Hey all you WA bandsters and those in nearby states / BC:

I didn't see a post on this here and I'm sure there are probably some people on this board who are not on one of the Bandster Yahoo groups. So here's the buzz: the annual Bandster Bash will be in Tacoma on Presidents Day Weekend

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

February 17, 18, and 19, 2006

Follow the link to get info and register. Register before Jan 15th and it'll be cheaper.

http://barbooch2.homestead.com/SeattleBandsterSplash.html

I hear that Dr. Rumbaut will be there, and that some fun events are planned.

Hope to see you there! If you need more info that's not on the site, join the SeattleSplash Yahoo group.

Is it just me, or is it absolutely crazy that if you want to attend just the dinner, it costs $40??? Hello?? We're talking about a group of people who, collectively, probably won't eat $40 worth of food, much less $40 per person!!

Thats a good point hodegard! I think that most of the cost are for the facility and personnel. I think I will try to attend, I'm not sure I can just yet. I know I would like to! Molly Molly, do you want to carpool? Just a thought.

Hi- I'm joanne the event coordinator for the seattle bash. Here is the agenda if you need additional info.

AGENDA

Friday:

4:00-6:00 WELCOME COMMITTEE – REGISTRATION SIGN-IN POSSIBLE

6:00-8:00 Join with bandsters and Surgeons at a nearby restaurant for cocktails and dinner

(non-hosted*) Location TBA.

8:00-10:00 A special event, in the Sheraton Ballroom, “Talking with the Surgeons”.

Includes a non-hosted cocktail party.

Saturday:

7:30-8:00 REGISTRATION

7:50-8:00 CONFERENCE BEGINS / ANN0UNCEMENTS

8:00 SPEAKER: Don Mills - Marketing Representative Allergan Corporation, formerly Inamed Corporation. Our inside man at Inamed-Allergan Corporation, Updates Us On New Lap Band Information.

8:30 OPENING SPEAKER: Joanne Godmintz

9:00 The morning starts with a motivational seminar titled: “Hold on to your band, you are in for the ride of your life”, led by noted psychotherapist Louise Pietrafesa, MSW and Randy Brandies, MSW. Ms. Pietrafesa is a graduate of University of California at Berkeley, with a Masters Degree in Social Work. Besides having a busy therapeutic practice in Seattle, WA, Ms. Pietrafesa is a consultant to Northwest and Clinical Nutrition Center, Joslin Institute of Diabetes at Swedish Hospital and the Novartis Nutrition Corporation. Randy Brandies is a graduate of University of Chicago, where he received his Masters Degree in Social Work. He is a cognitive behavior therapist and practices in Bellevue, WA.

10:30-10:50 BREAK – Meet with Vendors

10:50-12:00 MOTIVATIONAL SEMINAR CONTINUES

12:00-1:00 CATERED lunch -- Surprise Luncheon Speaker

1:00 LAP BAND SURGEON SPEAKERS SESSIONS BEGIN:

SPEAKER: Roberto Rumbaut, M.D.

Medical School: Escuela de Medicina, Ignacio Santos, ITESM, Monterrey, Mexico

in General Surgery Residency at San Jose Hospital ITESM, Monterrey, Mexico

Graduate of Board Certified- General Surgery, Mexico

Professor of Surgery: University of Monterey-ITESM, Monterrey, Mexico

Past President of the Mexican Obesity Surgery Society 2003-2004

Member of the Medical Advisory Committee for Bioenterics Lap-Band System

Member: ASBS Topic: Living With The Lap Band

SPEAKER: William D. Neal, M.D., FACS

Medical School: University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, OR

Surgical Residency: Keesler Medical Center, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS

Fellow American College of Surgeons

Member: Regular Member, ASBS

Staff Surgeon: St. Peter's Providence Hospital, Olympia, WA

Chief of Surgery, Mason General Hospital, Shelton, WA

Topic: Coencentric Dilatation and Slippage

SPEAKER: Dr. Pedro Kuri, M.D.

Medical School: National University of Mexico, Mexico City

General Surgical Residency: National University of Mexico, Mexico City

Board Certified-General Surgery, Mexico

Past Senior Professor at University of Baja California Medical School

Member of the Mexican Medical Society of Obesity Surgery

Member: ASBS Topic: Lap Bands

SPEAKER: Dr. Barry Fisher, M.D., FACS

Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York

Residency: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles

Clinical Research Professor in the Department of Surgery at University

of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada

Fellow American College of Surgeons

Member: ASBS Topic: Motivation for Success

SPEAKER: Dr. Ariel Ortiz, M.D., FACS

Medical School: University of Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico

Residency in General Surgery: Centro Medico Nacional del Noroeste,

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico

Board Certified-General Surgery, Mexico

Professor of Surgery and Clinical Medicine, University of Baja California, Tijuana

Member: ASBS Topic: Are you failing the band, or is the band failing you?

2:40-3:00 BREAK

3:00-4:00 PANEL DISCUSSION

4:00-5:00 BREAK-OUT SESSION

SPEAKER: Mary Costa R.N., CDE, Diabetic Nurse Manager, Kaiser Permanente,

Antioch, California Topic: Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: Weight loss is one

step; are you at risk? Additional steps to prevent heart attack and stroke

SPEAKER: Dr. Leo Petersen, M.D., Practices with Dr. Pedro Kuri in Tijuana, Mexico

Topic: Insulin Resistance

SPEAKER: Terry Simpson, M.D., FACS

Lap Band Surgeon, Phoenix, Arizona, Author of several books on weight loss including

“Losing The Last 30 lbs” and “Fundamentals of Weight Loss”. Topic: How to get to

your goal

SPEAKER: Dr. Martinez, M.D., Practices with Dr. Ortiz. Topic: Diagnosing Using Fluoroscopy

5:30-6:00 CLOTHING EXCHANGE

7:00 to CATERED DINNER WITH SURPRISE DINNER SPEAKER

lights out

Followed by an evening of lively entertainment including:

Fashion Show,

Jamie's “Famous Slide Show”, bandsters pictures Before and After.

Raffle and Bandster Auction. (Save your dollars—something Extra

Special is being Auctioned off--it's a secret.)

Fun continues with entertainment by the Vancouver-Portland Bandster

Group, "The Van Ports" with 80's Disco-Dancing – Dance the Night Away!

Prizes Galore!!!!

Sunday:

8:30-12:30 PLASTIC SURGERY FORUM

Speakers will include a variety of different plastic surgeons, nurses and patients.

Cathy Ross, CRT, Bandster, Patient/Nurse, Kirkland, WA Topic: What you want

to know before Plastic Surgery

.

Gavin Dry M.D., FACS, Plastic Surgeon, Kirkland, WA, Medical School: Univ of British Columbia, Vancouver, Gen. Surgery Residency, University of Washington, Seattle, Plastic Surgery Residency U of W Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery-US, Topic: Plastic Surgery following Weight Loss

Lisa B. Stubenrauch RN BSN CDONA/LTC NHA Bandster /Patient/Nurse /Seattle, WA Topic: Total Body Lift- A Top to Bottom Reconstructive Overhaul, From the Patient's Perspective

Dr. Alejandro Quiroz, Plastic Surgeon, Tijuana, Mexico

Medical School-Universidad La Salle in Mexico City Medicine.

Residency: General Surgery National University of Mexico Fellowship specializing

in a Plastic Surgery at the National University of Mexico and University of California, Irvine. Board Certification in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mexico

Topic: Total Body Lift

Hi Joanne, I am Rhonda from Ga and I will be attending the Seattle Bash.

I have a question concerning the dinner on Saturday nite. Is the dress

formal? I haven't seen anything mentioned about it. Also, when is "lights

out" after the dinner? I am thinking about catching a 10:45pm flight back

to Atlanta on Sat nite but didn't want to miss alot of the festivities.

See you there!

Rhonda

Hi I'm nikki and am new first day on here. How do I get started. I as banded last Thursday and have been having some pain where I think my band is at. Did you have the same?