Celebrating VHLFA's Tenth Anniversary: Left to right: Kathy B., Matt Painter, Joyce Graff, Patricia Rasmussen, Altheada Johnson (seated), David Forsell, Peggy M., Maria S.

The first in our new series of Regional Meetings was held in Nashville June 21. To be more precise, it was held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Franklin, Tennessee, a charming old town south of Nashville.

Fifty-two people from as far away as Vancouver, Canada, met in Franklin to visit with other VHL families, and to hear excellent presentations from Dr. Gladys Glenn and Dr. Peter Choyke of the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Most attendees were from the local region, as we had intended, including people from Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Indiana. There was lots of time to share our stories and get acquainted, and a festive country lunch of fried chicken, Tennessee barbecue, and Matt Painter’s famous baked beans.

In addition, most of the VHLFA Board members were there for the Annual Meeting of the VHL Family Alliance. The election of new board members was completed at the Annual Meeting, and the following people were installed:

Dr. Gladys Glenn and Patricia Rasmussen

Dr. Gladys Glenn and Patricia Rasmussen

- David Forsell, President, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful- Thomas D. Rodenberg, esq., attorney, Kansas City, Kansas (re-elected)- Joseph Verdi, Ph.D., Maine Medical Center

- Bruce Weinberg, JD, Kaplan, Los Angeles

Watch for more information about these great additions to the Board of Directors in the Annual Report.Southeast Regional Meeting chairman Don M. had arranged for a cake in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the VHL Family Alliance in 1993.

At this meeting we announced that the Board has engaged Joyce Graff to be the first Executive Director of the VHL Family Alliance, to lead us into a new era of growth and an expansion of services and grants.

As printed in the VHL Family Forum 11:3, September 2003. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org.