How to CREATE an OH Event in the BIG Apple?

It's sooooooo easy! If you're reading this post & think it would be valuable to spend a Saturday or a weekend attending the workshops, speakers & info vendors at an OH conf. in Manhattan this autumn, RIGHT NOW, REPLY to this post with a "YES!" response AND your estimate of how many fellow wls post-ops & pre-ops you think would also attend! Then, Email HQ [email protected] [email protected] And see just how powerful you are! Lauralyn

BEST email to respond to, besides Eric's? [email protected] Amy is now Manager of Member Services! Lauralyn

Do you guys only go to the bigger cities? Some of us can't travel that far! Please tell me what to do to get one closer to home. thanks

Dear Collette, I cannot answer for Obesity Help Inc. as I'm not employed by them. I'm just a life coach specializing in teaching folks how to overcome their patterns of self-sabotage! And most of my clients are yoyo dieters. In fact, Embody Success! grew out of my determination to break 5 decades of yoyo dieting when I had my RNY in Feb. '03. And I have! That said, last month, while at the OH event in Irvine, CA (think "OC" - Orange county/ metro El-lay) I talked with one of their top level leaders who said that they were re-thinking where and how many of these events they'd do each year and were leaning toward fewer events in larger metro areas. Now, surely, NYC qualifies for a place on their calendar, don't you agree? Lauralyn :wave http://embodysuccess.spaces.live.com

I would love to go to an OH event this fall in NY! It just cannot be the weekend of 10/14 because my daughter is getting married. Marcia

Dear Marcia & Everyone Else Who's tempted to Respond to Your Humble Scribe: I am not on staff at Obesity Help Inc. I am merely one of the cogs in the wheel who pays her way to these OH events because I am totally committed to letting our tribe know there is a coaching method for overcoming the self-sabotage of yoyo dieting. Soooo, in addition to putting your "vote" in reply to my post, IF you want to make a NYC OH conference a reality, please do yourselves a favor and ALSO email: [email protected] Back in '05 OH held a conference in what it advertised as metro New York. Of course I flew up for that. BUT, it wasn't in NYC, it was in (deeeeeep breath) New Jersey, about 15 min. NW of the GW bridge. Guess who didn't attend? New Yorkers!! Ah well, live, learn and move on! Lauralyn

"Back in '05 OH held a conference in what it advertised as metro New York. Of course I flew up for that. BUT, it wasn't in NYC, it was in (deeeeeep breath) New Jersey, about 15 min. NW of the GW bridge. " I don't see anything wrong with that... in fact, I've suggested each time this (NY area conference) idea has come up, that they not have it right IN NYC, but just outside, like northern NJ, or southern Westchester.... a hotel in Newark NJ or White Plains NY (or New Rochelle, Tarrytown, Yonkers, etc) would be MUCH cheaper to book for OH, as well as more affordable for people attending to get a room. If people want to take a day trip during (or just before or after) the conference into the city to go sightseeing, the Metro North train from White Plains into GCT is just under 30 min ride last I remember. OR.... wait until Fall (mid-late October) and have a fall foliage OH event in Lake George NY... kind of off-season (after summer, before skiing or hunting begins) and just BEAUTIFUL that time of year... and probably cheap as dirt by comparison to NYC.

Hi Sean, Thanks for entering the conversation! I don't think of the issue of location in terms of "wrong" or "right." I'm thinking in terms of who will be served. Persuading New York City folk *****ly exclusively on mass transit to get to suburban conference facilities is usually not very successful. Certainly that was my experience at the NJ event in '05. Plus, the sheer density of population who can take mass transit to a Manhattan location is huge; so, monetarily, the volume of participation could make it a win-win for attendees and OHI. Lastly, having a 2-day event upstate to enjoy the fall folliage would be, in my opinion, a frustrating situation as the scheduling is so jam-packed both days that it really doesn't matter what is going on outside the hotel! On the other hand, IF y'all demonstrate an interest in OHI producing a kind of spa-weekend that is more focused on recreation and relaxation for those of us who may feel self-conscious about our appearances at a general population health spa - an OHI upstate retreat in the fall is attractive. Only challenge is most of the retreat facilities that enjoy a good reputation have their fall folliage weekends booked a year in advance. What would you support? Faithfully, Lauralyn, http://embodysuccess.spaces.live.com

Actually Sean, "leaf Peeping Season" is rather expensive in the north.....it's gorgeus up here in the catskills as well during that period. I highly recommend everyone coming up here, come to Woodbury Commons, we can picnic in Bear Mountain! Can you tell i live up here and would love to meet some OH"ers? ANDI

Yes, 5 people