The Minimum Gas Usage Fee—What Is It?

Image of a cooking pot on a propane stove, courtesy istock
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Learn what this LP gas fee is and why you might see it on your invoice.

As a propane customer, you may receive a charge on your account called a “minimum usage” or “minimum use” fee. A letter or phonecall may also come to your home to advise you of this charge. All propane companies apply this fee but call it different names.

So, What’s a Minimum Use Fee?

For most new accounts, Star Gas Products owns the propane tank (and regulators) and installs these at the customer’s home/office. With this in mind, we expect customers to use a minimum amount of propane gas each year. This fuel purchase equates to approximately a half your storage capacity. If a customer has more than one tank, the storage capacity of these tanks also factored in. If you do not know the storage capacity of your tanks, call the office and ask. Details on our minimum use fee is also listed in new customer materials as well as on propane service tickets.

This fee is applied when a customer has not received this minimum delivery in a calendar year. The minimum use fee helps ensure our tank and regulator are maintained as well as enables us to realize a fair minimum return on our investment of equipment at the customer’s home when minimal utilization conditions are not met. Minimum use fees are typically charged to accounts with infrequently used appliances like cooking ranges, fireplaces, and clothes dryers. Note that if you currently own your propane tank, you will not be charged a minimum use fee.

When the Fee is Applied—Your Propane Gas Account Review

Several times a year, Star Gas reviews all customer accounts to look at contact info, payment history, deliveries, inspections, etc. Most importantly, we also review how often a customer uses their gas. This is when the office assesses if a minimum use fee should be applied to a customer’s account.

How to Avoid the Minimum Use Fee—3 Ways to Save

  • Ask if an immediate delivery will fulfill your yearly minimum—fill your tank now instead of waiting.
  • Use more gas. It may be as simple as cooking more often on your stove. What a great excuse to try new recipes and cook more at home!
  • Add a second propane appliance to your account. You can easily add or replace a furnace, space heater, hot water heater, pool heater, or stove to your gas system to help increase your gas usage without breaking your budget. Ask for a free estimate, using propane as a fuel may be more cost-effective than electric or oil. 

Our experienced customer service reps and office managers are here to help you understand this fee and avoid it, if possible. Call our office, we’re here to help!

What You Need to Know About NY’s Carbon Tax

NY's Carbon Tax - Read the pamphlet, learn more
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Following the news? Did you get our pamphlet in the mail?
So…are you aware that NY’s proposed carbon tax will be applied to anyone who buys electricity, propane, natural gas, gasoline AND home heating oil?

Our projected tax estimate for the average family will $750 in new taxes in year one…and the carbon tax will continue to increase every year. For simple things like traveling to work, staying warm, or cooking dinner.

Please Voice Your Opinion, It Matters

No matter what your political affiliations, we are asking our customers to learn about the carbon tax and act by reaching out to their local representatives to share their thoughts before the tax goes live.

Frankly, we feel that NY’s carbon tax is HARSH and will create a financial burden for New York families. Adding a tax to fuel creates negative impact but we want to be sure NYS is exploring all the options.

LEARN EVEN MORE ABOUT THE TAX IMPACT, GET A CHANCE TO EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE >
The website contains key details of the tax implications as well as a convenient link to a form to submit your thoughts to your local representative (and the governor).

And for the record:
Always Feel Secure that Propane is the Perfect Clean Energy Choice

Addressing greenhouse gases and having a healthy environment is important for everyone. That’s why we love the 93% efficiency of propane—propane is an excellent choice for customers to improve our climate. **You should also know that propane is not regarded as a greenhouse gas and is even listed as an approved clean energy source by the 1990 Clean Air Act.**

Winter Guidelines to Make Your Propane Delivery Easy and Fast

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Read our winter delivery guidelines to make your next delivery hassle-free!If you follow this preparation list, you will have trouble-free gas delivery during the winter season. During the winter, please have a clear path for the delivery driver and his truck. Each one of these 4 guidelines has to do with accessing your propane tank.

If we cannot access your tank, we cannot deliver your propane. Prepare for winter by:

  1. MARKING UNDERGROUND TANKS
    Prior to snowfall, mark your tank with a stick or flag.
    Most drivers are responsible the same route. However, an alternate driver may cover your route.
  2. KEEPING DRIVEWAYS CLEAR and SANDED
    Vehicles, debris, snow, ice, tree branches, and overgrown bushes can all impede your delivery from taking place. Note that truck dimensions are 10 feet high, 10 wide and 30 feet long (minimum dimensions)—larger than the average SUV.
  3. PROVIDING A PATH TO YOUR TANK
    Drivers do not carry tools to dig out tanks.
  4. AVOID PLOWING SNOW AGAINST TANKS
    Snow and ice against the tank can adversely affect how the fuel feeds into your home. In particular,
    – Icicles on gas line can crimp or break the line.
    – Debris or Garbage can gather snow, ice, and moisture near a tank, line, or meter.

DELAYED DELIVERIES AND SERVICE APPOINTMENTS – during inclement weather, we may close the office and reopen when roads are passable. We’ll make every attempt to deliver to your home or office. We will call you to reschedule any service appointments.

CALL EARLY IF YOU ARE A WILL-CALL ACCOUNT, please allow 5-7 days for us to make your delivery. Avoid emergency fuel delivery fees (driver rerouting or after-hours) by planning ahead. We will do our best to accommodate your request. Become an automatic customer, it’s free! Let us do the work…call the office and ask how to customize your automatic-delivery.

Safety is our number one concern. Our drivers and office staff will determine if a delivery can be made on a case-by-case basis. Call if you have questions.

Propane Safety Awareness

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Monday, April 27, 2015—Rich Muellerleile of Star Gas Products, Inc. and Dave Walsh, DCC Fire Science instructor, hosted an LP Gas (Propane) Safety Awareness class at the Pleasant Valley Fire Department in Pleasant Valley, New York. A total of thirty-nine local Dutchess Community College students and firefighters participated in the training. Students were a part of Dutchess Community College’s Fire Behavior & Combustion class. Fire fighters from Pleasant Valley and other townships were in attendance.

Instruction included indoors lecture, discussion, and outdoor demonstrations:

  • physical properties and vapor pressures of propane
  • propane tank and regulator types and characteristics
  • outside demonstrations (of low pressure, high pressure, tank pressure and liquid propane releases)

The firematic portion of the class included:

    • demonstration(s) of proper water disbursement on metal surfaces
    • the effects of heat on metal surfaces
    • videos of actual propane incidents
    • proper procedures for addressing propane leaks and incidents

To have a propane safety class held for your fire department or office, please contact Rich Muellerleile at 845-452-8400.

Find out more about Dutchess Community College’s fire science program by visiting their website.

Odor Present on Delivery Ticket

Odor Present -- Yes-No
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Odor Present—Yes-No

The odor present box on your delivery ticket should ALWAYS be checked “yes”—it does not mean that there is a leak in your propane system.

Propane is a naturally odorless gas.

Typically, an odorant called mercaptan is added to propane to provide a distinctive odor or smell.

This allows the consumer to detect if there may be a problem with the propane system.

Please contact our office if you should require further assistance.

The History of Propane

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The Discovery
In 1910, Dr. Walter O. Snelling, a chemist and explosives expert for the U.S. Bureau of Mines, was contacted to investigate vapors coming from a gasoline tank vent of a newly purchased Ford Model T. Dr. Snelling filled a glass jug with the gasoline from the Ford Model T and discovered on his way back to the lab that volatile vapors were forming in the jug, causing its cork to repeatedly pop out. He began experimenting with these vaporous gases to find methods to control and hold them. After dividing the gas into its liquid and gaseous components, he learned that propane was one component of the liquefied gas mixture. He soon learned that this propane component could be used for lighting, metal cutting, and cooking. That discovery marked the birth of the propane industry.

The Growth of an Industry

1912 Dr. Snelling and colleagues established the American Gasol Co., the first
commercial marketer of propane.
1913 Dr. Snelling sold his propane patent for $50,000 to Frank Phillips, the founder of
Phillips Petroleum Co. In 2002, Phillips Petroleum merged with Conoco Inc. to
form ConocoPhillips.
1918 Propane was primarily used for cutting metals. J.B. Anderson of Sharpsburg, PA
developed the first propane-fueled pumpless blowtorch.
1922 The Bureau of Mines, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, began
tracking propane sales in the United States. National sales totaled 223,000 gallons.
1925 Propane sales reached 404,000 gallons—nearly doubling sales in just three years.
1927 Phillips Petroleum, now ConocoPhillips, began the research and development of
domestic appliances and gas equipment. The Tappan Stove Co. began producing
gas ranges. Today, Tappan Stove is part of Electrolux Home Products.
1928 The first bobtail truck was built to transport propane. Servel Inc., which went out of
business in 1958, produced the first propane refrigerator.
1929 Aggressive sales promotions and marketing pushed national sales to 10 million
gallons. The propane industry asset value was approximately $22 million.
1931 H. Emerson Thomas, George Oberfell, and Mark Anton founded the first propane
industry trade group called the National Bottled Gas Association in Atlantic City,
NJ.
1932 At the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, CA, propane powered all of the appliances
for cooking and heated the water in the Olympic Village.
1933 A propane odorant was developed to easily detect leaks.
1934 National sales reached 56 million gallons, due in great part to rapid industrial
growth.
1936 Twenty-pound cylinders, such as those used for grilling, were first introduced to
enhance portability.
1945 The end of World War II brought great industrial development, leading propane into
its so-called “Golden Years.” Sales reached 1 billion gallons.
1947 Sixty-two percent of all U.S. homes were equipped with either natural gas or propane ranges. Water heater sales rose 261 percent, and the first propane-fueled clothes dryer entered the marketplace. The first oceangoing tanker built for propane, the SS Natalie Warren owned by Warren Petroleum Corp., was launched; total capacity was 1.4 million gallons.
1950 The Chicago Transit Authority ordered 1,000 propane-fueled buses, and Milwaukee converted 270 taxies to run on propane. In addition, an estimated 7.5 million propane installations occurred on farms and in suburbs.
1955 Propane containers, equipment, and appliances were exposed to an atomic explosion at a federal test site in Nevada. After the explosion, all were in perfect working order, and the ranges were used to cook meals for the test personnel.
1958 National propane sales reached 7 billion gallons annually.
1961 Propane installations in the United States totaled 13 million tanks.
1962 The propane industry celebrated its 50th anniversary at its national convention in Chicago during May.
1963 The first 50,000-gallon tank car was built, and hot-air balloons began using propane.
1965 GATX built the world’s largest propane tank car, with a 60,000-gallon capacity.Chevrolet introduced four new truck engines designed for propane.
1973 Propane price controls were instituted in the wake of the Arab oil embargo. The propane industry trade association, now called the National Propane Association, opened its first Washington, DC office.
1977 The U.S. Department of Energy was established, and the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) began investigating propane pricing practices, which were then controlled by the U.S. government.
1981 President Reagan eliminated price controls on propane, gasoline, and crude oil.
1987 The National Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) changed its name to the National Propane Gas Association, the national trade association representing the propane industry.
1990 Propane was listed as an approved, alternative clean fuel in the 1990 Clean Air Act and, two years later, was listed again as an alternative fuel in the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
1996 The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of Public Law 104-284, the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), signed into law on October 11, 1996. PERC’s mission is to promote the safe, efficient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy source.
2004 Today, propane is an $8 billion to $10 billion industry in the United States and is growing. The United States consumes more than 15 billion gallons of propane annually for home, agricultural, industrial, and commercial uses. Of the 101.5 million U.S. households, 8.1 million depend on propane for one use or another.

 

Sources:
Paul K. Haines, president, Trexler Haines Gas, Inc.
President, Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association, 1961
State Director, Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association, 1972-1976
District 9 Director, National Propane Gas Association, 1976-1996
Archives of the National Propane Gas Association (February, 2000)
U.S. Department of Energy (March, 2003)

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Safe Grilling Tips for Outdoor Summer Fun

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Grilling Tips
1. Always read and follow all the grill manufacturer’s instructions before turning on and lighting the grill. Keep the top open when lighting a propane grill, and don’t close it until you are sure grill is lit.

2. Season the meat before cooking and use a light hand. Whether you’re adding salt, pepper, or a custom rub, keep your hand about a foot above the meat to help distribute the spices evenly.

3.Start with a hot grill. When you place meat on the grill, it should sizzle. Searing meat locks in the juices and flavor and helps keep meat from sticking to the grill. Turn the grill on as high as possible, then place the meat on the grate, close the lid, and sear one side for 3 to 4 minutes. Then, reduce heat to medium for the remainder of the cooking time.

4. Most grilling is done with direct heat, or cooking items quickly at high temperatures. Place burgers, steaks, or your favorite tender beef cut directly over the grill burners. Use indirect heat when cooking less tender cuts of beef, such as brisket. The indirect low-and-slow method cooks meat at a lower temperature for a longer time. Simply turn off one set of burners and place beef on that side; radiant heat from the hot side will cook items slowly.

5.Keep your beef from drying out. First, don’t flip the meat more than a few times — just once, if possible. Turning meat too often makes it lose its natural juices, leaving it flavorless and dry. Second, always use tongs or a spatula — not a fork — to turn meat. Piercing the meat allows its flavorful juices to escape.

6. To make professional diamond grill marks, place the meat on the grill and sear it. After 3 to 4 minutes, turn it 90 degrees clockwise. Cook another two minutes, then flip and repeat.

7. Most experts say cooking a steak to medium rare ensures the best flavor and tenderness. Cook to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for rare; 145 degrees for medium rare; 160 degrees for medium; and 170 degrees for well done. Ground beef and burgers should always be cooked to 160 degrees. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure perfect results.

8. When you’re finished cooking, remove the meat from the grill, put it on a clean plate, and let it rest for several minutes. Tent the clean plate loosely with foil to keep the meat warm. Letting cooked meat rest allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat so they don’t escape after it is cut.

9. Turn off the burner control and close the cylinder valve. When a grill is not in use for extended periods of time, cover disconnected hose-end fittings with plastic bags or protective caps to keep them clean.

10. Properly transport and store gas cylinders. When refilling or replacing a propane cylinder, transport in a secure, upright (vertical) position in a well-ventilated area in your vehicle, and take it home immediately. Always use or store cylinders in a secure and upright position outdoors (not in a garage or shed).

DO:

  • Follow the grill manufacturer’s instructions and keep written materials handy.
  • Keep the top of the grill open until you are sure it is lit.
  • Cover disconnected hose-end fittings with plastic bags or protective caps to keep a grill clean when it is not in use.
  • Store propane cylinders outdoors in an upright (vertical) position.
  • If you smell gas, safely turn off the cylinder valve, turning it to the right (clockwise). Immediately leave the area and dial 911 or call your local fire department. Before you use the grill again, have a qualified service technician inspect your cylinder.

DON’T:

  • Smoke while handling a propane cylinder.
  • Use matches or lighters to check for propane leaks.
  • Pour an accelerant such as lighter fluid or gasoline on the grill.
  • Allow children to tamper with the cylinder or grill.
  • Use, store, or transport propane cylinders near high temperatures (this includes storing spare cylinders near the grill).
  • Try to be a grill repairman. If you are having grill or propane cylinder problems, see a qualified service technician.

For more information on propane safety, please log on to the consumer safety site at www.usepropane.com

Scholarship Opportunity

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College Foundation Funds New Scholarship with Aid from New York Propane Gas Association
New York Propane Gas Association and Hudson Valley Community College
December 17, 2010
For More Information Contact:
Deborah Renfrew
(518) 629-7180
d.renfrew@hvcc.edu

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Hudson Valley Community College Foundation announced a new scholarship funded by a gift of $12,000 from the New York Propane Gas Association (NYPGA) for students enrolled full time in the college’s Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technical Services (HVAC/R) Program.

Four $1,500 scholarships will be awarded in fall 2011 to help provide more qualified, well- trained technicians to meet the labor needs of the growing propane industry, particularly in upstate New York. Recipients will be second-year, full-time HVAV/R students who demonstrate financial need, with preference given to those interested in propane technology. Students who maintain enrollment in the program may renew the scholarship for their final semester.

Approved as an alternative, clean fuel by both the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Clean Air Act of 1990, propane is currently in use in nearly five million households in the U.S. for heating. That number is growing nationwide and especially in New York State, according to NYPGA. Propane gives off minimal emissions when burned and is not harmful in the ground or waterways.

Hudson Valley’s HVAC/R program, known for its unique combination of lecture and hands-on training in state-of-the-art laboratories, prepares students to enter the industry with a background in design, installation and service of commercial and residential heating and cooling systems.

“It is a thrill for the Foundation to form this new partnership with the New York Propane Gas Association,” said Rachel M. Kimmelblatt, chief financial officer for the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation. “This gift will help a Capital Region industry by facilitating the training of its labor force.”
PO Box 760, Clifton Park, NY 12065

NYPGA is a member-focused trade organization providing services that communicate, educate and promote the propane industry in New York. The association was formed in 1948 to offer opportunities for training and networking with peers, and to aid with legislative issues that contribute to operating a safe and successful industry.
“The New York Propane Gas Association Scholarship at Hudson Valley represents the first award that we will establish at community colleges to train new technicians in the safe storage, handling and use of propane so they can join hundreds of industry personnel educated under the industry’s extensive training programs throughout the country,” said Joseph Porco, president of the association.

He credited the industry’s Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) for funding that provides each state with rebates based on its use of propane and its contribution to PERC. “More funding will be forthcoming if New York approves a similar program known as Empire PERC,” Porco continued.

Anyone interested in establishing a scholarship can call the Hudson Valley Community College Foundation at (518) 629-8012 or visit www.hvcc.edu/giving/scholarships.html.
The Hudson Valley Community College Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable corporation, formed in 1983 to philanthropically support the college’s mission. Gifts to the Foundation from alumni, corporations and friends are used to enhance programs, facilities and scholarship opportunities at the college.

Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 70 associate’s degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Sciences; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and workforce and academic preparation programs offered through the Educational Opportunity Center. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, Hudson Valley has an enrollment of more than 14,000 students, and it is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 65,000 alumni.

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Propane Safety During Winter Storms

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New York Propane Gas Association
Friday, December 10, 2010

For More Information:
Barbara Roach
Executive Director
518-383-3823

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Albany, NY – December 9, 2010 – As many homeowners across the Northeast have seen this week, winter is now here and New Yorkers need to be prepared for heavy snowfalls and frigid temperatures.

“It is so important that homeowners are careful when clearing snow and ice from roofs, chimneys, appliance vents, and areas near fuel tanks and lines,” says Barbara Roach, executive director of the New York Propane Gas Association (NYPGA). “Shoveling a clear pathway to fuel tanks helps ensure that deliveries can be made without interruption,” she added. “But special care should be taken when working around fuel supply tanks and propane gas lines to avoid damage that could result in a leak.”

NYPGA reminds everyone, even the most seasoned propane users, to review propane hazards and safety tips regularly.

When handled properly, propane is a safe, clean, versatile and highly efficient fuel that can be used for many consumer products. If your home or business uses propane to generate heat or run appliances, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep your family safe and avoid potential dangers:

• Mark the location of your tank with a flag, pole, or stake. The marker should be higher than the average snow cover depth for your location. It will help you avoid plowing or shoveling rooftop snow on top of your tank. Should your tank become covered with snow, use a broom to clear it.

• Make sure you have an adequate propane supply. During and after a winter storm, roads may be inaccessible for delivery. It is recommended that you establish a regular delivery schedule with your propane retailer.

• Check your chimneys, flue pipes, vent connectors, and propane tank for damage, blockage, or debris caused by snow and ice. Use a broom rather than a shovel, and clear these areas frequently. This will help reduce the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning due to blocked or damaged chimneys, flues, and vents.

• Never use a stove for space heating and never use outdoor propane appliances indoors or in enclosed areas, particularly in the event of a power outage. Proper ventilation is necessary for their safe operation; and carbon monoxide fumes emitted can be lethal. Only use appliances indoors that are designed and approved for indoor use. Never store, place, or use a propane cylinder indoors or in enclosed areas.

• Make sure your heating system and appliances are running efficiently. Have a qualified service technician annually inspect and service your appliances and propane system. This will ensure that your appliances are running as efficiently as possible, conserving fuel and saving dollars.

• After a winter storm passes and it is safe to do so, check the entire area for downed power lines, damaged gas lines, or damage to your propane tank. Immediately call your local utility company or propane retailer if any of these hazards exist. Do not attempt repairs yourself.

• Use extreme caution when operating portable generators. Never use a portable generator (gasoline, diesel, or propane) indoors or in enclosed areas. This can result in carbon monoxide poisoning or death.

• Take immediate action if you smell gas inside or outside of your home or business. Follow these simple instructions:

1. No flames or sparks! Immediately put out all smoking materials and other open flames. Do not operate or turn on or off lights, appliances, telephones or cell phones.

2. Leave the area immediately! Get everyone out of the building or area where you suspect gas is leaking.

3. Shut off the gas. Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank, if it is safe to do so. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise).

4. Report the leak. From a neighbor’s home or other building away from the gas leak, call your propane retailer right away. If you can’t reach your propane retailer, call 911 or your local fire department.

5. Do not return to the building or area until your propane retailer, emergency responder, or qualified service technician determines that it is safe to do so.

6. Get your system checked. Before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances, your propane retailer or a qualified service technician must check your entire system to ensure that it is leak-free.

Propane users can find more safety tips online www.nypropane.com and www.propanesafety.com.

About the New York Propane Gas Association (NYPGA) NYPGA is a member-focused trade organization providing services that communicate, educate, and promote the propane industry in New York. The association was formed in 1948 to offer opportunities for training and networking with peers, and to aid with legislative issues that contribute to operating a safe and successful industry.

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Star Gas Products, Inc. Supports the Fight Against Multiple Sclerosis

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Join the fight against Multiple SclerosisPOUGHKEEPSIE. NY–This past February 14th was more than just Valentine’s Day for family and employees of Star Gas Products Inc. It was a celebration that marked the second year anniversary of Maribeth S. Muellerleile (granddaughter, daughter, and niece of the owners) returning home after being hospitalized due to an exacerbation of multiple Sclerosis.

“We realized how life changing having MS can be when Maribeth was diagnosed. Our family saw first hand that MS really is unpredictable and can change your life overnight” said Richard Muellerleile, Maribeth’s father, president and co-owner of Star Gas, a local propane gas company. “We realized that we wanted to help others who live with this disease and we are so grateful to be able to join the movement against MS.” Star Gas and the Muellerleile family have partnered with the National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter. Star Gas has decided to spread the word about MS and let people know that the National MS Society is available for help and support.

This special awareness campaign kicked off on February 14 and will continue indefinitely. Star Gas has emblazoned the National MS Society’s “We joined the movement” logo on all of their delivery trucks along with a specially designed ribbon of support designed by Maribeth. Additionally, orange MS awareness support bracelets are available at Star Gas headquarters for a $1.00 donation, with all proceeds going to the National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter. Star Gas is furthering awareness of MS by including literature about MS and the National MS Society in all their new customer packets. Maribeth and her friends and family will also participate in Walk MS at The Culinary Institute of America on May, 2, 2010.

Mr. Muellerleile adds, “We hope that by spreading awareness of what MS is, and how people living with MS and people caring for others living with MS can get support through the National MS Society, the movement to create a world free of MS will gain momentum and research funded by the National MS Society will find a cause and cure for MS. We hope someday, families will eventually never have to hear the words ‘you have MS.’”

Star Gas encourages everyone affected by MS to join the movement. “Each time you see one of our trucks in your neighborhood, and you see the MS Society logo, remember that there are many ways you can help. Stop by our office on 33 Fulton Street (near Marist College), to donate or pick up additional information on multiple sclerosis. Visit the National MS Society’s website to learn more about volunteering, advocating for policy changes that affect people with

About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and over 2.1 million worldwide. Upstate New York is a hot spot for the disease with an incidence rate five times the national rate.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. Since 1947, (coincidentally, the same year Star Gas Inc. was founded) the National MS Society has invested $610 million in MS research. This research has enhanced more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested over $50 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. Join the movement at wwww.msupstateny.org

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February 18, 2010
Contact: Stephanie Bradshaw
Tel. 518-464-0112
Email: sbradshaw@msupstatenyalb.org