On September 6, 2009 at 8:30 a.m., the AAKP staff members were on a plane originating from Denver, Colo., and bound for Tampa, Fla. We had just concluded the 36th Annual Convention and it’s no secret we were tired. We missed our families and we were all thinking about how great it was going to be to sleep in our own beds that night. But, mixed in with those feelings of home sickness and aching feet was a rejuvenation of ideas and momentum for AAKP programs.
This Convention was not that different from other Conventions in the sense we were rejuvenated. This feeling usually takes over each year after we finish a Convention. For nearly a year, staff and committee members are working behind the scenes planning and creating this four day educational event. And, while it is a lot of work and we are tired for days after, we truly enjoy producing this educational seminar and meeting so many inspirational people affected by kidney disease. For those of you who attended your first Convention this year – thank you for taking such an active role in your care and it was a pleasure to meet you. For those of you who have attended previous Conventions – it was great to see you again this year and I’m looking forward to seeing you next year. For me, one of the rewards of the Annual Convention is making friendships and creating a feeling of an extended family of the people who attend each year.
If you weren’t able to attend the Saturday Night Award’s Banquet, there was a special presentation recognizing the long term efforts of two special people who impacted AAKP’s future: Joseph D. White (1944 – 2009), a Board member and previous President for the Association, and Kris Robinson (1964 – 2008), the previous Executive Director who served AAKP for 18 years. The presentation is available to view through the AAKP Web site. We have also posted photos from this year’s event.
It has been a week since we came home from Denver and the staff has recuperated from the Convention festivities. We’re already planning some exciting changes, such as educational tracks focusing specifically on chronic kidney disease, transplantation and dialysis. In case you’re wondering, next year’s Convention will be in Tampa, Fla., Sept. 2 – Sept. 4, 2010. If you have any suggestions for next year’s Convention please feel free to send me an e-mail at info@aakp.org.
Kind regards,
