By Larry Bocchiere, President, Well Spouse® Association

How can I explain the sense of family and bonding that occurs at our annual conference (and also at any of our respites)? I have just returned from Rosslyn, where I was able to renew friendships and my spirit in one weekend. I will be in a "manic" cycle for days till I realize the next conference is a year away!

On Thursday evening, WSA honored the Support Group Leaders in attendance at a dinner held at Ray's to the Third. Friday morning was free time for attendees to enjoy sightseeing, except for the members of your Board of Directors that met in session till it was time for the workshops to begin.

New Board members were elected, and we established a position for younger families, headed by Debbie Poynter. We also welcomed Benjamin Sharit onto the Board as a military family representative. Peggy Hubbard joined our Board to assist with fundraising, and Debra Drake will be coming on with us to act as Board Secretary.

The Board took action to establish paramount issues for financing an upgrade and maintenance for our website, as well as the possibility of funding scholarships for those without the resources to attend conferences and respites.

Four afternoon workshops were held, including Laughter is the Best Medicine. Clips from the all-time greats of comedy set the tone for happiness for me. (Full disclosure: Richard asked to borrow my laptop to show a DVD and then asked for my password. Oops, senior moment. Though I had typed this password thousands of times my mind went blank! I called my son--he had the password locked in his safe to which he had lost the key! Eleven hours later I woke up and remembered it--then spent from 1:00 to 2:30 am catching up on correspondence!)

Friday evening saw a wonderful dinner with Gabrielle Ortiz as MC, as well as a keynote address by Dr. Diana Denholm, who has also agreed to come onto our Honorary Board. We then took a one-hour moonlight bus tour of Washington, including a foot excursion around the Vietnam Wall (many thanks to the two ladies from my SG that walked with me) and the Lincoln Memorial. Then it was back to the hotel for "closing ceremonies" at the bar! 

On Saturday, the workshops continued. I attended the one by Honorary Board member Joni Aldrich--"(Honoring) an Ill Spouse's Personal Choice," and later a workshop by Diana Denholm--"The Six-Step Communication and Compassionate Resolution Strategy."

A water exercise class was held at 5:00 p.m., and dinner began at 7:00. During dinner, we were treated to a skit adapted by changing words to "The Sound of Music" (lyrics by Dorothy Saunders, performed admirably by Diane Goodman, Jane Lupo, Gabrielle Ortiz and Terri Corcoran). Tom Thompson acted as MC this evening. A special award was presented to Richard Anderson for his continuing activities as Forum Administrator and his work to obtain a grant underwriting this conference. Gerald Bishop received the annual Lifetime Award, and Dorothy Saunders was honored with a "Shower of Thanks" for her actions on the forum as well as orchestrating an amazing conference (once again!).wd.

The dance was well attended. At one point, we were treated to exhibitions of belly dancing by the ladies who eventually forced Richard and I to don the beads and perform too! (Full disclosure 2: Benjamin Sharit lost a bet with Joy LaWarre, and attended part of the dance in "drag," while Joy accompanied him in similar fashion. Seems your Prez was teamed with Benjamin for a dance!)

On Sunday morning the final workshops were held. I attended Stress Management (nope--I really did not need that LOL), where we were presented with calming meditation techniques and the ability to let things go that were beyond our control.

Closing ceremonies were once again presented by Rona Auster. The only sad part of the weekend was leaving. Till next year in Philadelphia where we will meet for our 25^th Anniversary. PLAN NOW TO ATTEND IN 2013.

Larry Bocchiere, President, WSA


Comments from  Conference atteendees:


- This is my first time alone in many years and my first conference. So glad I came!- This is the first conference and support group thing I have been too in 17 years! I came to have some "ME TIME!"

 

- For me this is emotional freedom! It's like seeing high school friends year after year. So happy to be here!- I learned how to belly dance! I found something fun to do and now I have a new hobby!!

 

 

 

- I have felt as if I am on an isolated journey for the past 6 years. I came here for the friendship & support. I barely had the strength to come to this conference, and it feels so good to be away. 

 

- I'm a former well spouse and now happily married [to another former].. I am here to facilitate the panel for former well spouses and to help give back in any way that I can.

- I'm a former well spouse and happily married [to another former]. I'm here to offer my knowledge and give back to this wonderful organization that helped me through the years.




 - My wife signed me up. I wouldn't have come otherwise. It's my first time doing anything like this, and I'm so glad I am here.- I feel empowered by the support. Decisions are so hard to make, and coming here I feel validated. It was a great weekend!

- As the editor of the WSA Member Minute, I am inspired every year to be here. I love seeing everyone that I have known over the years and meeting new people. I am always so moved to be here. This is my 4th conference.

- I come to be with my friends and to laugh!

- I come because these are my friends. I get away any chance I can get!

- I was so hesitant to come here. I had a million reasons that I couldn't get away. I'm so glad I stopped kicking and screaming; I had fun for the first time in a very long time!