Wow the response to a National LAP-BAND Convention has been amazing.

I am going to go forward and plan this event. I already have Mary Jo Rapini from "Big Medicine" confirmed as a guest speaker.

The dates for the convention will be

October 3-5 2008

Oct 3rd will be a meet and greet from 6:00pm until 9:00 pm

Oct 4th will be the main convention guest speakers and break out groups

Oct 5th will be successful bandsters sharing their stories

Saturday evening we will have a Fall Fling dinner, dancing and socializing.

Special guest will include

Surgeons (Bariatric and Plastic)

Nutritionist

Chef- Chef Leslie (Banded Patient) will be there to discuss healthy band recipes with us.

Psychotheropist- Mary Jo Rapini (Big Medicine) will be discussing Body Image and Sexuality

Stylist

Personal Trainer

Motivational Speakers

A photographer will be there to take pictures of the event. We will have a clothing exchange and let the stylist help us choose the right clothes for our body.

We will have people volunteer to receive a make-over and then we will choose 3 people via random draw to receive a make-over after the Saturday event and before the Fall Fling (should be fun).

You will also receive goodie bags with lots of good band friendly goodies.

I will post more information as I get everything hammered out.

I'm excited to host this event and look forward to you guys making it a success!!

Edited May 8, 200818 yr by CoachCher

Please keep posting about the convention and once you have a hotel and details worked out let us know. I will consider coming in from Florida.

I'm in! Keep the details coming.

We would love to have you Abby. I know how life changing these conventions are and plus you will get to meet a lot folks traveling the same roads you are traveling.

Did i miss seeing where this is being held at?

I'm very excited!!!!!!! Can't wait!

I am here in Texas and would love to come to the event. Today is my first day on the site so I am still getting used to it, I would enjoy al the info you can give about the event!!!

Renee'

this sounds great. i'm assuming there will be a fee--do you know about how much yet?

I'm still getting bids from the hotels in reference to the conference room rate and meeting rooms rates.

I'm thinking this shouldn't be more than $100.00 plus the cost of the hotel room. Since this is going to be a large event I am going to negotiate a discount on our rooms as well.

The cost will include admission, dinner Friday evening for the meet and greet and then lunch on Saturday.

The Fall Fling will be set up buffet style so I will negotiate a reasonable price for this dinner.

Edited May 9, 200818 yr by CoachCher

I posted this on Tuesday to get an idea if this is something Bandsters would be interested in. The response was amazing so I am going full speed ahead and planning an amazing convention for all the bandsters.

Renee,

Welcome aboard we are so excited you joined us here at lapbandtalk. We look forward to getting to know you better and supporting you.

Please make plans to come to the convention; it will be life changing!

This sounds so awesome!!! I would love to go to a convention/conference that is tailored foro the Lap-Band procedure, doctors, and patients! Definitely keep moving forward with this...maybe it can turn into a regional event where different people head up different conventions in different areas of the US to keep cost down for attendees....cheers to you for such a great idea!

I would love to plan on attending this event Keep us posted on information as you get it please!! Thank you

This is fabulous! I may slightly change my holiday plans to 'swing by' - I had been heading to California, but this could be a stop en-route. What a chance to mix and mingle - and a clothing exchange would be a great...assuming I could lug all my clothing on the plane!

This may be the beginning of regional and then later international events...want to be planning coordinator, Coach CHer?

I wear many hats, why not Planning Coordinator as well.

Or better yet I'll need to vamp up my staff.. would you like the position tapshoes? *LOL*

Wow the response to a National Lap Band Convention has been amazing

So is those only open to people with Lap-Band brand bands, or is it open to people with all types of adjustable gastric bands, regardless of whether it's the Lap-Band brand?