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2010 WSA Annual Conference Recap
By Richard Anderson and Dina Gerasia
The 22nd WSA Conference, October 24-27, 2010 was a resounding success. It was held at the Nassau Inn, one of the oldest inns in America and situated directly across from Princeton's campus, and the weather and the foliage contributed generously to the ambiance. Area shops ran the gamut -- book stores, chocolatiers, perfumeries, clothiers and wonderful restaurants.
Prior to the conference Support Group Leaders met in training sessions Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
On Friday, the WSA Board of Directors met. The Board has been very active; recently adopting measures for a Professional Board which we hope will attract medical personnel, and an Honorary Board which will allow us a greater voice through the use of celebrities.
Through a most generous donation by a Board member WSA now has the funding to perform a necessary audit, hire a grant writer, and in the future we will employ a Fund Raising Consultant. (It should be noted that additional donations were made by Board members including a matching grant from a member's employer.)
Teena Cahill, author of The Cahill Factor: Turning Adversity into Advantage, gave a rousing keynote speech Friday night. She is caregiver to her husband Brooks, who had a major stroke a few years ago, and she spoke with authority and humor about their life together. Teena described how feelings lead to thoughts, and on to behavior, and how, if we can alter the original feelings in a positive way the resulting thoughts and behavior will also change. Find out more at teenacahill.com .
President Larry Bocchiere spoke briefly; past president Richard Anderson introduced the upcoming 20-20 fundraising campaign; and emcee Tom Thompson gave us a polished performance complete with a tongue-twisting joke. Sarah Reinman gave a humorous speech likening her approach to well spousing to the advice offered by dirt bike pros to get right back on the bike.
Scenes from the workshops Norman Cotterell of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy presented a riveting workshop where he characterized depression as a liar fooling us through habitually negative thoughts. He counseled us to be more aware of these thoughts and challenge them in order to empower ourselves and lessen the burdens of our lives.
At the Legal Workshop, attorneys Allison Busch and Donna Curcio Luci One member, attending one of the two Formers workshops led by Jim Anderson and Janet Cromer, said her husband is still with her when she's driving her car, with a little voice in her ear, encouraging her. The workshops helped attendees to realize they were not alone. One summed up the new life without a spouse or partner: "Sometimes I feel strong and free; other times, so vulnerable." Marion Cohen, author of Dirty Details, inspired attendees to write their lives. There were tears and smiles of recognition as they shared their words. Jon Strother's workshop on hiring aides provided a multitude of details and suggestions, from searching, interviewing, hiring, keeping good tax records, to following up with informal evaluations.
Forty-five women had a sensuously good time reaffirming their femininity at Dina Gerasia's belly dance workshop and discussion. The laughter and bonding led to repeat performances at Saturday evening's dance party.
Dave Goldenberg and Bob Mastrogiovanni led the traditional men's discussion group, switching from duct tape to the Princeton tiger! Parenting as a Well Spouse, a discussion group led by Dorothy Saunders, allowed those trying to balance the needs of children and ill spouses to share experiences and suggestions.
Early Sunday, in Refresh Your Spirit, Lauri Cahn concentrated on easy chair yoga to help us feel more relaxed and calm, while outside on the lawn a small group was led in a Tai Chi session by Jim Anderson. Everyone got to meet old friends and friends from the Forum who hadn't yet met face-to-face. A few attendees had only just joined Well Spouse a couple of weeks before the Conference. Many enjoyed the Princeton ambiance of town and gown. One of our members even did WSA Ambassador duty, as she spoke to a docent at the Princeton Art Museum whose husband had recently developed a chronic illness. We were pleased to give her information about WSA. Thanks are due to the WSA Office staff, and to chief organizer Dina Gerasia, assisted by Dorothy Saunders, for a smoothly-run, very successful conference!
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gave a presentation rich in helpful information. They explained the legal documents and preparation necessary to survive the financial complications of chronic illness. 
