Fibromyalgia Conference and Pamper Weekend
organised by Jeanne Hambleton and the Folly Pogs
Friday to Monday, April 23rd-26th 2010
Southdowns Holidays Village, Bracklesham Bay, (close to East/West Wittering),
Chichester, West Sussex PO20 8JE
Plus Lotza Laughter
For full details click here.
All fibromites, spouses, partners and carers welcome. No children or dogs!
Jeanne says:-
We do need commitment and to know folk are coming or - no conference!
We are also offering 5 monthly payments which needs to start September 09 ... a good reason for starting early.
See update at the bottom of the page in italics.
 Venue - Richardson's Holiday Villages.
Accommodation is either 1 double, 1 x 2 singles; or 1 double and 1 single. The doubles have a bath and the 2 single bed rooms have a shower.
Re the payments; it has been agreed the following alternative plans of payment are on offer and the only charges which might be involved would be the Paypal fee payable by the person paying the money with their credit card. We would make no admin charges for cheques by instalments, or 5 post dated cheques.
- 5 instalments of £25; due Sept.23, Oct.23, Nov.23, Jan.23, Feb.23.
- 2 instalments of £50 & 1 of £25 - due Nov.23, Jan.23, Feb.23.
- 2 instalments of £62.50 - due 1st on booking; 2nd Feb.23.
- 1 payment of £125 on booking.
All to be paid by February.
I have asked for this instalment scheme to help those on benefits etc. in the hope they might manage 5 payments. If payment is made by Paypal to jeannehambleton@mac.com their charges are payable by the visitor. The full payment of £125 is required by the Centre.
So it is up to the participants how they would like to pay. If they are booking individually they can choose any of the payment schemes. It has been suggested the first payment should be paid in September and then monthly, missing December as we know that is an expensive month, and settlement by February. If someone suddenly wants to change from instalment and pay the rest, there is no problem.
If booking as a group all can be together if booked early. Also if there are any birthdays, anniversaries or special events we would like to know please.
The payments have to come to me initially to sort out my paperwork.
Please do not forget your unwanted bric a brac and not required gifts for the auction for research funds, raffle and tombola. We will accept anything as long as it can be taken away in a car. Someone told me about a 4ft stuffed gorilla doing the auctions rounds - hope he does not turn up at our auction - although it would be fun. Fancy
driving home with him in the back seat!
THIS HAS RAISED A QUESTION:
Hi Jeanne
I am writing to you about the conference you are planning for next year. You say " Doctors, specialists and consultants who have researched, studied, diagnosed and treated FMS - folk who speak with authority about this rotten invisible disability. We are also planning a number of interesting workshops."
It is difficult to get excited or know if it is worth coming until I know who you are talking about exactly? What Doctors, Specialists and Consultants do you have lined up and what will they be talking about? Can you also tell me what the workshops will be about too.
I suspect other people may well have the same thought process as me so its a bit like asking people to pay for something before they know what they are going to get!!
Can you enlighten me please and then I will be happy to pass on to other fibromites too. Love to hear from you
In anticipation.......
REPLY:
Hello
Thanks for your email and I do understand your comments. Organising a conference is a bit like horse before the cart or chicken before the egg situation. You need to know you will have people for the speakers to talk to, so where do you begin? I have in the past been involved in local govt. conferences and it was delegates first and then speakers - so who can say which way round is best.
I did ask Patsy Baker whether she felt Prof. John Davies might honour us with his presence but she said he would not sadly as he was far too busy with patients. So what do you do - we want them to make patients better and we want them to tell us about getting well.
We needed to sound out the fibromites to establish how much support was available and I am delighted to say we have sold 50% of our break even tickets without a list of speakers. At the moment only one speaker has confirmed - Dr Ernest Choy from Kings College Hospital, London - although a number have been asked with invitations out in the USA..
It would appear those fibromites booking either have good faith in the small team organising this as volunteers or are really interested in meeting like-minded folk, groups and enjoying a good weekend. I am told the last conference in the south was in Bournemouth a good many years ago and it seems many folks are just delighted someone is making the effort to do the conference as a labour of love. .
All I can say, hand on heart, is we are trying our very best to provide a super programme on topics with overlapping symptoms related to fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, chronic pain, well being and complementary therapy. ME groups have
been in touch and asked if they could come? As fellow sufferers how could we say no we only want to talk about FMS when well-being, pain management etc. is the same for all of us.
Just to complicate matters I have a holiday booked which really I could do with missing due to the jobs to do, (my FMS 7 day commitment and the conference) but I am encouraged by the family to take the holiday and come back full of re-newed strength. Sadly this is a holiday with no wi-fi.
We are working on a schedule and timetable but cannot provide details until we have the final confirmations. Needless to say for some folk next April is a long way off and some professionals as nervous to commit too early. All I can say is if this is not a great conference and pamper weekend we will 'die in the attempt'. However at this moment in time I am so sorry I cannot give you any more information on speakers. I will shout it from the roof tops once the programme is finalised and we know who is coming and what topics they will speak about.
After thought - re workshops you might be interested to know we have booked a laughter workshop, and there will be yoga for fibromites. We are also considering partners when planning the workshops to ensure they too have a good time. These may be on more general subject such as nutrition.
I hope this helps. Sorry I cannot be more help at this stage.
Kindest regards & fibro hugs
Jeanne
Afterthought - the weekend also includes bed and board and nightly entertainment with a band and cabaret every night as well as the facilities in the Holiday Village - bowles, crazy golf, two professional snooker tables, darts, outdoor swimming pool, minutes from the beach, and more as well as the help of an Entertainments Team to organise what visitors would enjoy. The fee of £125 for 3 nights covers the cost of a weekend away. The conference, speakers, workshops and pamper therapists are in addition and are not part of the cost. However there are no hidden charges or extra costs to pay. If we were feeling cheeky we could say the conference is for free - but we won't.
The only other cash you will need would be spending money - drinks, raffle tickets, buying something at auction, one-to-one pampering, maybe lessons in kite surfing, or scuba diving - all your choice. It is up to you what you choose to spend. If you pay your fee to come we will share everything we can with you without asking you for more money. These running expenses will be met from sponsorship and with the support of FMA UK.
Update Dec 09
We now have the last payment instalment plan in place - £45 before the end of December and £40 x 2 before Jan 23 and Feb. 23 when the full cost must be paid - as with flights and holidays.
We are also in a position to offer one to one personal treatment of favourite therapies, pre bookable before the event at conference discount - we will be sending a list out to those who are coming so they can book.
Also there are no single rooms left - only room with 2 singles to share with a friend, partner, husband or toyboy. Loads for 'non-fibromites' to do. ..deep sea fishing 9 hours on Saturday £45 a person including rod, baits. Only 4 places left. Also golf nearby, wind surfing as we are minutes from the sea, kite surfing, and lots more. We have speakers on fibromyalgia, pain management, nutrition, sleep, forensic science, the controversial Lightning process as used by Esther Ranzten's daughter, benefits and more and lots of interesting workshops.
We look forward to joining you for a great weekend.
Read a report of the conference here.
And here are plans for 2011.
 
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Buy-at the FMS SAS on-line shop.