supports advocacy, education of the public, education of health care professionals and Lyme and associated disease research. Empire State is based in Manorville, NY and is active in local, state, and national issues. There is a desperate need for public awareness of tick-borne illnesses and therefore our focus is on the need for education and prevention programs.

Our goal is to prevent tick-borne diseases, by education about prevention about the importance of early diagnosis and about the quality of health care that needs to be provided to people with both early and chronic tick-borne diseases.

We are dedicated to helping and supporting people suffering from Lyme and associated tick-borne diseases.

We hold monthly meetings in several locations. Please email Lyme@EmpireStateLDA.org for more information. If you would like to join us, Please go to Empire StateLDA Membership Sign Up and become a member!

Empire State Lyme Disease Association wants to thank the many people involved with making previous years of advocacy successful.

We are also looking forward to much future work that will continue to raise awareness of Lyme disease. Empire State Lyme Disease Association, Inc. is a non-for-profit 501(c)3 organization incorporated in New York State and affiliated with the Lyme Disease Association.

Board of Directors

Honorary Board Member

Senator Chuck Schumer “I am happy to serve as an honorary board member of the Empire State Lyme Disease Association. As I continue to fight for more funding for research and technology on the federal level, this organization will play a vital role on the local level to promote education, prevention, and treatment of Lyme Disease. I look forward to working together to mitigate the impacts of this horrible disease.”

After Eva Haughie earned a BS in Chemistry from Long Island University, she ran a business that became a local landmark for 11 years. After that, Haughie remained in the business sector, overseeing two separate corporations simultaneously. During this time, she also became an artist. In addition to her involvement with Lyme Advocacy, Ms. Haughie has added her voice to those who work against Domestic Violence. With the help of many, Ms. Haughie hopes to see Empire State Lyme Disease Association continue to help Lyme patients and to realize its missions.

With admirable determination Ms. Bennetta C. Dosiak has a strong commitment to community; in addition to devoting her time as Executive Vice President of Empire State Lyme Disease Association, Inc., she is the President of the Manorville Residents Association, a Board Member of the Manorville Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Greater Westhampton Chamber of Commerce and is on the Manorville Volunteer Fire Police Force.

Dan Paesano earned his degree in English at SUNY Stony Brook. He fought for and helped to make positive changes for Veteran's Rights years ago and now, considering that he has six children and 8 grandchildren, he is dedicated to fighting for Lyme patients' rights.

Kathie Governale earned a BS in Nutrition from Hunter College and in addition to taking on the job of Secretary for Empire State Lyme Disease Association, Inc. she is writing about how nutrition and supplements can help Lyme patients.

Gerry T. Simons, PA was the number one PA at Dr. Burrascano's office for eleven years until East End Medical Associates closed. We are very lucky to have Dr. Simons on our Board.

Dr. George Ruggiero has recently agreed to become a board member and we are thrilled to have him join us. We appreciate his volunteering and his help at our events. We are grateful to him especially for his dedication to his patients.

Science Advisor

Ms. Alita Lyons studied biochemistry and biology at the University of Washington and spent 10 years at Weill Cornell Medical College as a Senior Research Specialist studying Hepatitis C virus RNA structure and function relationships. She has publications in the Journal of Biochemistry, RNA, Nucleic Acids Research and the Journal of Biochemistry.

Advisors

Colleen Nicholson, is the founder of Military Lyme Support, an organization devoted to helping Lyme patients in the US Military. Ms. Nicholson is also a supporter of LDA, and volunteers as moderator of these online groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MilitaryLyme , http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AlaskaLyme and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MontanaLyme

Rick Mazarakis has worked in the business sector on Long Island. Mr. Mazarakis has agreed to act as Liaison for Empire State Lyme Disease Association.

Trisha Varas holds a Masters from Columbia University and works in the private sector as a Human Resources Director.

Committee on Marketing Communications

Robert F. Salat has a lot to offer as Chairman of our committee on marketing communications. Mr. Salat has spent a lifetime researching and studying Physics. Mr. Salat's company offers forty years of high vacuum and ultra-high vacuum technology experience in the form of production and R&D semiconductor process equipment. Having been in the business sector for over fifty years, he offers us his valuable experience in marketing communications and other business issues that face our organization.

Rosemary Markowsky is a vice president of the committee dedicated to marketing communications. Interested parties are welcome to join this committee.