In the middle 1990’s there was a Myasthenia Gravis Chat sponsored by Prodigy. It was started, and run by, Stan Way and Donna Whittaker. Irv Beck later joined them, helping to run it for several years. Participation in these weekly chats was international. These chats attracted a wide audience of myasthenics, many of who eventually made their way into MGFA Chapters and also to Annual Meetings.
Eventually, Prodigy disbanded the chat room facility so the core members switched to a Massachusetts General Hospital chat room (MGH).
The subject of having an internet chapter came up during these chats. After much discussion it was decided to query the National MGFA at an Annual Meeting about the concept of an internet chapter.
At the 1998 Annual National Meeting, in Virginia, we met, (some for the 1st time personally) and discussed it, requesting permission from National MGFA Board of Directors (presentation by Kelly Carson) to start an internet chapter. Permission was granted and we were “off.” We met in one of the MGer’s rooms and decided how to proceed. A temporary Board was chosen, to be elected at a meeting to be arranged, during the chats.
The following year was filled with working on the organization (online), officers being chosen (after much online discussion) and the name selection of MGnet was made. At the 1999 Annual Meeting MGnet was officially voted into existence by the MGFA General Assembly.
We had members from about 15-20 different countries, and most of the States, sign up after the 1998 and 1999 meetings.
After being formally approved at the 1999 Annual Meeting, MGnet grew rapidly, spurred on by weekly online chats, some including researcher and physician speakers (or online typists). By the end of the century, a website for MGnet was developed and contained much information which myasthenics around the world have read and some have contributed to. An Internet Relay Chat (IRC) room was created and in 2000 Allen Tacey was able to put an applet to connect to that chat room on our web site. Once the applet was registered it became an integral part of helping MGnet grow.
In 2004 we added a yahoo chat room to our inventory. This provided us with a means to contact more people and a chat room with sound. “We” did a live audio broadcast of the 2004 Annual Meeting, including some of the speakers. We had 2 laptops and a small microphone. A key on the keyboard had to be pressed constantly to keep the audio stream working. We were also able to interact through the chat room allowing myasthenics all over the world to listen and ask questions. After this great success we proceeded to live video broadcasts at subsequent Annual Meetings. Our very first Video broadcast had visitors on 5 continents tuning in.
“We” are now 10 yrs old and have weekly topical chats, along with daily support chats. As long as our funds permit, we will continue to broadcast the MGFA Annual Meetings, and continue to bring our members important information on Myasthenia Gravis.
Although we have grown and expanded, our mission has remained the same for ten years:
Our Mission is to assist the MGFA in their purpose; provide support to isolated myasthenics around the world; connect patients with their local chapters; and bring about greater public awareness of myasthenia gravis all via the Internet and the World Wide Web.
Our Vision is a total connection of all myasthenics to information, support and each other.
Our Location is anywhere there is an Internet connection.
Send E-Mail to: mgnet1@webspawner.comCopyright © 2008 . All Rights Reserved