Okay, I have not seen a thread about this, so if I am being repetitive I will apologize in advance. I want to start a support group that meets virtually by cam so the people meeting can feel like they are with a group. Who would be intersted in this? There is a limit to streams and i would like to start the meetings small, just as if you were to walk into a small support group somewhere. Then if the demand exceeds what we are doing I will figure something out.

Let me know of you are interested, I will create a group if I get enough likeminded people, and go from there. With the group I think it woud be best to add people who are participating in the chats - so once we met, we would go in and create a group, and add people as they have followed up interest with participation.

I am also going to create a Skype support group, wich is slightly differrent as it is more of a one-on-one option, and that group will be open to anyone since the foundation of the group will be to go in and post and see if anyone is available to skype.

Lets see how this goes!

Lea Ann

Okay, I now realize that the group you mean is on the verticalsleevetalk. When I tried to join, I got an error message. I do have a skype account and would be very interested in participating.

I would be interested in the virtual support group. And, I have Skype and a camera.

I have sent out an invitation to everyone to join the skype sleevers group for now. As soon as you add yourself, should you choose to, go ahead and post whether you have a cam or not, if you have skype and how familiar with it you are. Maybe some of the more experienced Skypers can act as mentors to help those who are not as familiar.

Again, my schedule clears up soon, and I can focus on this more. With the way the Holidays are falling in relation to my VGS date, after the 27th I will have much more time (I hope!).

I'd love to, but I don't Skype, nor do I have a camera attached to any of my computers. It sounds like a great idea and another level of support, though!

I am not sleeved yet but have been on this site for several months. I am in the same position as Lissa, with no equipment but would surely be interested in finding some at a inexpensive rate... (saving for sleeve..lol) . Excellent idea!!!

I think this is a fabulous idea! I would love to join this group! Webcams can be purchases relatively cheap all over the place anymore. I would even check Amazon. Amazon is my go to for everything these days because it's just so cheap. Let me know how things go and if I can help you get this started at all. Thanks!

This sounds excellent. I am working on starting an organization here in Florida and would defiantly like to incorporate the virtual support into it. If you get this up and running let me know, I would love to join!

I think this is a terrific idea and if you have room for one more I would love to join!!

Count me in, surgery 12/27 and Ill need all the support I can get,and will be supporting others as much as possible.

I think this is a great idea and would love to join as well!

That sounds great! I just watched a news story about how support groups/counseling via phone were proven to be just as successful with helping people lose weight as face to face groups/counseling. My main reason for not going to.a.support group yet is convenience and location. I would definitely participate in a virtual group for the convenience factor.

I would love to join - how do I add myself to the skype sleevers group? I am pretty new to skype....

I would be interested in the virtual support group. And, I have Skype and a camera.

PS - if you get an error message along the way, if you can, plesae do a screen capture of the message and save it, if it is a repetitive issue I can forward it to the webmaster.

screen capture instructions: open a microsoft office attachment, change the margins to narrow and the layout from portrait to landscape. control+print screen will capture the web page you have pulled up, including the error message. go back to the office doc and paste, save as, and file it.

I got an error message when I attempted to join. Here's a shot of the message.

That is exactly the message I get too, right after hitting "join group" button

I am not sleeved yet, just starting the process, but this sounds wonderful. I will invest in a camera and maybe a background screen so I don't have to clean the computer room . I can learn Skype, I hope.

It's all easy to do and yes! Join! It's been slow but very happy to help and I think all of our memebers are the same way!