"the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced..."-Mike Claeys leaves MJFF

[Greg Wasson <gregm94610@xxxxxxxxx>]

"It is for us...to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who 
fought here have thus far so nobly advanced." Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

As some of you may know, Michael Claeys is leaving his job as Manager - 
Research Programs for the Michael J. Fox Foundation on Feb 27th. He is coming 
back to a state he loves, California, to be with his fiance who has found a 
great position in the wine country.

I don't know of any special awards planned for Mike, although I am sure the Fox 
folks will give him a great send-off. But Mike Claeys deserves a few words in 
his honor that can be read by the wider PD community, because we all owe him,  
a man who does not have PD, a debt of thanks for his tireless efforts on our 
behalf.

He spent five years working for the Parkinson's Action Network and left there 
as Senior Policy Coordinator.  In his five-year tenure with PAN, Claeys 
conducted grassroots advocacy and direct federal lobbying on behalf of the 
Parkinson's community. In those days many times Mike seemed like a one-man 
band. PAN didn't have the staff it has now, and so on any given day you could 
see him going from office to office, phone to phone, putting out fires here and 
lighting others under Senators and Congressmen there. The present grassroots 
advocacy program at PAN owes much to his vision and creativity.

I can remember as a green volunteer for PAN several years ago making some 
"suggestions" for ways that things couldc be improved in the Santa Rosa office 
- what followed was what diplomats like to call an "open and forthright 
exchange of views." They could probably hear us in the next county. I hung up 
from that call with a new appreciation of how much Mike and Joan and the small 
staff in Santa Rosa had accomplished by sheer willpower. I did a lot more 
listening after that and I learned much.

Mike has always been gracious with his time, and timely with his advice when 
asked fot it. The Parkinsons community will miss Michael Claeys. We owe him a 
debt of gratitude. Anyone wanting to wish Mike a bon voyage may do so at 
mclaeys@xxxxxxxx until end of business tomorow.

Thanks, Mike, for your intelligence, vision and hard work on our behalf.

Greg



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