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CSA/USA
San Diego
Chapter #57 |
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The Celiac Sprue Association, CSA/USA, is a national support organization that provides information and
referral services for persons with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis.
Their slogan is "Celiacs Helping Celiacs".
Our San Diego Chapter of CSA was organized in 1993. It's membership is comprised of both persons officially diagnosed with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, as well as those who are gluten sensitive. We all must follow the gluten-free diet and are able to support and educate each other with this often tricky diet.
Please contact one of the New Member Contacts below with any questions you may have about this support group or it's events. Membership includes a bi-monthly newsletter that keeps you informed of our group activities, relevant news items, GF recipes, and more. The master calendar includes these events as well as other events occurring in San Diego County.
When: On the fourth Saturday of every other month, usually at 2:00 pm. The meeting dates for 2012 are as follows:
- January 28 at 2 pm
- March 24 at 2 pm
- May 26 at 2 pm
- July 28 at noon (location TBD)
- September 22 at 2 pm
- November 3 at noon (annual potluck)
Where: Usually at the Rady Children's Medical Office
Building, 3030 Children's Way, San Diego, 92123. The meeting room is # 113,
which is
on the ground floor at the south end of the building in the back. Enter using
the door marked "3". The parking structure directly across the street has free
parking on Saturdays. For those dropping things off, there is a driveway at
the left of the building with a sign "Ambulance Entrance" that has a turn-about
right in front of the back entrance to the meeting room.
Directions may be
obtained by going to the Rady Children's Hospital website at www.chsd.org and
click on "Maps and Directions". The "Printable Campus Map" shows the building
for our meeting as "Medical Offices" and is bright yellow.
Who comes: Anyone interested in information and support for celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, or gluten sensitivity. There are newly diagnosed as well as long-term diagnosed persons at every meeting. Newcomers are especially welcome and encouraged to come.
Meeting formats: The meetings may include
guest speakers, discussion groups, potlucks, and more.
GF snacks and beverages: GF snacks and beverages are provided by members for everyone to enjoy at every meeting. If you would like to bring a GF snack, please bring copies of the recipe to share. If you bring a commericial product, please bring the original package. This enables all to eat safely, no matter what additional food sensitivites individuals may have.
Annual Dues: The annual dues are $15 annually, from January to January. Membership includes a bi-monthly newsletter, occasional pertinent emails, and a New Member Handbook with lots of practical advice. If you are renewing, please send your check to Bill Foreman at 7112 Lantana Ter., Carlsbad CA, 92011. If you are a new member, please see the Membership Form.
When: Saturday, May 26, 2 - 4 pm
Where: Rady's Children's Hospital (see above for specific location)
Dr. Christopher Devereux, a local gastroenterologist, will be speaking on the current Phase 2B trials being conducted by Alba Therapeutics. They are testing a new drug, Larazotide, to determine it's effectiveness with the symptoms of celiac disease. Come learn, talk with others on the gluten-free diet, and enjoy delicious gluten-free snacks.
YouTube Video
Our San Diego CSA group "starred" in a YouTube video produced in May, 2010 for Celiac Awareness Month. Titled The Faces of Celiac Disease, in 4 minutes it shows the symptoms, length of time to get diagnosed, and how our members improved on the GF diet. It's now been watched over 5,000 times!
GF Food to Flood Area
Thank you to Carol Salvati for shopping and shipping GF bars, pasta, cake mixes, brownie mixes, foil pans, crackers, polenta, etc. to the leader of a Celiac Chapter in Joplin, Mo, that suffered from the terrible floods. At our Support Meeting in May 2011, we voted to give Carol a check to buy GF items to ship to Joplin to help their celiacs out.
Members of the support group receive a bi-monthly newsletter filled with the latest news in the celiac world, GF product and restaurant information, and GF recipes. This can be received either by email or regular mail.
Want to help the group save money on postage and paper? Did you know if you receive your newsletter via snail mail that is the only mail that you receive from our group? If, on the other hand, we have your email address, you would receive your newsletter via email and you would also get our email blasts about special events, dining out reminders, etc. If you want to change the way you receive our newsletters, please email Steve Salvati at sd_stevorama@yahoo.com
If you are a newly diagnosed celiac and would like to have a peer mentor help you through the initial learning curve of the GF diet, contact Sandra Milne at (858-278-1413) or shipmates2@mindspring.com
You will be assigned a mentor from one of our support group members that you can meet with, call, or possibly grocery shop with to get you started.
"Follow San Diego's own Chapter 57, CSA- CELIACS HELPING CELIACS on Twitter! Created and operated by April Hammarsten. Follow: CSA57.
If you have any questions, ideas or suggestions, please do not hesitate to let me know!" April H., 11/20
Debbie Toon adds: "By the way, we need everyone to 'follow' to gain a critical mass."
These are scheduled bi-monthly on the fourth Saturday of the
month. They occur in the months that there is not a regular Support
Group
meeting. They are held at the Foreman's home in Carlsbad. All
are welcome to come and help plan future activities and attend
to other
business agenda items for our support group. If you would like to attend a board meeting, please contact Helen and Bill Foreman' at 760-931-7809.
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There are many people that are involved in making our support group a productive
and successful one. The following are some of the jobs being done by volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to get to know other celiacs better and to help our group make a difference. There are usually several positions available. Please join us in taking an active role in the group!
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