Thanks from Dr L.

Although I could not attend I agree with what Kathy said about more programs for veterans. Just my 2 cents!
Meggie

Hey there Dr. L,

Thanks so much for doing the sponsorship and for listening to our feedback like this.  I do appreciate you listening.

First and foremost, it was a great conference.  The RYD(S) team did an awesome job.  The put in a tremendous amount of work and it showed.

Suggestions:  Well yes, but only in the most positive way.

* Breakout sessions absolutely - many of us have been to conferences now for a few years and we want the option of hearing something new or more relevant to us now.  Sessions separated by surgery type, or by Pre Op, Post Op or Maintenance and even Regainers.

* We do need to look beyond the surgery and the plastics. Like the others say, we need food suggestions, fashion suggestions, help with our emotional changes. How do we avoid go to the extreme in our honeymoon period with all the attention?  And then, when the attention is gone, how do we cope?

* Longer sessions for those topics (like your plastics) that we all know will prompt dozens of questions.  If we work that in with the breakouts, there would be more time for what each person is really interested in hearing.

* Conference has been in Dallas and Heaven, I mean Galveston.. so how about Central Texas again.?  San Antonio, Austin, or better yet,  New Braunfels!  Great getaway spot in the spring.

* More vendors - if a date were set as far in advance as possible, then possibly there could be more vendors and more variety.

Again, thank you for all you have done and for being so welcoming to the same questions over and over.  One of these days, I hope to be sitting in your office for a consult. 

Galveston was one the best events I've ever been too.  I so very much enjoyed staying at the San Luis.  That place was wonderful.  Thank you so much for sponsoring this wonderful event for us.

Dr. L where can i start...thank you for believing in RYD.... thank you for being there for the weight loss community.... thank you is really not enough for all you do....

this event was awesome.... the speakers were all great....

i cant thank you enough for letting miranda work so hard on this with her full time job.... she is such a precious gem....

thank you for all you do

love

Debfra

AWWWWWWWW, I missed this somehow!!! But what a treat to see it now.  Thanks so very much for the very kind words.  It's very worth doing a lot and working very hard when someone is kind enough to say something and so many did.  Hahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa 3 Yvonnes!!! Oh my goodness, I think one is all we can handle!

Mr. Robert Moore had to be one of the most gifted and inspirational speakers that I've heard in a long time.  I bonded with him instantly.  I wish I had more time to talk with him because he is so deeply spiritual and I'm all over that.

Austin was AWESOME and of course you know how I feel about my friend Mary Jo.  I love, love, love her.  Dr. Wilkenfeld and his wife Tina were so obviously passionate about what they do.  Tina told me she carries the kit around with her (I don't know the technical name of it) where she can actually remove fluid from a band in case someone needs it.  She told me that after she heard Monica was sick on Saturday.  How incredible is that?

Like Debra said, thanks Dr. L. for your belief in RYD.  Even though it seems like I didn't have a moment to breathe I came away renewed and reenergized because of all the good and postive energy in that room.

Suggestions:
Break outs are OK as long as it doesn't make people pick between two things they could go to.  Debra, Ramon and I have attended so many events and the three of us have seen the breakout thing go bad so many times.  For instance: We have a very bonded group so when you have a post-op (from the Texas Message Board) speak at the same time as a doc or professional, the doc and professional will probably have no one there.  I like what others have said about possible split by how far out you are or possibly surgery types but I also don't want us to put up any more walls between surgery types than there already are.  We have so much to teach each other. 

I was going to do more in my talk about some of the things mentioned but I just flat ran out of time.  I was also hoping for some discussion time to get some questions and answers going but I hope to be better at keeping things on time in the future.

I so enjoyed this one...so very much that instead of feeling so burned out, I feel like doing it again!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for everyone that was part of this awesome weekend.  I will never forget it.
hugs, Y