GIST News A Wave of Information By the LIFE RAFT GROUP

Make a difference - Donate Today

  • Print
  • Email

Archive

August 2009

A changing of the guard for the Chicago Life Raft Group

Written by Erin Kristoff

After many years of faithful service to his fellow GIST patients, LRG member, Dick Kinzig is stepping down as the Chicago-area Local Group Coordinator.

Dick was the first LRG member to start a local group and under his watchful and diligent eye, the Chicago group has grown from just six people at its first meeting to ten times that today.

A photo of Chicago-area GISTers meeting in May 2009.

Dick has always strived to bring informative speakers to every meeting, as well as provide support to any Dick Kinzig receiving a Volunteer of the Year award at Life Fest 2008.GIST patient who need it. Yet when Dick was presented with the Allan Tobes Volunteer of the Year Award at Life Fest 2008, he had this to say, “I’m humbled, because I don’t really think I played that big a part.”

Replacing him as leader is Paula Vettel, long-time member of the LRG. She has been a part of the Chicago group since its first meeting in 2002. She is also an LRG Science Team member who represented us at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncologists conference. Paula has also written articles for the LRG newsletter, and recently, she and her husband Phil were organizers and hosts for the City Excursion during Life Fest 2008.

Paula VettelAccording to fellow Chicago group member, Jim Hughes, who assists with local meetings, “Paula will bring added perspective and energy to the Chicago GIST patient group.”

Paula, herself, is excited and hopeful, “I’m honored to be able to serve the LRG, eager to get started, and hope I can do as good a job as Dick did!”

To view a video of Dick receiving his award at Life Fest 2008, go to www.liferaftgroup.org/video_lf08_awards.html.


0 Votes

1 Comments

  1. avatar Kathleen Kuss makes this comment

    Monday 10 August, 2009

    Good Luck in your future endeavors Mr. Kinzig. Although I have never met you, I did have the honor and privilege of speaking to you on the phone and you were a great help to me. I was just diagnosed last September and was struggling with the entire situation of my world being turned upside down in an instant. Although you were busy helping your daughter with a similar situation, you graciously took time out of your busy day and talked with me. I hope you know just how much that meant to me. Thank you. God Bless you and your family.

Add Comment