Any NY'ers going to OH conference on Long Island?

Hi folks, I am thinking of going, but the schedule looked boring to me and I don't drive, which means the LIRR for me, coming and going. Has anyone ever goneto one of these things and enjoyed it? Thanks!

 Well if you decide to take the plunge, be sure to collect your hugs from the Mermaid... I'm speaking on Saturday at 4pm... I promise you it will not be boring! 

 Hi Melissa, sorry for the delay. Turns out I no can go anyways... Here is a hug from me! Knock 'em dead! Yay!!!!

I would have to be paid significant $$$ to attend any OH event.

May I suggest to you that you plan a DSer get-together in a good place for you? Depending on scheduling, I'd enjoy catching a train and coming to visit fellow DSers.

 Hi there, Elizabeth! So, you don't like the OH events? Can I ask why? My main complaint was that it seemed boring. 

Hmmm. a DS get-together? ok, but you would have to teach a workshop -   I'm a newbie who can use all the help i can get.....

There is almost NOTHING for DSers at such events. Melissa's presence at the upcoming one is laudable and I'm delighted she'll be there. But it's ONE talk out of a whole event.

Virtually everyone who attends is a bander or RNYer and the whole event is geared toward them.
I have no interest in "learning" about "WLS friendly recipes" or just about anything else offered at these events. And I can party with people I know and like without lining Eric Klein's pocket to do so.

Generally what we do as DSers and those who are interested is get together for a meal and a gabfest. Plenty of teaching and learning goes on without any official program!

I think that if there was interest, though, we could do a DS-specific event that including something resembling presentations and stuff.

"Virtually everyone who attends is a bander or RNYer and the whole event is geared toward them. "
I got that feeling from reading the descriptions of the events And it looked like most of the events on LI were geared towards medical professionals. 

Elizabeth, after reading ur post, i thought of 6 workshop ideas, (u iz inspirin)
* Beginning Vitamin Supplementation - not only which vitamins, but which TYPE
* Dealing with the feelings after WLS (i.e. - im losing too little, too much, Grrls keep hittin on me now, no one has noticed ive lost 65lbs -um, thats my issue BTW)
* I had surgery XXyrs ago, why am i regaining
* Assertiveness skills for dealing with medical professionals (bring ur own foam rubber bats)
* Tweaking vitamin supplementation
* Poopsmell eliminators product roundup - for this one, we all bring our poosmell remedies and pass them around for reviews....
*40grams in 5mins or less - this is for me, since i hate to cook. 
* Ask a DS'er - a roundtable discussion where folks get to ask veterans questions
* Sit and be fit - exercises for the mobility impaired - this is another one for me. 
* Protein product roundup - people talk about thier fave proteins -- and vets explain which forms of protein we CANT metabolize.
* DS food porn slideshow - people bring in pix of luscious DS food, we project them on a large screen.....maybe some sexy music in the background - 
* How to explain your surgery to doctors, nurses, etc. 

Maybe we can get Ozium and Any Whey to sponsor -- ha-ha.....

These are all subjects we already address regularly right here on the board :-).

 Oh yes, thats true, but on the board we don't have bad flourescent lighting, bad urn coffee, and hotel carpet wrecking static-y havok with our clothes.....Instead of pastries on the coffee table, we would have an assortment of sausages and cheeses...ha-ha....

Seriously, it would be nice to have a DS conference. Lots of time built in to get to know people, and tracks for the Vets and tracks for the newbies and everyone in between....Sigh....

Well, if that's something you dream of having, have at it and see what you can do to make it happen!