose or assess MS activity. Our cooling vests and assistive equipment are also in stock and ready to ship! Please contact MSAA's Helpline at (800) 532-7667 or visit www.mymsaa.org/programs for more information about these and other MSAA programs.

I am also proud to announce that MSAA's first mobile phone application My MS Manager is now available for anyone to download for free to their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. My MS Manager was developed with Ringful Health as a tool to help monitor daily activities related to managing one's MS. Features include tracking MS flare-ups, logging side effects of medications, and journaling other important MS details. This information can then be generated into various reports and shared with your healthcare providers. Please visit www.mymsaa.org/mobile for details!

Our Swim for MS program is making a big splash this spring season. We've had great events organized across the country, including several group swims, personal challenges and even a teen who dove into action with "Cannonballs for Cash" to honor his aunt with MS. Any pool, any time, Swim for MS is a great way to support MSAA!

In addition, I want to note that all eight member organizations of the MS Coalition met for an annual meeting while attending the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference on March 7th. Having everyone unite to help advocate for critical issues to the welfare of our MS constituency is a priority for all of us and I am proud to lead this effort as the MS Coalition's President.

Doug Franklin joined MSAA as President & CEO in 1999. He has a distinguished career in nonprofit leadership and is a former national trainer in strategic planning for the Peter Drucker Foundation. A published international expert in social marketing and corporate social investment, he is a graduate of four universities. He currently serves on the National Board of the Key Philanthropic Organizations Committee of the American Society of Association Executives; on the Executive Committee of Health First - America's Charities Board in Washington, DC; and as President of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition.

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