Did we really need another forum???

[wading thru the muck!]

Rather than cooperate by making an effort to help connect their offline support groups with our online support group, the ASAA has decided to create their own forum. Was this a good use of their resources as an organization supporting all apnea sufferers or and effort to protect their existing turf?

http://www.apneasupport.org/index.php

[ahujudybear]

Why would folks like me (by far a minority here it would seem) want to go to that site? I don't have an apnea problem, although that is what it was called in the past. My problem is hypoventilation.

Hmmm... Maybe I should start a forum for that.

Oh! There already is one: the IVUN site! (International Ventilator Users Network)

Silly me.



- JB

[Guest]

Rather than cooperate by making an effort to help connect their offline support groups with our online support group, the ASAA has decided to create their own forum. Was this a good use of their resources as an organization supporting all apnea sufferers or and effort to protect their existing turf?

http://www.apneasupport.org/index.php

Wader,

How exactly would you suggest connecting TAS, CPAPTALK and a number of other boards? Personally I see your post as one to stir the pot instead of help raise awareness of Sleep Apnea. With the current estimates of non-diagnosed patients, and the rapid increase of patients, there is a tremendous need to raise awareness. I don't remember seeing any posts saying that CpapTalk didn't need to be created as there were already a number of fine boards out there. This is not an effort to dilute anything. It is an effort to unite the AWAKE groups, and help strengthen them while offering an online forum.

My personal opinion is that there isn't enough information available, and any and all efforts to increase the amount of information and awareness will help strengthen ALL groups.

[Mikesus]

Whoops got guested....

[IWannaSleep]

Cool, another sleep apnea board

Thanks for announcing it Wading, I think I'll go join.


Ron

[rested gal]

I have no problem with seeing the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) re-open their forum.

The more places on the internet that sleep apnea sufferers might come across information and be able to ask questions, the better.

[wading thru the muck!]

Wader,

How exactly would you suggest connecting TAS, CPAPTALK and a number of other boards? Personally I see your post as one to stir the pot instead of help raise awareness of Sleep Apnea. With the current estimates of non-diagnosed patients, and the rapid increase of patients, there is a tremendous need to raise awareness. I don't remember seeing any posts saying that CpapTalk didn't need to be created as there were already a number of fine boards out there. This is not an effort to dilute anything. It is an effort to unite the AWAKE groups, and help strengthen them while offering an online forum.

My personal opinion is that there isn't enough information available, and any and all efforts to increase the amount of information and awareness will help strengthen ALL groups.

Very easy to work to connect the online support community with the offline support community... Publish the list of AWAKE groups and allow the existing forums to link to them. This would encourage the online members to attend a local group which inturn would make the offline community aware of the forums. I did not say that this was an EFFORT to dilute the online communities, but I did point out that it will unnecessarily have that effect. I hope everyone here joins the new forum and participates there and on all the other forums. I'm just curious why the decision to "unite the AWAKE groups" and not an effort to unite ALL the apnea support groups.

[Mikesus]

There has always been an "effort to coordinate the AWAKE groups." It however was not as coordinated as this effort. For more info you can check out the AWAKE section on the ASAA site Here

As the AWAKE network is the mutual help network arm of the ASAA, what better place to organize it than the ASAA? By putting all the resources in one central location that is easily updatable by the AWAKE Coordinators, and a central place for everyone to link to will be readily available. This will make it easier to spread the information, and easier to maintain. (only one location to maintain versus multiple locations) Again, I think we will have to agree to disagree on diluting the online community. CPAPTALK is very successful, as is TAS. I think any and all efforts to increase awareness will just make all of the communities more successful.

[LDuyer]

Very easy to work to connect the online support community with the offline support community... Publish the list of AWAKE groups and allow the existing forums to link to them. This would encourage the online members to attend a local group which inturn would make the offline community aware of the forums. I did not say that this was an EFFORT to dilute the online communities, but I did point out that it will unnecessarily have that effect. I hope everyone here joins the new forum and participates there and on all the other forums. I'm just curious why the decision to "unite the AWAKE groups" and not an effort to unite ALL the apnea support groups.

As a participant in the ASAA effort, I can say that there were many reasons for the organization re-opening their forum. AWAKE group support was a big one, but not the only reason. Their board should help the ASAA in many different ways. Our efforts to help the ASAA began when ASAA expressed a sincere desire to improve their work in increasing public awareness about sleep apnea. It was one step, a tool to help. I am sure the ASAA welcomes cooperation among all entities connected with sleep apnea. We are all in this together, one way or another. The online stores and support groups all offer great services to people who desparately need it. There's no reason why we can't be accepting and understanding of all these efforts.


Linda

[wading thru the muck!]

As a participant in the ASAA effort, I can say that there were many reasons for the organization re-opening their forum. AWAKE group support was a big one, but not the only reason. Their board should help the ASAA in many different ways. Our efforts to help the ASAA began when ASAA expressed a sincere desire to improve their work in increasing public awareness about sleep apnea. It was one step, a tool to help. I am sure the ASAA welcomes cooperation among all entities connected with sleep apnea. We are all in this together, one way or another. The online stores and support groups all offer great services to people who desparately need it. There's no reason why we can't be accepting and understanding of all these efforts.


Linda

BLAH... BLAH... BLAH...BLAH...BLAH

Sorry, but it sounds to me more like PR spin than a real rationale for ignoring the existing online communities.

[rock and roll]

I am for all efforts to get the word out and help people with SA. Will I vacate this forum to go to it, not at all. Most likely I will be scarce there and remain active here, just like I really don't participate in the other existing formums after finding this one. I think this is a great forum and I like the sight the best as it requires no cookies and it is so very user freindly.


Do like TV, if you don't like it and don't want to support it, don't go to it period, just like turning the channel on the TV. But I am for more and all help for the SA people.

[LDuyer]

Sorry, but it sounds to me more like PR spin than a real rationale for ignoring the existing online communities.

I'm sorry you feel this way. Mike and I are only volunteers, we say what we feel or know. We are both incredibly grateful for our time here and for meeting so many wonderful people. I don't see it as igoring anyone. But we feel we had to help when it became clear the ASAA also wanted to help more. No, it's not meant as a PR spin, only our personal explanations.

As Rock & Roll, put it, I agree. I feel people who are comfortable here should continue to use this wonderful board. It improves every day and it will continue to help many folks. I hope that I am also still welcome here, for I wish all the boards all the best, and because there are so many great people here. I've always had a preference for greeting and helping the new people, for I remember what it was like to first search for answers and support. These boards, all of them, are godsends to new people who desparately need help and answers. I expect cpaptalk to go gangbusters as it always has.

Linda

[wading thru the muck!]

Somehow you and Mike seem to be missing my point on this matter. I have no concern that the creation of the new board means the demise of cpaptalk. My point is that the concept of the online forums is to bring people together. Creating a separate forum for the AWAKE groups by it's nature excludes the good things happening on the existing forums from that group. I just see it as a missed opportunity.

[Guest]

How did you find this site? By searching for a new forum? If you weren't looking, then how did you know?

I agree with you, why a new forum just so AWAKE meetings can be listed or "connected". I like the comment in this thread by one of the creators of the ASF Board:

"But we feel we had to help when it became clear the ASAA also wanted to help more. "

How is it more help? Looks like a copy of this site with the exception of awake info. Streaming news.....the chat is exactly like the one here....

I think I see what Wading through the muck is questioning the need for another board. Why didn't ASAA try to connect or provide all the AWAKE info to the current online boards? Plus tell all the offline Awake groups about this and other informative boards on the internet? If ASAA wanted to help more then why not make that connection instead of just making another board? You can still manage the groups without a board right?

Why is none of the AWAKE meeting info listed on the other forum sites? Do they not want it? How about it Cpaptalk? Do you not want to help and list the AWAKE meetings?

I have never been to an AWAKE meeting, probably never will, but if I do I guess I can go to ASAA's website or now to their forum and find me a meeting place. Otherwise, I don't think ASAA is offering anything new or better and the information, discussions or post are just going to get duplicated over and over and over....

I don't see the point of another site either, wading through the muck.....

[Mikesus]

Somehow you and Mike seem to be missing my point on this matter. I have no concern that the creation of the new board means the demise of cpaptalk. My point is that the concept of the online forums is to bring people together. Creating a separate forum for the AWAKE groups by it's nature excludes the good things happening on the existing forums from that group. I just see it as a missed opportunity.

You are correct in saying that online forums bring people together online, but you are missing the point of AWAKE groups. They are there to bring people together in person. By only including a single forum other than the ASAA, you are excluding the other support forums, as you say the ASAA is doing. The forum of the ASAA will provide access to the information ia clear and concise way, keep it centrally located, and afford all forums the opportunity to utilize that information equally.

Johnny, I appologize for this topic taking up space on here, never had any intention of draining anyt ing from CPAPTALK. Or linking to the ASAA forum.

Wader, if you wish to continue this, please keep the replies in the topic you started on the ASAA forum.