Judy
Hunt
President
Judy lives in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area
of Minnesota. She was first diagnosed with syringomyelia in April
1997.
Judy began serving on the ASAP Board of Directors in 1998. During her
seven years of service, she held a variety of positions on the
Governance, Development, Marketing, Programs and Conference Committees.
She also helped to launch two very successful member programs: Circle
of Friends in February 1999, and the bi-monthly publication, ASAP
Faces, in June 2002. In September 2002, she was elected Secretary. Judy
became President-Elect in November 2003, and President in October
2004.
With two Bachelor of Science degrees (she graduated magna cum laude),
Judy brings her expertise in organization and structure to ASAP. As
President, she remains involved with the networking, peer support
programs, and various committees. Judys sense of community
is strong, and she is deeply committed to ASAP's mission; to
improve the lives of persons affected by syringomyelia, Chiari
malformation and related disorders while we find the cure.
Judy has also served for seven years as a Board Member of her local
para-transit agency, which works toward achieving better transportation
for people with disabilities. She serves on the Board of Directors of
her townhouse association, and also manages an online writing
community. She enjoys reading, writing, and electronic media.
Judy relates, I have firsthand experience with the many
problems associated with the disorder, ranging from difficulties
dealing with doctors to the grieving of our lives as they used to be.
Members need to feel connected with ASAP. Only then will they become
involved. Then we, as a group, can better confront the challenges that
face us."
Theo
Kotjarapoglus
Vice President
Theo Kotjarapoglus lives in Boiling Springs, PA,
where he is recently retired. He has been active with ASAP during the
last year serving on the finance committee and working with
development. He has extensive expertise and experience in the non
profit community.
Theo said, "A family history of
neurological disorders brought me to ASAP. I am very committed to the
work of ASAP."
Sara
Patterson
Secretary
Sara Patterson resides in Palm Bay, Florida with her husband and three
children. She learned about ASAP when her daughter, Holly, was
diagnosed with syringomyelia in 1996. Since that time Holly has
undergone 15 brain and spinal surgeries. Holly was the second member of
the family to be diagnosed. Years earlier, Sara's mother had learned
the cause of her disabling headaches, neck pain and muscle weakness
were due to SM.
For the Patterson's, volunteering is a family affair. Sara and her
husband, Stuart, a software engineer, created, designed and managed
ASAP's first website in 1997. Periodically over the years, Sara, Stuart
and their son, Ryan, have served on ASAP's IT committee. They offer
their expertise to keep ASAP on the cutting edge of technology. Not to
be left out, Sara's daughters, Hope and Holly, are well-seasoned
fundraisers and ASAP ambassadors. They are both members of the ASAP
Kids For A Cure Club and have held many fundraisers to benefit ASAP.
In between part-time employment in the IT field and managing her twins
extensive medical
care, Sara attends college to complete a degree in Public
Administration. She is actively involved in the nonprofit sector, and
is happy to share her knowledge and expertise to help advance
ASAP's mission.
This is Sara's second time serving on the ASAP Board of Directors. She
completed a three-year term in 2000, and is now serving as ASAP's
Secretary.
Patrice
Ralph
Schaublin
Director-At-Large
Patrice and her husband, Rich, live in Durham, NC,
with their three
children, Ashleigh, Danielle and Taylor. With a history of
accomplishing what she sets out to do, Patrice has served in a variety
of Officer positions in local PTA organizations. She introduced many
new programs to the schools in her tenure as Fundraising Chair,
bringing fundraising levels to a new high. Patrice currently serves as
PTA Co-President of her daughter's high school.
Patrice became active
in ASAP shortly after her SM/CM diagnosis 11 years ago. She was elected
to serve on the Board of Directors in November 2004. Her daughter,
Danielle, also has Chiari. Patrice is committed to the continued
development of ASAP and its mission.
Richard
H. Zimmer
Director-At-Large
Rich and his wife, Rosemarie, live in San Antonio, TX. They have three
children and three grandchildren.
Diagnosed with post-traumatic SM in 1996, Rich met Barbara and Don
White, ASAP co-founders, at the first ASAP conference two years later.
Rich was elected to serve on the Board of Directors in November 2004.
He works to expand fundraising efforts and generate more awareness for
ASAP, syringomyelia and Chiari malformation.
Only through perseverance and with the aid of crutches did Rich walk
out of a Navy hospital in 1963 after recuperating for two years from a
broken back and paraplegia. He went on to college and then looked for a
job. Interviewers saw the crutches and said the job was filled, yet
they never spoke with Rich and the position continued to be advertised.
Rich said, "I became aware of discrimination very well."
He went into residential real estate, and in two years, owned his own
company. As time went on, he had a chance to go into commercial real
estate, selling commercial buildings, apartments, land, investments,
building small strip centers, leasing. Within a few years, he opened
his own company and employed other salesmen. Along with commercial real
estate, he started work with a marketing company. After taking time off
when he was 35, Rich bought and managed a fundraising business.
Unfortunately, he was forced to quit working at the age of 46 due to
the pain caused by SM. Throughout this time, he published a book and
has written Bible stories for the newspaper.
Rich has had six spinal cord surgeries related to his SM for the relief
of pain, yet he continues to stay active and loves to help
others.
Karen
Spiroff, R.N.
Director-At-Large
Karen Spiroff lives in Richmond, Virginia and is the mother of two
girls, Stephanie and Kimberly. She learned about ASAP in 1999 when her
youngest daughter was diagnosed with SM and CM. Karen has been an
active volunteer for ASAP for many
years and both of her daughters are members of ASAP's Kids For A Cure
Club.
A registered nurse in the states of Virginia and New York, Karen
brings to the board fifteen years experience in home health care,
medical-surgical, and peritoneal dialysis. She is currently employed as
a telephone triage nurse.
Karen exemplifies the spirit of caring by offering support to newly
diagnosed families and those struggling with issues relating to SM/CM.
Caring for her daughter has provided on the job training in the areas
of adaptive equipment, coping strategies, and alternative methods of
pain relief such as acupuncture and massage therapy. She has learned to
deal successfully with the school system in order to provide her
daughter with necessary modifications and is always willing to share
her knowledge with others.
Karen is also a volunteer and strong supporter of Canine Companions for
Independence. Her family is the proud caregiver of Lace, a Labrador
retriever who provides assistance and companionship for Kimberly.
Karen is excited to be a part of the ASAP Board of Directors and is
looking forward to seeing ASAP grow and expand.
Ellie
McCallum
Director-At-Large
Ellie McCallum lives in Camas, Washington. Her husband Jim
was diagnosed with syringomyelia in 1949. At that time the
doctors could only give it a name.
Jim and Ellie were introduced to ASAP in 1995. Even after
Jim's death, Ellie has remained active in the organization because she
feels it is important to give support to those with the disease and to
fight for a cure so others will not suffer as Jim did.
Ellie has a B.A. in Education and an M.S. in Library Science.
A former school teacher and school librarian for 26 years, Ellie loves
to research. She is an active member of St. John's
Presbyterian Church in Camas and volunteers with Friends of the
Carpenter, a faith-based organization that works with the homeless,
building relationships and assisting those in need. She has four grown
children and five grandkids.
By sharing her compassion, understanding and support to members, Ellie
hopes to encourage others to become more involved with the work of ASAP
and the quest to find a cure. She is strongly committed to
ASAP and has a deep sense of urgency to fulfill our mission statement.
Ellie's can-do attitude shines through each project she undertakes. "I
will try very hard to complete whatever task I am called upon to
perform."
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