The HMSA Needs You!

[nickb]

Dear All

In the current financial climate the HMSA is finding it harder to gain any funding from outside organisations and other trusts. We are finding that we are having to rely solely on Membership fees for the running of the Association. Without viable funding we will find ourselves limited in what we are able to carry out - E.G producing new literature, print runs of our current information, keeping the helpline open, running the website etc.

We have noticed recently that over 80% of you, the forum members, are not actually current members of the HMSA. We have found ourselves wondering why and trying to think of ways to encourage you to become members of the charity. Below is a list of benefits of becoming a member.

Nick Bane
Chair

Membership of the HMSA
What do I get?

As a member of the HMSA in your welcome pack you will receive a membership card, a guide to living with hypermobility syndrome, a poster and few GP flyers that can be handed out. You will also receive the latest issue of our twice yearly newsletter “Hypermobility News & Views”.
Benefits of annual membership include:

Each year you will receive two newsletters -]/b] in each issue we have articles written by our Medical Advisors and other members of the association. We try to put as much information in to each issue that is up to date and relevant to keep our members informed of current progress in the world of Hypermobility Syndrome.

[b]Access to the members only section of our website - where you will find previous issues of the newsletters including our very first one produced back in 1991 when the HMSA first started, and a downloadable personal medical file that when filled out will be beneficial to you whenever attending Medical appointments.

Participation in research trials - These are always carried out by medical professionals, and if you agree (in the section of the membership form) to us providing your details when requested you may also get the opportunity of joining in.

Access to our Local Group Network - The HMSA has a network of local groups around the Country which get together for coffee and a chat. They are also a means of finding out about the support avail able in your local area, and raising awareness. All groups are run by our members, and controlled by our Administrator. You will get the opportunity to join a group or if there isn’t one in your area you can start one up!

Above all your membership fees are helping to run the charity as we get no official funding, and are solely reliant on our members contributions and any fundraising events carried out.

You will be helping to raise awareness of this poorly understood and often overlooked condition.
What does it cost?

Membership fees are as follows:

£12 per annum for individual adults (over 16) resident in UK;
£16 per annum for UK family membership;

£ 8 concession* per annum for individual adults resident in the UK;
£13 concession * per annum for UK family membership;

£15 per annum for individuals resident in Europe;
£20 per annum for individuals resident elsewhere;

* Concession's are given to those on means tested benefits (Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support etc). Proof is required.

A reduction of £1 per annum is available for those members paying by standing order (except concessions).
How do I become a Member?

If you would like to become a member of the HMSA please complete the form below. On receipt of your membership fee (please send this by post to our usual address) your membership card will be sent to you.

We now have the facility to take on-line payment by major debit/credit cards via Paypal. If you would like to use this facility then complete the form below and then use the appropriate link on the acknowledgement page.

You can download a pdf of the form, including standing order mandate, here which you can fill in and print out or print to fill in with a pen.

If you have any queries about membership please click here to email us!

[barkingmad]

Hello just to let you know we have a current new Membership Deal!

It is outlined below. Anyone can apply, even if they are existing members, all you need to do is complete a standing order form, which is attached below, with a gift aid form if applicable. I have also attached a membership form. Membership can be completed via the shop but if you are wishing to take part in the Membership Deal then you will need to complete a new standing order.

The mugs are a limited edition, I dont think we made it clear in the newsletter, so it will be first come first served. You can at the moment order the mugs through the shop though!

Hypermobility Syndrome Association
Membership Offer!
Why we would like you to take us up on the offer!
This year we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary and we need you all to help take us forward for the next 20 years.
As many of you are probably aware, in 1992 the Hypermobility Syndrome Association was born! The charity was created with the support of the medical advisors to the HMSA and patients with HMS. Many of the original founders are still members or advisors today and we thank them for all the hard work that they did in the past. We should also thank the hardworking trustees, medical advisors, staff and volunteers who continue to fight to raise awareness of HMS in the public arena.

Today the HMSA works with service providers and medical/health care staff to ensure that service users can receive appropriate support. There is still a lot of work which needs to be continued in this area but we are slowly but surely getting the message across.
Over the last few years the HMSA has also started working with schools and Special Education Needs Coordinators to ensure that children who are affected by their HMS are not at a disadvantage within the education system. We have been pleasantly surprised by the attitudes of schools, especially in regard to offering sport/ PE, which in our children’s case is probably a vital part of the successful management of HMS. Obviously our children need to be at the stage where they are able to participate, which for those severely affected may not be to after they have had treatment.

The HMSA regularly contributes to consultations into national health policy via its work with National Voices, Genetic Alliance and the Long Term Condition Alliance in Scotland. We are often asked to attend conferences, including patient conferences, to discuss the work of the HMSA.

Many of you will have noticed that the HMSA is now more than ever before asked to support the research into various aspects of hypermobility syndromes. This is vital work and will increase our understanding of what is now known to be a very complex condition.

We are asking that members consider increasing their funding of the HMSA to allow us to continue our work and to develop our involvement in research projects, such as with Prof. Qasim Aziz’s team who are looking into HMS and gastrointestinal disorders. As you all know we were unable at this stage to offer direct funding to their project but it is hoped that with the help of members that we could consider other projects in the future.

However, we really do appreciate how the current economical climate is affecting us all, so we have come up with a tiered scheme below. Please do consider supporting the HMSA over the next 12 months onwards as below.

We would like to ask you all to consider paying your membership by NEW STANDING ORDERS. We have some benefits to offer as below!

Single adult membership (over 16yrs must be adult);
Pay just £1 per month via a NEW STANDING ORDER and we will send a free car sticker celebrating the HMSA’s 20th Anniversary!

All other U.K. memberships;
Pay just £2 per month via a NEW STANDING ORDER and we will send you a car sticker (as above) and an eco-friendly shopping bag, worth £5!
Pay £3 per month via a NEW STANDING ORDER and we will send you a car sticker (as above), an eco-friendly shopping bag and a new 20th Anniversary Mug, worth £13.95!
Pay £4 or more per month via a NEW STANDING ORDER and we will send you a car sticker (as above), an eco-friendly shopping bag, a new 20th Anniversary Mug and a copy of the popular Residential 2010 DVD, worth £23.95!

In your newsletter packs you will find new standing order forms. To receive the gifts above please just complete the new standing order mandate and return it to the HMSA office address as below. Please do not forget to cancel the old standing order to prevent any confusion. We hope that many of you will take up the new membership deal to help us to continue to finance the work that we do.
Kindest regards,
HMSA Team.

Please do support us in this very important year!

Also please note that if you are applying for a family membership we will need a membership form completed for each family member. There must be a form for an adult if applying due to children having HMS, even if the parents do not have HMS, this is so all the children's information can be linked to the adult thereby preventing accidental contact from the HMSA with under 16's.

[barkingmad]

wow I am shocked by how many of you have responded. Thank you so much for supporting the HMSA, especially when times are hard and everyone is feeling the pinch.

Please do continue to support the work the HMSA does.

[barkingmad]

Membership FAQ

Q. I have a question about membership, who should I contact?
A. If you have any questions that aren't answered here, email membership@hypermobility.org

Q. When will I get my membership pack?
A. We will process your membership as soon as we are able. You should in most circumstances have it within 2 weeks (unless the office is closed). If you haven't received your pack after this time, please email membership@hypermobility.org including your payment details, how you registered etc and we will look into it for you.

Q. I think my membership may have lapsed, how do I find out?
A. Email the membership secretary at membership@hypermobility.org

Q. How do I renew my membership?
A. The easiest way is to pay for your membership by standing order, then your membership is automatically renewed when payment is made. Otherwise, register as if for the first time and we will renew your membership.

[barkingmad]

We are glad to be of service.

Please do tell us how we can improve membership benefits! And dont forget the Membership Deal running this year in celebration of our 20th Anniversary!

[Fluffym]

Thinking about it I have not had a newsletter for absolutely ages. I don't think I have fallen off the radar as I thought Barkingmad and I had managed to sort out very successfully my standing order to HMSA. Can anyone tell me when the last newsletter was please?

Fluffym

[Retro]

Email the membership secretary on membership@hypermobility.org and he can help you.

[barkingmad]

Hi the last newsletter was in March. The e-newsletter is due out later this month and then the next paper newsletter is due out in September after the RW.

[barkingmad]

The newsletter is on its way out to members from Thursday of this week; it is packed with information so please have a good read and dont be afraid to let us know what you think.
Remember the HMSA is here for you! It is your charity and we enjoy having you all actively involved. If you are out of date with your membership then please do think about renewing! In these harsh finanical times all charities are suffering but the HMSA in particular relies on its membership and donations to fund our work.
We have lots planned for next year; including more social weekends and fundraising black tie dinners!

As you know the HMSA is keen to be involved in more research and we are! We have successfully supplied members to recent research projects through out the UK but in your newsletter packs; if you are over 18, with HMS and a HMSA member you will see that we have asked you to complete a questionnaire for some research the HMSA is conducting with Dr Jane Simmonds through the Herts. University...we are co-applicants with the EDS UK as well..so please take 10-15 mins to complete the questionnaire and return it in the SAE to the HMSA office. If you dont need to use the SAE because you have completed the survey online then please 'thinki about' being kind enough to send the SAE back! I know that is cheeky but postage is a nightmare these days!

Please remember that if you have already completed teh questionnaire online then you do not need to complete it again.

Thanks for all your support and we hope you continue to find your membership of use and wish to continue to support us.

[Bridies21]

I am at Rehab at the moment and have given out the spare membership registration form I got in my parcel. Hope it does the trick If you send me some more I can bring them in next week. I will be on my last week then.

[barkingmad]

I would send you some but I am in London for a conference! But the HMSA really appreciates it! Did you get your parcel? I am guessing at who you are because I dont know forum users names! But I sent who I think it is a parcel that they had bought off the hmsacharity ebay account!

[Bridies21]

Yes it's me, the pillow arrived safely and the cards arrived a couple of days later. All safe and sound, hubby was there and told me all about it. Thank you Hope the conference goes well.
I have mentioned the HMSA many times to many lovely people here at Stanmore as I Can't sing your praises high enough there has been lots of interest too.
Shame there is only one poster promoting the HMSA in the corridor, is there any way that a supply of handouts could be available here to promote membership and what you really do, the poster doesn't really sum it up.

[barkingmad]

Hi Ya, We can only but ask! Usually we are supported by Stanmore and they do have our information to hand. I will mention what you said to them and ask them to leave more information around and about!

[trekster]

There is a poster in the physiotherapy department.

[raewire]

I am starting physio at Warrington Hospital next week, would you like me to ask them if they will put a poster up and then let you know the reply? Also when I was diagnosed the Rheumatologist gave me a leaflet by ARC whih was a bit outdated and not all that informative (the HMSA one is way better ) I see the rheumy again on 19th, if you want to send me some leaflets I could pass them on to the rheumatology department and suggest that they hand them out to the newly diagnosed along with their ARC leaflet?