Many topics were discussed in yesterday's Conference Call

Yesterday's conference call was indeed global since we had callers from the U.S., U.K, and Australia. Kristen called us all the way from Australia, and we discussed the new forum she is creating for us to migrate to before MSN shuts our Support Group forum down in late February 2009. She presented many exciting features that she would like to add to our new forum; and we all agreed that we would first start with establishing a forum in which we could meet as a community to share our thoughts and feelings. Kristen said that this phase of this project would be up and running before the MSN forum goes down. She tells us that all the other features she plans to include will be added afterwards in time. It will be a work in progress for some time to come. This whole community is profoundly grateful to you Kristen for working so hard in keeping us together by providing us with a place we can call home.

Glenna discussed the very viable option of sufferers working from home with their own eBay Store. There have been a few people expressing interest in working from home to avoid the social tensions they have been encountering in their respective jobs as a result of their uncontrolled body odor. Glenna very enthusiastically agreed to be interviewed so that we may post it in this blog. She offered to research information for this interview to help anyone interested in pursuing this job opportunity.

Arun told us about the Christmas Meet-up in London that they had the day before. He was so moved by the experience of having met four new members and six others from previous meet-ups. They discussed how our Group seems to have a higher incidence of certain disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Dyspepsia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.

Arun expressed his concern about the absence of sufferers in our group from Asia and other continents. He told us that in one of his previous visits to Asia, he posted an add in the local paper asking sufferers to contact him, and he was amazed at the number of very desperate responses he received. We discussed how there may possibly be a language barrier that prevents greater participation from the people in Asia and other continents in our community. We struggled with thoughts of somehow reaching all sufferers throughout the world, knowing that it might not be attainable for the time being.

We wished Arun a heart-felt bon voyage as he leaves Tuesday for Asia. He assured us that he will be in communications with us in our forum, the current one and the new one, and that he will try to set up impromptu conference calls for us to join him in every now and then. Have a great and safe trip Arun!