Welcome to all our new HealthUnlocked members! - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Welcome to all our new HealthUnlocked members!

Fran_Benson profile image
Fran_BensonPartner
37 Replies

A warm welcome to all new HealthUnlocked members who joined us during July - there were 227 of you :).

We hope you've found our forum to be useful. If you're not sure about posting a question, please don't be shy, there's a lot of help and support on here.

If you're interested in finding out more about membership of the charity itself, please see our website pmrgca.co.uk/content/about-.... Charity members have access to our members' magazine and to our AGM and Members' Day which is taking place online next month.

If you have any queries at all, either ask them in a post or contact me via the message function.

I aim to get back within 48 hours (often it's much quicker) but please be aware that it's August, and I have annual leave on and off throughout the month, so there may be a greater delay than normal.

Regards

Fran

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Fran_Benson profile image
Fran_Benson
Partner
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37 Replies
SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

I love that our gang has got bigger!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Hope that means more people are finding us, rather than more people are getting GCA and/or PMR (although if more are being diagnosed promptly that’s a bonus I suppose).

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toDorsetLady

Some of them have had PMR for a while judging by some of the replies though

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply toPMRpro

That’s what I thought as well - but the more the merrier, if it means they are educating others.

Although I have noticed I’ve gained a few followers who are a bit random- or at least have nothing on profile to indicate PMR/GCA - but that’s nothing new.

Just wondering if during Covid-19 they’re just joining forums for something to do!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toDorsetLady

Could well be! I've got a few random new followers recently - good luck to them if they want a notification of everything I write ;)

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply toDorsetLady

Me too and some of my new followers don't seem to have anything to do with pmr either!! Following me is going to be boring for them!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toYellowbluebell

They might wish I was more boring ;)

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply toPMRpro

They will learn from following you. All they will get from me is how I love the contents of my fridge!!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toYellowbluebell

As long as you also say it really isn't a good idea ;)

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane

It is good to know that membership is increasing

Bcol profile image
Bcol

I'm one of your newbies, fantastic site. I knew nothing about PMR before diagnosis, the information and support I have gained here as well as Kate Gilbert's book, has been invaluable. Thank you all.

Umufu profile image
Umufu

Thank you Fran. I am desperately trying to pay for my yearly membership but don’t know how to go about it. It takes time to find my way through the techno jungle.

Wonderful forum, has helped me tremendously to find my way around PMR and GCA and has given me all the confidence I needed to stand up for myself with GPS and Rheumatologists.

Thank you and the team and all the experts/patients.

Happy holiday,

Umufu (Sigrid) .... 81 in 2 weeks 😀

Fran_Benson profile image
Fran_BensonPartner in reply toUmufu

Hi Sigrid, you can do it here if you follow this link: pmrgca.co.uk/membership-app...

Alternatively, if you've had a letter about renewing, you can send in a cheque with any amendments to the data form or if you have internet banking arrange a transfer.

If you have any problems, message me on here today or tomorrow and I'll call you if you like.

Fran

kmeikle1 profile image
kmeikle1

I don't comment much, but I want you all to know how much I appreciate this site. You know so much and you're caring...quite the combination and just what I need. Thank you. You help more than you know.

Shopping3 profile image
Shopping3

I would like to say how brilliant this site for PMR is .I check everyday to see what people have to say about their struggle with their problems about pain or wether to increase or decrease medication.I would have been lost without you all .So I say thankyou to you all .Stay safe.

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie

I'm on various Facebook groups (there are about 8 different ones) and think am responsible for many of the new joiners as I am constantly posting info ie banging on about both the charity and HU. And Kate Gilbert's book. Most of the people in the groups are from the USA, is there an option for them to become members too?

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply totangocharlie

Its harder for them to become paid members but not impossible. Fran will no doubt have a way of them paying fees.

I think this forum is amazing. I joined on diagnosis in June and it just happened to be PMR/GCA week in the UK. These two benefits are worth every penny I have paid to the charity. I strongly recommend everyone who can afford it to join/donate to PMRGCAuk to keep these services and more going. Thank you all.

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toDogAgilityObsessed

Ha ha I spoke to someone on the Helpline once who was newly diagnosed and got about 40 minutes of my time answering all her detailed questions about PMR which she seemed very happy with and thanked me profusely for but at the end of it she said she was considering joining but wasn't sure if it was worth it - I was gobsmacked. Apart from the altrustic reasons to find £15 to help others in the same boat as herself - I pay to other charities I don't directly benefit from - it is excellent value for money. This woman had had all my time and knowledge for free and yet wondered if membership at £15 a year was worth it! I don't know if she was trying to haggle or whether some people are just hard to please!

DogAgilityObsessed profile image
DogAgilityObsessed in reply totangocharlie

Ooh I’d totally forgotten that benefit which I have also made use of when I got the diagnosis. Thank you and the other volunteers for that service as well.

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toDogAgilityObsessed

Glad somebody could help you - that's why we all do it, on here or in other ways.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply totangocharlie

Some people are just cheeky!!!!

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toPMRpro

Or tight-arsed

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply totangocharlie

some people think everything should be free. They don't realise charities have costs even with volunteers and ambassadors giving time freely. I have been involved with my own job recently so haven't been able to help as much but I can see Pro and DL are busy as usual as well as all the usual members who contribute to queries regularly.

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie

Fran I shared the post about the new Newswire in a Facebook group and some people in the USA have asked if they can join - can they? Also someone has smugly posted that as she is in Scotland there is no membership fee for their group - how come they don't charge, I'm sure people would willingly donate.

Highlandtiger profile image
Highlandtiger in reply totangocharlie

I’m a member of both (UK and Scotland) and definitely paid for both. It may be that the Scottish one asked for a 'suggested donation' or something similar rather than an actual membership sub, I can’t remember exactly how it was worded.

I’m somewhat speechless at your helpline story I have to confess! People never cease to amaze - and not always in a good way! 😳

Fran_Benson profile image
Fran_BensonPartner in reply totangocharlie

Hi Tangocharlie, yes the Americans can join. They can do it through the membership page on the website and are very welcome. Can you post a link to the right page?

(PMR GCA Scotland is a separate charity and they rely on donations rather than a set amount.)

Fran

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toFran_Benson

But how do they pay? we would normally send a UK cheque but what do they do?

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply totangocharlie

I have a vague memory of using a credit card when I tried to make a donation. I hope that worked btw. Anyway, the credit card company manages the currency exchange.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply totangocharlie

Credit cards have been mentioned in previous discussions about non-UK members.

What's a cheque? Haven't had a chequebook for many years!

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toPMRpro

What is this 21st century of which you speak? I vaguely recall when I first joined I must have paid by cheque and thought that was still the case but maybe I do a bank transfer these days, I don't honestly know!

Fran_Benson profile image
Fran_BensonPartner in reply totangocharlie

It's all done by credit card for online memberships. And even our UK members are increasingly using online and credit card to join/renew.

We still take cheques of course, along with standing orders and bank transfers - but for international members, credit card is the only option otherwise it could get expensive for them and us.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply toFran_Benson

Most banks don't even issue cheque books when you open a current account now unless you specifically ask. They mush prefer we use online methods to pay for stuff now.

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toFran_Benson

So if we can pay by credit card/Switch why can't we do regular monthly payments too like I do with some other charities?

Fran_Benson profile image
Fran_BensonPartner in reply totangocharlie

You can set up monthly payments but not through credit card (at the moment) - it has to be done via your bank as a standing order. We have a few members (and non-members) who do this.

tangocharlie profile image
tangocharlie in reply toFran_Benson

That's fantastic news, I have an annual DD but would much rather pay monthly. I enquired about that a while back and was told it wasn't yet technnically possible . It would be better for the charity to have more people paying say £2 or £3 per month than £15 a year.

Fran_Benson profile image
Fran_BensonPartner in reply totangocharlie

Don't get too excited ;) It's always been possible but we don't have the software to automate the process so it is quite labour intensive to manage. So we don't turn away anyone who wants to do it but we aren't in a position to promote it either.

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