sorting out the societies

Let’s take a break from the ongoing story of my surgery to attempt to explain the recent split of Parkinson Alberta from the Parkinson Society of Canada.

The move, effective Jan. 31, 2013, was driven by Parkinson Alberta’s commitment to its clients and concern about how PSC had doubled the assessment fee it required on all revenue generated in Alberta. In 2010, that fee was $132,010, about 11 per cent of Alberta revenue.  Just three years later, PSC proposed a fee of about $294,000 or 22 per cent of projected provincial revenue.

John Petryshen, chief executive officer of Parkinson Alberta, says these financial demands “were causing excessive hardship to our organization and putting the quality and level of direct support and services we offer Albertans at risk.”

“Now, 100 per cent of the revenue generated in Alberta will stay in Alberta,” he says, to continue to provide, improve and expand direct support  and services to Albertans and contribute to research provincially, nationally and on a worldwide basis.

The biggest source of fund-raising is an annual walk in which donors sponsor participants.

PSC intends to continue to hold its Superwalk fund raising event in Calgary and Edmonton. However, Petryshen points out the funds raised will not stay in Alberta and support and serve Albertans affected by Parkinson’s Disease.

Parkinson Alberta has replaced the PSC walk event with an event called Step ‘n Stride, which will happen in communities across the province.  It is organized by the same Parkinson Alberta leaders and volunteers as in years past. Walks will be held Saturday, Sept. 7 in Calgary, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, Edmonton, Grande Prairie and Red Deer; and Sunday, Sept. 8 in Cochrane and Medicine Hat.

Parkinson Alberta has been as transparent as possible about the split.  Petryshen has visited support groups across Alberta to explain the move and answer questions; Parkinson Alberta members have received written material and phone calls designed to explain the reasons for the move.

“No other Parkinson organization in the country can say they provide the same level of direct service and programming that we do,” Petryshen says.

Online registration for the September walk is possible at www.parkinsonalberta.ca/events

Click on the Parkinson Step ‘n Stride logo.

Despite repeated requests to its communications and marketing department, the Parkinson Society of Canada was unable to provide comment on its perspective on the split.

That’s okay. It just makes my own decision to back Parkinson Alberta in all this confusion easier to understand. You’re free to make up your own mind.