KICKING BACK SOFTLY IN SOUTH DAKOTA

SOFT Conference 2010

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
July 14 – 18, 2010

Join other Trisomy families in beautiful
Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the 24th
Annual SOFT International Conference!

Register for the conference online

Download conference registration form to register by mail

Download conference brochure

Request a Balloon Release Online

Download Joey Watson Fund conference subsidy application

The conference provides families with not only educational and medical resources, but a time and place to build friendships and memories with others who are going through the same journey.  Being together is what a SOFT conference is all about.

Summary of Conference Program
(please click on the conference brochure link above to view the detailed conference program)

The Grand Rounds will be held Thursday morning, July 15th, at Sanford Children’s Hospital. Registration is required and open to medical professionals only. This year’s topic will be presented by Dr. John Carey and Dr. Eugene Hoyme of Sanford Children’s Hospital.

Medical Clinics & Sanford Children’s Hospital
The annual SOFT Medical Clinics will be held the afternoon of  Thursday, July 15th, at the beautiful, new Sanford Children’s Hospital which opened its doors on March 11, 2009.  This “Castle of Care” was built to be kid-friendly, having a castle-like theme.  Each floor, including hallways and patient rooms, has its own theme: The Deep Blue Waters, Rushing River Valley, Wide Windy Prairie, Land of Nez, Enchanted Forest.  The color schemes and awesome artwork leave a lasting impression. Take time to check out their web site:  www.sanfordhealth.org/centersofExcellence/Childrens/

Be sure to click on the “Kid Zone” and the “Virtual Tour” both located on the left side of the screen!

Ttransportation will be provided to and from Sanford Children’s Hospital . Childcare will be provided at the Hotel for SOFT siblings, and there will be light refreshments at the hospital. This year’s clinics include cardiology, pulmonary, GI/Feeding, orthopedics, ear/nose/throat, neurology, developmental pediatrics, genetic counseling, and physiatry/rehab. Each family will be able to choose three clinics, and they will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. If anyone would like to “pre-register” your clinic choices, e-mail me at kgjorg@abe.midco.net. But also make sure to put them on your registration form!

Memory Room
A quiet place will be provided for families to share their special memories of those they have lost. Please bring photos, photo albums, scrapbooks, or any other mementoes to share. The Memory Room will be open throughout the Conference, from Thursday morning until 6:00PM after the picnic on Saturday.

Video
Remember to submit 2-3 pictures by June 1st for Kris Holladay’s Annual Video. They can be uploaded at www.softannualvideo.com, but please make sure pictures are less than 1 MB. Pictures may also be sent by postal mail: Kris Holladay, 1522 E. Garnet Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85204. NOTE: Pictures will not be returned, so please do not send original, one of a kind pictures!!! Include the following information: 1)Parents’ Names, 2)Child’s Name and Diagnosis, 3)Birth Date and Death Date(if applies), 4)May we reuse your pictures in future videos?, 5)Attending Conference(yes, no, undecided), 6)Any additional information you’d like to share. Questions: email Kris at holladay2go@hotmail.com
We appreciate everyone’s generosity in sharing their special pictures of their precious children and families. Thank You!!!

New Families
New families will be introduced at Friday morning breakfast, around 8:30.

SOFTwear
Be sure to order your SOFTwear on your registration form so you are guaranteed to get correct sizes!!

Sib Outings
There will be two sib outings Friday, July 16th.

Sib Outing for ages 4-11: Washington Pavilion--$16 apiece includes admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center, which has over 100 interactive exhibits for the kids to explore, and admission to an adventure film on the giant 60-foot screen in the Wells Fargo CineDome, plus lunch and a t-shirt. The Washington Pavilion is within walking distance of the Hotel.

Sib Outing for ages 12 and up: Wild Water West--$15 apiece, this covers admission to the water park, where activities include wave pool, slide complex, Caribbean Falls, kiddie pool, activity pool, lazy river, bumper boats, sand volleyball, and much more! Everyone bring your own money for food, concessions are reasonable and there is a good variety!

Optional Friday Night Outing
This Year’s Friday Night Outing is a minor league baseball game between the Sioux Falls Canaries and the Wichita Wingnuts. Since it is Sanford night, we will be treated to a fireworks display after the game! We do need to know how many plan to attend, so be sure to mark this on your registration form!!

Picnic and Balloon Release
Our picnic and the Ryan Cantrell Balloon Release will hopefully be held at beautiful Sertoma Park. With its different levels of playground equipment, the Outdoor Campus, and large, covered picnic area, we feel this is a perfect picnic spot! It cannot be officially booked until 120 days before our event, but we plan to have some of our committee members sleep on the doorstep the night before, if necessary, so we should be guaranteed of getting it! Keep your fingers crossed!

Auction
The annual auction, live and silent, will begin at 6:30 PM on Saturday evening, and will include light refreshments. We encourage everyone to bring auction items to donate, as well as cash, checkbooks and credit cards. Auction items can be dropped off at registration, or if you need to mail something ahead of time, call me to make arrangements—605-947-4752 or 605-947-4461.

Workshops (workshop topics subject to change)
We have some excellent workshops in the works: “Knitting Therapy”, “Grief Support and Creating Memories”, “ T-18”, “T-13”, “Related Disorders”, “Making Partners With Your Professional”, “What About Me, the Sibling?” for parents with siblings/surviving siblings of their SOFT child, “Accessing Special Education Services”, “Financial Estate Planning”, “Caring for the Caregiver”, “My Child is Getting Older, So What Should I Expect Now?”, “Moms Round Table”, “Working With Your Family Physician”. “Dads, a Beer, and Straight Talk” is going to be a Dads only workshop. It will be held on the Hotel patio if our South Dakota weather cooperates, and the Dads can grab a beer before they come, then settle in for a round table discussion on whatever they feel the need to discuss. There are a few other workshops that are in the planning stages as yet., but we’re trying to have something for everyone.

Keynote Speaker: (Saturday Morning)
This year’s Keynote speaker will be Dr. Lawrence J. Fenton of Sanford Children’s Hospital. Dr. Fenton’s specialty is Pediatric Palliative Care.

Conference Schedule (Subject to change)
Wednesday, July 14
8:00am – 6:00pm SOFT Board Meeting(Childcare available for Board Members’ children).
2:00pm – 5:00pm Registration
Whole Day On your own—Suggestions and maps will be available.

Thursday, July 15
7:00 – 9:00am            Breakfast
8:00am – 10:00pm     Memory Room Open
8:00am                      Grand Rounds
9:00am – 5:00pm       Registration Open
Noon – 5:00pm         Childcare available (lunch for clinic sibs)
Noon                        Buses begin loading for clinics
1:00 – 5:00pm           Medical Clinics at Sanford Children’s Hospital 
1:00 – 2:30pm           Workshop Session 1-Grief Support & Making Memories
2:40 – 4:00pm            Workshop Session 2-Knitting Therapy
6:00 – 10:00pm          Welcome Dinner:  including cash bar, special recognition for SOFT children and SOFT adults, entertainment by Mogen’s Heroes

Friday, July 16
7:00 - 9:00am            Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00am            New Family Meet and Greet
8:00am – 10:00pm      Memory Room Open
8:00am – Noon          Registration Open
8:30am – Noon          Childcare available (no meals)
9:15 –10:30am           Workshops Session 3
10:00am –2:00pm       Sibling Outing (4-11) Meet in lobby & walk to Washington Pavilion
10:30am - 3:30pm      Sibling Outing (12+) load & depart to Wild Water West
10:45am – Noon         Workshop Session 4
Noon – 1:30pm          Chapter Chair Luncheon
1:15 – 5:00pm            Childcare available
1:30 – 2:45pm            Workshop Session 5
3:00 – 4:15pm            Workshop Session 6
6:00pm                      Childcare available (until buses return from game)  

Dinner On Your Own

Saturday, July 17
7:00 – 9:00am            Breakfast
8:00 – 8:45am            Sharing Time
8:00 – 11:00am          Memory Room Open
8:45 – 9:30am            Kris Holladay Annual Video Presentation
9:30 – 10:15am          Keynote Speaker – Dr. Lawrence Fenton
10:15 - 11:00am         Business Meeting and Board Elections
11:00 – 11:45am         Load buses and leave for picnic
Noon - 4:30pm           Annual SOFT Picnic & Memorial Balloon Release
4:30 – 5:00pm            Load buses and return to hotel

Dinner On Your Own

6:00 – 10:00pm          Memory Room Open
6:30pm                      SOFT Auction – Cash Bar opens at 6:30. (Light refreshments will be served at 7:30)

Sunday, July 18
7:00 - 9:00am             Continental Breakfast
8:30am                      Closing Remarks

A list of local church Services are included in the conference binder.

Accommodations
The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn City Centre in beautiful downtown Sioux Falls, within walking distance of shops, restaurants and entertainment. The hotel was voted "Best Place for a Business Conference" in the Sioux Falls Business Journal's 2008-09 Readers Choice Awards.

The hotel was renovated in 2006 and has 299 guest rooms, and complimentary parking.  Guest rooms include complimentary wireless internet, in-room movies and video games, along with all the usual comforts.  Kids 12 and under eat free with their parents in the award-winning Park Place Café.  Holiday Inn City Centre also has on-site fitness center, indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi and dry sauna, business center, concierge services, ATM/cash machine, and complimentary transportation to/from Sioux Falls Airport

Reservations should be made directly by calling 1-605-339-2000 or by using the link below.  If you call, make sure to request the SOFT room rate of $97 per night. Our group code is SFT.

Book your room online

Note: When you click on "check availability" this will pull up the group rate and available rooms.From that 2nd page attendees should not use the availability grid on the left side of the screen, they should use the "back" button and go back to the first page to check availability on a different date.

Holiday Inn City  Centre
100 W. 8th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Tel: (605) 339-2000 Ext. 7132
Fax: (605) 339-1490
SOFT Group Code: SFT

Directions to Holiday Inn City Centre:
From West on I-90:  Merge onto I-29 via EXIT 396A toward Sioux City.  Take the Maple Street exit, Exit 81, toward Russell Street/Arena and Convention center.  Turn LEFT onto W. MAPLE ST.  Stay straight to go onto W. RUSSELL ST.  Turn RIGHT onto Minnesota Ave/SD-115.  Turn LEFT onto W. 8th St.  Go 0.2 mi. and arrive at 100 W. 8th St.

From East on I-90:  Merge onto I-229 S. via EXIT  400.  Take the 10th St. /SD-42, EXIT 6.  Keep RIGHT at the fork to go on E. 10th St. / SD-42 W. Turn RIGHT onto  S. Reid St.  Turn LEFT onto E. 8th St.  Go 0.2 mi. and arrive at 100 W. 8th St.

From North on I-29:  Take the Maple St. exit, EXIT 81, toward Russell St/ Arena and Convention center.  Turn LEFT onto W. Maple St.  Stay straight to go onto W. Russell St.  Turn RIGHT onto N. Minnesota Ave. / SD-115.  Turn LEFT onto W. 8th St.  Go 0.2 mi. and arrive at 100 W. 8th St.

From South on I-29:  Merge onto I-229 N via EXIT 75.  Take the Minnesota Ave / SD-115 exit, EXIT 3.  Turn LEFT onto SD-115 / S. Minnesota Ave..  Turn RIGHT onto W. 8th St.  go 0.2 mi. and arrive 100 W. 8th ST. 

From Sioux Falls Regional Airport:  Start out going SOUTHEAST on N. Jaycee Ln toward N. Minnesota Ave. / SD 115.  Turn slight RIGHT onto N. Minnesota Ave. / SD 115.  Turn  LEFT onto W. 8th St.  and arrive.

Sightseeing
What Else Can You Do in Sioux Falls?
Wow!  Where to start?!  There is so much to do, but here are some of our favorites. 

Historic Downtown:  Historic Downtown Sioux Falls, where our conference hotel is located, has numerous interesting shops and eating places.  Check them out—there’s something for everybody!

Falls Park:  Located within walking distance of the hotel, the park covers 122 acres.  The main  feature there is, of course, the falls: Sioux Falls’ namesake.  Each second an average of  7,400 gallons of water flows over the falls.  Every evening, at around 9:30 p.m. is the free Wells Fargo Sound and Light Show, weather permitting.  The Horse Barn Arts Center contains an art gallery in the former hayloft,  and the Portfolio Gallery and a small gift shop on the main level.  Biking enthusiasts can rent a bike at Falls Park and enjoy the biking and hiking trails there, which connect to 20 miles of Big Sioux River Recreation Trail and Greenway.  The trail follows the Big Sioux River and loops around the city.  For those who like to eat and enjoy the view, The Falls Overlook Café provides the perfect opportunity!  The café is located in the 1908 vintage Sioux Falls Power and Light hydroelectric plant.

Sioux Falls Trolley:  The FREE Trolley is handicapped accessible and operates in historic downtown Sioux Falls and Falls Park.  It runs Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Both Downtown and at the Park, trolley stops are marked with  “Trolley Stop “ banners.  This is one more great way to visit the Falls!

Sculpture Walk:  Each year downtown Sioux Falls, from Washington Pavilion to Falls Park, is home to numerous (this year over 55) original sculptures.  These sculptures are on loan from the artists for one year and all are for sale.   We love walking downtown and checking out each sculpture! 

Washington Pavilion:  Also within walking distance (or a Trolley ride!) of the hotel, the Washington Pavilion is a great adventure.  It houses the Visual Arts Center, which contains six galleries of changing exhibits.  These exhibits are free!  Also located at the Pavilion is the Kirby Science Discovery Center, which we plan to be the outing for the younger SOFT sibs.  The science center has over 100 interactive exhibits for the kids to explore!   The giant 60-foot screen in the Wells Fargo CineDome shows a variety of  educational adventure films. 

Great Plains Zoo:  Located approximately two miles from the hotel, the Great Plains Zoo is home to over 850 animals.  It was recently voted one of the “Top 10 Zoos in the Nation” and is great for kids and adults of all ages!

Wild Water West:  South Dakota’s largest waterpark, and our planned destination for the older SOFT sib outing.  Lots of activities: wave pool, slide complex,. kiddie pool, Caribbean Falls, activity pool, lazy river, bumper boats, sand volleyball, concessions, and much more!

Empire Mall & Empire East:  More than 180 stores and restaurants!

For more detailed information on what Sioux Falls has to offer, go to www.siouxfallscvb.com

And Then, When the Conference Is Over….
We have had many people telling us they’ve never been to South Dakota before—imagine that!!  We’re hoping that at least some of you take this opportunity to tour our beautiful state, either before or after the Conference.   Here’s a few of our favorite areas:

Black Hills:  Of course, this is the part of South Dakota that everyone has heard of.  Mt. Rushmore is an absolute “must-see”.  It is so impressive!  Also fun to see is Reptile Gardens, Bear Country, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Hill City(don’t know why, but it’s our favorite little town out there).  Deadwood is interesting, with everything from gambling to Mt. Moriah Cemetery, burial place of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.  Custer State Park is worth the trip, where herds of buffalo roam and burros will poke their heads in your car windows begging for food (they love pretzels!). 

For the more adventurous, there are numerous caves to explore.  Harney Peak is quite the climb, but the view is unbelievable.  The George S. Mikkelson Bike Trail is great exercise and very scenic—109 miles the length of the Hills, with 14 trailheads (small user fee). 

Badlands National Park:  244,000 acres of desolate beauty. 

Wall Drug:  Near the Badlands.  76,000 sq. feet with free attractions, fine art, jackalopes and many, many souvenirs.

Pierre:  Our state capitol set in the center of our state.   Besides our beautiful State Capitol Building, the Fighting Stallions Memorial - which honors 8 South Dakotans including Gov. George  Mikkelson who were killed in a 1993 plane crash - is worth seeing.

Missouri River:  is fantastic for water enthusiasts, with fishing, boating, kayaking, skiing and hiking.

Corn Palace:  at Mitchell.  Originally built in 1892, the exterior is decorated with elaborate murals made of corn and South Dakota grains and grasses.  The murals are changed every year. 

DeSmet:  95 miles from Sioux Falls.  Homestead of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the “Little House” books.. The town has many attractions and guided tours, along with a pageant during to summer. 

Glacial Lakes Region:  off the beaten path in Northeastern South Dakota, this is another great place for fans of fishing and boating!  Also in this area is Sici Hollow State Park, which Native Americans were sure contained “bad spirits”, and Fort Sisseton State Park, an old frontier army outpost from1864 with many restored buildings.   And while you’re in the Glacial Lakes area, be sure to stop at the world-famous Purple Cow Ice Cream Parlor!   

Check out www.travelsd.com   They have a lot of great information and you can request a free travel guide.

Registration or Conference Questions? Gloria Jorgenson-605-947-4752 or kgjorg@abe.midco.net