It's March 8th..DC. You better be there because you promised me, when we were in Arizona, that you'd get there!

You got way smarter and more informed from your first time in Michigan in 2001 to Arizona in 2002 so I have high expectations of you in DC in 2003. LOL! See ya there. You're a kick. An SD symposium would not be the same without you!

This might have already been posted and I missed it, but where in DC will the March symposium be held and which hotels (nearby) are most convenient for us SDers? I've never attended a symposium but would like to, and it probably wouldn't hurt to check into hotel reservations soon.

Thanks for asking. It's OK to ask again so that people get a reminder.

The upcoming SD-symposium on March 8th, which will be an excellent one, is taking place at the George Washington Hospital in Washington, DC. The NSDA has reserved rooms (block of rooms at a discount rate) at the GWU Inn. Contact them online at "www.gwinn.com." It is also sometimes possible to find better rates on the Internet, as well as discount rates on other nearby hotels. I haven't tried for this one yet so I'm just going by past experience. If you decide to stay in a nearby hotel, do consider staying at the conference hotel at least on Friday night. Makes it so convenient to meet with other SD'ers and then be ready for the symposium in the morning. (Yawn...they start early!).

These are some of the tips I've learned in attending symposiums over the years, which might help first-time symposium attendees. First (as Renee indicated), the most important things are to get your time arranged on your calendar and then your airline/travel arrangements. Hotel reservations and symposium reservations can usually wait until a month out, when you are sure of your schedule.

I hope you can make it, Myra. You will have a great time meeting other SD'ers in person. Do you know Renee, since you are both Texans? Texas always gets excellent representation at symposiums.

Additional "hints" (which have helped me enjoy every symposium I've attended) is arrive early and stay until Sunday. I always try to make a symposium into "a vacation." The Welcome Party starts in the early evening on Friday so, if possible, get to the area the day before and to the hotel by 3pm Friday. Friday evening and Saturday evening (after the medical sessions) are the best opportunities to get to know fellow patients. Sunday is always a great opportunity to get together with folks whose planes are not flying out until later. At some symposiums, I've been able to have enjoyable visits with other SD'ers, in museums and at dinner, on Sunday prior to our departures.

There are many opportunities to get together with friendly SD people who understand what you deal with. Ask Renee. She's a champ. I remember when we were leaving the Mayo Clinic after the Arizona Symposium. I was in a hurry to get on the road to Tucson for our one-week vacation. We were already late in checking in down there. But, Renee said to the group of us..."so where are we all going to dinner?" So, we stayed in Scottsdale a little longer and had a great time.

See you in DC, Myra. You'll really enjoy your first symposium.