Episode 25: ONLINE AUTO Ball - Still changing the world from our sofas

This week join your patient co-host Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, CEO of International Foundation for AiArthritis, as she announces a significant change in plans for the AUTO Ball. Listeners may recall that Tiffany announced in Episode 17 of our At The Table series that AiArthritis would be hosting a gala event to kick-off the celebration leading up to World AiArthritis Day on May 20th, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event, like so many others, must transition to a virtual gathering for the safety of everyone involved.

Since its inception, AiArthritis has So as Effie Koliopoulis recently pointed out in Episode 20 of our At The Table series, we are already experts at social distancing and being productive from the confines of our homes. 

AiArthritis believes that we can change the world from our sofa if we work together. We will embrace this challenge and show the world what a community of patient voices can do when we work together. Our goals remain the same: raise global awareness for AiArthritis Diseases, raise global awareness for the work of our organization, and raise funds to allow this valuable work to continue. This episode will tell you how you can get involved from the safety and comfort of your home to support the new and improved Auto Ball Online!

Learn more about all your AiArthritis Voices 360 Co-Hosts and how the International Foundation for AiArthritis is working to protect the AiArthritis patient community during the COVID-19 pandemic by joining our Facebook COVID-19 group.

 

If you are a patient, a parent of a juvenile patient, or any other stakeholder (doctor, nurse, researcher, industry representative, or other health services person) - are you ready to join the conversation? It's your turn to pull up a seat. Join our new AiArthritis Voices program, where people living with AiArthritis diseases and other stakeholders who we need 'at the table' to solve problems that impact education, advocacy, and research sign up to have a voice in our initiatives. By signing up, you’ll get notified of opportunities to be more involved with this show - including submitting post-episode comments and gaining insider information on future show topics. Patients and all other stakeholders are encouraged to join so we can match you with opportunities to pull up a seat and TOGETHER - as equals - solve the problems of today and tomorrow.

JOIN TODAY!

 

AiArthritis Voices 360 is produced by the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis. Visit us on the web at www.aiarthritis.org/talkshow. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook (@ifAiArthritis) or email us (podcast@aiarthritis.org).

 

Show Notes: Episode 25 – “Auto Ball Online”

0:52 - Tiffany welcomes listeners to today’s episode

1:16 - Tiffany is a patient living with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

1:30 - One of the first projects that the International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis accomplished was the establishment of World Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis Day on May 20th 2012

1:46 - World AiArthritis Day actually lasts for 47 hours because it begins in the first timezone and ends in the last time zone on the 20th of May to bring an international awareness to our community of diseases

2:33 - World AiArthritis Day was designed to be conducted primarily online because most of the patients impacted by autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases suffer from chronic fatigue which can make flexible working hours essential 

4:51- the common experience for patients living with AiArthritis diseases has many similarities with the “new normal” experience of the general public while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

5:44 - Many events are being pushed to online platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic

6:13 - EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) is hosting their annual conference online this year

7:18 - AiArthritis has been online since our inception because we felt it was the best way to unite a community that may or may not be able to meet in person

9:50 - AiArthritis had planned a gala called the Auto Ball for May 2nd at the National Museum of Transportation in St Louis, MO to kick off the celebration of World AiArthritis Day

10:17 - Tiffany explains all the activities AiArthritis had planned for the Auto Ball like live podcasting, prizes for contests, awards for thematic attire, and special patient guest, race care driver Angela Durazo

13:01 - Due to COVID-19, the in-person Auto Ball must be postponed to May 2021

13:45 - The three goals of the Auto Ball (raising awareness for the organization, raising awareness for AiArthritis diseases, and raising funds to support the organization) must be accomplished online during the pandemic

15:00 - AiArthritis invites the entire world to join us for the online version of the Auto Ball 

17:14 - Special podcast guests like the Rheumatology Nurses Society, Forward Databank, and Washington University Rheumatology can still present special information for you

17:38 - Special presenters can still give speeches on Facebook Live 

17:47 - Any museums or companies with auto affiliations or local car clubs are invited to participate

18:01 - Perhaps we can have a virtual car show!

18:32 - Celebrity guest Angela Durazo will still be participating online

18:47 - Visit https://www.aiarthritis.org/aiarthritisday to sign up to get involved

19:25 - Plan a creative auto-themed outfit for the event

19:45 - Registrants will receive language they can use on social media to make raising awareness easy and hassle-free

19:54 - The online event will run from May 16th thru May 20th

20:01 - Registrants will also receive information to enable them to participate in podcast events

20:22 - Registrants may submit stories about how AiArthritis Diseases have impacted their lives, and your stories may be featured on our website

20:43 - Be a virtual table sponsor for even more perks!

21:20 - Plan something local like a parade or a driveway party

22:00 - Tiffany thanks listeners for their support