InterConnect Support Public Blog

    by Rebecca Baughman Kerns     Please join me in welcoming the 2008/2009 AISSG-USA Directors and Officers! Marissa Jaye will be taking over as president, a big job to be certain, but I have no doubt that she will do it incredibly well.  I am always so happy to see an email from our amazing Marissa.  I know it is full of heart, love and conviction. Tryla Brown will be serving as Secretary.  I am always amazed at Tryla's drive and determination.  She is a force, all 5 foot 2 of her!  I am so happy to see her continue serving AISSG as she has done for so many years. Aimee Owens will be joining the Board; a beautiful and happy thing is always said by Aimee.  She is a wonder and a joy. Cynthia Johnson will also be on the Board; a vivacious, vigorous and verbose welcome to one of my favorite ladies. And Carolina Johnson rounds out our new members.  Carolina warmed my heart the first time I saw her face.  I am so excited to see her jumping in with both feet. Fabulous and funny, S

     by Katie Baratz     Forget my first kiss, my college grad, and my acceptance letters to medical school.  I can (roughly) pinpoint my most exciting moment to 4:03 PM, EST, on Friday, September 21, 2007, the moment my mother and I appeared before millions of viewers on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Everything up until that point was a blur: the pre-show interviews, filming the lead-in montage in my West Philly apartment, getting picked up at the airport in a stretch limo, making a mess in the dressing room (only to be told I was no worse than Paris Hilton had been), even sitting with Oprah on the soundstage and answering her questions.  It wasn't until I was sitting in a living room with 20 newly-minted med school friends watching myself on TV that the enormity of my choice sank in, that the girl standing before America and declaring that she had a Y chromosome and undescended testes was me. Only part of the exhilaration of those 10 minutes of air time comes from the personal pride I

  by Joyce Henning       When I received the meeting info in the mail last year, I had serious doubts I’d be able to attend.  Summer is quite busy (I know everyone can relate), and weekends were booked tighter than a Denver airport hotel in a blizzard.  But, having missed the past two meetings, I knew I had to clear the calendar and head to North Carolina. Nothing beats the face-to-face contact of an annual meeting.  It’s a huge benefit to be part of the email circle, getting to know orchid sisters and sharing life’s experiences.  However, there’s a special spark to attending a meeting. Catching up with old friends and meeting new members is like a homecoming.  There seems to be enough time to catch up with everyone, but the opportunity to be immersed in a weekend of informational sessions, social hours and dinners is invaluable.  Plus, the southern charm from our beautiful Orchid Sister Nancy made everyone feel at home.  When you receive your info packet in the mail for Chicago, be s