Stumble It!
CWD’s Summer Bash
Darn it, another great event I’m going to miss! This year’s Children With Diabetes Friends for Life 2007 Conference July 11-15 (at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Florida) looks, well… extraordinary.
This is the annual reunion-type bash for families and individuals living with type 1 diabetes — although I happen to know that reknowned type 2 journalist David Mendosa will be “sneaking in as an imposter” this year as well. Organizer Jeff Hitchcock tells me they’re expecting 3,000 people. I sure hope the Disney Resort is stocked up on diet sodas.
The list of “Notable Guests” is pretty knockout:
Surgeon General Ken Moritsugu, MD, who’ll be presenting the keynote address; basketball stars Chris Dudley and Adam Morrison; NFL star Jay Leeuwenburg; reigning Mr. Universe Doug Burns; Phil Southerland from champ cyclist group Team Type1 (about to ride the Race Across America yet again!); Canadian country music hit George Canyon; and, for all those Idol fans out there, Kevin Covais, aka last year’s American Idol “Chicken Little.”
There will be loads of useful focus groups, two full days of incredible sessions, a large exhibit hall, the annual Family and Friends banquet, and of course a shared day at the Magic Kingdom.
Everyone who’s ever attended this shindig tells me: get there if you can. Unfortunately our summer sojourn to Germany conflicts again this year… in fact, I’ll be sitting out the 2007 ADA Scientific Sessions (June 22-26 in Chicago) as well, sorry to say.
But I do plan to attend the annual American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) Annual Meeting &
Exhibition in St. Louis Aug. 1-4. Never been to St. Louis. Should be fascinating — especially in August 
Dr. Jackson and I will be promoting our new book, and I plan to report back here on “educating the educators” — so let me know what you’d most like to learn from that event, Y’all.
***** *****
Final NEWS FLASH: Allison Blass, our fearless leader of the Diabetes OC, is in the very early planning stages for a brand new annual conference espcially for adults with type 1. The Planning Committee will be asking for volunteers at some point down the road, so keep your eyes peeled.
Does anyone plan on going to the DESA conference at the end of June? I’m trying to figure out if that will be a worthwhile trip.
Posted by: Ed | May 25th, 2007 at 8:19 amI’ve heard rave reviews about the DESA meetings, especially for type 1’s who are interested in sports. I haven’t been myself due to schedule conflicts.
Posted by: Anne | May 25th, 2007 at 9:02 amthat’s funny – I was about to email you to see if you’d be at AADE but figured you’d be overseas:)
See you in St. Louis!
Posted by: Kassie | May 25th, 2007 at 12:47 pmYay! Thank you Allison for doing something for us adults with Type 1! Kids with Type 1 turn into adults with Type 1…and it’s still just as hard! I would *love* to go to a T1 conference. Every conference I have ever heard of for adults with diabetes is geared for Type 2’s.
Personally, I could care less about weight loss and diet plans… :p
Posted by: Sarah | May 27th, 2007 at 12:49 am