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Dear Sister,
I hope this newsletter finds you well and you weathered the recent Hurricane Sandy without any major issues. Here in North Carolina, our coast received a pretty fierce battering, but this was nothing compared to our neighbors to the north. At DiabetesSisters, we have lots going on this month, including a new Groupon Grassroots initiative, the This Week I Will campaign, and the launching of our new website. I hope you enjoy this month's video intro!
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| November 2012 Newsletter Intro |
In Sisterhood,
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SISTER SPOTLIGHT:
Schenectady PODS Sisters
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Members of the Schenectady PODS Meetup (photo by Sandra Johnson)
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Front row (l-r): Connie Hanham-Cain (PODS Leader) and Katey Welter-Goot
Back row (l-r): Deborah Thomas, Ann Marie DiNino, Sue Weissman, Kay Mober, Helen Morgan (PODS Leader), Gail Nurnberg and Maureen Cunningham
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This November, DiabetesSisters is proud to highlight an entire PODS Meetup who truly embodies the definition of Sisterhood. Not only do members of the Schenectady, NY PODS Meetup stay busy doing outreach events and scheduling new, interesting speakers to speak at their Meetups, they also take time to focus on their own health! The group is led by Connie Hanham-Cain and Helen Morgan.
In addition to their monthly PODS Meetup, the women from City of Light (Schenectady and surrounding communities) PODS Meetup meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10-11 A M at the Colonie Center Mall for a "Sister Walk." They walk laps around the mall as a group with each Sister finding a Sister who walks at her pace to talk with while exercising. They encourage one another to bring their meters (to test before and after walking); a source of glucose to treat any potential lows; a bottle of water; and to wear comfortable walking shoes. Pedometers are optional.
"We have been doing it since mid-October and it FEELS GREAT to get healthy with our Sisters! There's nothing wrong with taking time our to take care of your own health and well being. If you don't do it...who will?" said Connie Hanham-Cain.
DiabetesSisters Mourns the Loss
of a Fellow Sister
On October 31st, we learned that fellow DiabetesSister, Maureen Cunningham (pictured above with the Schenectady PODS), passed away after a brief illness. She had been recovering from surgery. Maureen was a great addition to the Schenectady PODS and will be greatly missed. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers and they are faced with the sadness of her passing. Online condolences may be offered here.
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IN THE NEWS
DIABETESSISTERS AND GROUPON GRASSROOTS PARTNER TO
CREATE MORE PODS MEETUPS
PODS Meetups are a signature program of DiabetesSisters. Since the first group was piloted in Raleigh, NC in 2008, 18 more PODS Meetups have been started in nine US States and one Canadian territory. These Meetups have been the source of many life transformations and helped many women get back on track with their diabetes management.
This Week Only
10/29/12 - 11/4/12
PSSSSSSSTTTT..... 
CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?
In honor of World Diabetes Day, DiabetesSisters is conducting its first Flash Mob. The Flash Mob will take place on Sat 11/10/12 at 3:30pm in Durham, NC in front of the Durham Performing Arts Center and will be released on the DiabetesSisters website, DiabetesSisters' Facebook page, and DiabetesSisters Youtube channel on World Diabetes Day (November 14).
THIS WEEK I WILL UPDATE:
DIABETESSISTERS AT 30% OF
GOAL; OVER $7,000 RAISED!
Thanks to everyone who has supported DiabetesSisters in the This Week I Will campaign (sponsored by Amylin). At this time of print, DiabetesSisters was leading the board in pledges. What do you think the most popular pledges have been so far?
Eat a healthy breakfast every morning 23%
Walk for 30 minutes, 4 times 13%
Eat some green vegetables every day 12%
Learn what my A1C numbers mean 12%
CALL TO ACTION: This week, after making your "This Week I Will" pledge, we are asking everyone to share it on Facebook and tag @DiabetesSisters in your post. Fill our Facebook page with your pledges, show everyone the power of sisterhood, and inspire others to improve their health! Please remember to make your health pledge once every seven days until February 2013 at www.ThisWeekIWill.com
WINNERS ANNOUNCED: AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION AWARDS $5,000
TO EIGHT PODS MEETUPS
The Women and Diabetes Workgroup at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently awarded mini-grants to eight PODS Meetup Leaders. A total of $5,000 was awarded to various PODS Meetups throughout the US. These funds will provided much-needed funding for the PODS Meetup groups to expand their marketing reach and plan some special events for their members. Thank you to all the Leaders who submitted proposals; the ADA had a difficult time selecting winners.
Congratulations to the PODS Meetup groups in Tampa Bay, FL; Bracey, VA; Woodlawn/Galax, VA; Chattanooga, TN; Schenectady, NY; Keysville, GA; San Francisco, CA; and Raleigh, NC! PODS Leaders in this area will be receiving instructions on how to begin to make use of the funding in the coming weeks.
UPDATE: DIABETESSISTERS AND MICROMASS PRESENT AT ADA'S 5TH ANNUAL DISPARITIES FORUM
On October 22-23rd, Brandy Barnes and Andi Weiss, MPH, represented DiabetesSisters at the ADA's Health Disparities Forum. Their presentation discussed their findings from the Weekend for Women Conferences and from over 800 women with diabetes and how they laid the framework for DiabetesSisters' signature Weekend for Women Conference.
Please take time to view video from the Forum here. Andi Weiss is featured in the fourth video titled: 5th Disparities Partnership Forum - Day 2 - Morning. Her presentation is begins at the 1:20 mark. Please note this video will only be available online until November 20th, so be sure to tune in now.
NEW WEBSITE TO LAUNCH 11/14
On November 14th, DiabetesSisters will officially launch its new and improved website. New features include a "magazine" feel, easy website navigation, improved Women's Forum including a chat function to allow seamless communication among members, improved event calendar to find events in your local area, and MANY more. Don't forget to check it out on November 14, 2012- World Diabetes Day.
 NEW! FOUNDER'S FOOTPRINTS
NOVEMBER
3- Quarterly Gathering in Raleigh, NC
4- Flash Mob rehearsal & 2013 Weekend for Women Planning Committee meeting in Durham
7- Flash Mob rehearsal in Durham, NC
8 & 9- Meet with Nonprofit Consultant to develop DS strategic plan in Durham
9- ADA Women's Workgroup Planning Meeting
10- Perform and Videotape Flash Mob in Durham, NC
14- Introduce new and improved "magazine" website to membership
16 & 17- Attend Summer's performance of "The Little Mermaid" in Raleigh, NC
DECEMBER
3- DiabetesSisters Board Meeting in Durham, NC
7- Meeting with Helmsley Trust in Boston, MA
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Volunteer of the Month:
Candace Cansler
DiabetesSisters extends a sincere
Thank You to Candace Cansler!
Candace Cansler has been involved with DiabetesSisters since before the organization's launch in 2008. As the Founder's only sister, she was instrumental in showing Brandy the value of "true" sisterhood in a woman's life.
Since DiabetesSisters' launch, Candace has marketed the organization throughout the state of NC among all of her contacts in the school system, carrying DS brochures with her wherever she goes. She also sets up booths at health fairs in her hometown of Hickory, NC to welcome more women from this rural area into the Sisterhood. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, Candace served on the Weekend for Women Conference Planning Committees and helped with the set up and clean up for each Conference. As the Registration Desk Coordinator at all three Conferences in Raleigh, Candace welcomed each and every woman into the Sisterhood at registration and spent time getting to know them. Her vibrant, welcoming personality set the right tone and made an impression on many attendees. In fact, each year on the Conference surveys, attendees have commented on how welcome the staff/volunteers at the registration desk made them feel.
Candace and her husband, Corey, wed in August 2012 and moved to Durham in the week following their wedding. Candace now works at Kestrel Heights Elementary School in Durham, NC as a kindergarten teaching assistant.
DiabetesSisters thanks Candace and each member of our volunteer team for their commitment to the organization. Your contribution is appreciated.
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sisterTalk Blog Preview
Student Blog
by Rena
Read about the challenges and triumphs Rena has faced since returning to school, including her recent endo appointment
READ MORE
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In this Issue:
Nutrition Tip
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REGISTER
FOR AN UPCOMING
EVENT:
What is your PODs Meetup doing to have fun and get healthy?
The Schenectady, NY PODs meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday's at 10am for a SisterWalk at local mall!
Email SchenectadyPODS@
For more information about PODS Meet-ups, please email info@diabetessisters.org
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QUARTERLY GATHERINGS
(Currently ONLY held in Raleigh, NC)
4th Quarter
Date: November 3rd, 1-3pm
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An Opportunity To
Give Back:
DiabetesSisters is in need of volunteers in the following areas:
If you can donate your time and expertise and want to be part of a phenomenal group of women, please contact us.
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Writers Wanted
Our partner, Diabetes Health, is looking for writers with Type 2 diabetes as well as partners of people with Type 2 diabetes. If you (or your partner) are a good writer and willing to share your experiences with type 2 diabetes, please contact Nadia Al-Samarrie
at Diabetes Health with writing samples.
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A SPECIAL
THANK YOU
TO OUR 2012 SPONSORS
&
PARTNERS
 
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STAY IN TOUCH
DiabetesSisters
2530 Meridian Parkway, Suite 2123
Durham, NC 27713
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DiabetesSisters 
