SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS
Welcome 🙂 All meetings are open to patients, their families, interested friends, and caregivers. Please remember that any information shared within a support group stays within the group, considered private and confidential.
Scheduled meetings are listed below and are added throughout the year.
Support groups provide a way for individuals suffering from Mast Cell Disorders ~and their caregivers~ to communicate with each other, support each other, provide comfort and often share information that makes their daily lives better. TMS offers a variety of support opportunities: Local Support Groups, Regional Support Meetings, a Biennial National Patient/Caregiver Conference, Facebook groups, an Inspire Forum with TMS RNs, and an international community website – find those here. Please see the Support Group Meeting listing below for a meeting in your specific area. New meetings will be posted as they are arranged, so keep checking back. Invitations and updates to these meetings will be sent out to TMS members in that area (sign up for membership here, its FREE!). Click here to find the Support Group Leader in your area if you have questions about anything.
We can only have meetings if we have Leaders – every Leader is a volunteer just like you so if you would like to become a Support Group Leader or would like to assist, please contact:Â supportgroups@tmsforacure.org. TMS will provide training, materials, and lots of assistance.
Please remember that meetings are scent-free (hair products, hand sanitizers, lotions, deodorants, etc), and any food and beverage that you bring should be allergy/trigger-free, odor-free, with all ingredients listed if to be shared with the group.Â
Have a wonderful time!
[Please understand that meeting dates/speakers may need to be canceled or changed because of changes in physician/speaker schedules, illness, weather conditions, etc and we will endeavor to notify members. If you are a TMS member but have not received an email from TMS regarding the meeting in your area please check your spam folder. Sometimes these large group emails get automatically filtered by your system. If you still do not see an email you think you should have received please contact Gail Barbera at secretary@tmsforacure.org.]
JANUARY
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Minnesota Support Group Meeting
When: January 19, 2019 … 1:00 – 4:00
Where: Country Inn & Suites Meeting room, 5995 Rice Creek Pkwy. (on east side of Hwy 35 W), Shoreview, MN
Special Presenter: Dr. Catherine Weiler, MD from Mayo Clinic
RSVP to Kristine Greer at kristine.greer@tmsforacure.org
Please remember to be scent-free, wear no perfumes or after shave. Thank you!
 New Support Group in Dallas, TEXAS!
When: Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 1:00 – 4:00
Where: Central Congregational Church, 5600 Royal, Lane Dallas TX 75229
RSVP: supportgroups@tmsforacure.org
This meeting has limited seating. Please indicate the number of spaces needed and the meeting location in your RSVP.
FEBRUARY
Scottsdale, AZ Support Group Meeting
When: February 9, 2019, from 12:00 – 4:00 pm
Where: Location: Honor Health Scottsdale, 9003 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 … Room: Acacia and Mesquite
RSVP: supportgroups@tmsforacure.org
Upstate NY Support Group Meeting
When: Saturday February 16 … 2-4:40pm
Where: Please Note New Meeting Place!! Keys to Fun, 1 Charles Blvd, Guilderland, NY 12084
This will be a totally scent-free room. Please no food or drinks other than water. Some participants are very sensitive. Patients, family and caregivers are all welcome.
RSVP by Feb 13th to Jan.Hempstead@tmsforacure.org
MARCH
Pittsburgh, PA Support Group Meeting
When: March, 2, 2019, from 1:00 – 4:00
Where: Upper St. Clair Township Library, 1820 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
RSVP: Shelly Faris at Shelly.Faris@tmsforacure.org
San Francisco CA Support Group Meeting
When:Â March 9th, 2019 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Where:Â Kaiser Medical Building, 3701 Broadway in Oakland, CA. Ground floor in Mtg. rooms B & C.
Parking: There is street parking as well as a parking lot connected to the building the meeting is in. There is no charge for parking in Kaiser’s parking garage on the weekends.
Southern California Support Group Meeting
Reno, NV Support Group Meeting
When: March 16, 2019, from 9:00 – 4:00 pm POSTPONED
Where: Renown Hospital, 1155 Mills Street, Reno, NV
Contact:Â supportgroups@tmsforacure.org If you would like to be a Leader for this group, let us know!
Indiana Support Group Meeting
When:Â Saturday, March 30 from 12:00 – 4:00
Where:Â AVON Town Hall, 6570 E US HWY 36 (Rockville Road), Avon, IN 46123
Speaker: (Via Skype) Jan Hempstead RN, TMS Interim Vice Chair, Patient Care Coordination
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RSVP: Pam Hodge at pam.hodge@tmsforacure.org
Please indicate the number of spaces you would like reserved when you RSVP.
The Mastocytosis Society Indiana Area Support Group provides support to and is open to all patients with mast cell disorders or suspected mast cell disorders, their families and caregivers. There is no fee to attend.
*Please remember all TMS events are scent-free due to severe allergies*
Please refrain from wearing scented products or using heavily scented products including laundry detergents, fabric softeners, hairspray, lotions, and hand sanitizers prior to the meeting. Some patients are negatively affected by strong scents​
APRIL
Greenville, SC Support Group Meeting
When: April 6, 2019, from 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Where: St. Frances Eastside Hospital, Room 201, 125 Commonwealth Drive, Greenville, SC 29615
Contact: Emily Bolden, emily.bolden@tmsforacure.org
Come into the hospital through entrance C. Go straight back toward the windows in the lobby. Elevators on the left. Go to 2nd floor. Take a right out of the elevator. Take a right when exiting the lobby. Go thru the double doors. The meeting room #201 will be in front of you on the left side of the hall.
Please don’t forget no perfumes or scented anything. We will have light snacks and water.
Kansas City, Missouri Support Group Meeting
When:Â Saturday, April 6th … 12-4pm
Where:Â Liberty Hospital – Building DOB Room 2
RSVP to Brenda and Patrick Hukriede kcMOsupport@tmsforacure.org
HELP! New! Portland, OREGON Area Support Group
We are looking for folks to assist us in finding a place for members in the Pacific Northwest to meet in the Spring of 2019 in Portland Oregon. If you can help please contact supportgroups@tmsforacure.org for details. Once we find a spot we can arrange a definite date!
