Saturday, January 24, 2015

Stepping down as branch leader of Gluten Intolerance Group, Gainesville FL branch

Hi everyone,
I am pasting below an email I just sent to our group members, but did want to say that I took this on with the belief that no one who is starting on a gluten free diet should have to do it without support, since it's such a challenge, especially in the beginning. Even if I don't have a formal position of leadership, the desire to help is still there, so especially if you are in the Gainesville FL area and need some pointers, feel free to contact me. Gainesville also has a large "gluten free Gainesville" Facebook group which is outstanding! Please also check out www.gluten.net, which is the website for the Gluten Intolerance Group.

Here's the email I sent to our group:

Hope everyone's new year is starting off well! This is a sad note for me to write, but I've reached the decision that I need to step down as the branch leader of our local Gluten Intolerance Group Branch. Right as I started, there were some major family changes with the loss of my dad and arrival of a grandchild soon after, and the demands on my time changed along with them. I've tried to do what I can to keep it going, which has ended up the bare minimum, and I have reached a point where I can't keep up with it.

If anyone would like to consider taking over this position, let me know, and I'll give you the rundown on the position, and what is absolutely required, since this a branch of a 501(c)(3) and there is some documentation that is required to maintain this status at the national level. I am more than happy to stay involved and help out any way I can, but promotion has been lacking and time for research and planning meetings has been nil, and as I see it, those are two things that will keep this group appealing to current and new members.

You guys have been fantastic-- I've enjoyed it all, but my own family priorities and mental health/sanity have to come first.
I'll be posting this on the blog too at www.glutenintolerancegroupgainesville.blogspot.com, but it'll be the final post. Boo. :-(
Hope someone can take this on, but if not, I'll be sending the $ we have in petty cash to GIG and it'll be theirs from there.
Thanks, Everyone.
Janet