Worldwide Association for ME/CFS Awareness and Research (WAMCARE)
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wamcare
The Worldwide Association for ME/CFS Awareness and Research (WAMCARE) formerly the Blue RIbbon Campaign:
Same campaign, same goals, same team minus original leader, new name.
Dear ME/CFS Campaigners and Donors,
You have probably received word from our former President, Andrea Martell, that she has left our organization and wishes to return your donations to you. She is claiming that we are holding the money from you, and that is not the case. We have proceeded under the assumption that your donations were made to the group, not to Andrea as an individual. We have no problem returning your donation if that is what you wish. But you should know that our organization continues to exist, and plans on going forward in the same manner with our goals and plans to incorporate, raise funds for research and awareness. Our mandates have not changed. The only thing that has changed is our leader. Our board still exists and consists of the majority of members who were present in the original board. Our name will change. Our mission is the same. If you wish to have your donation back, we will of course respect your wishes and return it to you right away. However you also have the option of confirming that you wish our organization to proceed with your donation as before. Please let us know your decision and we will act promptly.
I am sorry this post is uncut but I feel it is important and needs to be read (as and when people are able!)
You can find us in our temporary homes, our blog wamcare.blogspot.com and on our team member Nicola's site www.hopestrengthjoyandlove.co.uk/WAMCARE.B
JOIN </a></b></a>wamcare on livejournal to find out more.
Laura
~X~
wamcare The Worldwide Association for ME/CFS Awareness and Research (WAMCARE) formerly the Blue RIbbon Campaign:
Same campaign, same goals, same team minus original leader, new name.
What follows is the email sent directly to our donors regarding the conflict Andrea Martell has made public on her website. After this letter appears a general address to any interested member of the public as well as our donors, supporters, volunteers etc.
You have probably received word from our former President, Andrea Martell, that she has left our organization and wishes to return your donations to you. She is claiming that we are holding the money from you, and that is not the case. We have proceeded under the assumption that your donations were made to the group, not to Andrea as an individual. We have no problem returning your donation if that is what you wish. But you should know that our organization continues to exist, and plans on going forward in the same manner with our goals and plans to incorporate, raise funds for research and awareness. Our mandates have not changed. The only thing that has changed is our leader. Our board still exists and consists of the majority of members who were present in the original board. Our name will change. Our mission is the same. If you wish to have your donation back, we will of course respect your wishes and return it to you right away. However you also have the option of confirming that you wish our organization to proceed with your donation as before. Please let us know your decision and we will act promptly.
Thank you,
Michelle Martin
Laura Dunks
Darlene Blair
Nicola Baker
General Address:
We as a group believe we have acted with integrity and fairness in this matter. Our policy has always been that our message is far more important than any one person, regardless of the role that person plays in the organization. Our intention is to abide by the wishes of our donors with regards to their contribution, promptly and securely.
Should you wish to continue to support our organization, please note that our new website will be created once we achieve non-profit incorporation status, which should happen soon. Until the new website is functioning, our new blog will serve to represent us and to continue interaction with our supporters and other interested parties. Please feel free to leave your comments on our blog (http://wamcare.blogspot.com), and your email if you wish to be notified of updates to our organization, have any questions or requests for information.
Michelle Martin
Laura Dunks
Darlene Blair
Nicola Baker
General Address:
We as a group believe we have acted with integrity and fairness in this matter. Our policy has always been that our message is far more important than any one person, regardless of the role that person plays in the organization. Our intention is to abide by the wishes of our donors with regards to their contribution, promptly and securely.
We feel it is a shame that Ms. Martell would not consider staying to work out her differences with us. We made it clear we were not giving up on our Organization, Cause or the people we advocate for. We stated that we were willing to continue working with her despite our disagreements, but it was her choice and decision to leave. Because she held the copyright of the BRC name, and website, she took those things with her. She stated that her intention was to continue working for the cause on her own, and we respect her desire to do so. As a group we felt that our hundreds of hours of collective work and energy deserves not to be thrown away, and we have made the decision to continue in the same manner as before. Our main priority is still incorporation as a non-profit, which will be done shortly due to the generosity of the donors that have already given us their permission to use their contribution for that purpose. We would like to publicly express our gratitude to these supporters for their continued faith in our organization.
Despite this recent situation, which has been greatly upsetting for all parties involved, we are still 100% committed to the success of our organization, to promoting awareness for ME/CFS and raising funds for biomedical research. Our goals and mission are the same. We will not let personal discord stand in the way of our mission, and intend to add the mandates and bylaws that will prevent power struggles if individual members decide to leave in the future.
Should you wish to continue to support our organization, please note that our new website will be created once we achieve non-profit incorporation status, which should happen soon. Until the new website is functioning, our new blog will serve to represent us and to continue interaction with our supporters and other interested parties. Please feel free to leave your comments on our blog (http://wamcare.blogspot.com), and your email if you wish to be notified of updates to our organization, have any questions or requests for information.
Thank you,
Michelle Martin
Laura Dunks
Darlene Blair
Nicola Baker
Michelle Martin
Laura Dunks
Darlene Blair
Nicola Baker
I am sorry this post is uncut but I feel it is important and needs to be read (as and when people are able!)
You can find us in our temporary homes, our blog wamcare.blogspot.com and on our team member Nicola's site www.hopestrengthjoyandlove.co.uk/WAMCARE.B
JOIN </a></b></a>
wamcare on livejournal to find out more.Laura
~X~
