Hi everyone! By this time, you already know that SOMA this year has: a.. ACVREP credit: over 23 hours -- more than any SOMA conference in our 51-year history! b.. PROGRAM-- INCREDIBLY strong, with 38 presentations including lots of new topics, innovation and exploration; c.. PRESENTERS -- almost 50, from as far as California, New England and the UK, including newbies as well as oldies like myself! d.. EXHIBITORS: More than a dozen so far, with a wide range of products and services, and we are expecting more; e.. GUIDE DOG MOBILITY INSTRUCTORS are welcomed back again, with lots of innovative sessions; f.. FEWER CONFLICTS -- presentations will be repeated so you can choose two out of each set of 8 concurrent sessions; g.. WHO’S COMING? Everyone who CAN be there WILL be there (15 people registered just today!), so you can reconnect and meet new friends; h.. IN AN HISTORIC MOMENT (on my birthday!), the new O&M professional association will be featured at the general session. You definitely don’t want to miss this – folks will be talking about this conference for years to come! EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE – Friday, October 12: You can register any time, of course, including at the door, but if you do it by midnight THIS FRIDAY, it will cost $40 less. HOTEL: The hotel used up our block of rooms by last week, and more than a dozen folks told us they were turned away when trying to make reservations at the conference rate. So yesterday, hours before frantically devoting all her attention to preparing for the hurricane, Eileen Bischof negotiated with the hotel and opened up another 25 rooms. To reserve your room at the conference rate of $129/night plus tax, call 813-877-6688 and be sure to ask for Ext. 1558 and request the SOMA conference rooms. You may have to leave a message, but they have been reliable about returning the call. Information including registration and the program is at somaconference.org I look forward to seeing YOU there! -- Dona ____________________________________ Dona Sauerburger, COMS Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind 301-858-0138 dona@sauerburger.org www.sauerburger.org ____________________________________ How to Think if You Want to Change the World: Spiritual Practices for Social Activism www.magissa.org