To what rationale do you refer in Lucinda and Betty’s comments? Is it Lucinda’s claiming that MCS America should be something it clearly is not and then bashing Lourdes for perceived shortcomings that do not exist given that MCS America clearly is not a nonprofit? Or perhaps it’s Betty’s accusations of lies, which she has yet to clarify and back up? Or perhaps you find Betty’s analogy to terrorist activity a sound rationale? Please enlighten me.

Individuals make personal attacks when they can’t speak to the issues. None of the allegations that have been made against Lourdes have been substantiated, at least not here on this thread in the last six months– nor elsewhere on Facebook or TCR’s network. So it all just stands as ad hominem attacks. Therefore, I reject your assertion that Lucinda and Betty’s comments provide cogent and reasonable rationale to this dialogue.

Susie

However, just a brief reminder that lies do in fact matter and things are not always as they seem. A person doesn’t have to fool all the people all of the time, or even some of the people all of the time, or even some of the people some of the time; she only has to fool the right people at the right time. Remember the con artist who convinced the CIA and other US agencies that he could decode secret messages sent by al-Qaeda through Al-Jazeera broadcasts in 2003, he is still “advising” the Pentagon.

It makes absolutely no difference to me if MCS America is a nonprofit or not. If the National Health Observances Calendar requires the listed organization to be nonprofit, well that’s fine. But I doubt very much if Lourdes was trying to pull a fast one. I think she just wanted to spread as much MCS Awareness as possible. No one could build a website the way she has without that being their motivation.

I also do not care one bit about internal conflicts that have happened at MCS America; it’s not relevant to this discussion. I’ve been a community activist for long enough to know that conflict and strife is the norm within most grassroots organizations. Some groups are able to achieve nonprofit status, some are not. I have seen nonprofits who abuse their status and achieved none of their stated mission, and I have seen regular grassroots organizations who do not enjoy nonprofit status but rock the world anyway. If MCS America is not an NPO, then there is no documentation for it, no? So people are asking for something that does not exist and then getting their panties all in a bunch because it’s not forthcoming. I see nothing on the MCS America website stating that it is an NPO; I do not feel Lourdes is misrepresenting MCS America in any way. Further, I personally have seen many professionals including MDs and government officials sign petitions supporting the work of grassroots groups which are not NPOs, so I take issue with your inference that such professionals only sign petitions sponsored by NPOs. The incident to which you refer presents that particular doctor a choice, but does not exhibit a set norm if he chose to withdraw his signature simply because MCS America is not a nonprofit.

What is of concern to me in this current flap, and what is I think truly is at the heart of this current controversy, is the vitriol that one critic is hurling at Lourdes and MCS America on Facebook and other social media outlets. The rejection of MCS America from a listing on the calendar is being used by that critic to rant and rave about the non “legitimacy” of MCS America, inferring that it’s proof MCS America is a sham and a front group for corporate interests. It’s nonsense. Rather than rallying around MCS America in trying to figure out ways to spread MCS awareness, critics are using it to discredit Lourdes and her work. I think that type of intent is destructive, it hurts our MCS community and it tarnishes our image to the outside world. The fact that the instigator of this current attack is pressing the issue to agencies in DC is sophomoric and unprofessional. I think the action of the critic in having MCS America removed from the calendar is not for a noble reason; I think they have an agenda to discredit Lourdes and MCS America. And for me, intent is everything.

Public service is about finding ways to build people up, providing leadership, finding solutions, expanding awareness and education, caring for the underdog. It’s not about finding a weakness and exploiting it with the intent to destroy. And from everything that I’ve observed on Facebook in regards to this current controversy, that’s exactly what the main critic of MCS America is trying to achieve.

Susie Collins
Editor, The Canary Report

As with all my comments, anyone republishing your comment also has permission to republish mine.

I was also, indirectly, involved in the controversy which erupted in November, 2007, when a request was made for MCS America’s proof of non profit status. At the time, Dr. Jack Thrasher, whose name was signed to an MCS Petition was asking for NPO verification; which is a normal and reasonable part of doing business for professionals and government entities. In 2007, Dr. Thrasher’s request for documentation was denied by Lourdes Salvador, just as she is currently denying information requested by the NHIC.

I have taken the time to read the email from the National Health Information Center, which is at the heart of the current controversy. The email has been posted publicly on several chemical injury lists on the Internet. This is what NHIC writes, “…last week, we requested verifiable proof from MCS America that they are a registered organization. Because the information we requested was not provided, we have made a decision to remove MCS America from all versions (PDF and HTML) of our National Health Observances calendar.”

The facts are that MCS Awareness Month is not being removed from the National Calender as Lourdes writes in her statement, “The person or persons who launched this attack contacted the National Health Information Center (NHIC) to demand that the annual MCS Awareness and Education Month be removed from the National Health Observances Calendar”. The reality is MCS America is being removed as the contact organization for MCS Awareness Month based on MCS America’s inability to provide NPO documentation.

I would have hoped after more than four years of unnecessary drama Lourdes would have learned that assuming the role of an NPO is not the same as actually being an NPO. Certainly, any of us, including Lourdes, is free to provide an informational website. But it is entirely another matter to seek to represent a group of injured and ill people on a national level without first establishing you have the fundamental ability to do so.

I implore all of you who admire Lourdes and the information MCS America provides to find a way to accomplish the task of making MCSA into a real non profit organization. Please put these longstanding questions of legitimacy to rest by simply doing the work and form a real non profit. To do less, is to continue to undermine the very cause so much time and effort is being invested in.

Lucinda Hodges

Permission to repost is granted as long as the entire statement is kept intact.

This is such a wonderful community of people. I want to give special thanks to Susie for giving us a great place to connect!

Lourdes

I am so glad that we have these avenues such as The Canary Report (thanks susie!) to find out about injustices such as this.

MCS America is such a valuable resource. I myself have gained so much from the work that you have done. Thank you! We all know how hard it is to talk about MCS without being persecuted for it and I admire your strength and will to keep it up.

You have my support!

Amy

I am SO sorry for the obvious stress this situation must be causing you and I hope that you can find a way to make self-care a top priority as you deal with the fall-out of this terrible situation. (I had great difficulty making self-care a top priority when my identity was stolen on Twitter. I can only imagine how draining this mess is on you. Please safeguard your health as best you can). I know this is easier said than done.

Susie,

I find this matter deeply disturbing on multiple levels. I thank you for posting Lourdes’ comments here and for publicly standing behind her, as we all should, in this serious matter that affects all MCS patients. This is very upsetting!

~~

Peace,

Jeanne

Discord and differences of opinions are natural forms of expression … just two of many forms because like it or not, human society are full of opinions. With the growth of internet and other forms of instant communication, ie. Facebook, opinions are rampant and rabid is just that much more possible.

MCS America was one of the first internet sites I found several years ago, when I was desperate for important information and support. I am grateful the service was available. MCS Awareness Month 2010 is the specific event that has been removed from the Health Finder site. Here’s an example of how I (who benefited because MCS America existed at a personal low-point) can use the “Event Packet” created by Lourdes Salvador and MCS America, and spread the word. Using that packet by getting involved in my local community will help me strengthen by authenticity; and might educate one more person who is ready to make a change to chemical and fragrance free living.

I don’t always agree with what I read about MCS and its paths to ‘healing’ or approaches and take time to sort through my reactions to these disagreements. In this case, I think the reputation of MCS America will stand the test if those who benefit from the service/information/resources implement these findings and give credit where it is due.

I appreciate you explaining your history with similar attacks and happy to see you survived it. I think it’s really important for us to rally the flock when one of our own is under attack like this. Crises like this can strengthen a community if the negative attack energy is shifted and used to strengthen resolve and common goals. The stronger we become as a united community, the stronger we are to deflect future attacks.

I can see how people can get burned-out from years of the fight, but I still have some vim and vigor in me! I don’t think it’s a no-win situation, I think trends are on our side, and the more we rally and stand as a united front, the closer we get to full recognition so we can gain full access to appropriate health care, housing, workplace safety, government support and so forth.

Thank you for all the work you do on the front lines.

Here’s the contact info for the National Health Observances Calendar admin to send your request to have the announcement about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness Month reinstated: http://www.healthfinder.gov/aboutus/contactus.aspx