Regina & District Ostomy Association.
The SASO group continues to meet regularly and enjoyed a Christmas dinner in December. The chapter is planning a Spring Seminar in May 2007, in which SASO will be participating.
Stoma-Ilco, Kortrijk, Belgium
In March of this year, a seminar will be held for all the ostomy self-help groups in Belgium. Only board members from each group have been invited to attend. The seminar will try to answer the following question: How can the ostomy self-help group survive in the twenty-first century? The discussion will consider the following points: ways to develop cooperation with professional care workers; new ways to successfully run an ostomy support group; suggestions on how to encourage volunteers in working for the self-help group. The day will also include a presentation by Pierrette Chambart concerning the needs and importance of support for the partners of someone with an ostomy. Pierrette promises to send a report giving the results of these discussions.
SASO Pamphlet
At the present time, the revised pamphlet is under review by the UOAC Publications Committee. Hopefully the pamphlet will be approved for publication in the near future. There is still available a large number of the original pamphlet Partners’ Support Program and some of the French version, Programme d’appui pour les partenaires. As long as there remains a large number of the original pamphlets, the revised pamphlet will not be published. Therefore, it is important that these brochures are distributed, by the local chapters, to spouses and families of new ostomates. To request copies of either the English or French pamphlet contact the UOAC National Office by telephone at 1-888-969-9698 or by e-mail at uoacan@astral.magic.ca The pamphlets are free and there is no mailing cost.
General News
In closing, two SASO contacts are unable to represent their chapter because of other commitments. Thank you to Marshall Burgess, UOAC Inc Victoria Chapter and Bob Graham, Halton-Peel Counties for their help in supporting the spouses and significant others in their chapter.
SASO member, Mark Hambridge, is working on an interesting program for spouses and significant others at this year’s UOAC Annual Conference in Calgary Alberta, this August.
Look for the article entitled With Time Comes Healing written by a SASO chapter contact, in the spring edition of Ostomy Canada. Perhaps there is someone in your chapter who is willing to write a story about his/her experiences as a spouse or significant other of an ostomate for publication in a future edition of the national magazine. Please contact Ann Ivol at the e-mail address or address below for further information.
SASO NEWS
SASO NEWS is published three times a year, in the fall, winter and spring. If your chapter is involving spouses and significant others in something of interest to other SASO Chapter Contacts please e-mail the information to amivol@hotmail.com or write to Ann Ivol, 31 Rialto Court, Hamilton, ON, L9C 5T5 for inclusion in the SASO News
