- The following pages contain information about Lyme Disease and links to other websites that contain resources
and other guides to understanding Lyme Disease more thouroughly.
This website is designed to provide practical and useful information on the subject matter covered. However, it is
being shard with the understanding the Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group is not engaged in rendering the
medical or other professional service. If medical or other expert assistance is required, the services of a
competent professional should be obtained.
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The Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group (MLASG) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Forest Lake, Minnesota.
The mission of this corporation is:
The purpose of this corporation is:
With your generous support we were able to:
Our goals for 2010 are to continue the programs we established in 2009 while taking on these activities:
2008 was a pivotal year for the Lyme disease community. Release of the Lyme documentary “Under Our Skin” and the book Cure Unknown brought
national attention to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Andy Abraham Wilson, the producer and writer of “Under Our Skin”, describes his
work in these words: “Our film tells the hidden story of Lyme disease, while shining light into the dark fissures of our healthcare and medical research
systems. It is meant to open eyes to a danger under our skin that has gone far too long ignored. Awareness literally will save lives.”
Cure Unknown was a 6-year project for Pamela Weintraub. Pam, a science writer and investigative reporter delivers a compelling and definitive book
about Lyme disease. Her nuanced picture of the uncertainty surrounding Lyme disease highlights the need for further research on the illness.
The mission of this corporation is:
- MLASG's mission is to support and conduct education and informational activities to increase public awareness and prevention of Lyme Disease
and other tick borne illnesses
The purpose of this corporation is:
- to support those people that have been diagnosed with Lyme disease and their families and significant others
- to promote the education of health care professionals pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses
- to raise funds for education and prevention involving Lyme disease and tick borne illnesses
With your generous support we were able to:
- Held 12 monthly support meetings with a total attendance of over 1100 people
- In addition to support meetings, MLASG participated in the Chisago and Forest Lake Homeshows, Lindwood Days and Warner Nature Center to
help raise Lyme disease awareness in the community - Meet with state and federal legislators to increase their understanding of the need for the physician protection bill and additional research funding
- MLASG along with the Forest Lake Community Education Program sponsored a two part series "Under Our Skin" and "I've Been Bitten by a Tick,
Now What"? - Host public screenings of the award winning documentary "Under Our Skin", a moving examination of the problems faced by Lyme disease patients
- MLASG had a booth at the Minnesota Family Physician Conference. This event was vital to the Lyme community as we need to introduce
physicians to new Lyme disease information. - MLASG also had a booth at the Horse Expo. The Horse Expo draws 30,000 people from 4 states was held at the Minnesota Fair Grounds.
- Hosted 3 National speakers: Phyllis Mervine, President of the California LDA, Pam Weintraub, author of Cure Unknown, and Pat Smith, President
of the Lyme Disease Association - Sponsored the Minneapolis premier of the award-winning documentary, "Under Our Skin," at the Oak Street Cinema. Jordan Fisher Smith, the
park ranger who tells his harrowing story in the film, emceed the event and Dr. Betty Maloney was on hand for questions - The Oak Street cinema event was part of the effort to pass legislation that will give doctors more freedom to treat Lyme disease (Minnesota State
Senate Bill S.F. 1631). State Senator Ray Vandeveer (R-MN), co-author of the Senate bill, and Representative John Ward (D-MN), sponsor of the
House bill, spoke at Sundays shows. - We had our third annual Lyme Walk/Run at the Sunrise Prairie Trail in Wyoming, Minnesota and raise twice what we did the year before.
- Membership is over 300 and our board averages 15
Our goals for 2010 are to continue the programs we established in 2009 while taking on these activities:
- Host national speakers
- Provide continuing education seminars for physicians and nurses
- Partner with local school districts to develop an ongoing Lyme disease outreach program which will educate parents and children about Lyme
disease - Participation at the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Spring Refresher. This event is vital to the Lyme community as we need to introduce
physicians to new Lyme disease information and our physician continuing education program
2008 was a pivotal year for the Lyme disease community. Release of the Lyme documentary “Under Our Skin” and the book Cure Unknown brought
national attention to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Andy Abraham Wilson, the producer and writer of “Under Our Skin”, describes his
work in these words: “Our film tells the hidden story of Lyme disease, while shining light into the dark fissures of our healthcare and medical research
systems. It is meant to open eyes to a danger under our skin that has gone far too long ignored. Awareness literally will save lives.”
Cure Unknown was a 6-year project for Pamela Weintraub. Pam, a science writer and investigative reporter delivers a compelling and definitive book
about Lyme disease. Her nuanced picture of the uncertainty surrounding Lyme disease highlights the need for further research on the illness.
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| A big thank you to Rapid Press of Forest Lake. |
High Risk Areas for Tick-borne Disease in Minnesota - click here to see the updated map.
Click here to view a map where we have support for Bill S.F. 1631
"YOU ARE NEEDED!"
Please help us show our numbers and our strength by appearing with us at the Senate and House
hearings for the physician protection bill S.F. 1631.
One way you can announce our presence on the day of the hearings is to wear green!
February 8th, 12:30-2:35 RM G15
Senate Hearing at the Capitol for bill S.F. 1631
S.F. 1631
1.1 A bill for an act
1.2relating to public health; limiting the Board of Medical Practice from bringing
1.3a disciplinary action against a physician for prescribing, administering, or
1.4dispensing long-term antibiotic therapy for chronic Lyme disease.
Driving directions to the capitol: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.asp?subject=14
February 11th, 2:45pm
House hearing for bill HF 2597
State Office Building 200 (please note this is at the State office building not the Capitol)
There is a public area in this room that we need to fill!
Please block your calendars and plan to attend!!!
Tell your family and friends to come. "Heads Up! Stand Up! Count in the Capitol!"
Dear Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group members,
The Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group is working with state Senators John Marty (DFL) and
Ray Vandeveer (R), and state Representatives John Ward (DFL) and Bob Dettmer (R) to pass a bill
(SF 1631) that will protect physicians’ and patients’ rights in the treatment of Lyme disease. The
bi-partisan support, which now includes Senator Jim Carlson (DFL) and Representative
Carol McFarlane (R), is growing. These brave legislators now need our help to pass the bill by
contacting their legislative colleagues to discuss the importance of this crucial bill.
You can help by:
1. Contacting your State Representative and State Senator
2. Asking your friends and family to contact their State Senator and State Representative.
An on-line instruction sheet and form letter are available for your use.
Thank you for your assistance with this important and historic legislation.
Regards,
Legislative Committee
MLASG ON THE RADIO! Listen last months interview
In our ongoing effort to spread the word, Lyme disease will be the topic on KFAI radio,
Feb 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The show, “Truth to Tell,” delves into issues not talked about in
depth in the mainstream media. Host Andy Driscoll will talk with Dr. Elizabeth Maloney, MLASG medical
consultant, who studies and analyzes Lyme disease research and treatments.
Tune in to 90.3 in Minneapolis or 106.7 in St. Paul, or stream the show from the
KFAI website, www.kfai.org. The show will be archived and available for two weeks after the broadcast.
MLASG ON FACEBOOK!
Catch up on the latest news and information about Lyme disease on our Facebook page! It’s easy to join the group! If you’re already on Facebook,
just search for Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group. If not, it’s easy to set up a Facebook account. You don’t have to keep up your personal page if
you don’t want - although it’s fun and good way to keep in touch with friends and family without much effort.
MLASG AT THE CAPITOL!
The legislative team of MLASG has been getting in touch with the committee members who will be the first to vote on SF 1631, the bill that will allow
your physician to prescribe long-term antibiotic therapy without fear of reprisal from the state medical board. Although we are optimistic, we don’t have
any guarantee of full support. These legislators need to hear from YOU! They need to understand how many people are suffering from the lack of
doctors willing to treat chronic Lyme. Give them a call today!
Click here to view a map where we have support for Bill S.F. 1631
"YOU ARE NEEDED!"
Please help us show our numbers and our strength by appearing with us at the Senate and House
hearings for the physician protection bill S.F. 1631.
One way you can announce our presence on the day of the hearings is to wear green!
February 8th, 12:30-2:35 RM G15
Senate Hearing at the Capitol for bill S.F. 1631
S.F. 1631
1.1 A bill for an act
1.2relating to public health; limiting the Board of Medical Practice from bringing
1.3a disciplinary action against a physician for prescribing, administering, or
1.4dispensing long-term antibiotic therapy for chronic Lyme disease.
Driving directions to the capitol: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.asp?subject=14
February 11th, 2:45pm
House hearing for bill HF 2597
State Office Building 200 (please note this is at the State office building not the Capitol)
There is a public area in this room that we need to fill!
Please block your calendars and plan to attend!!!
Tell your family and friends to come. "Heads Up! Stand Up! Count in the Capitol!"
Dear Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group members,
The Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group is working with state Senators John Marty (DFL) and
Ray Vandeveer (R), and state Representatives John Ward (DFL) and Bob Dettmer (R) to pass a bill
(SF 1631) that will protect physicians’ and patients’ rights in the treatment of Lyme disease. The
bi-partisan support, which now includes Senator Jim Carlson (DFL) and Representative
Carol McFarlane (R), is growing. These brave legislators now need our help to pass the bill by
contacting their legislative colleagues to discuss the importance of this crucial bill.
You can help by:
1. Contacting your State Representative and State Senator
2. Asking your friends and family to contact their State Senator and State Representative.
An on-line instruction sheet and form letter are available for your use.
Thank you for your assistance with this important and historic legislation.
Regards,
Legislative Committee
MLASG ON THE RADIO! Listen last months interview
In our ongoing effort to spread the word, Lyme disease will be the topic on KFAI radio,
Feb 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The show, “Truth to Tell,” delves into issues not talked about in
depth in the mainstream media. Host Andy Driscoll will talk with Dr. Elizabeth Maloney, MLASG medical
consultant, who studies and analyzes Lyme disease research and treatments.
Tune in to 90.3 in Minneapolis or 106.7 in St. Paul, or stream the show from the
KFAI website, www.kfai.org. The show will be archived and available for two weeks after the broadcast.
MLASG ON FACEBOOK!
Catch up on the latest news and information about Lyme disease on our Facebook page! It’s easy to join the group! If you’re already on Facebook,
just search for Minnesota Lyme Action Support Group. If not, it’s easy to set up a Facebook account. You don’t have to keep up your personal page if
you don’t want - although it’s fun and good way to keep in touch with friends and family without much effort.
MLASG AT THE CAPITOL!
The legislative team of MLASG has been getting in touch with the committee members who will be the first to vote on SF 1631, the bill that will allow
your physician to prescribe long-term antibiotic therapy without fear of reprisal from the state medical board. Although we are optimistic, we don’t have
any guarantee of full support. These legislators need to hear from YOU! They need to understand how many people are suffering from the lack of
doctors willing to treat chronic Lyme. Give them a call today!
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This website was created to help raise awareness about Lyme disease in and around Minnesota.
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