THE FIRST 2003-2004 MEETING IS **ON** at 7:00 P.M., TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2003!!
It has been five long months since we were first advised that we could no longer meet in the Peel Memorial Hospital Auditorium. During that time your steering committee has endeavoured to find an alternative hall that is suitable for our operation at a reasonable cost, with good parking accessibility, audio/visual compatibility and a central location.
It has been a tough task, but now we have finally found a location that I am sure will meet most of our standards: The Terry Miller Recreation Center, 1295 Williams Parkway at Bramalea Road, adjacent to the North Peel Secondary School.
The room is upstairs but is accessible by elevator. Parking is ample and free. The total cost per meeting will be approximately $70. To defray this cost we are suggesting that the $2 that most of us paid every month to park at the hospital could easily cover the cost of holding our regular meetings in this new location.
Most importantly, we have a home once again, and the diligence, support and effort that Don Grant, Gerry Brunjes, Ian Smith, Mukul Luthra and Sean & Margaret Butterly have given me has shown that we are still a great group.
But we still have lots to do. You will see in this bulletin that we have some speakers lined up but there are still some vacant spots to fill. Suggestions and recommendations are welcome.
There are several new members whom we have met during the summer that require support in their decision making, and there are many of us that have questions for our speakers as new problems and issues seem to appear each day.
We have laid the groundwork for another successful year and now each and every one of you can help us by attending the meetings.
Morris Rambout, who coordinated the new members, was on the hospital visitation team AND ran the annual Charity Golf Tournament, has decided to take a rest from the Steering Committee until further notice. Thanks for all your efforts, Morris. You will be sorely missed.
Thank you for your continued support and I hope to see you all on September 9th at the Terry Miller Recreation Centre!
- Fred Norris, Chairman, (905) 877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@sympatico.ca.

2003-2004 SPEAKERS
Your Speaker Committee has also been working hard over the summer months and has come up with a fine array of guest speakers for the coming season.
Tuesday, September 9th - Always a member favourite, Dr. Stanley Flax will open our season in our new venue at Terry Miller Recreation Centre. The topic of his presentation is still to be determined.
Tuesday, October 14th - Also back for another appearance is Dr. Richard Casey, who will discuss "Clinical Trials".
Tuesday, November 11th - We were fortunate enough to obtain Dr. Robert Bristow from Princess Margaret Hospital who will discuss Radiation Oncology & The Genetics of Prostate Cancer.
Tuesday, December 9th. - Our Christmas Social. We hope to add a speaker to this date as well.
Tuesday January 13, 2004 - To open the New Year, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim has agreed to host an Open Forum and field your questions about prostate cancer.
Arlene Dalton, who gave an excellent Yoga Demonstration last year, may be back to discuss Stress Management later in 2004.
We will continue to search for interesting speakers to fill the rest of the year. As always, your suggestions are welcome.
Don Grant, Speaker Committee, (905) 793-7376 e-mail dongrantmon@sympatico.ca

NEW MEMBER MEETING CHANGES
The New Member meetings are scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in Suite 304, at 57 Mill Street North, Brampton. The next scheduled meeting will be held between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23.
To obtain detailed directions to this location, please contact either: Don Grant, Member Relations, at (905) 793-7376 e-mail dongrantmon@sympatico.ca or Sean Butterly, Special Consultant at (905) 454-4237. Your Chairman, Fred Norris, is also available at (905) 877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@sympatico.ca

RELAY FOR LIFE
This year’s Us Too! Brampton team consisted of Chuck Busby, Ken Clarke, Frank Connolly, Denis Paris and me. With “only half a team”, we raised nearly $2,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society and had a great time doing it. We are already planning for next year’s event.
The Relay is not as strenuous as it sounds; but it is both chilling and heart-warming. We were chilled by the number of very young boys and girls in attendance. Thank God, some were survivors who walked with us and warmed us with their high spirits. Others had lost the battle but were being lovingly remembered by huge collections of “Luminaries” – the candles that we lit at 10 p.m. and kept burning through the night.
The heart-warming part started with the Survivors’ Reception where we were honoured guests as always. Following the Opening Ceremony, we survivors were piped onto the track where we all completed at least one Victory Lap. The night was long, but the tent that Mukul Luthra so kindly loaned us served as a comfortable setting.
This year, we were fortunate to have Starbucks coffee served to us throughout the night. Our friend Kerry Ullrich manages the two Brampton stores, located in the Chapters store at Bovaird & Highway 10 and at Trinity Common. Volunteers from both locations spent the night serving coffee to long lines of caffeine-starved Relayers. It seems that all of the Starbucks people enjoyed themselves hugely; two of them were even observed twisting by the dawn’s early light and then taking the final lap. Our thanks go out to this great group of people! I for one would not have made it through the night without them.
Jim Dorsey, Communication, (905) 453-3038, e-mail jdorsey@sympatico.ca

3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament June 23rd - Acton Golf Club
Our Tournament got off to a flying start on June 23rd amidst the lush surroundings of the Acton Golf Club. Approximately 80 members and guests took part, with everybody winning excellent prizes at the end of the day.
As always, the tournament raised substantial funds for our cause. Our grateful thanks to all those who donated prizes for the event and to the many volunteers who helped organize and run the event.
Morris Rambout, (905) 793-8843, e-mail mrambout@idirect.com

FINANCE
Without doubt, the trials which befell this membership because of the SARS scare were the most severe for any Prostate Cancer Support Group in North America, if not the world. Our problems may not yet be completely overcome, but I believe we can now see light at the end of the tunnel. Resolve, effort and dedication by members of this chapter to prevent complete dissolution are particularly commendable.
That being said, here are some brief thoughts concerning last year's major business operations:
· We have made sizeable contributions to the Canadian Prostate Cancer Network (CPCN), in support of the 'Living Proof' campaign, and to our local hospital foundation. No evidence of the success or failure of Living Proof is available, or likely ever will be, but we believe it is of the utmost importance to get the 'Annual Check Up' message out to the general public.
· Despite the cancellation of two general meetings, a record number of subscriptions (and donations) were received from our members, reflecting our growing population and our ongoing effort to educate the public.
· We purchased audio/visual equipment in order to make professional presentations and to encourage audience participation.
· We raised much needed funds through our 'Play Evening' presented by Bramalea Live Theatre, the 'Acton Golf Tournament', a couple of very good draws and personal and company donations. Our thanks and gratitude to all who participated, and worked so hard for success. Special thanks are directed to Morris and Sandra Rambout.
· Our Relay for Life team raised nearly $2,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society in support of Pca research.
· Funds donated to our cause can now be made tax deductible. Some minor conditions will need to be observed. A committee with the sole purpose of raising funds should now be seriously considered, and will hopefully be operational by year's end. Volunteers are urgently needed.
Despite our setbacks, we can be comforted in knowing that we had a successful financial year. My heartfelt thanks to all who contributed time, effort, finances and suggestions.
- Gerry Brunjes, Treasurer, (905) 791-3043, e-mail brunjes@idirect.com.

AWARENESS
Fortinos cancelled a presentation originally planned for August 18th because of lack of interest on part of their customers. It is to be rescheduled in October or November. Fortinos may also be interested in a Saturday "Information Table" at their Brampton West location. That arrangement for sometime in the fall may be confirmed in time for the first regular meeting on 9th September. There is a presentation scheduled for 22nd September at the Regional Office, Mississauga room, as part of Fortino's "Lunch and Learn" programme.
I am hoping that Costco will agree to hold an information table session at their new pharmacy at the Brampton store sometime in the fall.
I have informed Wally Seeley of the CPCN that McKesson Canada has kindly agreed to distribute "Living Proof" brochures and posters to each of their Family Health Care pharmacies in Ontario. These materials have already been delivered to McKesson and will be distributed to their stores during the week of 25th August. There are two FHC stores in Brampton. I have asked if they would also distribute literature to their other stores nationally.
If you wish to help distribute pamphlets to area pharmacies, know of a group that might benefit from a presentation on Prostate Cancer or have an idea for another Awareness event, please contact me.
Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, (905) 454-3880, e-mail iclacewood@globalserve.net.

OUR WEB SITE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE - www.ustoo-brampton.com
Mukul Luthra continues to work miracles with our web site. Check out the great pictures and descriptions of some of our recent events. Mukul is our very own wizard of the Internet!
Contact Mukul Luthra, Multimedia, (905) 873-8367, e-mail wftech@stn.net.
"US TOO!" PROMOTIONAL HATS
We have in stock about 8 - 10 hats with the Us Too! logo. These top quality hats are available at a subsidized price of $5.00, truly a great buy. See Don Grant at the next General Meeting or telephone (905) 793-7376 to buy yours.

"HUMOUR"
The owner of a drugstore arrives at work to find a man leaning heavily against a wall. The owner goes inside and asks his clerk what's up.
"He wanted something for his cough, but I couldn't find the cough syrup," the clerk explains. "So I gave him a laxative and told him to take it all at once."
"Laxatives won't cure a cough, you idiot," the owner shouts angrily.
"Sure they will," the clerk says, pointing at the man leaning on the wall. "Look at him. He's afraid to cough."
(NOW will you send in some jokes?! Please?!)