Hats off to Audrey, Dawn and Lois

Three of our longest serving Chapter Chairs are looking to retire this year. Audrey C., Dawn C. and Lois E. have all volunteered for an amazing 12 years for the VHL Family Alliance and achieved some truly inspiring results. We would like to thank them for all they have done.

Audrey C. will be retiring as the Chapter Chair in North Carolina. Audrey was asked to be a Chapter Chair at one of the VHLFA annual meetings, and took on the role with gusto. Audrey has been championing against VHL for over 35 years and has been helping others to do the same.

Audrey is altruistic by nature, and her commitment to volunteering for VHLFA matches that of her volunteering for local hospices and the Outreach program of her local church. Audrey has arranged many statewide meetings and was awarded Chapter Chair of the Year in 1997 for her work in growing the Chapter.

“She has done an outstanding job of communicating with the medical community and general public in her state via newspaper and radio, as well as directly with physicians and hospitals.”

Audrey has also enjoyed educating and helping people in her role as a hotline volunteer. She is looking forward to working with us in other ways. “I’m with you for life,” she says. “After all, I have VHL for life.”

Dawn C. will be retiring as the Chapter Chair in California. Dawn began volunteering for the VHL Family Alliance in 1994. Dawn was motivated to become a Chapter chair by her sister and neighbor, who both have VHL. Dawn has organized eight statewide meetings, one regional meeting and hosted the 2001 VHLFA National Meeting. An impressive record! Dawn utilized a number of hospitals in California, by basing her meetings at a different university medical hospital each time.

Dawn has brought compassion, spirit and Tai Chi to the California Chapter, cultivating special relationships and finding great reward in the relationships she has built. Dawn comments on her time as a Chapter Chair;

“By and far, the best experience has been meeting people through the meetings and helping people over the phone and through e-mails. Several members have attended every (or nearly every) meeting we’ve had, adding warmth, knowledge, and well-received humor. Their names are Derrick R., Lynette R., Virginia L., and David L. I can’t thank them enough, and I treasure their friendships.”

Dawn has supported the members of her Chapter, through being a fountain of knowledge and providing help through phone, email and in person. Dawn helped us complete our initial registration with the State of California, allowing us to fundraise there.

Lois E. will be retiring as the Chapter Chair in Minnesota. Lois was one of the first people to contact us, in response to an article citing Joyce Graff’s work with VHL that appeared in Reader’s Digest in 1992.

Lois has VHL herself, and has been a great advocate for educating doctors and lay people alike to improve diagnosis and treatment of VHL. Lois shared her knowledge and personal story in order to help others, and chaired the first ever VHL meeting in Kansas City in 1994.

Lois (left) with genetic counselor Vicki Couch from the Mayo Clinic at the 2000 VHL Symposium in Rochester, Minnesota, which Lois, Vicki, and Kelly Heselton organized.

Lois comments on her first statewide meeting;

“We had our first Minnesota VHL meeting August 23 1993. There were thirteen people present, and a number who were unable to attend. There were quite a few new members hungry for information and excited about the Alliance, as we were in 1993 -- we had no handbook, we knew very little.”

Since then Lois has organized a statewide meeting every year and did a fantastic job of providing the much needed information, and of growing the membership in the Chapter. Lois also answered many calls as a volunteer on the VHLFA hotline.

New leaders are arising in these and other chapters around the country. Won’t you help to grow services and awareness in your own community? Call the office, or contact the current leaders in your region to volunteer your help.

Call toll-free 1-800-767-4VHL extension 4, or +1-617-277-5667. Thank you!

As printed in the VHL Family Forum 15:1, January 2007. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.