PD Community BlogRead Blog
Board Member Spotlight on David Newsom
Monday May 21, 2018
Hal, David, and Grace at the NWPF Walk for Parkinson's.
David Newsom is Chair of the NWPF Board of Directors. The youngest of four, David and his family grew up in the Seattle area; he doesn’t plan on leaving. After hours at his web design company, David gets active in the Pacific Northwest—both outdoors and across the Parkinson’s community.
BJC - Bette Jane Camp
DN - David Newsom
I would love to talk about your dad, Hal Newsom. His book, “HOPE”, is about living with Parkinson’s. It plays a big role in many people’s lives—including my family’s.
Good! It’s surprising how [often I hear] that “HOPE” in one way, shape, or form has touched people.
Especially when first diagnosed—it’s so scary. Oftentimes, there aren’t many great resources immediately available. The diagnosing doctor may not be a specialist, and may not have all the answers. So it’s a little daunting, and to feel that there might be hope is a good thing.
My dad wrote that book fairly early in his career of Parkinson’s, so to speak. [He writes] that you’ve gotta get that knowledge: see the specialist, get that expertise. But also exercise, learn to be an advocate for yourself, find the resources. You realize that it’s a tough disease, but that a diagnosis doesn’t mean doom. Depending on your age of diagnosis, you can have many years of great life ahead of you.
Did you initially join the NWPF board of directors because of your dad’s diagnosis of and relationship with Parkinson’s?
Yeah, that's fair to say. My folks were involved in the Parkinson’s community since about day one of his diagnosis.
Then my dad had one of his brainstorm ideas: the Speak Up app. I started working with him and NWPF in creating the app. I got to know the staff, the organization; that was my entre into learning more about NWPF. Later, I was invited to join the board.
I’d never been on a board before! (laughs) I didn’t know what it meant, or what the commitment was. But it’s been a great experience. And I’ve learned a lot: about myself, the organization, and the Parkinson’s community. Including the ways we’re doing things right and areas where we can improve.
I didn’t just join the board to follow in the footsteps of my dad or carry on his legacy. I’m trying to make some advancements, to help in every way that I can. Not just going through the motions.
Can you share one of your goals for NWPF, or something you really like that’s going on now?
I really like that we’re attempting to reach a broader geographic [area]. We’ve got a great organization [at Inland Northwest], in Spokane. We’re developing a really strong reach in Boise, with the upcoming walk and HOPE event.
So, we need to make extra effort to cover that ground. We can do that in all kinds of ways. To meet people’s individual needs makes a big difference.
That’s one of the things I’m most excited about.
I’ve also become really aware of just how fantastic the staff is. Super energetic, passionate, extremely intelligent, and really dedicated to the cause. That’s huge—that’s another thing I’m really excited about.
As a business owner, too, that level of commitment from a staff must mean a lot to you.
It’s easy to get caught up in the mechanics of what you do: “This is how we go about business.”
But when you realize you’re touching people’s lives, and that you can make an impact, that changes the dynamics. Because, then, it’s not just a mechanism, not just a machine. It’s people. It’s connections, learning, and growing. And evolving!
We’re always finding new ways for people with Parkinson’s to [engage].
Does the NWPF board of directors sense that energy, and have it as well?
Absolutely. We’ve been working a lot on mission, and values, and where we’re going from here. To interact with the staff, and to learn the stories of people with Parkinson’s—absolutely it’s energizing.
In terms of NWPF, have you had any particular idea on your mind lately?
It brings me back to my dad. He was a big proponent of something he called the sky rocket. A big idea.
And that’s actually how the HOPE conference got initiated: “Okay, we need to have a big impact.” Same with the Booth Gardner Parkinson’s Care center.
We’ve got some really exciting things going on, lots of projects across communities. And maybe that’s the sky rocket! Maybe it’s a shift: we’re bringing that big information of the HOPE conference to localized levels.
Sky rockets are hard to come by. But we’re always looking for the next one: “What is the way that we can have the most and dramatic impact on people’s lives?”
My dad was an ad man. Gotta have the headline, that tagline, that punch! It’s a great metaphor, and it’s true. It works.
If you could have any job, including the one you have, what would you do?
I work at a web design company—I sit at a computer all day long. So on the weekends I go home and I’m banging hammers and working on projects. If I could do anything, I’d work with my hands. I’d build things.
-
As a father, business owner, and Chair of NWPF Board of Directors, David is a builder. He draws on life’s innate creativity. In and out of Parkinson’s, he makes sky rockets.
Bette Jane Camp
NWPF Blogger
Recent Posts
Pam Squared: Finding Poetry in Life with Parkinson'sCorona Crystal Ball
Limericks in Lieu of the Pub
Top 10 Ways to Protect Our Health
A Community of Friends
Topics
2019 (1)Ability (1)
access (1)
Active (2)
Activist (1)
Advice (3)
Advocacy (2)
Affordable (1)
Alaska (5)
Approach (1)
art and culture (1)
astrophotography (1)
Athletic Training (1)
attitude (25)
Attitude (14)
Auction (1)
Author (1)
Autonomy (1)
Awareness (1)
Benefits of exercise (1)
Blog (8)
Board member (1)
book (1)
Book (4)
Book review (18)
Book Reviews (1)
Books (1)
Boxing (1)
care (1)
care partner (2)
Caregiving (1)
Caregiving & Relationships (43)
carepartner (1)
Carepartner (1)
Cartoon (1)
Cats (1)
Celebrate (1)
Ceremony (1)
Challenges (1)
Choice (1)
Circadian rhythm (1)
Cognition (1)
Cognitive Decline (1)
Communication (1)
community (1)
Community (14)
Compassion (1)
Connect (2)
Cookbook (1)
Cooking (2)
Creativity (1)
curiosity (1)
Curiosity (1)
Cycling (1)
dance (1)
dance for Parkinson's (1)
Dance for PD (1)
Daughter (2)
Daughters (1)
DBS (1)
diagnosis (1)
Diagnosis (1)
Diagnosis & Progression (35)
diet (1)
Diet (1)
Disability (1)
Dopamine (1)
Easy meals (1)
Education (3)
empower (1)
end of life (1)
End of Year (1)
Engage (2)
engagement (1)
English (1)
Enjoy (1)
environment (1)
Environmental health (1)
Executive Director (2)
exercise (1)
Exercise (42)
Exercise & Movement (7)
Experiencing Parkinson's (1)
Facts (2)
fall (1)
Fall (1)
Family (4)
Food (2)
Friends & Family (1)
Friendship (1)
Fun (1)
Fundraising (3)
Gala (1)
Golf (1)
Golf Lessons (1)
Golf with Parkinson's (1)
Grandparent (1)
Grandson (1)
Grant writing (1)
Gratitude (1)
Greet (1)
Halloween (1)
Healing (1)
Health (2)
Health & Fitness (1)
Health & Safety (1)
Health & Wellness (1)
Health Effects (1)
healthcare (1)
Hero (1)
Hike (1)
Hike for Parkinson's (1)
Holiday (2)
Hope (38)
HOPE Conference (1)
Hot (1)
Humor (1)
Iced (1)
Idaho (1)
Illustrator (1)
Inland Empire (2)
Instagram (1)
Interview (1)
Joy (2)
Julio Angulo (14)
Kids (2)
King County (1)
Kirkland (1)
Legacy (1)
legislation (1)
Life impacted by Parkinson's (1)
Life with Parkinson's (1)
Lifestyle (23)
Light therapy (1)
Light treatment (1)
Literature (1)
Living with Parkinson's (116)
Local (1)
long-term (1)
Medicare (1)
Medication (1)
Meditation (1)
Melissa Tribelhorn (1)
Mindfulness (1)
Montana (1)
motor symptoms (38)
Motor symptoms (2)
Move Connect Engage (2)
Movement (2)
Movement Disorders Specialist (1)
National Institute of Health (1)
Navigating Healthcare (1)
Neuroscience (1)
Neurotoxicology (1)
Never say never (1)
Newsletter (1)
nonmotor symptoms (41)
Nonprofit (4)
Nonprofit Mission (1)
northwest (1)
Northwest (6)
northwest parkinson's (1)
Northwest Parkinson's (1)
Northwest Parkinson's Foundation (1)
NW Parkinson's (3)
Ode (1)
Organization (1)
Outlook (1)
pacific northwest (1)
Pacific Northwest (2)
Pain (1)
Parents (2)
parkinsons (2)
parkinson's (4)
Parkinson's (22)
Parkinson's and research (1)
parkinsons awareness (1)
parkinson's awareness (2)
Parkinson's awareness (2)
Parkinson's Awareness (6)
Parkinson's Community (6)
Parkinson's Diagnosis (1)
parkinson's disease (12)
Parkinson's Disease (2)
Parkinson's Disease Symptoms (9)
parkinson's family (2)
Parkinson's in the Media (11)
Parkinson's Nonprofit (1)
Parkinsons Research (2)
Parkinson's Research (2)
Parkinson's Story (1)
Parkinson's Writers (1)
PasstoPass (1)
Pause (1)
perseverance (1)
Perspective (2)
Peter Dunlap-Shohl (34)
Phenomenon (1)
philosophy (1)
photography (1)
Planning (1)
pnw (1)
Poem (1)
Poetry (1)
Pour (1)
Prevention (1)
Programs (1)
Progression (1)
quality care (1)
Quality of life (3)
Reaction time (1)
REI (1)
Research (32)
Resources (2)
retirement (1)
Reviews (1)
run (1)
running (1)
Safety (2)
Sailor West (3)
Self-Care (1)
Service (1)
Services (1)
Sharing your diagnosis (1)
Shark (1)
Sleep (1)
Social Services Manager (1)
Soul food (1)
Speech (1)
Sports (1)
Spring (1)
Stories (1)
Story (1)
strength (1)
Submission (1)
Summer (1)
Support (9)
support groups (5)
Support Groups (1)
tai chi (1)
take control (1)
tango (1)
Tea (1)
Teacher (1)
Team (1)
technology (1)
Teens (1)
Telemedicine (1)
Terry Tuesdasys (1)
Terry Tuesday (4)
Thank You! (1)
Thanksgiving (1)
The Weekly (1)
Therapy (1)
Tips (1)
Together (1)
Toxicology (1)
trails (1)
Treatment options (1)
Treatment Options (55)
Tuesday Terry (2)
Tuesday with Terry (1)
Tuesdays with Terry (4)
University of Washington (1)
Veterans (1)
Video (1)
Volunteer (1)
vulnerable (1)
Walk for Parkinson's (1)
Washington (2)
wellness (1)
Wildfire Smoke (1)
Winter (3)
Women with Parkinson's (1)
working with parkinsons (1)
working with Parkinson's (1)
World Parkinson Congress (1)
Write (3)
Writer (2)
Writing (4)
Yoga (1)
Young Adults (1)
young onset (1)
young onset parkinson's (20)
Archives
2020Corona Crystal Ball
Limericks in Lieu of the Pub
Top 10 Ways to Protect Our Health
A Community of Friends
Parkinson’s May Break My Bones
Struthers Parkinson's Care Network
The Parkinson's Project: Boots on the Ground in 2020
Swanson's Nursery: A Winter Pick-Me-Up
Adventures in Parkinson's
"The Phone Number that Changed My Life"
"Every Member of the Parkinson's Community"
"Connecting People with Parkinson's"
It Could Be Worse
Drug Price Reforms Can’t Come at Cost to Access
The Man in the Bed
A Sea of Troubles
Living with the Losses of Chronic Disease
Things To Avoid Saying to a Person with Parkinson’s
"Mutual Honesty": A Conversation with Sailor West
Al Greenwood's Journey with Parkinson's
You Say You Want a Renovation
Wile E. Coyote, Spinoza, PD and Me
Get Ready for NW Parkinson's Day Spokane!
Living with Parkinson's in the NW: How to Plan for Wildfire Smoke
Dog Person
One Stellar View
Credible Hope
Find Melissa & PD Link at the WPC!
Parkinson's Unawareness: It's a Big Job
Parkinson's & Poetry: a Thank You
Stronger Together: Parents with Parkinson's
Surprising Ways Yoga and Meditation Can Heal
Just Call Me Shake-Speare
Changing a Battery Part II
Erin Go Braugh!
Sherri Hadley, A Triumph of Joy Over Fear
Gangsta Grandpa
Stronger Together: Daughters of People With Parkinson’s
Wading without a Muse
Staff Spotlight on Jordan Whitley
What's for Dinner?
Changing a Battery
Snowmageddon Snydrome
One Grunt, or Two? A Parkinsonian Dialogue
One Look at Community: the Newest Women's Support Group
The Digital Caregiver's Nervous System
Board Member Spotlight on Steve Gilbert
A Mutual Admiration Society
Hang on to Your Shower Cap
Happy New Year - Thanks to You!
Joy & Other Winter Odes
Let There Be Light!
Punch-Drunk Parkinson's
Pass to Pass to Pass...
Terry & Marian's Thanksgiving for Two
"Pilot to Co-Pilot"
A Gem in the Healthcare Haystack
Never Say Never
The Parkinson's Holiday
Melissa’s Vote Note
Baguette and Red
Pete Beidler: The Man Behind the Books
Decisions
Reimagining Our Approach to Parkinson’s
Celebrating Fall
Board Member Spotlight on Pinky Reeve
Inattention
Whispers on the Run
More than Our Words: Speech Pathology & Parkinson's
Hardwired for Humor
Golf & Parkinson's
Tea with Terry
Welcome to The Weekly!
Never Stop Learning: an Astrophotographer's Approach
Board Member Spotlight on Doreen Nicholas
Second Opinions
Parkinson's Pete Reviews "Perseverance" by Tim Hague
Pathway to Picnic Perfection
Board Member Spotlight on Gloria Gottesman
Care Cat
"We'll Never Leave Anybody Behind"
Parkinson's Pete Reviews "The Highest Tide"
Uniting the Parkinson's Community
Horse Sense & Parkinson's
The Ballard Wave
Parkinson's Pete Reviews "I Give My Eyes" by Brian Peterson
Board Member Spotlight on Elizabeth Keller
Who, What, When?
Controlled Flight into Terrain
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Guitar Therapy
A New Parkinson's Perspective
Pete Beidler Reviews "The Heartbeat of Creativity"
Board Member Spotlight on David Newsom
Pete Beidler Reviews "A Parkinson's Life"
We're Listening: NWPF 2017 Community Survey
Lessons From Having Parkinson's
Fundraising with Family: Meet the Hankens
Feel it in the Gut: Daughters of People with Parkinson’s
Pairing Tango & Parkinson's
New Diagnoses, New Posses
Meet your new Executive Director!
Outside the Ring: Rock Steady Boxing
Poetry & Parkinson's
Holding on to Hope
Confessions of a Pill Head
Tackling PD Together
Pulling the Plug
Five Important Questions: How Do I Make the Best Decision?
Love Your Body Week
A Review on Parkinson Pete’s Bookshelves
Why me?
Parkinson Voice Project
The Thief vs. A Superhero
The Parkinson's Pandemic
Parkinson's and Profanity
Parkinson's Pain by Proxy
Autoimmune Diseases
The Most Interesting Men in the World
What Dreams May Come…
Book Review: on Carrying the Black Bag
Make Anger Your Ally
The Parkinson's Life (You Should Be So Lucky)
Distractible Me
Parkinson's Takes Guts
Being Defined by Parkinson's Disease
Don't Mistake Your Claws For Virtue
A Day in the Life of a Parkinson Warrior
Who Needs PAM?
Bicycling through Alaska Winter: Insanity, or Mere Stupidity?
Pay It Forward
Book Review: Dealing and Healing with Parkinson's Disease and Other Health Conditions
Parkinson's Rules
Book Review: Everybody Has a Window and Aisle Seat
10 Things You Don't Know About PD
Introducing NWPF's New Social Services Manager: Sarah Winter, MSW, LICSW
Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson's: Preparing People to Meet Someone with Parkinson's
Managing the Holiday Blues 2016
Who Was That Masked Man?
The Rain Is Shining — A Thanksgiving Message
Book Review - H.O.P.E.: Four Keys to a Better Quality of Life for Parkinson's
David Leventhal: Dancer, Teacher, Community Leader, Humanitarian, Movement Specialist
Meet Emily!
Rhonda Foulds, Outrunning Parkinson's Disease
Book Review: The Perapatetic Pursuit of Parkinson Disease
Staff Stories - Melanie
Snake Oil, the Cure for Parkinson's.
Book Review: Nan Little
Life's a Lot Better with NWPF
Tipping Points
Book Review: Natural Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
Dare to Attend a Support Group
Ten for David
Time After Time: Kim Farmer's Story
The Glass is Half-Full
Book Review: Reverse Parkinson's Disease
Contentment
Parkinson's and Free Will
A positive attitude is everything
Book Review - Lucky Man: A Memoir
Alexithymia, the Parkinson’s Get Out of Jail Free Card
We Make Them Together: Major Decisions in Caregiving
Boxing is cool
Safety with Style: House Renovations you can hold on to
Book review: On My Own
Shaken to the Core
Isolation and Parkinson's Disease, The hiding and the hidden
Camp Brian Interview
Safety with Style: House design ideas you can hold on to
Book review: Shake Well Before Use
Notes on Acceptance
"Advice" to a person with Advancing Parkinson's Disease
Needed: New Parkinson’s Vocabulary
Caregiving: Ken's Story
A Well-Tested Testimonial, or Spin for Parkinson's
Safety with Style: House design ideas you can hold on to
Caregiving: Susan's Story
Rock Steady Boxing: Emily
Book Review: My Degeneration, A Journey Through Parkinson's
The Marble Halls of Power
Safety with Style: House design ideas you can hold on to
Managing the Holiday Blues
Book Review: A Complete Guide for Patients and Families
The joke is on Parkinson's
I don't always like groups, but when I do...
JBC + DBS: A Mostly-Love Story (Continued)
Rock Steady Boxing: Fred Hyde
Present Moment: A Continued Conversation
Book Review: Navigating Life with Parkinson's Disease
JBC + DBS: A Mostly-Love Story
Present Moment
On the scent of Parkinson’s disease
Harold Allen (Hal) Newsom
The 2016 World Parkinson’s Congress in Portland, Oregon is Fast Approaching: Make Plans to Attend
Flowers on Dr. Starr's Tie
Leading the life of malicious whimsy
Listen: Unlocking Parkinson's Disease
Book Review: If I Can Climb Kilimanjaro, Why Can't I Brush My Teeth?
The Evolution of HOPE
QUIZ: How well do you know your Parkinson’s Disease?
Living with Hope
Notes on Hope
Tug, tug, tug
Denial on Trial
Flowers in Our Hair
Resilience: Bouncing Back from Adversity
Summer Travel
Tina Sawyer Steps Up Fundraising in Seaside
The uncooperative patient
To be in June
Pressure Sores
Caring for a Spouse Living with PD
Life Lessons
Doc Parkinson - A Eulogy
Boom Go Parkinson’s Costs
From the Depths of the Cupboards: Pumpkin Bars
Doctor's Visits
Get Moving!
Choosing a shared burden
Our Brain's "Negativity Bias" Part 2
Outside of Language
Managing Constipation in Parkinson’s Disease
Replacements
Finding Time for Caregiver Care
The Helplessness Antidote
Examples of living your best
10 exercise tips for people with Parkinson's
Bit on Basketball
Suggestions for the Shaken
Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) Report
Our Brain’s “Negativity Bias”
Living for a Cure
Three Huge Changes for People with Parkinson's
Caregiving, the Next Level
Parkinson's Pundit
Perseverance
Making Spousal Relationships Work
Parkinson’s and Luck
Strength. Courage.
Resolve to be a Better Caregiver!
Update from the Parkinson's Action Network
Strategies to Achieve our New Year’s Resolutions and Goals
Movement is Medicine
You can't do that!... Can you?
Behind the Scenes with Maria Cole, MSW
Aiming for Well-Being
Aiming for Well-being
Holiday Feasts, Family & Fun
Pause and Be Thankful
Diagnosis is a turning point, not a beginning
Behind the Scenes with Steve Wright
On the Practice of Gratitude
Thanks for Joining Us at the HOPE Conference for Parkinson's
Frozen Men
Is there anything good about Parkinson's Disease?
Understanding and Managing PD-Related Shame and Embarrassment
An Open Letter to My Family & Friends
Parkinson's Travel Tips
PD & Creativity
Living Conference Held in Boise
Caregiver Burnout - Write it Down!
How Could I Be So Wrong?
Medicine and Cognition
Take a Hint from PD
Taking the Park out of Parkinson's
Northera and Dizziness
Re-Prioritizing Hopes
Dairy & Gut Health in PD
Nature's Moments
One Step At A time
Antioxidant Diet
Common Medicines Common Side Effects
Parkinson's Posture
Parkinson’s Disease & Supplemental Security Income
Parkinson’s Paradoxes
Coming Out of the Caregiving Closet
Parkinson’s Disease Nutrition: Why is it Relevant?
The Importance of Care before Cure: NWPF’s Past, Present & Future
Top medicines that worsen Parkinson’s disease or cause secondary parkinsonism
Is leg pain a symptom of Parkinson's?
Look beyond Parkinson’s when symptoms change quickly
Stem cells-what are they and how are they made?
Acting out your dreams- a sleep problem in Parkinson's disease
Are there recommendations for the best type of mattress for Parkinson's?
How can service dogs help Parkinson's?
Is your environment a high risk PD zone?
Is natural dopamine better than Sinemet?
Is marijuana helpful for Parkinson’s?
What is atypical parkinsonism and how does it differ from PD?
Does glutathione help Parkinson’s disease
What do I need to know about vitamins?
When do I need to see a physical therapist?
Can you give any additional information about Othello Syndrome in the context of PD?
What causes hallucinations?
How can I alert medical providers that I have DBS in an emergency? Can mammogram be done?
Top Ten Tips for Parkinson’s Disease- Tell us yours
Booth Gardner has touched the lives of so many
How do I best time doses of carbidopa/Ldopa?
My mom has PD and almost every evening, any time between ...
How does Parkinson's affect cognition? What can be done about it?
Absorption of Sinemet requires optimal GI health. Is anyone working on a sublingual delivery of the medication?
Can ultrasound treat Parkinson’s tremor?
What are you grateful for this holiday season?
How can I tell whether medications are wearing off or Parkinson’s disease is progressing?
Can a person with Parkinson’s give blood?
When is the right time to start Levodopa?
Can acupuncture help PD symptoms?
Support the Caregiver in your Life
Power of the mind to move treatment further
Top 10 Foods for Parkinson’s (and counting!)
How can I prevent dizziness?
What can you tell me about laser light therapy and Parkinson’s
What is music therapy?
Should I take Coenzyme Q10 for my Parkinson’s?
How do I treat my cough at night?
Parkinson’s fitness programs need to be tailored to the individual to get results
Carrying the Olympic Torch for Parkinson’s today
Coffee reduces risk of Parkinson’s. What about other foods?
Facts about depression
How can I find a good doctor who is knowledgeable about PD and is caring as well? My doctor does not always listen.
Help for constipation
Sex, Intimacy and Parkinson’s
Does DBS affect speech?
Walking and balance can significantly impact quality of life- but is treatable.
Depression is common with Parkinson’s
Ode to Parkinson’s- Poem from Member
Music Enhances Brain Activity
How does posture change with Parkinson’s?
What is important to you?
Are hallucinations caused by Parkinson’s?
Hot Off the Press – Neupro approved by FDA
How do I find a Parkinson’s physical therapist to keep me exercising?
Does Azilect slow disease progression?
Manage nausea from medicines
Is delaying medication harmful?
Advice for newly diagnosed
Is Parkinson’s Hereditary?
Medication Timing
Is gambling a side effect of medicine?
Medication Assistance
Does stress cause Parkinson’s?
When to see a physical therapist
FDA approves DATScan
Coconut Oil
Protein’s effect on medicine
Restless Leg Syndrome