Is it to Early to ask if & where "OUR" 2010 Reunion Will Be ??  8-)
Just Don't wanta Wait and Not have Time to Plan It  ;)
And Of Course if there is Anything I can do to help  :) Just let me know  ::)

Elaine Calvert

Yes, we're anxious to hear this year's plans, too!

Can't wait to hear where it will be! I really hope we can make it one year!
Mary Grace

Me too!! I’m excited just thinking about it, and hoping we hear something soon enough that my family members will be able to get those dates off from work so they can go with me this time. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Mar

Hey Steph and DJ,
If possible, could you put a least a month between the reunion and the Stanford picnic? I'd like to do both, but need to have some time between to replenish my finances. Let me know if there is any way that I can help.
Kim

Hoping for a Northeast get together!
Mary Grace

Northeast reunion would be good! But as long as the location is warm! warm weather is essential!!! ;)

I hope to attend, also. I was so jealous when my late brother was able to attend a couple of years ago.

8-) Any thoughts yet on the 2010 Reunion ?? :D Also DJ you had mentioned @ the last one that every other year would be in Las Vegas since it was the cheapest and easy to get around  ;) I was wondering if that was still what you were thinking......
I have 3 sisters in California that come to Vegas when I'm there and a sister that lives in Vegas and that IS the Only Time I get to see them,,,,,,
Besides ::::::: I  LOVE  VEGAS !!!!!!! :-* :-*

This may be a silly question but is your reunion for anyone or only people who had there operations at Stanford with Dr. Stienberg? Also I agree Vegas would be a great place.

Danielle wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2010 at 11:11pm:

This may be a silly question but is your reunion for anyone or only people who had there operations at Stanford with Dr. Stienberg? Also I agree Vegas would be a great place.

That would eliminate a lot of the East coast people, and I frankly only heard of Dr Steinberg after i had my surgeries. Back when I was diagnosed in 1996 the only docs that any searches returned were Drs Ogilvy and Scott.

Every reunion or gathering that I’ve ever been a part of has been open to EVERYONE, ALL MM patients, family and friends. We're family!

Thank you for the answer. We would love to come. My daughter had her surgery in Michigan. I was not trying to start any trouble. Sorry. Dani

No apology necessary, Dani!  It's amazing to spend a weekend with people who have walked in the same shoes.  I was completely overwhelmed at the first gathering several years ago.  Having so many who understood what we've been through right there with us was an indescribable experience.  I hope you can make a gathering sometime!

[smiley=heart.gif] Jill   

DJ  it's almost March any idea yet on the Reunion??



Elaine

We’ve been hoping for some kind of feedback since right after Christmas, and nothing yet, so I’m just gonna have to assume no reply speaks for itself.

Ok folks, here are my thoughts about me organizing an "official" gathering this year:

- I've been working 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week since the first of the year to get ready for a big inspection that starts next week so I haven't had the time to even think about putting a reunion together.

- I believe the reunion needs to be in the May/June timeframe to accommodate the kids being out of school and to give folks the opportunity to take summer vacation time to join us.  However, Stanford has been scheduling their picnic during that same timeframe and I'm not willing to "compete" with that.

- I will be retiring from the military on July 1st so I will be working hard up until that time getting ready to be Mr. Johnson instead of MSgt Johnson.

- I simply don't have the funds available this year to organize an "official" gathering (see statement above).

Now with that being said...

If someone wants to plan/organize a get-together for themselves and invite all the people from moyamoya.com to attend, I think that would be great.

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get this out to you.  Life has been busy.

If anyone feels like taking on the task of organizing a meeting that you would like the moyamoya.com community to know about, please let me know.

DJ

Wow, D.J. - busy times! It must be exciting and a bit scary transitioning to civilian life. If something is put together, will you and Steph be able to cut free for a long weekend?
If was thinking that instead of competing with the Stanford picnic, we might tag onto it. I have a few ideas. We could gather someplace in the area on Friday; my favorite is Half Moon Bay. We could plan a few activites like a horseback ride on the beach, or a day in San Francisco, or a ride own the beach to Monterey, then enjoy the Stanford picnic on Saturday. Maybe dinner that evening or breakfast on Sunday morning? I'd be willing to work on the planning if someone else in the area would work with me.
Kim

Kim and everyone~

Nice idea to combine the reunions.

I personally like the Stanford, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Monterey/Carmel (trips kayaking up Moss Landing/Elkhorn Slough -- among sea otters!) Monterey Bay Aquarium....
The west coast of out country is WAY COOL!!!!

Hope it all works out for everyone.

Happy Retirement DJ!

Hey all!  As you know, I'm always up for planning a get-together in my city - Philadelphia! I would probably plan it in late June, early July...maybe even around the Welcome America Festival for the 4t as there's alway's lots going on in the city around that time (the wheels are starting to turn....!).

I think the idea of tacking on to the Stanford reunion is great as well...are non-stanford patients welcome to that reunion as well (may be a silly question) - I don't know if I would feel confortable ( but that may be all in my head, no pun intended!).

-Shari

Hi Shari,
Last year Stanford opened the picnic to everyone with Moyamoya whether treated at Stanford or elsewhere. There was a huge turnout. Great people to visit with and share stories, the hospital staff joins in, and last year Dr. Steinberg filled us in on all of the new breakthroughs in the study of moyamoya disease. The weather is nearly always perfect and there is so much to see and do in the area - there's sure to be something to appeal to everyone; winery tours, cheese making, seal birthing, tide pools, garden nurseries, kayaking, sports fishing, whale watching, horseback riding on the beach... I was thinking that it might work well to combine the two events as many folks will be planning to attend the picnic again this year and two separate trips may be more than some can afford in this economy.

Hey Linda,
I knew I could count on you for the kayaking; I'm up for that! With that incentive, I might even be able to entice David to come along.
Kim

I think a Stanford Reunion Would be Great,,,, I Wanted to Attend Last year but Funds were Not avaliable But if someone Puts it together this year I Will Attend 8-) Hopefully Someone Will find out if "We As A Group" Could get A Discount on Hotel/Motel accommodations It's Always Better When We All Can Stay in the Same Hotel ;) I'm getting excited thinking about Our Reunion  I Always Love Seeing Old Friends And Look Forward to Meeting New Friends :-*

Hey everyone!  It's nice to see the discussion of a gathering picking up so quickly after DJ's announcement.  Those who have attended the moyamoya.com gatherings in the past know how wonderful it is to spend a weekend with others who have walked in similar shoes. 

Stanford's picnic this year is scheduled for Saturday, May 15th, from 3:00 - 6:00 pm.  As last year, it is open to all moyamoya patients, whether or not treated at Stanford.  Last year, the Kelly family (Brenda, Bobby and Amy) came from Texas - wonderful to have them there!  Invitations were mailed to the Stanford patients this last week, and should be arriving in mailboxes soon.  Non-Stanford patients wishing to attend, please contact me at (650) 723-5575, or at macinnes@stanford.edu.  I'll be sure to get the picnic specifics and RSVP info to you!

As an alternative to not having a gathering at all, I think it's a great idea to combine the events.  Unfortunately,  I'm not able to help with the planning this year.  Between the picnic, Campbell's law school graduation the following weekend, and his preparing to take the Bar in July, my plate is very full.  Planning for a gathering in subsequent years will be another story, I just can't do it this year.

Hopefully, having the picnic date will help people to move forward with their plans, whatever they may be.  Feel free to let me know if there are any questions!

[smiley=hug.gif] Jill

Hey Jill -

So exciting to hear that Cambell is graduating!  That's really cool.  I sent an email to the address you gave asking for information.  I hope I can work it out to attend this year.  I'll start looking at flights, etc.  Thanks!

-Shari

Hey Jil,
Congratulations to Campbell! The prize for all his hard work and sacrifice is so close. You'll have your hands full with the picnic and the graduation, so you definitely get a pass on planning this event. Will you be able to break away to join everyone at the beach?
Thank you for the picnic dates. I've been calling around gathering lodging information in and around Half Moon Bay. It's close to Stanford, yet feels far away; it should be only a thirty minute drive from there into Stanford for the Saturday afternoon picnic.

Hi Elaine,
I made a few calls the other day. Group rates are available at a number of the larger hotels. One is sending me information regarding a discount group rate. But I'll need to reserve a block of rooms.

Time is short for putting this together, so I'd need to know as soon as possible, how many are coming. I'll begin making tentative arrangements, but wait to hear if there is more interest before finalizing.

Any ideas or help would be much appreciated.
Kim