Author
Marion Wilkens, Chairwoman of Alpha1 Germany eV, as appeared in Alpha1 Journal 1/2024.
In your hands you hold our summer journal, this time very late, just like summer itself.
Just like the weather, the club's activities had their ups and downs. Ultimately, thankfully, the past year was characterized by many wonderful moments.
The events, some of which you can read about here, were filled with many heartwarming encounters, and we grow closer every year. Especially after our information day, we inevitably ask ourselves: What is it that we need? Is it the wealth of information about our illness and living with it, or is it perhaps more the sense of community, the feeling of not being alone with our problems, the supportive network that helps us all, or simply the wonderful connections we've made?
You might be wondering where the "downs" in my list of ups and downs were? Quite simply: there are too many great projects, too many stories to tell, too much news we want to report. One significant down is the increasing difficulty of maintaining our budget – raising it takes considerably more work than when I first started on the board.
As I write these lines, our membership has grown to 1066 – a substantial and encouraging number! We need to find new ways to preserve what's good while still having time for new projects, studies, and events. And you'll read in several places in the journal that we also need more financial support from each and every one of you, without creating barriers to participation and involvement.
You learn something new every day, sometimes I think it just can't all fit into my head. Oh well, if it doesn't fit in my head anymore, then it just sits on my desk!
I wish us all a pleasant (and peaceful) summer, good health, and if you ever have any spare cash, please think of us. We not only appreciate your financial support, but we also welcome your thoughts and suggestions…
Her
Marion Wilkens
