Hello Albertans,

From a couple of threads, there seems to be genuine interest in starting a local support group.

I would like to know how many people from Alberta would be supportive of such an initiative.

Depending on the size of the membership, the gatherings can be informal and/or can include other more organized activities - workshops, seminars, group counselling, events, etc.

IF THIS IS OF INTEREST TO YOU, PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR INTEREST BY RESPONDING TO THIS THREAD.

If possible, please be so kind to respond to the following questions either through a public reply or through private messaging - whichever you are comfortable with.

- Where in Alberta are you located?

- What sort of functions would you expect from the support group (specify all that apply):

a. informal sharing of experiences and information

b. organized workshops

c. group counselling

d. retreats

e. events, please describe

f. other, please specify

- If the support group is facilitated in your city/town, how frequently would you like the group meet - monthly, every other month, quarterly?

- If the support group is facilitated in a city/town other than yours (say within 100 to 400 km), would you still be interested in attending some of the gatherings or organized activities?

- Would you be opened to rotational gatherings at members' houses (which means that we rotationally host a gathering at our homes)?

- Would you be opened to gathering at a public place (like a restaurant)?

- Would you be opened to gathering at a functional meeting site such as a pre-booked meeting room in a school, hotel, etc.?

- Are there suggestions or information that you would like to share?

Once we have an idea of the true level of interest and the number of members we may have, we can decide of how to proceed.

Cat thanks for action on this.

I would definetly be interested. Please count me in !!!

I live in Calgary / Okotoks and would be willing to:

1. Local Meetings: attend bi-monthly or quarterly <3 hr local meetings to network and share information.

2. Regional Meetings: attend 1-2 X's per year as far away as Edmonton / Red Deer if structured as a informational/networking/social gathering/motivational workshop deal lasting 1 - 2 days.

I would also act as a rotational host for local meetings if under 12 persons. (doesn't matter what size they are)

I would not be able to host till Oct as we are building a house in Okotoks at the moment.

Thanks -- let me know if there is anything I can do to assist.

Also I would think you may get some interest to regional meetings from Sask and BC. There are a couple of other websites that have banded members as well to draw from Ie: obesity surgery website, etc...

Is there not a national or US support group charter that we could model?

CanadianMacDaddy

-=big smiles=- I already answered in the personal e-mail Cat and I have been writing about doing this... I am good with this and ready to get going!!

Thank you CanMacDaddy and Leslielee. I see that quite a few people have viewed the thread but only 2 have responded. I hope that more people will express their interest.

Bumping this up... -=winks=- I haven't done the bump in a whole lotta years..lol I wonder if there is anyone other than me that remembers doing it, or the hussle...lol

Bumping this up... -=winks=- I haven't done the bump in a whole lotta years..lol I wonder if there is anyone other than me that remembers doing it, or the hussle...lol

They made us do it in high school gym class.

Anyways, I relpied but my post must have been lost in the ether that is the new LBT.

I would be up for some informal type meeting somewhere sometime (My wife says I have a fear of commitment, can you tell?)

Andrew

lol wonderful!!! We will count you in!! -=smiles=- definately, for sure, possibly, maybe in the almost near sorta future!

It will be great to get together with all those who can make it. I am thinking meeting in Red Deer might be a good plan to get us all started. Any thoughts on that? When? Where? Soon I hope before you all shrink away to mere shadows...lol

Oh I picked up a jar of pickles at costco yesterday Holy shla moly!! that is a BIG jar of pickles!!! lol, but no sugar!!

Oh I picked up a jar of pickles at costco yesterday Holy shla moly!! that is a BIG jar of pickles!!! lol, but no sugar!!

Pre-op pickles are a lifesaver.

Andrew

Hense forth they shall be known as Pre-op pickle flavoured lifesavers!

-=mutters=- now where to put this humongus jar???-=raises her brow and scratches her head=-

I'm in! I'm in! Sorry it tooke me so long to respond. I am up for meeting formally or informally, wherever, whenever and yes I will host rotationally. Thanks for starting the ball rolling.

Count me in too. I am pre-band (banding May 24 by Dr. Huacuz in TJ). I live in Calgary and am up for monthly, bi monthly meetings and would be willing to host on a rotational basis. Hope this gets off the ground. Kim

Alright!!! it is coming together... How does everyone feel about getting together in Red Deer on a saturday or sunday afternoon. Perhaps a restaurant, anyone know of one there that is easy to find? The only Saturday I can't make it would be the 12th of May.

I work Saturdays but any Sunday would be okay for me. Kim

This is great. How many are willing to travel to Red Deer? I am not free the weekend of May 5 and 6 (in Toronto, getting banded) as well as the long weekend, May 19th to 21st (going camping with family).

Of course, if folks in Calgary are not keen about travelling to Red Deer, us girls in Edmonton can still meet for coffee.

If on a weekend... Sunday better I will travel to Red Deer or Edmonton.

Thanks

CanMacDaddy

So it looks like a Sunday in Red Deer it is!:clap2:

Now which Sunday?