Rosie from USA

Rosie is owner of the MCS Recycle Yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MCSRecycle/

This is an interview with her from Oct/2005.

What prompted you to begin the MCS Recycle online group?

Rosie: I’d often seen posts from MCSers asking why there couldn't be an MCS "freecycle" group. I spoke to some list owners who were desperately trying to help a woman who couldn't tolerate her apartment and the poor thing didn't even have a face mask. That woman, her desperate need for a face mask, "made" me start MCSRecycle. It was time to become pro-active. Someone had to start the group and since I'm co-owner of a Houston Freecycle group decided it couldn't be that difficult. Writing the rules was a tad more complicated since MCSRecycle is global rather than local and we do have our special needs. The first post I posted asking for a face mask for her. What wonderful responses we received and now the woman has a face mask thanks to MCSRecycle.

What does the group do and who is a typical member?

Rosie: The purpose of the group is to share safe, non-toxic items with each other on a global scale. Members may post asking for items, offering items or offering items for sale. A typical member would be one with multiple chemical sensitivity.

What challenges did you face after deciding to start the group? How are you overcoming them?

Rosie: Preparing the rules for the group and taking time to write them and post them to the group's home page. Since we are global, rules had to be considered for packaging, shipping and safe packaging materials plus who will pay the postage. I overcame the challenge by making a list, talking to others and polling our members since the group belongs to the members rather than me. I'm just the office staff. Another challenge which has not been overcome is how to increase activity within the group. We do not have many posts for "offers" and I believe one reason is that it's so difficult for us to find safe, non-toxic items and when we do, we are not going to share them. For overcoming this, I don't have an answer.

What advice do you have for someone with MCS who wants to start an internet group?

Rosie: Speak to several others who own yahoo groups before starting your own. Unless its a small, intimate group.

Where do you get your inner strength to live with the challenges of MCS?

Rosie: God. I'm a Christian and without his strength I wouldn't be the pro-active fighter and survivor that I am.

I heard you faced the hurricane in Texas. Can you describe what it was like and what you learned?

Rosie: It was a mind opener showing me how dependent we all are upon our news media to disseminate information, our government officials, our utility companies, retail stores and transport companies. We were all in total shock when we heard there was not a drop of gasoline to be purchased in Houston, no bottled water, no basic food nor basic emergency items such as batteries, flashlights, duct tape, masking tape, etc. Many who wanted could not evacuate due to no gasoline to be purchased and should we have had a serious disaster having to leave our homes we could not have since all the gasoline stations for hundreds of miles from Houston had a gas shortage.

Naturally, not knowing how much damage will be done to our home, our neighborhood and the city was very stressful. Being told a killer hurricane is approaching caused stress, having to prepare and not having the available supplies/food/gasoline to purchase said preparations increased stress. Loss of utilities caused more stress. It's an experience that is not easily forgotten.

Please tell us about a recent MCS-related challenge and how you approached it.

Rosie: Having to possibly evacuate our home pre and post hurricane Rita for safe housing for myself. My husband is not totally "safe" and staying with another MCSer would have been impossible due to my husband's use of toiletries. Finding safe accommodations for me would also have been very difficult. I approached this by asking on the MCS groups if anyone knew of safe shelter. I received a few responses and also husband asked some of his contacts. We were offered a room on a ranch but know this would not have been safe for me.

What are your superpowers (talents?) Don't be shy!

Rosie: Oh, talents/skills. I'm really a very good, well trained herbalist and have good training in nutrition. I love organic gardening and making my own safe toiletries. I’m not bad as a handy woman fixing up things around the house, promoting others and standing up for them when I believe it's necessary, being positive, pro-active, not afraid to speak for the truth


What is your biggest weakness?

Rosie: Wanting to help too many and having too many volunteer activities that don’t leave me enough time to care for myself, our home and my studies. This is a weakness which I must work on.

Who or what inspires you?

Rosie: Seeing so many ill people in this world unable to help themselves (like little children living in a toxic home) or the chronically ill such as MCSers and knowing there are things, even little things, we can do to make their day a little better.

Thanks for your time, Rosie. Good luck with your MCS Recycle group.
Rosie: Thank you for this great honor.