--I have made my share of criticisms over the years as to how the Neuropathy Association operated, particularly its inability to get more publicity for the condition and its tendency not to cooperate with other neuropathy/neurologic organizations.

This, of course, doesn't alter the fact that the Association has had to operate under very trying conditions, particularly regarding funding and personnel. How much of this was its own fault is certainly debatable. The Pacific Chapter of the Neuropathy Association, which has operated almost as its own entity for along time, certainly has had a wider reach:

http://www.pnhelp.org/

The Foundation that the Association is folding into is affiliated with the Jack Miller Center in Chicago and has been funded to a great extent by Miller himself, but I can't say it has been any more successful at the publicity thing, as it has concentrated more on research than outreach.

We will see if this consolidation helps focus the activist community. (I do think any organization worth its salt should be leveraging the knowledge right here at Neurotalk.)