N.O.T.E., the National Organization for Transplant Enlightenment.
Tom Thrasher, the first successful heart transplant recipient in the state of Florida, started the National Organization for Transplant Enlightenment in 1986. He personally funded the association because he saw the need for such an organization.
In 1986, transplantation was not as refined as it is today. Medications had more severe side effects due to the fact that managing the proper dosage was still a bit unknown. Insurance companies did not pay for transplants or for the life sustaining medications.
Tom Thrasher saw the need for an organization that would establish a communication network by way of a newsletter. Support groups for transplant recipients, caregivers and those awaiting solid organ transplants was started. Tom wanted to open up as many avenues as possible to share information relating to problems common to transplant recipients including social, pharmaceutical and insurance coverage.
Tom wanted N.O.T.E. to be a 501 (c3) tax-exempt organization to receive contributions and manage the amounts at no charge to the patients. He wanted to use transplant volunteers to spread the word about the need for organ donation, to eliminate misinformation about organ placement and to show that there is quality of life after organ transplants. Tom was a man who went above and beyond by stepping up and taking action. He lobbied on behalf of insurance reform for organ transplantation. Tom demonstrated that life went on after having a transplant by performing many dare devil stunts. These stunts got the attention of the media along with the general population. Tom truly brought awareness to all areas of transplantation.
N.O.T.E. has continued to operate after Tom's death under the guidance of Emily Ortiz, the first successful female heart transplant in the state of Florida. Emily was the first patient N.O.T.E. assisted. Working as a unit clerk at Tampa General Hospital, Emily became ill with congestive cardiomyopathy in 1982. She received her new heart on March 19, 1986. Emily became the seventh heart transplant at Tampa General Hospital. Until her passing, in 2002, Emily volunteered for N.O.T.E. campaigning for organ donation and mentoring patients. Emily showed other heart recipients that life could be normal after a transplant. Known as the "Angel of the Transplant Floor," Emily is the reason N.O.T.E. still exists today. Since 2002, N.O.T.E. has been led by Les Valitutti, president, and Bob Gamble, vice president. N.O.T.E.'s board of directors is made up entirely of unpaid volunteers who give unselfishly of their time to further the cause of organ and tissue donation.
The N.O.T.E. Worthy News, quarterly newsletter, goes out to over 1,500 interested persons and is supported solely by donations. The newsletter contains information regarding insurance, medications, news in the transplant field and social events. If you would like to sign up to receive the newsletter send an email to noteus@aol.com. In the subject line put Newsletter and then give us your name and mailing address in the body of the email.
Since its inception N.O.T.E. has helped over 5,000 individuals in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Donations to individual accounts or to general funds are gratefully accepted. Refer to N.O.T.E.'s home page for contact information or email noteus@aol.com
I'm asking if you can do a favor for me and in the process help a very worthy organization. I'm a board member and supporter of N.O.T.E., the National Organization for Transplant Enlightenment. An easy way to help N.O.T.E. is through a new Yahoo!-powered search engine and online shopping mall called GoodSearch.com. The more people who use this site means more money will go to those in need.
What if N.O.T.E. earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or how about if a percentage of every purchase you made online went to support transplant recipients ? Well, now it can!
GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charity its user designates. Use it just as you would any search engine and get quality search results from Yahoo.
GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 37 percent of each purchase to your designated cause. Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, ebay, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop. Every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting N.O.T.E.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter N.O.T.E. as the charity you want to support.
Please help me spread the word to your friends and family.
You can also read about GoodSearch in the NY Times, Oprah Magazine, CNN, ABC News and the Wall Street Journal.
Thank you so much for your help.
Cathy Straka
You can click on the banner at the top of this page
and try it out.
Film Commission Manager
Dear friends,
We just received our first large shipment of 2007-2008 production guides. If you would like one, please e-mail me your name and address so that I can easily copy and paste it onto a shipping label, and I will mail you one immediately.
Guy Balson
Film Commission Manager
St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area
Convention & Visitors Bureau
13805 58th Street North, Suite 2-200 • Clearwater, Florida 33760
P: 727.464.7241 • E: Guy@FloridasBeachFilm.com
F: 727.464.7277 • W: www.FloridasBeachFilm.com
Home to Fort De Soto Park • America’s #1 Beach • 2005
Home to Caladesi Island • America’s #2 Beach • 2007
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