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The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance is reaching out to you every way we can! Join our Facebook page and receive updates on current Association events as well as volunteer opportunities and progress on current projects.

Our Twitter feed offers daily updates about brain injury in the news as well as information on educational opportunities and public policy ventures.
Help us connect with you and build a statewide brain injury community!

Upcoming Workshops:

Wednesday Workshop: Animals, Books and Feces, OH MY
Date: May 23
Time: 1:30 to 3 p.m. Cost: $40 per attendee. 2.5 CEU's are provided.

Brain Injury Basics: Caregiving
Date: May 24
Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Cost: $25 for Professionals; $5 donation appreciated from Consumers.

Location: All classes are held in the Education Center at the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance

To register for a class, please click here or call 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442.

In this issue:
• Minnesota Stroke Association Strides for Stroke
• Advocay Matters
• Consumer and Family Conference
• Pediatric Brain Injury Basics - Saint Cloud
• Minnesota Stroke Conference- June 4, 2012

Minnesota Stroke Association Strides for Stroke
Only a few days are left before the 11th annual Strides for Stroke Walk/Run takes place on Saturday, May 12! Online registration is closed, but online donations are being taken! Donate today to a team of your choice and support people with stroke by clicking here.

Volunteers make this day memorable for all participants. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lee by e-mail.

Join the Minnesota Stroke Association on May 12 at Saint Paul's Como Park. Click here to learn more!

The Fitness Run start time has been moved to 10:30 a.m., and Runners will start before the Walkers. Registration for both the Walk and Run starts at 9:30 a.m. with a pre-Walk program starting at 10 a.m. If you have registered for the run and have questions, please call us at 763-553-0088.

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Advocacy Matters
The 2012 legislative session is winding down and our advocacy activity at the Capitol has come to a close. Well over 600 advocates joined the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance and other disability advocacy organizations at our Tuesdays at the Capitol and Disability Day at the Capitol. Thanks to our collective advocacy efforts (and an unexpected state revenue surplus) we can celebrate our successes at the Capitol including passage of a bi-partisan Health and Human Service Funding Bill and extension of the Department of Human Services Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Committee!

Our advocacy efforts are never complete. We are excited to embark on the next phase of our advocacy campaign around the Motorcycle Helmet Insurance Bill. The Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance recently completed a report on the cost of motorcycle crashes in Minnesota and released it to the media, Tuesday, May 8. Our goal is to raise awareness on the personal and financial impact of traumatic brain injury from motorcycle crashes; and change the motorcycle helmet conversation from one focused on individual freedom to one focused on personal responsibility.

Visit our Advocacy Action Center to access our press release and recent report on this important issue and to find out more information about the Health and Human Service bill recently signed by the Governor. Otherwise feel free to contact Jeff or Michelle, or call them at 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442.

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Consumer and Family Conference
The Consumer and Family Conference is a one-day conference providing an opportunity for individuals with brain injury, their family members and loved ones to participate in workshops and sessions that focus on innovations in the world of brain injury, care and therapy. There is no cost to attend this conference. Click here for more information.

Exhibitors, this is a great opportunity to reach people with brain injury, their families and caregivers. For Annual Conference Silver Sponsors and above, you can reserve you space today - at no cost! Limited spots are available. Contact Lori Peterson to secure your spot now. Contact Lori Peterson to secure your spot now.

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Pediatric Brain Injury Basics - Saint Cloud
We invite family members, health care professionals, physicians, nurses and school professionals to attend this educational workshop about the daily impacts of brain injuries (TBI, stroke, etc.).

This class will be held Monday, May 14 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the CentraCare Health Plaza at 1900 CentraCare Circle, in Saint Cloud.

Registration is recommended; there is no cost for parents, family members and friends of children (0-17) with brain injury. The cost for professionals is $15. CEU's for 2.5 hrs are available. For more information and to register call Wendy at the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance at 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442.

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Minnesota Stroke Conference- June 4, 2012
Join other professionals at the 2012 Conference to learn about the latest developments in acute stroke treatment and management and learn how to apply recent translation research in EMS and pre-hospital care, hospital care, and transitions in care post acute stroke. This conference provides a great networking opportunity for health care professionals, public health professionals and stroke advocates in Minnesota.

Click here to register.

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Classified Ad Opportunities
We are pleased to provide an online opportunity for organizations to broadcast their message about job openings, services and more through affordable, convenient advertising. This bi-weekly electronic publication is sent to more than 5,500 professionals, paraprofessionals and persons with brain injury and their families.

The cost to run a classified ad of up to 250 words is $20 for one edition or $30 for two editions. Ads must be submitted in electronic form to receive this rate. Ads submitted in hard copy will be charged an additional $15 administrative fee. To learn more about this affordable, convenient advertising opportunity, please e-mail Phil at philg@braininjurymn.org or call 612-378-2742 or 800-669-6442. Advertising is posted at the end of the publication under the heading "Classified Ads."