Flip-Flop Workshops by the Seashore February 13-14, 2010 Where: Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront 5700 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 When: February 13-14, 2010 Who:
People with MS and an accompanying individual (Please note that this program is for Adults only.) Space is limited! Get your registration packet in today!
Why:
To learn, share, relax, and visit with old friends, make lots of new ones, and HAVE FUN!
What: Two days chock full of educational workshops, pampering, relaxation, entertainment, exercise and the chance to mix and mingle with new and old friends. Cost:
Early Bird Registration (deadline 12/8/09) $65 first person; $35 second person Registration (deadline 1/8/10) $75 first person; $35 second person
Cost includes hotel room, food, and all activities. Extra Night Stay: $90 per night
Enclosed you will find pertinent information, as well as registration and workshop sign up forms. Pages 1-5 are meant to be kept for your records. Please feel free to contact Robyn M. Hirsch at the Hampton Roads Chapter at 757-490-9627 or 800-344-4867 with any questions. -1-
December 9, 2009
Thank you for reserving your spot at the Flip-Flop Workshops by the Seashore weekend being held at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The program is Saturday, February 13 through Sunday, February 14, 2010. Enclosed is a registration and workshop sign up form. In order to complete the registration process for the Flip-Flop Workshops by the Seashore weekend please complete these forms and mail them to the Hampton Roads Chapter along with your payment (if applicable) by January 8, 2010. Scholarships are available on a needs basis; if you require a scholarship, please make note of this on the registration form. We cannot accept late registrations. The cost of the program covers your hotel room, food, and all activities for the Saturday and Sunday morning. All forms MUST be completed by EACH person attending the weekend program.
Space is limited, so mail or drop off your forms today. Participants will be taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. No registrations will be accepted after January 8, 2010.
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** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ** 9 FEE: Payment will be accepted in the form of cash, check, money order, or
credit card. Early Bird Registration (deadline 12/8/09)- $65 first person; $35 second person Registration (deadline 1/8/10)-$75 first person; $35 second person To pay by check or money order: Enclose payment made payable to NMSS with your registration packet and mail or drop off to chapter. To pay by cash: Drop off payment with your registration packet to chapter. To pay by credit card: Please complete the enclosed credit card form and mail or drop off to chapter with your registration packet. **Important: If there is a need to cancel your reservation after the deadline date, your money cannot be refunded. 9 SCHOLARSHIP REQUESTS: Scholarships are available on a needs basis; if
you require a scholarship, please note this on the registration form. Individuals who request scholarships will be contacted regarding the determination of their request as the registration deadline approaches. 9 TRANSPORTATION:
Everyone is required to provide their own transportation; however, for those who use Handi-Ride, the chapter can provide tickets to/from this program.
9 ARRIVAL: Plan to arrive and sign in for the workshops in the Atlantic Foyer
at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel (5700 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451) between 8:30 am and 9:45 am on Saturday, February 13, 2010. 9 HOTEL ROOM CHECK-IN: Check-in time is 4:00 pm on 2/13. Registrants
wishing to check in before this time will be accommodated as soon as possible. Check-out time is 12:00 pm on 2/14. Anyone wishing special consideration for a late checkout should inquire with the front desk on the day of arrival. Additional room charges may be added for late check out. 9 ACCOMMODATIONS: The Wyndham offers several different room
options. Your answers to the questions on the registration form will determine your room designation. -3-
** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ** Continued
9 FOOD: Nutritious meals will be prepared by the hotel staff of the
Wyndham. We will be able to accommodate vegetarian attendees; however, we are unable to accommodate other special dietary requirements or preferences. If you have special dietary needs please bring your own food. 9 DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT: A limited number of shower chairs,
elevated toilet seats, portable commodes, and walkers are available to help registrants who cannot bring these items from home or who do not have these items. If you are able to bring these items from home, we encourage you to do so. If not, please indicate needed items on your registration form. 9 PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE: If you require personal care assistance to
attend the weekend please contact the chapter as we may be able to assist with these costs. 9 ADDITIONAL NIGHT STAYS: Sunday, February 14 is Valentine’s Day and
Monday, February 15 is President’s Day-- take advantage of a great room at a great cost! The chapter’s negotiated rate of $75 for an oceanfront room will be honored three days prior to our event arrival date of 2/13 and three days after our scheduled departure date of 2/14 (please note rooms will be confirmed by the hotel on a space available basis). If you would like to extend your stay, please contact the chapter to make arrangements and payment. 9 DEADLINE:
Remember to return all forms and your payment to the National MS Society (760 Lynnhaven Pkwy, Suite 201, Virginia Beach, VA 23452). There are a limited number of reservations available and they will be assigned first-come, first-serve. Deadline to register is January 8, 2010. You will not be registered until all of your paperwork and payment is returned to the chapter office. ? QUESTIONS: Contact Robyn M. Hirsch at the Hampton Roads Chapter at 757-490-9627, 800-344-486, or robyn.hirsch@nmss.org. -4-
Hotel Information 9 FEATURES: • Spacious guest rooms featuring a large balcony/patio • Complimentary high speed wireless internet • Indoor/Outdoor Pool with Jacuzzi • Microwave, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer, iron, ironing board, and in-room coffee service in every room • New 32 Flat Panel TV's in all Oceanfront rooms • New Oceanfront Fitness Center • Complimentary newspaper delivered daily • Complimentary on-site parking • Pets or animals allowed - Dogs 25 lbs and under welcome. Additional Fee of $25.00 per pet, per night. Maximum of 2 pets 9 DIRECTIONS TO THE WYNDHAM VA. BCH. OCEANFRONT: 5700 Atlantic Avenue Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (57th Street and Atlantic Avenue) 757-428-7025 • • • • •
Take I-264 toward the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Continue off of I-264 onto 21st Street and go East for .53 miles Turn left onto Pacific Avenue and go North for 1.44 miles Continue onto US-60/Atlantic Avenue and go North for 1 mile Arrive at Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront
9 ACCESSIBILITY: “The Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront is committed to doing everything within its power to meet the special needs and interests of each and every one of its visitors.”** Due to their values, amount of meeting space, and the number of accessible rooms available, the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront is the ideal location for our weekend retreat. We recognize that some attendees may need equipment and accommodations to their room, as well as personal care assistance; therefore, we encourage you to indicate this information on your registration form or contact the chapter to discuss your needs. **Excerpt from www.wyndham.com/hotels/ORFVB/main.wnt -5-
Flip-Flop Workshops by the Seashore --Registration-Please clearly print your answers to the following questions. If you need assistance, please contact the Hampton Roads Chapter at 757-490-9627. Name of Individual with MS: ______________________________ Date of Birth: ___________ Home Address: _______________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________ State: ____________ Zip Code: _________________ Home Phone: __________________________ Other Phone: __________________________ Please Circle: Work / Cell Email: ____________________________________@ ________________________________ Scholarship needed: ___YES ___NO AND ___Full or ___ Half If yes, please describe in detail any existing financial circumstances that may be special, unusual, or which support your request for a scholarship: ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Individual with MSPlease complete the following information for the individual with MS. 1. Physician Name: ____________________________________ Phone: __________________ 2. Emergency contact name: __________________________ Phone: ____________________ 3. Health Insurance #:____________________________ Carrier: _______________________ 4. Medical Condition(s): _______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 5. Please list medications: ______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 6. Drug Allergies: _____________________________________________________________ 7. Other Allergies (including food): _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 8. Please mark if applicable: ___Vegetarian -6-
8. Do you use any mobility devices? (wheelchair, scooter, walker, cane, etc.) ___YES
___NO
If yes, what device(s) do you use? _____________________________________________ 9. Do you require a handicap accessible bathroom? ___YES
___NO
If yes, what bathroom accommodations do you need (ex: elevated toilet seat, shower chair, roll-in shower, bathroom door removed, etc)? ___________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
Personal Care Assistance for Individual with MSIf you require personal care assistance to attend the weekend the chapter may be able to assist with these costs. 10. Do you need personal care assistance from health care staff while at the program? ___YES
___NO
11. If yes, do you need help paying for this personal care assistance? ___YES
___NO
12. Please identify all of your needs below. If you have additional needs that are not listed please list them in the space provided. A personal care plan will be created from this information. **PLEASE CIRCLE ALL OF YOUR NEEDS** Colostomy
I need help bathing
Catheter intermittent or permanent
I need help transferring out of bed
Incontinent
I need help dressing
___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________
Special NotesPlease fill us in on anything special you think we need to know to make this a great weekend for you. ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ -7-
Accompanying IndividualPlease complete the following information for the accompanying individual. Accompanying Individual: ________________________________ Date of Birth: ___________ Relationship to Individual with MS: _______________________________________________ Home Address: _______________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________ State: ____________ Zip Code: _________________ Home Phone: __________________________ Other Phone: __________________________ Please Circle: Work / Cell Email: ____________________________________@ ________________________________ 1. Physician Name: ____________________________________ Phone: __________________ 2. Emergency contact name: __________________________ Phone: ____________________ 3. Health Insurance #:____________________________ Carrier: _______________________ 4. Medical Condition(s): _______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 5. Please list medications: ______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 6. Drug Allergies: _____________________________________________________________ 7. Other Allergies (including food): _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 8. Please mark if applicable: ___Vegetarian 9. Do you use any mobility devices? (wheelchair, scooter, walker, cane, etc.) ___YES
___NO
If yes, what device(s) do you use? _____________________________________________
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Flip-Flop Workshop Sign Up Please rank the breakouts you would like to attend using a scale from 1-9 (using every number only once), with “1” being the highest priority and “9” being the lowest priority. Please note you will not be required to attend the sessions you mark on this form, this information is solely for our space and planning purposes. Each weekend program attendee must complete a workshop sign up form.
Individual with MS: ______________________ 1. Managing Stress to Feel Your Best In spite of a great deal of research, the exact relationship between stress and the onset or progression of MS remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that stress can make any of us feel worse, whether by upsetting our stomachs or knotting our neck muscles. The key to dealing with the stresses of everyday life is to eliminate those that are not essential and learn how to manage the ones that help make life interesting and challenging. Therefore, this workshop will focus on learning ways to identify and cope with the daily stress that life with MS can present.
2. Tired of Being Tired? A Discussion on Fatigue Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS, occurring in about 80% of people. Fatigue can significantly interfere with a person's ability to function at home and at work, and may be the most prominent symptom in a person who otherwise has minimal activity limitations. During this workshop participants will learn the facts of fatigue: what it is, why it is so common, how to assess it, and how to manage it using medicine, exercise, managing your environment, and making proactive energy choices. In addition, this workshop will include a brief overview of other symptoms of MS as they relate to fatigue.
3. Hold that Thought!-Cognition and Compensatory Strategies Cognitive changes are common in people with MS—research indicates that approximately 50% of people with MS will develop some degree of cognitive dysfunction, affecting their ability to reason, concentrate, or remember. The first step to take in dealing successfully with cognitive problems caused by MS is to learn the basic facts. Attend this workshop to identify the cognitive problems associated with MS and learn strategies to deal with them.
4. Eating Healthy to Take Charge of Your Health While no diet can cure or prevent MS, a balanced, low-fat, high fiber diet helps those with MS be in the best possible shape to deal with whatever challenges the disease brings your way. Get the facts about nutrition and MS—including the role of vitamins, minerals, and herbs—and find some hints for keeping your weight where you’d like it to be because maintenance of general good health is very important for everyone. -9-
5. Exercising Your Way to Wellness Exercise is a key component of your overall healthcare strategy, but that doesn’t mean you need to be a super athlete to enjoy the benefits. Studies show that moderate aerobic exercise improves cardiac health, stamina, and mood, and helps manage symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and bladder and bowel difficulties. Stretching exercises—whether done on your own or with a helper—can relieve stiffness and improve your flexibility and mobility. During this interactive workshop participants will learn more about good ways to get yourself moving—and have fun while you’re doing it.
6. Social Security Disability If you live with multiple sclerosis and are unable to work due to an MS-related disability and/or other conditions, you might be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Attend this workshop and be guided in deciding whether applying for disability benefits is right for you and in navigating the complex application and appeal process.
7. Managing Health Insurance Many people with MS have health insurance provided by an employer. This workshop will include important information about how to get the most out of your coverage and how to keep covered even when changing or leaving jobs, getting divorced, when your working spouse goes on Medicare, or other changes occur.
8. Taking care of Yourself while Caring for Someone Else Caring for someone with a chronic illness like MS can be deeply satisfying. Spouses and partners, family, and friends can be drawn more closely together by their shared concerns and collaborative efforts. But caregiving can also be physically and emotionally exhausting, particularly for the primary caregiver. Learn ways to pay attention to your own health and well-being while caring for someone else.
9. Home Modifications/Universal Design Adapting your environment to meet your needs is an important step toward maximizing function and independence. Don’t let your environment interfere with your mobility, safety, and productivity. Even fairly simple changes to your home can help you conserve energy, be more efficient in your daily tasks, and avoid dangerous falls. Therefore, during this workshop participants will learn about the benefits of universal design and get some tips on how to manipulate your environment.
*Workshops are subject to change.
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Flip-Flop Workshop Sign Up Please rank the breakouts you would like to attend using a scale from 1-9 (using every number only once), with “1” being the highest priority and “9” being the lowest priority. Please note you will not be required to attend the sessions you mark on this form, this information is solely for our space and planning purposes. Each weekend program attendee must complete a workshop sign up form.
Accompanying Individual: ______________________ 1. Managing Stress to Feel Your Best In spite of a great deal of research, the exact relationship between stress and the onset or progression of MS remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that stress can make any of us feel worse, whether by upsetting our stomachs or knotting our neck muscles. The key to dealing with the stresses of everyday life is to eliminate those that are not essential and learn how to manage the ones that help make life interesting and challenging. Therefore, this workshop will focus on learning ways to identify and cope with the daily stress that life with MS can present.
2. Tired of Being Tired? A Discussion on Fatigue Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS, occurring in about 80% of people. Fatigue can significantly interfere with a person's ability to function at home and at work, and may be the most prominent symptom in a person who otherwise has minimal activity limitations. During this workshop participants will learn the facts of fatigue: what it is, why it is so common, how to assess it, and how to manage it using medicine, exercise, managing your environment, and making proactive energy choices. In addition, this workshop will include a brief overview of other symptoms of MS as they relate to fatigue.
3. Hold that Thought!-Cognition and Compensatory Strategies Cognitive changes are common in people with MS—research indicates that approximately 50% of people with MS will develop some degree of cognitive dysfunction, affecting their ability to reason, concentrate, or remember. The first step to take in dealing successfully with cognitive problems caused by MS is to learn the basic facts. Attend this workshop to identify the cognitive problems associated with MS and learn strategies to deal with them.
4. Eating Healthy to Take Charge of Your Health While no diet can cure or prevent MS, a balanced, low-fat, high fiber diet helps those with MS be in the best possible shape to deal with whatever challenges the disease brings your way. Get the facts about nutrition and MS—including the role of vitamins, minerals, and herbs—and find some hints for keeping your weight where you’d like it to be because maintenance of general good health is very important for everyone. - 11 -
5. Exercising Your Way to Wellness Exercise is a key component of your overall healthcare strategy, but that doesn’t mean you need to be a super athlete to enjoy the benefits. Studies show that moderate aerobic exercise improves cardiac health, stamina, and mood, and helps manage symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and bladder and bowel difficulties. Stretching exercises—whether done on your own or with a helper—can relieve stiffness and improve your flexibility and mobility. During this interactive workshop participants will learn more about good ways to get yourself moving—and have fun while you’re doing it.
6. Social Security Disability If you live with multiple sclerosis and are unable to work due to an MS-related disability and/or other conditions, you might be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Attend this workshop and be guided in deciding whether applying for disability benefits is right for you and in navigating the complex application and appeal process.
7. Managing Health Insurance Many people with MS have health insurance provided by an employer. This workshop will include important information about how to get the most out of your coverage and how to keep covered even when changing or leaving jobs, getting divorced, when your working spouse goes on Medicare, or other changes occur.
8. Taking care of Yourself while Caring for Someone Else Caring for someone with a chronic illness like MS can be deeply satisfying. Spouses and partners, family, and friends can be drawn more closely together by their shared concerns and collaborative efforts. But caregiving can also be physically and emotionally exhausting, particularly for the primary caregiver. Learn ways to pay attention to your own health and well-being while caring for someone else.
9. Home Modifications/Universal Design Adapting your environment to meet your needs is an important step toward maximizing function and independence. Don’t let your environment interfere with your mobility, safety, and productivity. Even fairly simple changes to your home can help you conserve energy, be more efficient in your daily tasks, and avoid dangerous falls. Therefore, during this workshop participants will learn about the benefits of universal design and get some tips on how to manipulate your environment.
*Workshops are subject to change.
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Flip-Flop Workshops Payment Form Payment will be accepted in the form of cash, check, money order, or credit card. Scholarships are available on a needs basis; if you require a scholarship, please note this on the registration form. Early Bird Registration (deadline 12/8/09)$65 first person; $35 second person
Registration (deadline 1/8/10)$75 first person; $35 second person
Extra Night Stay- $90 per night Please check all that apply:
Wednesday, February 10 Sunday, February 14 (Valentine's Day) Thursday, February 11 Monday, February 15 (President's Day) Friday, February 12 Tuesday, February 16 ____________________________________________________________ 9 Cash:
I handed in cash at the chapter for the program. 9 Check or Money Order:
I have enclosed payment made payable to the NMSS. 9 Credit Card:
I already paid by credit card _____online or _____by phone. My credit card payment is below: Name on card: __________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________ City, State, Zip: __________________________________________ Telephone- Home: ________________ Work: _________________ Email: __________________________________________________ Total Amount: $________________________ ____Visa, ____Master Card, ____Discover, ____American Exp. Card Number: ___________________________________________ Expiration Date: _________________________________________ Signature: ______________________________________________ **Important: If there is a need to cancel your reservation after the deadline date, your money cannot be refunded. - 13 -