Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

National Volunteer Week is April 19 - 25, 2009. SAA gratefully acknowledges all of the committed Volunteers who have made a difference in the fight against spondylitis. Our many thanks to SAA's Board of Directors; Scientific and Medical Advisory Board; Honorary Board Members; Research Volunteers; Educational Support Group Leaders; Peer Mentors; Legislative Advocates and Volunteer Fundraisers.

If you haven't volunteered yet, what are you waiting for? Here are just some of the easy ways you can volunteer to help make spondylitis history.

• Educate others about spondylitis. Each day this week, pick one person and tell them a little bit about spondylitis. If they'd like to learn more, send them to our website where they'll find a host of information about AS and related diseases.
  
  
• Distribute SAA's new Emergency First Responder training video to your community's Emergency Medical Personnel and Paramedics. SAA developed a training video for emergency first responders to raise awareness about the special needs of spondylitis patients in emergency situations. Contact Melissa Velez Coelho, SAA's Director of Program Services, by email at melissa.velez@spondylitis.org for more information about how you can help distribute this important training video.
  
  
• Sign up for a Local Health Fair. SAA can provide educational materials that you can distribute at local Health Fairs. Contact Elin Aslanyan, SAA's Programs Coordinator by email at elin.aslanyan@spondylitis.org, and she can help you sign up to become a Health Fair Volunteer.
  
  
• Deliver SAA's Educational Brochures to your rheumatologist's office so they can be distributed to patients. Contact Elin Aslanyan, SAA's Programs Coordinator by email at elin.aslanyan@spondylitis.org, to order brochures.
  
  
• Advocate for the spondylitis community. Sign up with SAA's Legislative Action Center and send a message to your Local and State Representatives about important legislation that impacts all of us in the spondylitis community.
  
  
• Help SAA make a splash in the social networking world. Become a Fan on Facebook and share our Page with all your friends. Or you can sign up to become a Friend of SAA through MySpace. SAA is also on Twitter - find out what we are tweeting about!
  
  
• Create your own video or Public Service Announcement about spondylitis. Talk about how spondylitis affects your life. Send your videos to SAA and we'll post them on our Facebook and MySpace pages. For more information about video guidelines, please contact Chris Miller, SAA's Web Coordinator at chris.miller@spondylitis.org.
  
  
• Provide first hand support to someone else who has spondylitis. Sign up to become a Peer Mentor or start a Support Group in your area.
  
  
• Become a Research Participant. Contact Omolade Ogun, SAA's Research Coordinator by email at omolade.ogun@spondylitis.org, to find out how you can become involved.