Convention Preview (more to come)
(Precise times & events will be posted at a later date)
Wednesday August 4th & Sunday Aug 8th are travel days
Thursday August 5th & Friday August 6th are meeting days
Saturday August 7th is "AMC Family Fun day"
We are pleased to announce this years Keynote Speaker is Jennifer Kumiyama - Singer, Speaker, Advocate & 1st Runner Up, Miss Wheelchair CA 2009
We have added AMC talent show to our annual events! It will be Thursday night.
This will ALSO be "Dress up as your favorite Disney Character night! for kids and adults!
Annual Events
*Painting with Theresa and Company
Theresa Lucas is a self-taught artist, adult AMC'er, and also serves as President of Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support, Inc. Theresa, along with friends and fellow artists M.K.Watkins and Stephanie Powless, have held this painting session annually since our first convention in 2006. This session is fun for all ages and teaches children to embrace their 'diff-ability', express themselves through art, and form new friendships with others. For more information about Theresa or M.K. visit their web sites at: www.theresalucas.com & www.mkwatkins.com
*AMC Teen Workshop
It
is their life! A time for teens with AMC to get together with no parents or
therapists around to discuss their fears, dreams, and accomplishments.
(Adults with AMC moderate this group, no other adults allowed!)
*AMC Adult Workshop
A time for Adult AMCers to get together and talk about life with AMC, including but not limited to their fears, dreams and accomplishments
*Sibling Workshop
Savanna Keeton, sister to adult AMC'er and AMCSI Treasurer Jennifer Keeton, has conducted this workshop for all siblings of AMC'ers since 2007. Sib-shop is a place for siblings to unite and share their experiences with Arthrogryposis. It provides siblings the opportunity to voice their questions, feelings, and other concerns that may arise in hopes of each child learning from the other. If you have any questions about our Sib-Shop sessions please contact Savanna at savanna@amcsupport.org.
Presented by our founder, Ani Samargian, this session provides parents, grandparents, caretakers, Adults with AMC, and Teens with AMC an opportunity to share their hopes and dreams as well as their worries, grief, and stressors regarding AMC and the condition’s impact on the future. During the session, we invite participants to write their hopes and dreams in addition to their concerns on a paper leaf. We then encourage volunteers to share their writings before placing the leaf on our Hopes and Dreams Tree.
*Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support Inc, BOD Public Meeting
*Child Care
**NEW INFO ON CHILD CARE**
Dear 2010 5th Annual Convention Attendees: Although AMCSI has previously arranged for free, volunteer provided, childcare at convention, the growth in attendance each year makes this service increasingly difficult to provide. At this time, we are expecting close to 250 children of various ages and abilities at the 2010 convention.
Due to the lack of volunteers this year, AMCSI may not be able to provide supervised childcare. We are requesting that EACH family who requested childcare to please consider volunteering for a two hour segment. You would need to complete an insurance required background check by July 30, 2010, at the personal cost of $15.00. Previously, a few generous volunteers have spent their entire convention watching other’s children, and this is not fair to them. With the large number of children attending this year, we must have a comparable number of volunteers for the children’s safety.
If we do not acquire a sufficient number of volunteers by Monday, June 14, 2010, supervised childcare will NOT be available. A play room will be provided, but individuals will be responsible for attending to their own children. NO DROP OFFS will be allowed, and an AMCSI staff member will monitor the door to insure this does not occur.
Thank you for helping us to provide a Safe, fun and educational convention.
Please consider volunteering your time, we cannot continue without your help.
The 2010 Convention Committee
The Board of Directors of AMCSI
AMCSI is proud to offer child friendly activities each year to keep the children who attend convention engaged and entertained while the adults are attending scheduled sessions.
Parents/Guardians wishing to utilize our childcare rooms MUST sign their children IN and OUT of the room each time. No child will be permitted to leave without the parent/guardian signature! (This means that siblings under the age of 16 will NOT be permitted to remove a child from the rooms!) *Parents - PLEASE explain to your children that they WILL NOT be permitted to leave these rooms without YOU (their parent/guardian) signing them out.* If you choose not to take advantage of our child care rooms, you MUST make sure your children are with you at all times or make other arrangements for their supervision. At previous conventions, our AMCSI families have been the majority of our hotel's clientele. This year is different. For your child’s safety, you MUST ensure your children are supervised at ALL TIMES.
The AMCSI Board of Directors will not ask the speakers, presenters, or vendors attending our 5th Annual AMCSupport Convention to provide one-on-one meetings, consultations, or any other specific medical recommendations to you, your child, or your family. Furthermore, any and all medical information, therapeutic techniques, etc., obtained while in attendance should promptly be consulted with your/your child’s physician prior to any form of implementation. We will not be responsible for ANY medical advice provided to you while at our convention or the result thereof. Any and all of our AMC Support Conventions are strictly a gathering for educational and recreational purposes until stated otherwise.
2009 AMC Convention, Philly PA
