To date, only 15 of those who have committed to attend the HFSA Conference have mailed their registration fees to me, which is considerably less than initial interest indicated and the amount needed to justify holding the conference. In order to conduct this meeting, we must have a minimum of 50 (representing approximately 10% of the membership) paid member/guest registrations. As you can see, we are a long way from attaining this number. We cannot expect the neurosurgeons and others to take time away from their very busy schedules if we do not support our own Conference.
We also must financially commit to the hotel regarding guest rooms, food, meeting/banquet rooms and audio visual requirements. If we are forced to cancel the meeting, we must give 30 days written notice. That notice must be emailed to them NO LATER THAN JULY 3, 2005!Therefore, if you are planning to attend our August 4-5, 2005, conference in Pittsburgh, your immediate attention to this matter is requested. I must have your check or money order (in US Dollars only drawn on a US financial institution) in the amount of $65.00 per person
NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2005. If the minimum number of registrations is not received by this date, unfortunately, we will be forced to cancel this important conference for our members. We sincerely hope this does not become necessary as the feedback from attendees at our initial conference held two years ago was outstanding.We sincerely hope that the conference will take place as planned, but that decision is in the hands of our members. Now is the time for our members to decide.
And now, for the benefit of our newest members and to light a fire beneath the rest of the membership, previously disseminated information is reiterated again because conference registration fees are now being accepted. ALL REGISTRATION FEES MUST BE RECEIVED BY JULY 23, 2005! And, if you're counting, that's only 12 weeks away!(Thanks to those of you who have so promptly mailed them to me.)
As most of you already know, the next official meeting of the HFSA has been scheduled for August 4-5, 2005. The following information was forwarded to the membership on at least two earlier occasions to afford everyone adequate time for vacation planning and to enable you to make airfare reservations far enough in advance to obtain lower rates.
With gratitude and heart-felt thanks in our hearts, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Allegheny General Hospital/Dr. Peter J. Jannetta will be again donating $2,000.00 and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (U.P.M.C.) will contribute funds to help defray some of our conference expenses. These contributions will greatly offset our registration fee and other miscellaneous expenses this year. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation for their generous gifts and, most especially, their dedication to and continued support of the HFSA.
Now it's time to for you to help me, if you will, please. I'M ASKING FOR A VERY IMPORTANT FAVOR. Please send me a return email at bncox1@hfs-assn.org indicating that you are planning to attend the conference. (If you're not, please don't send me an email.) This will help in many ways. Please respond ASAP. (Note: There are several who have already responded to an earlier request for this information. If you responded once, PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND AGAIN. I already have your name on the attendees' list.) Thank you for your help in this important matter.
"No-Cost" Medical Consultations: Immediately before and after our conference (August 4-5, 2005), Drs. Jannetta & Casey, Allegheny General Hospital; Dr. Horowitz, UPMC (Dr. Kassam will be out of the country, and his associate will meet with patients) will be offering "no-cost" MVD consultations for members who are paid attendees at the HFSA conference and who schedule their consultation appointments during the designated time period "immediately prior to or subsequent to our conference." Dr. Anthony Kaufmann of Canada, a presenter on our program, will also be available for consultations while he is in Pittsburgh. When calling their respective offices (telephone numbers are available on our homepage under Medical Advisory Board), please mention to the doctors' staff members that your appointment will be at "no-cost" and falls under the terms of the agreement that the HFSA has reached with these wonderful neurosurgeons. We hope those of you who have been contemplating making an appointment will consider attending the conference and scheduling your appointment during the above-cited time period. We are extremely grateful to these gracious doctors who continue to support the membership and mission of the HFSA. Please make that call for a consultation NOW and send in your registration fees today!
Below are conference details for your planning purposes:
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1160 Thorn Run Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108
Reservations: A block of "NON-SMOKING" rooms have been reserved in the name of HFSA, so please ask for our block when calling to reserve your room. (Note: If you would like a smoking room, please be sure to make that request when making your reservation.)
Room Rate: $74.00 per night + tax, extended through the following weekend.
All room reservations must be made prior to July 23, 2005, in the HFSA's block to receive this special reduced room rate. PLEASE MAKE YOUR ROOM RESERVATIONS NOW!
Telephone number: 1-412-262-2400 (Option 2 for reservations)
Shuttle Service: There is a shuttle that is available to/from the Pittsburgh Airport and to/from the hotel.
Registration Fee: A per-person registration fee of $65.00 will be charged to cover food, audio visual charges, room rental charges, reproduction expenses, etc. All attendees who participate in any event will be required to pay the per person registration fee of $65.00 in full as pro-ration of the fee, unfortunately, is not possible. Also, please feel free to pass along an invitation to your personal neurologists/neurosurgeons. They are certainly welcome to attend; however, a registration fee must be paid on their behalf, as well.
(Note: We all love our children, but please do not bring children under the age of 16 to the lectures and/or banquet. If children 16 years of age or older attend the conference or any portion thereof, a full registration fee will be charged.)
Your understanding will be appreciated.
FYI: The only attendees whose expenses will be complimentary (other than airfare and lodging) are those who are presenters on our program and selected medical staff. Needless to say, we are extremely grateful to the dedicated medical professionals on our program, some of whom travel great distances at personal expense, in support of our Association. We are sincerely appreciative of their continued dedication to the mission of the HFSA.
Mailing of Registration Fee: At your earliest convenience, BUT NO LATER THAN JULY 23, 2005, please make checks payable and send them to me at the following address:
Mrs. Beverly N. Cox 1118 Crystal Spring San Antonio, TX 78258
Attire for the Meeting & Banquet: Casual attire is acceptable. (Jeans are acceptable during the lectures; however, it is preferred that men wear slacks to the banquet.)
Travel Expenses: Room reservations, travel (airfare, etc.) and other miscellaneous, personal arrangements and expenses are the sole responsibility of each individual HFSA member or guest. The HFSA will not be held liable for any portion thereof.
*Preliminary Agenda:
Thursday, 8/4:
5:00 - 9:00 p.m. (No-Host Bar w/hors d'oeuvres)
Friday, 8/5:
8:00am - 4:00pm (Lectures)
6:00 - 7:00 pm (Banquet Buffet
7:00 - 7:30 pm (Dinner Speaker)
7:30 - 8:00 pm (Special Recognition)
8:00 - 10:00pm (No-Host Bar/Farewell)
*Content (not dates) subject to change without prior notification.
As program details become finalized, I will periodically share them with the membership. If you have a specific question, please email me directly at bncox1@hfs-assn.org
so as to not bog down the HFSA's email system. If your question is determined to be of interest to the entire group, I'll include it in my next update. Thank you for your favorable consideration of this request.We are expecting to have another very enlightening meeting, so please make your plans now to attend.
Thank you, and I'm looking forward to visiting with friends again and meeting new ones at this meeting, too. SO, PLEASE EMAIL ME TODAY! Thanks for your favorable consideration of these requests.