Epilepsy Foundation
South Central Wisconsin

From the Director's Desk by Art Taggart

Art Taggart, Executive Director, looking very dapper at the Mardi Gras fundraiser

On Fat Tuesday, February 28, current and past board members assembled at the University Club to support the Epilepsy Foundation affiliates of the gulf coast region. Their efforts raised about $1,500 in support of gulf coast services for families with epilepsy. The hurricane season this past year hampered operations, particularly for the Louisiana affiliate, and also taxed the resources of South Alabama and Southeast Texas. For the past two years, Epilepsy Foundation affiliates have been looking at Mardi Gras as a potential date for a nationwide fund raising event for epilepsy services. The affiliate in Western/Central Pennsylvania has had a very successful event in Pittsburgh for many years. Their Mardi Gras Gala has become THE hot ticket for mid-winter revelers fighting cabin fever in the hills of West Central PA. Judy Painter, their Executive Director, has conducted several national trainings for affiliates interested in duplicating their success. At our Leadership Training Conference in Tempe, Arizona, this past fall, National Board Chair TONY COEHLO charged affiliates to use their Mardi Gras events as a way to show our family feeling for those chapters struggling to provide continuous service through one of this nation’s most trying natural disasters. In September there was no assurance that there would even be a Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans. The National Office itself stepped forward with $120,000 in support of the Gulf Coast chapters. Numerous affiliates around the country also pledged support and those doing Mardi Gras events dedicated at least a portion of the proceeds to the gulf coast region. At our January board meeting our directors decided to host an event in support our friends down south. Party-goers sampled wines and cheeses from around the world and grooved to the tasty licks of the KEN WHEATON Trio in the stately environs of the University Club on Library Mall. We had so much fun we’re going to do it again next year, when our very first King and Queen of Mardi Gras will be University of Whitewater professor and long-time Epilepsy Foundation volunteer DAVE REMMELE, and his vivacious wife, THUY, a nationally renown educator and advocate. Anyone interested in supporting this hurricane relief fund can still participate. Simply make your check out to the Epilepsy Foundation and put the notation “Mardi Gras” on the memo line. You’ll automatically be added to our invitation list for 2007, when the good times (and the gulf coast!) will roll again. ~~Art Taggart, Executive Director