2008 Still's Disease Conference
The 7th Annual Still's Disease Conference (October 12th-13th)
Read the complete
conference agenda...
Hello everyone,
It is time to make your travel and booking arrangements for this year's Seventh Annual Still's Disease Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Orleans Hotel & Casino.
The conference dates are Sunday October 12th and Monday October 13th. The 13th is Columbus Day in the United States.
I need a head count for those that are attending please. If you will write me at mellymelt@netzero.net and let me know how many in your party will be able to attend so we can make sure you will have goodies and something to eat the morning of the conference. I need this information as soon as possible as we need to place the order this week.
Conference Speaker
Our speaker this year is Stefanie Yearian PMH-ARNP-BC, MSN
A message from our speaker:
First, I wanted to thank you for inviting me to speak. It has been brought to my attention that the Stills group has survived multiple losses this year. My objectives are to help everyone Appreciate the complexities of both mental and physical health, Identify early symptoms of severe depression, understand the thought, feeling connection and, strategies for coping with the emotional pain, loss and grief while living with a chronic illness.
I was raised in Williamsburg, Iowa, on a traditional Iowa working farm. My undergraduate work was at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls Iowa. In 1996, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with in emphasis in genetics and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. After graduation, I briefly worked as a junior chemist for a local seed corn company. I loved the chemistry but working all hours in the lab was not my cup of tea. I soon found myself working in a small county hospital lab. The hospital taught me, nursing was more then geriatrics, and that, behavioral sciences were also included! I soon returned to school and finished my undergraduate work in nursing. I had found my passion. My graduate studies were quickly completed at the University of Iowa for Advance Mental Health Nursing Practice. In 2004, I was board certified in Psychiatric/ Mental Health Advance Practice Nursing in Family/Child In addition, Adolescent and Adult Therapies.
I worked at Mercy Medical Center (MMC) through the majority of my nursing career. I worked in many roles; Lab technician, ward clerk, LPN psychiatric and outpatient surgery, RN charge nurse for the behavioral unit and Psychiatric emergency room nurse. In the Nurse Practitioner role I worked on call for the emergency room, admitted to the inpatient units and managed care of all diagnosis, ran the outpatient dual diagnosis program and maintained hours in the outpatient mental health clinic. As part of the MMC hospital, I also helped to provide educational speeches to local groups on many requested mental health topics. I was a regular speech to "Young Mothers" on the baby blues, Pain management clients, stress management topics and depression. Two years ago I moved to Southern California to be closer to my significant other and began private practice for Dr. Kunam. Advance Practice Nurses are the minority in California but I continue to enjoy working with clients in the outpatient setting.
Thank you again for inviting me to speak.
–Stefanie Yearian PMH-ARNP-BC, MSN
Hotel Booking Information
If you wish to stay at the Orleans hotel you can make reservations for the guaranteed prices given here by calling:
1-800-675-3267
When the Room Reservations Department is open (Monday - Friday between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00PM - Pacific Time / Saturday & Sunday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5 PM - Pacific Time).
You MUST identify yourself as attendees of the International Stills Conference or group code 8ISCC10 in order to obtain a room reservation under the above-mentioned block. Without this identification, you will not be quoted the special group rate and may be told they are sold out.
As an alternative, you can also book online by visiting www.orleanscasino.com, clicking on "Book a Room" and entering the group code, 8ISCC1, in the Group Code field.
At the time the reservation is made, you will be asked to provide a major credit card or send a deposit for the first night's room and tax.
The cut-off date for your room block is 09/11/08. Any reservations received after this date will be accepted on a "space available" basis. To ensure space availability, please call in a timely manner.
All registered guests will be required to present a credit card upon check-in. The credit card provided must be able to accept an authorization for $100.00 per stay of incidental charges.
It is policy at The Orleans Hotel & Casino that each guest room is occupied by at least one adult, 21 years of age or older. The hotel reserves the right to refuse service or terminate service to any individual(s) at any time that is not in compliance with this policy.
Cancellations on individual room reservations will be accepted up to 72 hours prior to the check in time of 4 p.m. on the scheduled date of arrival with no penalty fee. However, any individual who cancels their reservation after this cut-off will be responsible for one night's room and room tax.
The following rates are for per room, per night, single or double occupancy, In addition, Clark County room tax, currently at nine percent (9%). There is an additional $15.00 extra guest charge for triple and quad occupancy, per guest 15 years of age or older with a maximum of four guests per room. Coast Hotels & Casinos, Inc. Dba the Orleans Hotel & Casino does not guarantee specific room type, location or smoking preference. Requests will be accommodated to the best of their ability.
Special arrangements have been made for five rooms for a Saturday October 11th check in at the base rate of $129.00.
Sunday October 12th through Tuesday October 14th, 20 rooms are available for the base price of $67.00 per night and an additional five rooms are available for the nights of Wednesday October 15th and Thursday October 16th at the $67.00 base price.
I know some attendees have medications that need to be kept cold and the hotel in past years has had a couple of small refrigerators available to use. If none are available, James and I often take a cooler and keep it in our room or one can be purchased at a local store and attendees are always willing to buddy up when it comes to assistance.
The hotel does not have free shuttle service to the airport but transportation can be arranged and is very low cost so please ask what is available when making reservations.
The hotel also offers electric wheelchairs and I use one every year. I pay just under $100.00 for three days rental and find it a lifesaver because the hotel is large.
We have spent all of our previous years at the Orleans Hotel & Casino and they are just several miles off the strip and downtown Las Vegas. The hotel boasts many amenities such as shows, theaters, bowling alley, spa, pool, gaming, clubs and eateries. Many never even leave the hotel or you might find other activities around town during your stay. The hotel offers a shuttle into town and surrounding casinos to visit.
Schedule Of Events
Sunday is an informal day with many people arriving throughout the day so we have an informal meet and greet to visit with old friends and meet new ones in the late afternoon. Many have dinner together afterwards but it is not a planned event. Monday is conference day starting at 9:00am upstairs in the meeting rooms in salon I. There is a $20 per person, donation at the door In addition, a Continental breakfast of pastries, coffee, tea and juice. The conference is opened with a salutation from our President Carole Triller to be followed by the speaker. Lunch will be from 12:00 until 1:30pm and in the afternoon session we have a bit of foundation updates with our Dad and treasurer Bob Himes and fun with a gift give away fundraiser for $1 per ticket donations. Gifts are graciously accepted. Most attendees meet at the Prime Rib Loft restaurant for dinner that evening.
The conference is an experience that is wonderful and I encourage all that can to attend. We so look forward to seeing you there! It is such fun!
Thank you and we hope to see many of you there.
Patricia L. Boerner aka Mellymelt
mellymelt@netzero.net
Read the complete
conference agenda...
Notes from past Conferences
Read notes from the 6th Annual Still's Conference...
And from the 5th Annual Still's Conference...
