UOAA NATIONAL CONFERENCE Lincolnshire Marriott Resort Lincolnshire, IL (Chicago area) August 15-18, 2007

Conference Highlights
View some photos here (pdf, 379 kB)

• The first ever UOAA Golf Outing took place on the Marriott’s PGA Championship course. It was a rainy afternoon, but some intrepid golfers did finish the course.
• Wednesday evening, Hollister hosted everyone at a cookout, musical entertainment, and facility tours at their nearby headquarters.
• Thursday morning’s Grand Opening featured two presenters:
  • Illinois State Representative Kathy Ryg, who provided the background to “Ally’s Law,” the Bathroom Access Act and then introduced Ally and her mother in the audience;
  • Paula Erwin-Toth, RN, MSN, CWOCN, who introduced us to a number of important “A” words in keeping with the theme “What a Difference an ‘A’ Makes.”
• Thursday afternoon and Friday morning the Exhibit Hall showcased the latest in ostomy pouching systems, accessories, and their suppliers, as well as a number of related non-profit organizations.
• Thursday evening, ConvaTec sponsored a social evening for all, with a buffet dinner and “Chicago Jazz” dance band.
• The Colossal Colon®, a project of The Colon Club, was on site for viewing. Throughout its time with us, numerous people explored this replica of the large intestine and learned more about the functions and possible malfunctions that can occur.
• Friday morning brought sunshine and about 60 walkers and runners to the Nu-Hope Fun Run, for a tour of the hotel grounds or a walk/bike/run path through the Greenway.
• During Friday’s Recognition Luncheon, honors were given to four very special ASG leaders, to the WOCN Nurse of the Year (Linda Reynolds, RN, BSN, CWOCN of Chico, CA), and to the FOW-USA Outstanding Volunteer (the late Mario Pardo). We then shared in laughter as Brenda Elsagher helped us see the many sides of her father’s advice to “Work Hard and Smile Pretty.”
• Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, a cadre of excellent presenters conducted workshops on a wide range of topics (which you can see below).
• Saturday afternoon, at the Closing, we met Craig Wilson, also known as “Farang Ba” – the Crazy Foreigner – subject of a movie of that title about his amateur boxing career in Thailand (one that he has continued to pursue even since his ileostomy surgery).
• Saturday’s Closing Banquet featured dinner, comedy and a DJ for dancing – and NO speeches or awards!
• The Marriott is located on 190 wooded acres, and features nature trails, a fitness center and pool, 5 diverse restaurants and lounges, and a live musical theater, which some attended on Friday evening, our “free” night.

OUR THANKS GO TO THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED
MAKE THIS INAUGURAL CONFERENCE SUCH A SUCCESS.
Kristin Knipp, Conference Chair
Jane Michnik & Ginnie Kasten, Local Volunteer Coordinators
Bret Cromer, Hospitality Chair
And many, many more who helped at registration, unloaded and set up CoCo, greeted attendees in the Hospitality Room, stuffed goodie-bags, manned the Speaker-Ready Room, made presentations or moderated panels, carried messages, and in general were the glue that held it all together so that everyone could benefit from the experience.
 

Registration 502 people joined us for this inaugural event. This included several families and lots of young adults, in addition to leaders from at least 75 affiliated support groups, and many more. Close to half of the attendees told us this was their first-ever ostomy conference. The 502 number does NOT include those who represented their companies in the Exhibit Hall, where 20 commercial and 14 non-profit booths brought the latest information about products and services to the attendees.

Educational Workshops UOAA ASG Leadership Workshop; Ask the WOC Nurse; Social Aspects of Having an Ostomy; Nutraceuticals and Supplements; Urostomy Update; Ask the Colorectal Surgeon; International Ostomy Update; Maximizing Private Insurance and Medicare; Pharmacology 101; Dealing with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction; IBD Update; Complementary Medicine; Using the Computer to Strengthen Your ASG; Colorectal Cancer Screening and Management; Spouses Support; Ileostomy vs. J-pouch: The New Reality; and Track Programming for Young Adults (YODAA), 30+ Network, Pull Thru Parents Network, Teen Network, and GLO (Gay and Lesbian Ostomates)