b'MS Focus ActivitiesDebra FormanBy Marsha ProninDesigning Events Especially for People with MSDebra Forman tackles tasks of program planningI love my job! I feel like Im an MS advocate and I love every minute of it!Debbie Forman.DebraForemanistheeducationalprograms speakingengagement,inwhatcitytohavecoordinatoratMSFocus,theMultipleSclerosis thefunctiontakeplace,andndaspeaker.IFoundation,locatedinFortLauderdale,Fla. also have to decide whether the speakerShestartedworkingtheremorethanseven shouldbeahealthcareprofessional,amentalyearsagoandcouldnotcontainherexcitement healthworker,oranMSadvocate.ThedecisionwhenspeakingabouthertimeatMSFocus. ofwhothespeakershouldbedependsonhowHerloveofworkingwithpeopleextendsto wellthespeakerwouldbeabletocommunicateeveryone:hercolleaguesandeveryoneshe withtheaudienceandhowforeseeablywellmeetsalongherprofessionalpathspeakers, theaudiencewouldbeabletorelatetotheevent workers, and guests that attend the speakerandunderstandthetopic.Oncetheprograms. program and the city are chosen and theAstheprogramscoordinator,Debbiewears speakerisselected,theresanarrayoffurthermanyhatsthatkeepherbusy.Shesaid,I arrangementstobemade,fromminutedetailsarrangeeducationalprogramsforthosewho suchaswhetherthemicrophoneshouldbehaveMSinordertomakethemawareofthe hand-heldoralavalier,tomorecomplextasksavailableresourcesthatMSFocusprovides ofputtingtheinvitationstogetherandsendingtotheMScommunity,toeducatethemon themoutpromptly.And,ofcourse,IhavetothedierentaspectsofMS,aswellastoprovide makesurethattheresenoughliteratureforthemtheabilitytosocializewithotherswho the program available to distribute to ourareinthesamesituation.Knowingyouare guests.Allthistakesquiteabitresearchandnotaloneisagreatsupportinconqueringthe diligence.DebbiedealswiththepressurebychallengesoflivingwithMS. remindingherselfthatthepayooftheendDebbieelaboratedonherday-to-daytasks, resultismuchgreaterthanthestressoftheIhavetodecidewhattopictoselectfora preparations.msfocusmagazine.org 32'