**AARDA is awarded Charity Navigator's coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management! Read the letter here http://www.aarda.org/press_release_display.php?ID=51
**Make AARDA part of your workplace giving program. Many employers match your contribution. More... http://www.aarda.org/user_content/workplace_giving.php
**Which diseases are autoimmune? Here's the list http://www.aarda.org/research_display.php?ID=47
**Information for you...CDC's website for information on H1N1 (click on "H1N1 Flu & You" under the general information navigation bar for comprehensive Q&A's)http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
**Please complete our short health care priorities survey and help AARDA help YOU! The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) wants to ensure that we are truly advocating for the issues that matter most to you -- autoimmune disease patients and your families. By taking less than 60 seconds to fill out this short survey you will be giving AARDA the information we need to ensure that your interests are represented in Congress for health care reform. Please RANK the priorities in order of importance. Click here for the survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Vv2jdU_2fqSawld9ZX9JwFVQ_3d_3d
**Your help with advocacy is needed** AARDA needs every autoimmune patient, family member, and friend to contact their U.S. Representative in support of H.R. 2084, also called the "Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 2009." This important legislation was introduced by Patrick J. Kennedy on April 23, 2009. Please go to our Advocacy Page for information on ways you can help. http://www.aarda.org/advocacy_issues.php
**Autoimmune Patients and Families - Visit our online patient forum. More here: http://www.aarda.org/press_release_display.php?ID=49
**Thinking of volunteering? Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page here www.aarda.org/user_content/volunteer.php
**Shop in support of AARDA this fall! - It's that time of year again. Time to search for that perfect backpack, those new shoes and the never-ending school supply list. And maybe now is the time to get a jump on that holiday shopping. With so much to do, why not couple your support for AARDA with your necessary shopping? AARDA has partnered with a number of online stores so that when you do your shopping, a portion of your dollars are donated to AARDA. Now that's multitasking at its very best! To support AARDA, use an online retailer like iGive. For a link to these online stores, check out our fundraising page. http://www.aarda.org/fundraising.php
**AARDA IN THE NEWS:
Know Your Family AQ -- AARDA's first-ever national public service (PSA) campaign title, "Know Your Family AQ," starring well-known acress and longtime AARDA spokesperson Kellie Martin may be on your TV! AQ is aplay on IQ and stands for Autoimmune Quotient. How likely are you or a loved one to develop an autommune disease? It is designed to educate Americans about the existence of the close genetic relationship and common pathway of disease among autoimmune diseases, which helps explain the clustering of these diseases in individuals and throughout families. Click here www.aarda.org/videos.php for more information and advice for learning your family's AQ.
Men Get Autoimmune Diseases, Too -- This AARDA campaign, launched in April of 2008, consists of 30-second radio and television public service announcements and education materials designed to raise awareness about the fact that, while women are disproportionately affected, these diseases do not discriminate when it comes to gender. Specifically, the PSAs inform men about the importance of knowing their family AQ. Visit http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/aarda/32498/ to download all campaign elements.
