Questions & Answers About The PBCers

1.) Is the PBCers a nonprofit organization?

The PBCers Organization is a tax exempt public charity under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501 (c) (3). Donations made to the PBCers Organization are tax exempt to the donor.

2.) What is the PBCers?

The PBCers is an organized support system for PBC & other liver diseases patients, family members, friends and those wanting to learn more about PBC.

Founded in March, 1996 by Linie Moore.  The original support group was under the names of PBC PSC Gp and PBC Ladies, finally became known as the PBCers on December 1, 1996. Currently there are almost 2,400 members Worldwide in the PBCers Organization.

3.)  What is the purpose of the PBCers?

Feeling alone and the need to talk to others, set the purpose of our group. Our purpose is to offer caring support, help, friendship and education to those who suffer from Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, their family members, friends, other liver diseases sufferers and anyone interested in learning more about PBC.

4.) How does the PBCers offer it's members help and support?

The PBCers offer help and support in various forms:

a. PBC e-mail daily digest.

b. Homepages - Informative websites including member bios & pictures, doctor referral data base and convention information.

c. Chatroom - Open 24 hours for group or private chats - One weekly scheduled chat.

d. PBCers Message board on Delphi

e. Regional groups for face-to-face meetings.

f.  Extension e-mail listbots:

• PBCersmisc for postings such as chuckles, poems, recipes, etc.

• PBC Spiritual Side listbot.

• PBC Family & Friends listbot.  (Family members and friends only) 

• PBCers View

• PBCers Weight Loss

• Post Tx PBCers 

g.  Doctors Panel answers the PBCers.  Our panel of liver specialists take time from their busy schedules to answer our group PBC and related questions.

5.) What are the goals of the PBCers?

The goals of the PBCers are:

a. Offer help and support to all those who suffer from PBC or any other liver disease. NO one should feel alone with PBC.

b. Help researchers discover the cause and cure for PBC.

c. Public awareness of PBC.

d. Organ donor awareness.

e.  Educate PBCers, family members, friends and the general public about PBC.

6.) How is the PBCers different from other online support groups?

Basically, the PBCers is like other support group started on the Internet except as a group:

a. The PBCers have actually made a difference in the fight against PBC.

b. Grown into the largest Worldwide support group of it's kind.

c. Making PBC history through our current research projects.

d. Achieved more public awareness for PBC and Organ Donation.

e. Held the first annual PBC Convention in January, 1999.

f. Have informative homepages for our member's use, but also a site used by doctors and other medical professionals for reference in treating and learning more about PBC.

g. Regional PBCer groups for face-to-face meetings.

h. PBC doctor referral data base.

i. Fundraising for PBC research.

j. Two PBCers quilts for showing at meetings and our convention (Both are filled with love and are works of art.)

k. Have various forms of support for our members: 3 Chatrooms for our member's use, e-mail daily digest, Internet message board and extension listbot.

l. MOST important we are accomplishing why this group was started. To make sure NO ONE feels alone with PBC or other liver diseases, and they receive the caring support and help needed in this difficult time of their lives.

7.) Is the PBCers an American Liver Foundation chapter?

No. The PBCers is affiliated with the American Liver Foundation, but we are not an ALF chapter, and do not fall under the ALF's charter.

The American Liver Foundation has taken us under their wing to help in the fight against PBC, but the ALF is not legally obligated to PBCers.  Most donations the PBCers Organization collects for research are donated to the ALF's PBC Fund the Cure.

8.) Are donations made to the "PBC Fund the Cure" tax deductible to the donor?

Yes.  The American Liver Foundation is our partner in the fight against PBC, and all donations to "PBC Fund the Cure" are made payable to the ALF.  Our affiliation with the ALF has helped in many ways such as PBC research, education, and making the public aware of PBC.

When the donations are turned into the ALF by our PBCers, it must be stated in writing, the money collected is for the "PBC Fund the Cure or PBC Research." If this is not stated with the donation, the money goes into ALF's account for all liver diseases.

9.) Is the PBCers Organization an anonymous support group?

No. The PBCers is not an anonymous support group.  

We use our members information for the PBCers Organization ONLY. We do not give or sell our membership information to any other groups, organizations or marketing companies.

10.) What is the PBC Daily Digest?

The PBC daily digest is one large e-mail which includes all the member e-mails for that day, or since our last daily digest was sent out by Yahoo Groups.

You must be a subscriber of the PBCers to post messages to the members in the PBC daily digest.

You can receive individual e-mails, daily digest or read mail online through Yahoo Groups.

11.) Are there any dues to belong to the PBCers?

There are no membership dues to join the PBCers.

12.) What are the PBCers Organization Rules