2005 Annual Conference - check in here

[eleni]

Greetings all!
There's been much deliberation at the national level about having a meeting this year and we SO want to have it, but have been stymied by lack of an overall Conference Coordinator. Regardless, we're pleased to announce the 2nd Annual Preeclampsia Foundation Conference is on!

We're providing some details here with the hopes that we can get a good feel, based on replies, for probable attendance. We need to sign a contract and commit to a certain number of rooms, etc. so would hate to be grossly overstating participation. In addition -- and this is super important -- if we don't get enough attendees to "break even" with costs, we will have to cancel it. We'll commit one way or the other with enough lead time to make your travel plans.

The conference will be at Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling, WV (about an hour outside of Pittsburgh) on August 10-12. The North American Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (THE research docs in preeclampsia) will be meeting in the same location immediately following our conference. We plan to borrow some of their speakers for our conference[;)].

Oglebay Resort is an ideal location for bringing your family along for a vacation! While there's no big city life around there, the resort itself is quite beautiful with lots to do for all ages. See their website for more details -- www.oglebay-resort.com.

We have a three-fold agenda for the conference.

1. Provide quality education to preeclampsia survivors about new research indicating post-pregnancy health concerns, for us and our babies.
2. Provide training to Group Coordinators and other PF volunteers to equip them to carry out the Preeclampsia Foundation's mission in their locales.
3. Provide a venue for meeting and/or reconnecting with all our virtual friends from the Forum.

We will try to keep costs to a minimum and will negotiate the best rates possible for rooms and conference fees. Specific agenda and cost details will be forthcoming in a Conference Program and Registration form, but we do need to have some idea of attendance to negotiate from the strongest position possible.

If you're a Group Coordinator, please try to gauge interest in your area. Otherwise, all individuals are welcome to reply here and let us know if you think you'll attend.

Anybody in the country, but especially within reasonable driving distance, is welcome to be on the Conference Committee. Please email me directly and we'll get a meeting together soon to move forward quickly. Admittedly, this is very late to start pulling this together, but the enthusiasm and results you have shown with the Walk-A-Thon have been awe-inspiring!!

For those who attended our 1st Annual Conference last year in Seattle, we'll be building on the feedback from last year's attendees, and developing a more formal program. One thing that has changed pretty dramatically in the last year is the number and sophistication of the local groups. We plan to provide a more developed program to address the growing pains that have happily accompanied our growth, while still providing the opportunity for bonding and support that only real-live bodies can provide.

Looking forward to seeing you in West Virginia! Yeehaa!

Eleni Tsigas
President, Board of Directors

[kdreher]

Eleni,
I plan on going and dh may come to....I also got great feedback from my peri's office who said they would be willing to speak on a CT level, perhaps they'd attend on a National level. I'll email you his name, he may already be "on board" as he mentioned he was part of the PF already.


Kris (35) & Tom (35)
Connecticut State Coordinator

My Angel - Tyler 3/9/95 to 3/23/95 (15 oz, 26 wks severe pe/HELLP)
Tubal Ligation 2/2000
Tubal Reversal 10/2004
Miscarriage 1/05



tkstevens@sbcglobal.net

[kdreher]

I sent an email to the CT group and got one definite "probably"...so hopefully others will chime in! I'm even trying to get my mom to come with, as my dh won't be able to take the time off.

Kris (35) & Tom (35)
Connecticut State Coordinator

My Angel - Tyler 3/9/95 to 3/23/95 (15 oz, 26 wks severe pe/HELLP)
Tubal Ligation 2/2000
Tubal Reversal 10/2004
Miscarriage 1/05



tkstevens@sbcglobal.net

[lgw]

I'm coming. DH probably will too.

lgw
pe & hellp-21wks
11.18.03

[mom2tori]

I would love to go but not sure about finances at that time. I think if I had an idea on the estimated cost I would be able to give a more definite yes or no.

Alissa mommy to:
Dominic 9/10/97-9/11/97 @ 28 weeks
Victoria 1/8/02 @ 30 weeks

[Dawn D]

very interested in the agenda... would like to attend with DH, but need to know cost before commiting.

Dawn (33)
Kirk (34)
Mya (3) born @30 weeks/3lbs/emer c-sec/severe preE worsened following delivery

[molly419]

I am also interested..but would first need to know cost before saying yes.

Molly(23)
Abigail (13 months) born at 25 weeks, 1lb 1oz. due to preeclampsia and HELLP

[tahoe4]

My DH and I have been to Oglebay quite a few times as it's only a few hours away from our house. We would like to come for the conference, but probably will only be able to attend one of the days due to work constraints. Would it be possible to only attend one day?

Stephanie

Casey - DD born 12/25/02 at 6 weeks premature due to eclampsia
Bella - DD born 6/4/04 at 38 weeks. No complications from pre-eclampsia at all!

[eleni]

We'll try to put together a la carte pricing for these special situations. Once the specific program is out you can decide which day makes the most sense for you, though you'll be frustrated to miss ANY of it, I'm sure :-)

[melissa71502]

I will attend, my family is in Ohio so it will be a multi-purpose visit. :)

I will also send an email to the Florida members, although it is quite a distance for them.



Melissa (29)
dh Mohan (30)
Kalindi 7/25/02, 35 weeks(HELLP)
Madelyn 2/5/04, 38 weeks (PIH borderline pre-e)