Update -AJAO must be a Blast any Updates?

[Guest guest]

Hi all-

 

Well... the JA conference is over, and I for one, had a blast!  I know that I

was able to finally meet Beth, and , and her son Andy... and

got to see The 's from Santa Barbara, and her daughter and

Liz with her husband and two of her daughters.  It was such a packed

couple of days!  I think some of the group got together on Saturday evening for

dinner... but unfortunately, I missed out due to an event set-up.  I know many

are still travelling on vacation - hopefully, they'll post soon to add.

 

The conference opened Thursday night with a Beach Blast barbecue dinner....there

were PT cruisers with surf boards out in front of the hotel for family photos,

along with some steel drummers and balloon twisters. The band that played before

and after dinner was called the Breakaways - and they did surf music.... kids

were dancing a storm!

 

Friday night, we all bussed over to a local family fun park called Boomer's. 

They had the park closed just for us, and we were all issued a little credit

card that had points, giving us access to those lovely games that spit out

tickets that can be redeemed for prizes.  We also had unlimited access to bumper

boats, go-karts, rock climbing, laser tag, mini golf, tea cups, merry-go-round

and regular old video games.  I know that so many of the families got a chance

to meet and play together... adults were hoarse from screaming as they drove the

go-carts!  people must have been having fun because I couldn't get them to go

out to the busses   Originally, the families were going to leave at 9 and the

young adults would have the park to themselves until 11... but we decided that

anybody who had the energy could go ahead and stay... and many did!  I was too

pooped and only made it until 9:30

 

I think one of my favorite parts of the whole weekend was the art work the kids

created.  We had a group come in on Saturday morning - called Coachart.  They

did three lessons with each age group (over 6).  It was an actual mini lesson on

an artist, or specific medium... and then the kids created their own piece. 

They chose one of the three pieces they created to be displayed at the Art

Gallery evening that night...  we spent the afternoon matting the art in black

frames, with typed name plates.  Then we hung them all up on portable art

walls.... I will never forget the kids faces when they came running in and

dragged their parents over to their professsional art!  They were so excited!!!!

 

I think the kids has a ball at the daytime sessions... and I know that I learned

a lot at the educational sessions.  It seemed like there were a lot of new

families - I met one that was just diagnosed last Tuesday!  I thought they were

so brave for attending so soon.... At the opening evening mother's session,

(also from this list) made sure to tell everybody what a great

group this is... and how wonderful it is that Georgina has created such a safe,

nurturing place for parents to meet and share.  I'm sure we'll have some new

members soon!

 

We had a group of almost 70 people from New Zealand... they were terrific!  They

had little flower pins they handed out witha KWA (kids With Arthritis) logo...

and they even had their own version of the conference shirt made in bright

yellow.... I couldn't stop being amazed that they had all travelled so far!!!

 

All in all, I think it was a great success.  I missed seeing so many of you....

which is strange, since so many of you I have never met face to face!  But I

defintely thought of Val, Helen, Robbin, Jo and Becky especially... and the

advice I have recieved from so many while we were planning.  I guess I am too

close to the whole thing to give an objective opinion ..... so I'll leave it to

the other attendees to do that.  Hopefully, they'll go easy... but I can take it

 

I was very happy that we were able to offer not only a copy of the closing

slideshow on CD, but also a disc that included electronic versions of most of

the parent's education presentations to everybody as they left today.  If any of

you would like a copy of either of those, please e-mail me an address offline

and I'll send them out.

 

By the way, next year will be in Houston!  And I can tell that the Texas

committee is already hard at work... they had their theme " Wanted - A cure...

Join the Posse.... " on magnets for everybody.  They are a dynamic group of

folks....I know they are planning to have the best conference ever   The dates

are the same corresponding - July 9-12, 2009.

 

I've rambled long enough..... please let me know if you want either the slide

show or the course materials. 

 

Best hopes to all-

Colleen (mom to caitlin, 10, systemic)

From: Robbin40@... <Robbin40@...>

Subject: AJAO must be a Blast any Updates?

Date: Friday, July 11, 2008, 8:07 PM

The AJAO must be a Blast as I have not seen a report on how it is going

there. lololol

Hope someone can give us who did not attend a email letting us know if

everyone is having fun and how many from the group have met.

Robbin

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