We are registered with iGive.com!

    If you buy items online, then please buy from merchants listed with iGive.
    A portion of each sale is donated to your favorite cause.

    This does not cost you anything additional; these donations are coming
    from the participating merchants themselves.

    For more information and/or to register with our organization on iGive,
    just click on the graphic below.
_______________________________________________________________________

The ON/AVN Support Group Int'l Association, Inc.
Box 118  -  8500 Henry Ave.
Philadelphia, PA  19128

Email:  info@avnsupport.org

______________________________________________________
Counter
Hosting by Yahoo!

    Disclaimer:

    The web pages and message boards at our site are for informational and entertainment purposes only. Material placed on
    any page or message board does not necessarily reflect the views of Osteonecrosis / Avascular Necrosis Support Group
    International Association, Inc. (“ON/AVN SGIA, Inc.”).  The information on our site is provided with the understanding that we
    are not engaged in rendering medical or professional medical services or advice.

    We assume no responsibility for any choices that you may make for your own medical care. Information included in a
    message board should not replace necessary medical consultations with a qualified health or medical professional to meet
    your individual health or medical needs, or those of your loved ones.  What we share here on our site is from members’
    experiences and personal opinions only and is not to be used as a substitute or to replace your own doctors’ medical advice.
    You are urged to consult with and to abide by your own doctor(s) medical advice.  We do not verify the information placed on
    any message board on our site and, therefore, cannot verify or judge the merits or lack thereof, of any information,
    suggestions, ideas, opinions, or advice.

    Neither ON/AVN SGIA, Inc. nor any ON/AVN SGIA, Inc. agents or representatives make any representations with respect to the
    contents hereof and specifically disclaim any implied or express warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular
    usage, application or purpose.  

    On our site, we prefer to base our message board discussions on only FDA approved treatments, medications, procedures,
    medical guidelines, etc.  If a treatment, medicine, procedure or medical modality is not FDA approved then we ask you to
    please find another resource where you may discuss same.    

    Materials copyrighted by ON/AVN SGIA, Inc., may be downloaded for personal use only.

    By accessing our site, you agree to hold ON/AVN SGIA, Inc., its assignees, licensees, owners, officers and directors harmless
    from any loss, claim or damage arising from your use of any of the information and ideas contained on the site, including
    following suggestions or advice posted on the message boards/web pages.

The ON/AVN Support Group Int'l Association
   Group News Updates...   Page updated on Nov. 5, 2009
Counter


    We are very pleased to announce that our brand new web site is now up and
    running and ready for you to join!

    Our new URL is  http://avnsupport.org  (or www.avnsupport.org)

    We are once again accepting registrations. It is a very easy 3-step process:

    1. Fill out Registration form and submit
    2. Wait for a confirmation email from us, then...
    3. Log back in to choose your payment option to complete the registration process.

    Our subscription rate is very modest (just $20 per year), but if you cannot afford to pay it all at
    once, you can write to us and ask about paying it in installments. We know how AVN can deplete a
    family's finances, so we understand and are very happy to work with you. We do not want to
    exclude anyone because they can't afford to pay, so please write to us if finances are a problem
    for you right now.

    You can pay by credit card using our secure PayPal option, or by check or money order. As soon
    as we receive your payment  (or installment payment promise) you will be able to begin using our
    new site. Please make checks/MO's out to The ON/AVN SGIA Inc.

    A world of information and support is waiting for you at our new community! If you or a loved one
    have/has  AVN, please join us and know that you have found an entire family of people who know
    what you are going through. We are the world's first and longest- running patient support system,
    "For AVN patients, by AVN patients",  for all those whose lives are touched by AVN.

    You can email us at: info@avnsupport.org

                                               Please read accompanying article below


    An interested party wrote and asked, “Why is there now a cost, or fee, to use your site?”

     My answer is that there is no cost or fee to access our web site. Anyone can access our website at any time and
    read what is on it at no cost to them at all beyond the cost of his own computer, Internet service provider, DSL,
    cable, or phone service. We display enough information to explain what AVN is and even invite people to view some
    photos concerning AVN. We also explain who we are, what we do, and why we do it. All of this, anyone can read for
    free. But, we are much more than just a web site! We are a real non-profit organization, which is a business, and as
    such we have many bills that are due each and every month, just as any other business would have.  Moreover, to
    gain entry to any Association is far different than just accessing a web site.

    So, his question should read, “Why is there a fee to join your organization?”

    Consider this for a moment, if you will: Even before we became an official non-profit organization, it was not and has
    never been ‘free’ to those of us who built this one-of-a-kind non-profit organization over the past 14 years!  From
    2005 when we became incorporated up until now, most of the funding was supplied by just one person, with the
    help of donations that trickled in from time to time. All of the usual monthly expenses incurred were dependant
    upon, year after year, just one source:  the Founder of the organization, who donated and paid these costs. Now
    that we are approaching our fifth year as a non-profit organization, it is definitely time to share the load.

    To make it economically feasible, we used to use Yahoo groups, a free service, to communicate with one another
    and to share our collected and acquired vast informational libraries. However, as an Association, we grew to an
    incredible size!  We realized our needs went far beyond our original, simple non-interactive web site and/or the use
    of the very limited Yahoo groups system. So, the need for an interactive, fully integrated web site came about. As
    you can imagine, there are costs and fees that are incurred, just as there would be for any other business. It
    became time to ‘share the load’, and to ask our members to please help us to continue in helping all those with AVN
    by the use of our new, fully independent and integrated web site, which is now the heart of our organization.

    Even though there is much information on our web site which can be accessed at no cost to anyone, it is what is
    inside, and what you can access once you join us that counts and which is the real core of our Association. We
    have a virtual mountain of information to share, and the ability to interact with one another, all through our new site.
    It is our ability to share and to care and to keep on helping all those who suffer from our disease on a continuing
    basis that makes us who we are. And, I’m sorry to say that all of this is not ‘free’ to any of us. Our modest
    subscription rate will go towards helping us to keep on helping others. One of our goals is a research project (with
    Hospital for Special Surgery, NY, NY) which requires us to contribute financially to it. This is something we all should
    work together toward, and not lay the burden on just one or two people.

    What amazes me is that no one would expect to join the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart
    Association -- or any other professional association or organization for free. Why would anyone expect it to be any
    different with ours?

    One final thought: Over the years and even now, many fine and dedicated members have volunteered their time
    and effort as well, and to them we are eternally grateful. But now it is time for all members to step up to the plate
    and to help us continue our work. As a real organization it takes funding to continue. We thank everyone for their
    understanding and for their contributions, to help us to ‘keep on keeping on.’

                           Join us at:  http://avnsupport.org           Email us:  info@avnsupport.org