Conferences for 2009

A new year and a new resolution: to make sure I give you all the information I have on major conferences being held this year for bereaved parents.

May 2009
The Compassionate Friends 5th International Gathering in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This conference will give anyone attending the opportunity for “continuing build bridges of love without borders” and commemorte 40 compassionate years since The Compassionate Friends was founded in Coventry, England, by Reverend Dr. Simon Stephens, who spoke at a recent national conference. See the compassionate friends site for more information: http://www.compassionatefriends.org/ .

July 10-12, 2009
Bereaved Parents USA gathering in New York City. This conference will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel at La Guardia Airport. The theme is "Light My Way." All parents, grandparents and siblings are invited. For additional information contact Diana Roscigno at 2009gathering@bereavedparentsusa.org .

Aug. 7-9, 2009
The 32nd Annual Conference of Compassionate Friends. This conference will be held in Portland, OR. Anyone interested in participating in or giving a workshop can submit their ideas to national office. See their website for more information: http://www.compassionatefriends.org/ .

Aug. 20-23, 2009
The 23rd Annual Parents of Murdered Children National Conference. This will be held in Cincinnati, OH, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The theme is “Broken Hearts Healing with Help, Hope and Hugs.”Contact Sherry Nolan or Bev Warnock, 513-721-5683 or 888-818-7662 or visit http://www.pomc.org/ for ore complete details.

Alive Alone would appreciate someone stepping forward to sponsor a national conference for parents who have no surviving children, but so far no one has done that for the coming year. If you know of someone who would do a good job, have them contact Kay at http://www.alivealone.org/

In addition, local and regional conferences are held during the year. One I know of so far is March 20-21, 2009 in Frankfort, KY, at the First Christian Church, 316 Ann St. in Frankfort. Conference speakers include Paul Alexander, singer, psychotherapist, author who shares his music and message of hope throughout the U.S. and has worked with hospice and terminally ill children; William Ritter, author and speaker on suicide; Sherry Russell, who works in crisis management; and Alice Wisler who writes and teaches courses on "Writing the Heartache." Workshops include: journaling, after death communications, coping separately together, grief vs. depression, children's grief, coping, and getting through the firsts. A reflection room and butterfly table are available as well as picture buttons and a memory table.