....I live in Houston, Texas and I am very happy with my MDA Neurologist....

I can appreciate that, but there is a reason for it. MDA targets its services
toward metropolitan areas where it sees its greatest returns in the form of
donations. Those areas around larger cities, like Houston are going to be
patronized by MDA, but a smaller town in a remote part of Texas is going to be
ignored. Here in Florida, the folks who live down in Orlando, Tampa, St.
Petersburg, even up in Jacksonville, rave about MDA services. MDA also has a
strong presence in Tallahassee; because that is where the State capitol is, and
where thy might be able to influence and lobby our government. But, when you
look at Pensacola, where I live, MDA only shows its face for occasional
fundraising. In fact, my area of the state is actually managed out of
Montomery, AL. Why is this? Because our area is a low donor base for them.
You must always remember, MDA gives fundraising first priority in everything it
does. Go to MDA's website and you cannot avoid the links that say "donate."
Read the newsletter from your local MDA chapter and they are always talking
about fundraising campaigns, and trying to enlist you to help them.

And, watch out for MDA "estate planners," as they can be very aggressive. I met
one of these at an MDA support group meeting in 1996 and told him I needed to
update my will. This man made a special trip to my home in Pensacola to talk to
me about this, and demanded that when I update my will, I should leave a bequest
to MDA. I almost threw him out of my house.