Bell Area Parkinsons Support

10/30/2025

REMINDER: Friday, October 31st is FREE FRIDAY! As it is the 5th Friday of Oct and there will be no meeting scheduled at any location. Look for upcoming events on FUN FRIDAYS in November. Happy Halloween!

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10/23/2025

GAPS GALA Invitation & RSVP Information

You’re invited to the inaugural GAPS Gala, an evening of celebration and support for Georgetown Area Parkinson’s Support on Wednesday, November 12th from 5pm to 7pm. Join us as we raise awareness and support to enhance programs and services for individuals and families living with Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders here in Georgetown. Enjoy great company, dinner, and inspiring stories - all while making a meaningful impact in our community. We can’t wait to share this special night with you!

When:
Wednesday, November 12th, 2025, 5:00pm to 7:00pm

Where:
Georgetown Community Center at San Gabriel Park
445 E. Morrow Street Georgetown, Texas 78626

The deadline to RSVP for the Gala is Wednesday, November 5th.

10/15/2025

BAPS News & Updates:

Hi BAPS-West Members,

We meet Friday afternoon (Oct 17) at St. Andrews's United Methodist Church, 206 W. Fowler Ave, Killeen. We meet in the fellowship hall that's located off the exterior hallway that joins the sanctuary and the church office. The meeting is 2:30-4:00. Feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to socialize, sign the attendance sheet, and grab a snack. We'll welcome new members and gather their questions to be addressed by the other members. I'll use the remaining time for updates about upcoming events and other topics.

Here's a quick summary of what you'll find on the attached package:
1. Saturday, 18 Oct, North Austin, - Symposium for those diagnosed with PD within the past three years. I've heard both speakers and recommend them. The location in Austin is near the intersection of I-35 and 45th Street.
2. Saturday, 25 Oct, Belton - DEA National Takeback - safe disposal of unneeded prescription drugs at CTCOG.
3. Tuesday, 4 Nov, Belton - Caregivers Conference at CTCOG with Dr. Alex Armitage as keynote speaker..
4. Friday, 7 Nov, Killeen - Steven Darrah, speech therapist, creator or Loud & Clear returns as requested BAPS speaker.
5. Wed, 12 Nov, Georgetown - GAPS Gala - 5-7 pm - free dinner, but opportunities to donate. Would you like to join my husband and me at a BAPS table (or two).
6. How about some social time together for our Nov 21 meeting?? Plus set up a backup transportation plan.
7. No BAPS-North meeting on November 28 - Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
8. The Parkinson's Plan: A New Path to Prevention & Treatment. Instant NYT bestseller. $31.99 hardcopy. If you want to try Audible, I can gift you one book to listen to.
9. I Will Not Be Shaken. A new devotional book for those with PD and their care partners. Proceeds will be donated to PD non-profit organizations favored by the authors. $9.99 paperback.
10. Community Blessing created by James Lavender, Executive Director of GAPS.

If you can't be with us Friday, I'd like your feedback on items 5 and6 by email or text.

Gayle
Gayle Shull
254.718.4197
Coordinator, Bell Area Parkinson's Support (BAPS)

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10/08/2025

Reminder: Friday afternoon (Oct 10) at CTCOG, on N. Main Street in Belton. We're in the large D8 room on the right/North hallway. The meeting is 2:30-4:00. Feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to socialize, sign the attendance sheet, and grab a snack.

Hi BAPS-North Members,

We meet on Friday afternoon (Oct 10) at CTCOG, on N. Main Street in Belton. We're in the large D8 room on the right/North hallway. The meeting is 2:30-4:00. Feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to socialize, sign the attendance sheet, and grab a snack. Melinda is out of the area for a while, spending time with her sister. If anyone would like to greet newcomers and help with the attendance sheet, let me know. Dr. Brian Garner, Assistant Professor of Engineering at Baylor University, will provide an update on the BAYLOR/BAPS project conducted this summer at the Belton Senior Activities Center. He created the MiraColt horseback-riding simulator and plans to have a MiraColt for us to experience.

I thought we were also having an update on the UMHB Occupational Therapy project Friday, but I can't find any correspondence to back up that memory. We may not have time to review the many activities taking place before Thanksgiving. If you review these notes and the attached slides, please feed me any questions/comments.

Here's a quick summary of what you'll find on the attached package:
1. Friday, 10 Oct, Belton - Dr. Garner speaks to BAPS about the MiraColt he designed and the recent BAYLOR/BAPS study conducted at the Belton Senior Center about the impact of MiraColt rides for seniors.
2. Saturday, 18 Oct, North Austin, - Symposium for those diagnosed with PD within the past three years. I've heard both speakers and recommend them. The location in Austin is near the intersection of I-35 and 45th Street.
3. Saturday, 25 Oct, Belton - DEA National Takeback - safe disposal of unneeded prescription drugs at CTCOG.
4. Tuesday, 4 Nov, Belton - Caregivers Conference at CTCOG with Dr. Alex Armitage as keynote speaker..
5. Friday, 7 Nov, Killeen - Steven Darroh, speech therapist, creator or Louf & Clear returns as requested BAPS speaker.
6. Wed, 12 Nov, Georgetown - GAPS Gala - 5-7 pm - free dinner, but opportunities to donate. Would you like to join my husband and me at a BAPS table (or two).
7. No BAPS-North meeting on November 28 - Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
8. The Parkinson's Plan: A New Path to Prevention & Treatment. Instant NYT bestseller. $31.99 hardcopy. If you want to try Audible, I can gift you one book to listen to.
9. I Will Not Be Shaken. A new devotional book for those with PD and their care partners. Proceeds will be donated to PD non-profit organizations favored by the authors. $9.99 paperback.
10. BAPS Boxing Program at Beat Down Boxing. The Stronger than Parkinson's site says scholarships are paused, but they're still approving BAPS applications. If you haven't stopped by to see the M-W-F morning class or try out a free class, give it a try.
11. Community Blessing created by James Lavender, Executive Director of GAPS.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to let me know. I would like your feedback on items 6 and 7.

Gayle
Gayle Shull
254.718.4197
Coordinator, Bell Area Parkinson's Support (BAPS)

Send a message to learn more

09/24/2025

BAPS-North Members,

BAPS-North meets Friday, September 26, at CTCOG (2180 N. Main St, Belton). We meet from 2:30 - 4:00, but feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to sign in, grab a snack, and socialize. Shawn will meet with Caregivers in the D4 Classroom (NOT the large D8)arge room (located left of the lobby), and I'll be with People with Parkinson's (PWP) in the BoardRoom A1, off the right/North side of the lobby.

For the PWP Meeting attendees Friday - One member has told me she'll bring a device that helps keep her toes in place when her foot cramps. I'll bring information on the Kefir I grow and develop at home.

For All: Diane Adams provided an update at our last meeting about the recent meeting she and Mike attended in Austin where Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Michael Okun discussed their book The Parkinson's Plan. I have a subscription to Audible that lets me gift anyone one audible book. If you want to listen to The Parkinson's Plan instead of waiting for a copy at the library or purchasing a hard copy, let me know.

LOOKING FORWARD:

Friday, October 10 - (T) Dr. Brian Garner provides an update on the BAYLOR/BAPS project conducted this summer at the Belton Senior Center. Analysis of the data collected during the three assessments has hit some bumps he'll discuss. LOC: CTCOG room D8.

Friday, October 24 - BAPS-North meeting - split groups. LOC: CTCOG rooms A1 and D4.

Friday, November 7 - IN KILLEEN - Steven Darroh - speech therapist who develped the Loud and Clear phone app - will speak to a Joint BAPS meeting. Steven also provided a weekly Zoom session each Friday morning for whose who want to practice speaking loudly and clearly. He was also chairman of the board for the Georgetown Parkinson's Support Group (GAPS) in 2024. This is a day when BAPS-North doesn't normally meet. LOC: Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

Friday, November 14 - BAPS-North meeting in Belton. CTCOG room D8 - full group support meeting.

Friday, November 28 - No meeting - Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. There will be no November 28 meeting.

I hope to see you Friday!

Gayle

Gayle Shull; 254.718.4197; Coordinator, Bell Area Parkinson's Support (BAPS)

09/19/2025

BAPS-West meets Friday (September 19) in Killeen

Hi Members,

Our Bell Area Parkinson's Support group for Western Bell County, Copperas Cove, and nearby areas meets Friday, September 19, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church Fellowship Hill (206 W. Fowler Avenue, Killeen). We meet from 2:30 - 4:00, but feel free to arrive between 2:10 and 2:30 to sign in, grab a snack, and socialize. All are welcome. There is no cost for membership.

We'll greet new members and share updates. If Judy Mills can be with us, we'll learn some balance exercises in the open section of our new meeting area.

UPCOMING:

We have confirmation that Steven Darroh, speech therapist and former chairman of the GAPS Board, will speak at our Nov 7 meeting in Killeen. This will be a joint BAPS meeting where members of BAPS-North will be encouraged to attend.

On Wednesday, November 12, the Georgetown Area Parkinson's Support Group is having its first GAPS Gala from 5 - 7 PM. The location is the San Gabriel Community Center in Georgetown. We'll have at least one BAPS table and I'm looking for folks who would like to attend. There is no cost to attend the dinner. There will be opportunities to donate to GAPS. Let me know if you'd like to reserve one or two seats with our group.

Dr. Brian Garner and his team of Baylor University researchers conducted the Baylor/BAPS project The study involved identifying detectable changes in those exercising using the MiraCole horseback riding simulator as part of an exercise program. Dr. Garner told me the team is struggling to understand some consistencies in the data. He believes that speaking with BAPS at our October 10 meeting in Baylor would be beneficial. This is likely to NOT be when individual assessments are distributed. The three MiraColt-related assessments took place at the Belton Senior Center in the Summer of 2025.

Gayle

254.718.4197

09/11/2025

Mark your calendars for the Bell County Senior Expo Tuesday September 23rd!

📅 Mark your calendars for the Bell County Senior Expo Tuesday September 23rd!

✅Over 250 Booths
✅$10,000 worth of door prizes
✅and so much more!

We'll see you there!

09/09/2025

Sorry for the short notice. The two free tickets have already been spoken for, but you can can call the number below if interested in attending.

Mark - I learned about this opportunity about 2 hours ago. You and Linda interested? Great for FB page. I'm going to contact two more couples and George. I have a conflicting meeting in Georgetown.

Opportunity Wed (Sep 10) afternoon -2:30-4:30. BAPS has 2 tickets to be in a small forum with physicians and experts Ray Dorsey and Michael S. Okun in N. Austin for 2 hours in a small forum at Power for Parkinson's headquarters. Should be an insightful discussion about the man-made causes of Parkinson's and a new path to treat, prevent, and ultimately end Parkinson's. Their new book is The Parkinson's Plan (pdplan.org). More tickets may be available, but Gayle just learned about this today (Monday). Location is 5555 N Lamar Blvd Ste. C109 - 512.815.3324. If you can attend, please let Gayle know so you can take her 2 tickets.

The Parkinson's Plan book by Dr. Ray Dorsey and Dr. Michael Okun reveals how toxins fuel Parkinson's and how to prevent, slow, and treat it.

09/08/2025

Reminder: This Friday Sep 12th meeting will be a discussion meeting for the full support group. The group asked to have an all-hands discussion, so that's what we're doing Friday. Location is the CTCOG at 2180 N. Main St. Belton Texas. Meetings at this location are held on the 2nd and the 4th Friday of the month from 2:30 - 4:00 PM.

Upcoming Events: The second Friday is when we have presentations. In Belton the Caregivers and PwP meeting separately on the 4th Friday.