The changing face of CAPA

Wherever I am, at a meeting or in front of my computer, someone asks how CAPA is doing. I'm pleased to report that we've been busier than ever and CAPA is doing very well.

We have achieved status as a non-profit corporation - which means we are able to receive funding in the form of grants and donations. The word has spread and interest in CAPA and what we do is increasing. Our membership is growing faster than ever and we've even received applications and queries from Europe. This is a great compliment to us all, but not everyone can become a member. Only Canadians with arthritis and an email address are eligible. Associate membership status is available to everyone with an email address who supports our goals, particularly family and friends of Canadians with arthritis, health care professionals, and supporters with and without arthritis from around the world.

We also have a new logo ! It projects our spirit and determination, our professionalism, and our nature as an effective alliance of Canadian arthritis patients. It will take some time to phase in the new logo on CAPA publications. During the transition, you may expect to still see the 'old' logo that served us well as a fully funded partner of The Arthritis Society. Our new logo better illustrates who we are and what we do – and our freshly independent and non-profit status. We'd like to know how you like it, so drop us a line. We'll publish your comments in the Winter edition of Voices.

We continue our effective involvement in our three main areas of operation: Access to Medications, Access to Care and Services and Research Issues - along with activity in our disease-specialty areas such as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). In addition we're becoming more involved with disability and workplace issues, which reflects the growing interest expressed by our members, and we're also looking at information technology and electronic health records questions. This edition of Voices provides glimpses into some of these areas.

Unfortunately, not all our experiences have been pleasant. June brought great sadness with the loss of Ann Qualman to cancer. CAPA was Ann's vision and, with Denis Morrice, she made that vision a reality. She was our first President, our guide, mentor and friend. We miss her terribly. She leaves a legacy of a vibrant grass-roots organization of volunteers that has achieved a reputation for responsible, effective and informed advocacy to better the lives of Canadians living with arthritis.