Pittsburgh Conference 2009
Like those pioneers of yesteryear, a few brave men traveled to Denver, Colorado, for the first annual Hypospadias meeting and our organization began in 2001. The following year (2002), Greg from Alaska tobogganed down to Denver and we morphed into the Hypospadias and Epispadias Association. The following year (2003), we traveled back to Denver, where Franci arrived and we included families into our new settlement. We then traveled to Toronto, Canada (2004), San José, California (2005), New York City (2006), and finally Norfolk, Virginia (2008). If our website is the heart of this organization, our conference is its spirit. We gather some of the best medical/mental health professionals and leaders in our community to provide us with the state of the art information as well as a safe place to heal our souls. Through tears of healing and gales of laughter we have restored hope back into the lives of so many people who felt isolated, ashamed, and unaware. You really should consider moving mountains to get to this gathering. This year will be very special in that we are co-sponsoring this conference (August 14-16th, 2009) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with the ABC (Association for the Bladder Exstrophy Community, bladderexstrophy.com). As we formulate this year’s program, it looks to us to be our best conference ever. Register early and book your hotel ASAP because, for the first time, we have limited space. If you have any questions feel free to contact me in the HEA office at 212 382 3471. We also have some scholarship money available.
We do try to keep conference expenses as low as possible. The economy is asking us all to cut back and unfortunately hypospadias and epispadias are not immune from Wall Street fluctuations. Our website, office phone, newsletters, legal fees, and maintaining our presence at some of the most visible international conferences are costly. Our board and staff are unpaid yet devote countless hours providing information for people all over the globe as well as building this organization for our future. We spend many hours trying to increase membership, sponsoring fundraising events, soliciting donations, and seeking funding.
For seven years now our supporters have allowed us to continue this valuable work. Please consider joining HEA and asking your family and friends to join as well. It costs as little as $3.00 a month. Find out if you have a matching contribution program where you work—many companies will match whatever you donate to our organization. Some even contribute money to match hours spent in volunteering! Every time you sign on to www.Goodsearch.com we receive 1 penny, and www.Goodshop.com will give HEA a percentage for every online purchase you make. Maybe you have experience writing grants or have sponsored fundraisers in your area. If so, please contact me for assistance in finding ways you can help HEA raise money.
HEA is putting together an online eBay auction as a major fundraiser. We are in the process of gathering donations from individuals and companies to bring items for sale online. Auction donations could include new items, such as iPods, iPhones, iMacs, furniture, clothing, dinners for 2 at local restaurants, massages, manicure-pedicures, spas, limo service to airports, art, weekends at summer or ski resorts, language lessons, plus antiques, collectibles, and used items . . . if people will buy it, we will auction it! Any ideas? Look around your house—surely you have an item you are sick of looking at that has value. Let us know ASAP. We will be advertising this auction as soon as we have gathered the commitments for the goods.
Thanks for your continued support and see you in Pittsburgh!