Hi all,
I know it’s a bit late but let me take this opportunity to wish you a very happy new year!

As promised, we’ll be doing a lot of work on the community this year and there are lots of exciting happenings to be announced.

Still, we realise that we’ve neglected something quite important…introducing the community team!

So, we’d like to start with remedying that. Our basic community team is currently three people: me (Ezinda), Tim and Luis. We’re all based in the Advisory Services team. We can all deal with your queries and this is why we ask you to write to forum @parkinsons.org.uk. This means that you get a response even if one of us if out of the office.

When necessary (which is often) we turn to the digital team for support. You may have noticed a post or two from Liz when things go wrong technically or where there are announcements about the website. She’s the head of the digital team.

I’m the main person supporting the community and recently it’s been decided that I’ll spend more time here with you working to make it better.

I’ve been at Parkinson’s UK for almost two years. I’m a Pisces and a Californian. I love hiking, cooking and reading. I’ve lived in England for over 10 years and Cornwall is my favourite place in the world.

I’m really looking forward to becoming a part of the community instead of simply intervening when there’s a problem.

I’ve asked the other members of the community team to drop in and say hello as well. I hope you’ll welcome them and I know they are also looking forward to meeting you.

Ezinda

hiya Ezinda,as you no by now im ali,ive been dx with pd for 11 years,and im 42 years oldi love postin on puk,and wont to do everythin to move forward with the moderaters and the community.i help run a parkinsons group,and do alot of organizing fund raising for them ,and also for puk.the young onset parkinsons venue at stratford upon avon was brill,i learned alot from it,and met so many new frends ,and would like to take this oppertunity to say thankyou for that.resurch is anther big part i would like to get involved with,and our regional manager for our group keeps us very well informed.i also have set up a website/forum for parkinson,more the merrior i say2012 moving forward,this is our year

Hi

I'm Tim and I have been with Parkinson's UK for over 4 years now. A lot of my time is spent looking after the Advisory Service Team but it is great also be a part of this community.

Although I've been living in London for many years, I remain a true Welshman, especially when the rugby is on!

This should be a really exciting year for the Parkinon's UK community and it will be great to spend time working with you all over the comming months as we re launch this space

Thanks for the introductions. Its nice to know a bit more about the people who help make the forum tick. I have not been here for long but I have derived a lot of information and support from this forum. I appreciate it must be hard to moderate a forum like this and I think that overall you do an excellent job.
I have been peripherally involved in the discussions about revitalising the forum and I am excited about it too.

I look forward to hearing more from you. I'm Scottish although I no longer live there. Unlike Tim the rugby doesn't boost my national identity..... :-|

Elegant Fowl

Hi to the team nice to know who everyone is
I am pretty new to the forum 4yrs dx and overall an eternal optimist. Look forward to hearing more from you guys in 2012.

Hi there!

I'm Luis and my role includes supporting the day-to-day running of the Advisory Services function, along with focussing on the forum. I really look forward to becoming more involved.

Being a truly international team, although I'm a born Londoner, both my parents are Portuguese. I love Portuguese culture, food and wine (yum!) but I am just as content with good old British fayre... Basically give me food, wine with a little culture thrown in and I'm happy, wherever it's from! I love travelling whenever I can and exploring the new.

These are really exciting times, with the forthcoming forum upgrade, etc...

2012 - bring it on!

I would like to say hi to the team. It certainly makes a change from those faceless administrators that we all love and sometimes hate.

I'm Glenchass and Ive been dx for about 11 years now, Ive been a forum member for about 2 years, I think!!

I like to stay pretty much in the background, however, I am more than capable of contributing when I feel strongly about something. I am a retired social worker and I somehow still manage to 'social work' everybody...sorry all.

I enjoy using the forum and since joining I have benefited so much from other peoples experiences and support. I must admit that at times I also enjoy the 'rucks' that can take place in respect of various topics, although I try to keep out of them as much as possible. I just don't have the energy to waste arguing and being nasty to people, life is too short by far. I also believe that we are all entitled to our opinions, even though they may differ.

I do hope that the teams introductions are just a taster of good things to come and I look forward to being a part of the changes to come. Onward and upward I say, cheers everybody.

Glenchass

Hi before dx i have never experienced a forum or even knew it's purpose!shallow i knownow i have found people to share experiences with and have discovered that the administrators are REAL people and not just a micro chip! lol good to get to know you. I'm a good olde Sussex by the sea gal (not seagull)!! loland hope to be back prawning on the rocks again this summer!


best wishes to you all


Diane

Thanks to everybody for your responses. It feels really good to be dropping into the community as a real person and to learn more about the people who make this space so vibrant.

Perhaps we could make a movie ... " the moderators who came in from the cold ?"

Tim

Hi, I'm Marion and have only just joined the forum. I have had PD for 4 years and I am now 57 years old. I am a swimming teacher only now working 3 1/2 hours a week but am hanging on by my fingertips. Enjoyed swimming all my life and it has stood me in good stead as physio, it is just getting to the pool and home again which is an effort. It is good to converse with people in the same situation in life but it has taken sometime to pluck up the courage to use the forum. Am glad I have though, it has helped me a lot. Thankyou.