I have been thinking for some time now that there should be
an international non-profit organization for rosaceans for the
purpose of patient advocacy for rosacea, rosacea information,
rosacea research, as well as informing the medical community
on rosacea. This organization should be member driven with
how the money is spent. The members should choose a board
of directors that decides how the money is spent annually.

This would have to be a grass roots process to raise the money.
I have discussed with a lawyer what needs to be done and the
initial filing fees and attorney costs are between $2500 and
$3000 in Massachusetts. It doesn't have to be in Massachusetts
but here is a start.

I am proposing beginning this process by setting up this group
discussion at yahoo groups to see the response and begin a
drive for membership to raise this money. We would need
100 members to begin, each donating $50. This membership fee
into the International Rosacea Society would cover the initial set up
of the organization. Exactly what the members do with this
organization is up to the first one hundred members to select a
board of directors that will decide. Annual elections of the board
of directors will assure the organization's integrity. The board
will account for how the money was spent each year down to the
penny.

I have personally donated my time to set up this group. I will donate
100 copies of the Rosacea Diet pdf to the first 100 members who
donate to this project. If others who have written books on rosacea
would also care to donate for this project we could raise the money to
begin this process.

Making this a viable organization will take time and more money
which the board of directors will decide how this is done, who manages
this organization and who staffs it.

As members join a list will be posted of names unless a member
requests privacy. This will hopefully encourage others to join
especially if some noted names in rosacea join, like Dr. Geoffrey Nase,
David Pascoe, Dr. Marjorie Lazoff, Dr. Linda Sy, Arlene Brownstein,
Ann-Marie Lindstrom, and members of all the known rosacea
support groups.

I think that whatever money is received should be posted for all
to know who or what organization donated and how much. And
every penny needs to be accounted for where this organization
spent and on what.

So now we need to discuss what I have begun and
probably if this organization actually becomes a reality it
will go through many changes brought about by this process
begun November 23, 2002.

If you care to join in this discussion, which will be limited to
making this organization into a reality go to this url and
join >

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/international-rosacea-society

Brady Barrows
author of the Rosacea Diet
Great Barrington, MA


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