Message From NOSSA Chairman

[mcam...@nossaonline.org]

Members of NOSSA,

I want to thank you for your support of NOSSA in 2007. Your support is
very much appreciated. I am also contacting you today to ask you if
you would please consider supporting us with a voting membership in
our group in 2008. I want to tell you more about what NOSSA is doing
to support short statured people and also how much your voting
membership helps.

NOSSA is a united organization of short men and women from around the
globe, promoting the message of self-empowerment for all of its
members, providing a supportive environment in which to share
experiences, and committed to opposing heightism in society.

You might be asking yourself, well what exactly does that mean or in
what ways does NOSSA do all of this? Well allow me to elaborate
further:

There are many people in the world who struggle with issues related to
their height. Some experience height discrimination at work, school,
or when it comes to finding love. Some face psychological and/or
physical bullying. Others have even considered suicide. Sometimes it's
just a matter of feeling a bit inadequate, or for others it could
involve a profound feeling of shame. As a short statured man or woman
you know exactly what's it's been like for you to live as an adult of
below average height. Whether your experiences have been extremely
tough or not so bad, you still have something to give and receive with
a membership in NOSSA. At NOSSA we are all about supporting each
other. If you are having a rough time, we are here to listen and
support you. If you feel you have overcome certain obstacles in life,
why not give something back by sharing your insights with people who
are dealing with similar struggles? We are creating a community of
people who truly understand and are going to listen and support you
without any fear of being judged or dismissed.

At NOSSA, you set your own level of involvement. You can be very
active and attend organization meetings and events, or you can simply
communicate through the internet on our message forums or through e-
mail. Either way you are sure to make some lasting friendships with
people who share something in common with you. It's comforting to know
that you can always pick up the phone and call the group or a member
when you really need someone to talk to that understands.

By now, I'm sure you know what heightism is. It's an awful prejudice
that many people simply don't understand or even care to understand.
We want to change that. We want people to understand exactly what
heightism is so they can begin to re-evaluate their own beliefs about
short stature. Is it really so horrible to be short? Well, yeah it can
be, but it has very little to do with actually being short and mostly
to do with how most of society perceives short stature and also how we
might perceive it. See it's all a matter of perception and perceptions
can change. So maybe what short statured people really need is a good
PR campaign? Well, that's part of what we hope to accomplish. Let's
join together to spread the message that there is absolutely nothing
wrong with being short.

At NOSSA we are disseminating knowledge about short stature to the
public and encouraging more responsible research about short stature.
We also promote the acceptance of short stature in everything that we
do. We are committed to assisting children and young adults who are
struggling with heightism. We are also monitoring the media to address
negative messages that are carelessly being perpetuated about short
statured people. What happens when people face height discrimination
at work or are scammed by some bogus growth enhancement product? NOSSA
is able to help our members with these types of problems.

Most alarming to us is the increase in the use of "cosmetic" human
growth hormone injections in short but otherwise healthy kids and in
an increase in painful leg lengthening procedures. It's amazing what
people are willing to do to gain a few extra inches in height. Would
it upset or surprise you to learn that the United States Government
approves of this? See, these kids don't need any extra growth hormone.
There bodies are healthy and make all the hGH they need. But the kids
are given these injections so they can grow taller, so they can
someday grow to "normal" height. The risks include the possibility of
certain cancers developing, hypertension, spontaneous bone fractures,
headaches, fevers, stomach problems, vomiting, impaired glucose
tolerance, and kidney damage. Do you agree that there is something
wrong with a society that prefers hGH body modification to the full
acceptance of short stature?

If you do, we need you to join us and support what it is we are doing.
For a mere $35.00 (USD) your membership helps support our activities
as mentioned above. Together as a group, we will unite to address
problems like these and to support one another in a way unlike
anything you have ever experienced before. But the group cannot do
this without you. The success of NOSSA depends on you and whether you
are willing to step up to the plate and tackle the issue of heightism
with us.

Please don't put it off until later. Join NOSSA Today!

Respectfully,

Matt Campisi
Chairman/President
NOSSA