Would you attend?

[Barb]

The SBAA conference this year is June 27-30 in Cincinnati, OHIO.

I started thinking....if I were to try to set up a special event there for Spina Bifida Connection members (a lunch, dinner, room meetup) would any of you be interested.

I set up a poll to gauge interest so please let me know.

[angel]

I am definatly planning on being there and would LOVE to have a meet up!

Angel

[Lifeisgood]

I wish I could go, but it is not in the cards at the moment. Ever think that that will have one in the Northeast....say maybe...Boston. ;)

[Dodger67]

Who will sponsor my trip to the US? :dance2:

We should also facilitate meetups at SB conferences in other countries.
Also local/regional meets in areas where we have a few members living near enough to each other.

Nettie and I are the only South Africans active here but we live a whole day's travel apart. <sulk!>

[Kari]

I currently live in Cincinnati, and I'll be working at the conference. I'll be busy with the tasks assigned to me, but I'm sure I could find a way to get together with the group! (For those who are wondering about the "currently" part, we are in the process of moving to Chicago. My husband is there, and the kids and I are stay here until the house sells.)

[LysetteOlmeda]

I am new to all this and just now found out the date and location! I would absolutely LOVE to go and even more to meet up with some of you, especially since all of you have helped me thru one of the scariest times in my life! Im definately gonna talk to my fiance and see if we can plan on it. It would be fantastic :)

[Jwm]

I live in NM, money and time would be an issue for me sorry. :(

[LillyPie]

I would love to go but like JWM I am short of $$$ I looked into it and its kinda pricey... Hopefully sometime soon one will hosted in the mid-west area like AZ, NV or NM.. I would have to fly sooo far just to get to it. I wish I could start up some type of program that could help fund peoples trips to the SBA conferences. That would be a dream accomplishment!

[Jwm]

Hey lillypie, it would be awesome for it to be in NM. lol. We are about 3-4 hours from you. :)

[Barb]

I am not sure but I think that last year or the year before was in Tucson, AZ. I am actually speaking at a conference on blogging the weekend before this so I would have to fly home, grab the kid, and head back out to Ohio the same day. Not sure I want to do that.

[XoBLoNDiE85]

i SO wish we could go but $$$, yea its not there right now....=(

[angel]

It was in Tucson that was the last one i attended. I didn't go last year because money was and issue and i am hoping that procrastination hasn't been the issue this year (still haven't booked a hotel room) Cincinnati is only about a 6 hour drive for me so i plan to just jump in my vehicle and head that way. Hope to see some of you there!

Angel

[Kari]

I would love to go but like JWM I am short of $$$ I looked into it and its kinda pricey... Hopefully sometime soon one will hosted in the mid-west area like AZ, NV or NM.. I would have to fly sooo far just to get to it. I wish I could start up some type of program that could help fund peoples trips to the SBA conferences. That would be a dream accomplishment!

The 2008 conference was in Tuscon, AZ. I went to that one with a friend and shared a hotel room with her. Our local SBA chapter pays for each SBA member and one person to accompany them to the conference each year. They pay for conference, but not transportation/hotel expenses. However, I'm not sure they're doing it this year b/c it is here, and there are so many people who want to attend. I would check all of your local chapters just to see if they do anything like that. Also, some companies, I think Coloplast is one, offer scholarship opportunities. One of my friends one her all expenses paid trip for two to the Tuscon conference.

[fran]

I would absolutely love to attend both but this year we already have plans during the same time as the SBA Convention so I plan to go next year. IT is a shame because we live in FL and will actually be in the Ohio area. I will be only a couple hours away and if this group got together for a few hours or a day I would love to come. I just can't do the whole convention this year

[Dodger67]

Going by the photographic evidence of her previous attendance you'll find Angel in the bar surrounded by shots of tequila! :26aa:

[Mustang Sal]

Well at least if there's ever a UK meet up, the travel time wouldn't be half as horrendous as it is for some of you! And I thought a 4 hour drive was bad...

[Dodger67]

If ASBAH (UK) has a national conference its an ideal opportunity for a meetup, if not I'm sure you could find another excuse to organise a meet.

[LisaJoy]

I can't go to SBAA this year, but might in the future, and would be glad to meet up with SBC people. I'm also game for an SBC meet-up (national or regional). I'm thinking Colorado sounds pretty good!

I *might* be in the UK this summer for an international disability history conference at the University of Central Lancashire. However, I haven't heard from them yet whether my paper has been accepted, and once that happens, I still have to scout around for some money. It is the end of the fiscal year, so I'll only get support for the trip if the dean or provost happens to have some extra money laying around that needs to be spent (a long shot this year).

However -- if I make it (it's in late June), I'd love to meet up with some of the UK people on this list.

[Mustang Sal]

It'd be lovely to meet you too Lisa! UCLAN is quite a way away from me (it's up north, about a 5 hour drive on a good day), but if you do come I assume you'd be flying into Heathrow anyway? If so, that's not quite so bad.

Fingers crossed your uni can cough up the cash :D

[sean]

KOOOOOWEEEEE! from down under. I've been wondering, how far are we from skypeing each other. Have a great time at your meet ups...:mad:

:happy065:

[Lifeisgood]

I was just in the UK last week (in London). Wish I could have met up with some of you, but my trip was packed. I'll be back next year. :)

[Ziggy]

Cinci is close for us (less than 2 hours) but I can't afford the conference.

[angel]

Going by the photographic evidence of her previous attendance you'll find Angel in the bar surrounded by shots of tequila! :26aa:

LOL well we were in arizona, me and my fellow SB friends at a 5 star hotel that offered a free tequila shot at 5pm every night. WE WERE ALL THERE!!!!!! Best party I have ever been to. And yes you will find me somewhere near the bar. For a couple of brief days I get to kick back and enjoy myself in a very comfortable enviornment with great friends!

Angel

[Kari]

LOL well we were in arizona, me and my fellow SB friends at a 5 star hotel that offered a free tequila shot at 5pm every night. WE WERE ALL THERE!!!!!! Best party I have ever been to. And yes you will find me somewhere near the bar. For a couple of brief days I get to kick back and enjoy myself in a very comfortable enviornment with great friends!

Angel

I was right there doing the 5:00 tequilla shot every night! How funny! I loved the little story that went with i!t

[Shaywood]

I went to the conference last year and I'm trying to figure out a way to go this year. I recently moved so it might not happen, but I will be at next year's no matter what.

[eng188]

This is pretty much my only current exposure with other SBs. So I'm way out of the loop as far as the conference. Don't even know where the next one is. It this point, I can't go.

But in the future, I'd look into going, and would be interested in seeing a booth set up for this site.

I think I'm kind of in the boat where I don't feel too social on this site, but love it as a resource, and it would be interesting to briefly meet some of you folks.

Good luck this year. Look forward to hearing if any meetup transpires.

[angel]

This year the conference is in Cincinnati Ohio. It takes place the last week of June.
Usually they announce the site for the next year during the conference. I will post it as soon as i find it out. It could be ANYWHERE in the US. Last year was orlando florida, year before tuscon AZ, year before that louisville KY. I am hoping i get to go. I plan on it. I think you would really like conference it is an experience all of it's own. I was nervous about it the first year i went however after about an hour there I made friends that I will have throughout the rest of my life.

Angel

[leigh828]

I'm in a bit of a hurry and didn't have time to read all of the posts...but for those that said $$$ was a factor...check with your local SBA chapter, ours is offering to help out quite a bit with the costs. We will be going! :)

[Nettie]

Nettie and I are the only South Africans active here but we live a whole day's travel apart. <sulk!>
Geez, I didn't realise we're that far apart?! Where in the country are you residing (don't have to name towns, just he general area :p). Pity we're so far...:(

[Dodger67]

In the Northern Cape about half an hour's drive from Three Sisters.

[Nettie]

In the Northern Cape about half an hour's drive from Three Sisters.
Wow, that's quite a distance from me! My dad grew up there, I guess it may even be the same town...:) He still visits it yearly! His parents were teachers there. Tillie and Bordeaux...you recognise the names? It was years ago, though. Probably before your time. I also grew up in the Northern Cape. Was born in Upington! Gosh, I miss the heat.