News and Announcements First Half of 2010

Several important milestones have occurred in 2010 that contribute to the expansion and outreach of the National Blood Clot Alliance.

NATT HAS A NEW NAME: NATIONAL BLOOD CLOT ALLIANCE

On February 25, 2010, the NATT Board of Directors voted to change its name to the National Blood Clot Alliance. The new name reflects the importance of keeping public health messages as simple as possible. The new name was officially launched on March 9, 2010. Elizabeth Varga (co-founder and Board member) and Alan Brownstein, CEO announced the name change at the opening plenary of the National Conference on Blood Disorders in Public Health: Making the Connection, sponsored by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Their spoken message was reinforced with a slide that showed a temporary National Blood Clot Alliance logo, with the NATT logo fading into the background to honor NATT’s history and legacy. The transition logo was designed by volunteer graphic artist, Jason Vorck, who also designed the new National Blood Clot Alliance logo, which will catalyze re-branding of the new name.

NEW VICE PRESIDENT ELECTED TO LEAD THE NATIONAL BLOOD CLOT ALLIANCE

After 6 years of dedicated leadership as Vice President of NBCA since its inception in 2003, Lori Preston, Board member from Baltimore, MD has elected to step down. Lori was instrumental in helping NBCA grow from a small patchwork of volunteers to a nationwide, federally-funded non-profit organization, and is relinquishing her post. Lori and members of her family have Factor V Leiden and some family members have experienced DVT, PE and pregnancy loss. Lori shared these comments with the Board of Directors, “From creating the inaugural newsletter and organizing a Stop The Clot Forum to recruiting new board members and volunteers, it has been a privilege to be a part of our growth.

I was in the birthing room when this organization was born and I am proud of our progress. As a patient with Factor V Leiden, my wish was to help create a non-profit to educate others affected by blood clots. This organization is a dream come true. If I helped at least one person, I feel like I made a difference.” Lori will continue to be an advocate for National Blood Clot Alliance as she is passionate about its cause. Traci Wilkes Smith, a Board member and DVT/PE survivor from Brooklyn, NY was elected to replace Lori as Vice President in March of this year.

Traci is an agent at Willinger Talent Agency, Inc, where she represents news, sports, and weather anchors, hosts, correspondents, and anchors at networks and local stations in top 30 markets throughout the United States. She obtained her Juris Doctor (JD) from Rutgers University School of Law. Upon her election, Traci said, “Since joining National Blood Clot Alliance it has been a rewarding experience working with the Board and staff on a cause that is so close to me personally. That I was asked to serve in an expanded role with this organization is exciting, and a true honor.” Since taking over the reins, Traci succeeded in hosting her first fundraising event, a 5K walk jointly hosted with the Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA), held on Saturday, March 20, 2010.

SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATE

National Blood Clot Alliance launched its first Facebook social networking initiative in February 2010. Within a couple of weeks, the fan base expanded from 10 people to almost 700 from around the nation, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. National Blood Clot Alliance hopes that it’s Stop the Clot® Facebook page extends its visibility and new brand, and also provides relevant information about blood clots and clotting disorders. National Blood Clot Alliance is excited about the opportunity the Facebook page provides for direct interaction with its primary constituents, patients.

During March (DVT Awareness Month), several questions were posted on Facebook to encourage dialogue about individual “lived experience” of blood clots. This allows fans to connect and learn from each other, and provides valuable information to leadership of National Blood Clot Alliance about current needs and interests, at least from amongst those inclined to join Facebook. Please consider joining the Stop the Clot® Facebook page, and encourage friends and family members to do the same! National Blood Clot Alliance also has a presence online on YouTube, where video segments from the Minneapolis Stop the Clot® Forum are accessible.

For those who cannot attend a Stop the Clot® Forum in person, this allows access to a video viewing. A video that conveys the importance of anticoagulants with knee and hip replacement surgery (the focus of this newsletter) is on YouTube, and podcasts of the YouTube videos are available to download.

NATTHLETE PROGRAM

Another important addition for National Blood Clot Alliance this year is the NATThlete Program. This is a way for patients, families and friends to spread the StopTheClot® message through an individual or team network of athletes. The NATThlete Program recruits runners, walkers, cyclists, and tri-athletes in linking athletic interest and talent to alert participants to the risk of blood clots and clotting disorders, and set up a Firstgiving web page to fundraise, since money is the fuel that drives National Blood Clot Alliance. Click here for more details.