PURPOSE & GOALS OF GROA

-To assist in the rehabilitation of persons who have, or will have ostomy surgery.

-To promote a better public understanding of ostomies

-To be of mutual assistance to each other.

-To assist the medical profession whenever possible.

-To provide reassurance and emotional support to the ostomate’s family.

-To assist all ostomates needing help including pre-operative and post-operative visits to new ostomates, only at the request of the surgeon, or ET.

PRESENTLY GROA IS ENGAGED IN:

-Semi-Monthly meetings with professional speakers for the general membership, to which, the general public or other interested parties are also invited.

-Semi-Monthly meetings of the GROA’s Board of Directors.

-Monthly publication of a Newsletter, called the “Ostomy Promoter”.

-Active group of trained visitors.

-Annual GROA Summer picnic.

HOW THE OSTOMY CHAPTER CAN HELP YOU

You as a person with an ostomy can benefit greatly from free exchange of knowledge and ideas made possible by the meetings of the group.

AT THOSE METINGS, YOU MAY:

1. Meet and learn of the latest approved ostomy care from well-known authorities who are invited to speak.

2. Hear about and exchange experiences with other persons having Colostomies, Ileostomies, or Urinary Ostomies.

3. See and learn about various appliances and equipment available.

4. Obtain reading material on ostomy care gathered from other groups around the world.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

To become a member, fill out the application on the back page of this booklet and mail with your check or money order. We no longer have a ‘set dues’ rate, however, it is impossible to run a group of any kind without funds, so we are only asking that if you can, please ‘donate’ whatever amount that you feel that you can. We do need some capital to print our Newsletter, “The Promoter” and pay rent for the Library room, plus a few other projects which are done to be of help to our fellow ostomates. i.e. printing of ostomy books etc. Please ask any of the directors if you are curious as to where these projects show up.