Outreach

EndoCenter of the San Francisco Bay Area

ŠCalifornia Department of Motor Vehicles

A few years ago Karen, a member of our group, decided to get a "vanity plate" to make a bold statement. You see vanity plates when you drive down the road and wonder what they mean - sometimes you laugh and sometimes you just spend a long time trying to figure it out and sometimes you never do. Karen recently moved from the Bay Area to an area just outside of Sacramento and has a long commute to work each day in Nevada City. On a regular basis many people see her driving, and each day her message is very clear: END ENDO. Karen has struggled with Endometriosis for many years and has undergone many surgeries. She still struggles with it but feels that her license plate is a way for her to reach out to other women and people interested in learning more. She is often stopped when she gets out of her car and she briefly shares what endometriosis is and can give that person printed information about the disease and offer them encouragement to find a support group to meet their emotional needs.

CureEndo License Plate

ŠCalifornia Department of Motor Vehicles

Another member, Peggy, was inspired by Karen's vanity plate and came up with her own message CURENDO (Cure Endo) - Knowing Peggy's story makes the plate very meaningful. Having had suffered with constant pain for many years, Peggy was first involved in an endo support group in the East Bay. Over time she became more and more involved on the local level as a group leader and then VP and later President of a local Endometriosis Self Help Chapter. Although now retired from active involvement, Peggy and her husband have at times opened their home to her "endo-sisters" and life long friends that travel to the Bay Area to have surgeries. These Endo-sisters and friends are people she has met through her various affilliations with support groups in-person, by phone and on-line. Recently Peggy and her husband Roy have had their 20th guest for a stay in their extra room that they have aptly named the "Endo Inn". Very soon they will have their 21st guest from Mexico come to stay with them.

Peggy and Roy have dedicated large parts of their lifes to searching for answers and a cure for endometriosis. They are very good at providing a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on for all that cross their path. Opening their home and displaying their vanity plate are ways for them to Reach Out to other women and those interested in learning more about endometriosis and all the associated illnesses. Peggy and Roy lead very active lives on the road and are often stopped and asked "so what does your license plate mean"? They are always willing to share a few supportive words and offer some literature so that those that also suffer do not have to be alone.

There is a large community here in the Bay Area that can offer support, encouragement, empowerment and education. Outreach can be as simple as getting a vanity plate and being willing to answer questions and distribute printed information about endometriosis. It can also be offering a listening ear to someone that is just starting their journey, attending a support group meeting to network or support other women emotionally who struggle with this disease. It can be visiting someone that recently had surgery at the hospital or calling them on the phone to see if they need support. Outreach can be distributing literature at a Health Faire, Health Center or medical office, including hospitals. Outreach only requires one thing and that is to get involved - be proactive and be a part of the CURE to END ENDO.

How do we reach the world or those in our local community to share information about this puzzling disease called Endometriosis? Some wear a yellow ribbon - others distrubute information about Endometriosis via their MD's, medical offices, health fairs or simply by word of mouth. Being open and willing to discuss the disease and treatment can be a very scary thing to do because it makes us vulnerable.

Consider Volunteering at our next Volunteer meeting to be scheduled soon

If there were ever an opportunity to get involved with the EndoCenter of the San Francisco Bay Area and make a difference then you will not want to miss this meeting. There are several opportunities available such as - support group leaders, support group meeting hosts, coordinator for the Voice Mail Coverage (calendar volunteers to cover answering VM), and people to help the current group leaders by cooperatively planning meetings - following up with speakers and attendees as well as sharing facilitation of the meetings and coordination with the facilities where meetings are held. It may sound like a lot to do but if several people can share responsibilities or take ownership of one aspect it's not that labor intensive. You can give whatever time you have to spare - 1 hour or more per month. Experience not necessary, only a desire to help women who struggle with Endometriosis and make a difference.

Where: We will be meeting at the home of one of our volunteers in Berkeley to discuss volunteer opportunities that are available - assess our current status and make plans for future outreach and resources.

Please RSVP to our Voice Mail at 415-512-5778 or by e-mailing Susan@sfendo.org - this will allow us to be able to contact you and give you directions to the meeting location.

Hope to see you there - Be part of the solution and cure!!!!

Call for Volunteers

The South Bay group is in desperate need of a support group leader. We have many Physicians and providers in the South Bay that are world experts in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis that are willing to speak to our group. We need a leader to plan, coordinate and facilitate the meetings. This could easily be a shared responsibility between 2 individuals so that it's not an overwhelming task for any one person. We have other members in the South Bay that are willing to help with setting up literature for meetings and greeting members as they arrive but just don't have the extra time to devote to planning and facilitating meetings. El Camino Hospital will continue to donate meeting space for these meetings that can be weekday evenings or on Saturdays.

This is a great opportunity to reach out to other women that are just starting their journey and help guide them to the information that they need to make informed decisions about their health. One on One training is available and there are a host of other volunteers that would be happy to help out.

Please e-mail Advisor@sfendo.org or Questions@sfendo.org if you are interested in this volunteer opportunity!