Update – Wellapalooza 2015
We have a place!
We hit a bit of obstacle, after our venue was double booked and we didn’t find out until the other day. However, we now have a new venue address and the event registration page will be updated today. We will also be uploading additional information and a schedule for the day.
Wellapalooza 2015 will still be in the Bethesda area, but actually a bit closer to DC and in the middle of a great area.
All things happen for a reason! The area is called Friendship Heights and I’ve included links with information below, so you will know want is around our venue.
Here’s the important part – ALL registration MUST be done by October 10th! I know many people who are planning on attending, but we cannot assume anything, or we will have to eat the cost – which neither Jan or I can do.
This is also our first Wellapalooza mixing conditions and speakers, etc., so we are starting from scratch.
Jan and I need to make sure we know what type of budget we are working with, because our new venue costs a bit more and we do not want to have to increase the registration fee.
Another important point – our minimum is 30 people and our max will change to 50 people, based on our new venue. If we have more than 50 who absolutely want to come, I will see how many more we can fit based on how we will lay out the room. I’m going today to take a look and will upload pictures as well.
You can register, by going here.
Dr. Theo is coming on his own dime and we do not want him to travel and then have to cancel, because people are waiting until the last-minute to sign-up.
Our other speakers are local, but they are still blocking off time from their schedules to come. Even though our speakers have agreed to come on their own (i.e. not paid), that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t respect their time just the same.
The event registration page still says 75pp and the previous venue address – that will be changed today. You can still purchase your registration and it will not be affected by the change in venue or amount of people allowed. I just got home from a 3 day breast cancer walk in SC and am also involved in Invisible Illness Week activities, so it may take me a day to get all info up, but it will get done.
Thank you for your patience.
For those who may be interested in staying the night and enjoying the area, we are working on reserving a block of rooms at a hotel in the immediate area – The Embassy Suites.
Even without room block rate, prices are not bad, especially if you share a room. All rooms are suites with a pull-out couch, and have a kitchenette.
Average rate is about $175 per night prior to room block discount.
I have not confirmed a block of rooms yet, but if you do want to reserve a room before block of rooms is reserved and rate is announced, I will make sure to have your room moved under our room block. However, I cannot guarantee a price or that we even will have a reserved block. Nothing is final until it’s final, so please keep that in mind. If you do go ahead and reserve a room prior to room block announcement, please do so knowing that your rate at the time of booking, may be the rate you will pay. If you do happen to reserve a room before I announce a room block, please send me a message privately, or email Kendra@wellapalooza.com or Jan@Wellapalooza.com and we will make sure that your reservation is under our room block, if that is what we are able to work out.
I do not have an idea of what room block rate will be, but I can’t imagine that we will have a ton of people staying, so the discount may not be too steep. Of course, you are also welcome to stay anywhere else. There are plenty of hotels near by.
Parking – I will be asking for parking to be worked into room block rate, but that is not a guarantee. Parking at hotel is approx. $27 per day.
If you are coming in for just the day, there’s a parking garage in the building where Wellapalooza will be held (I do not know price off-hand, but it based on an hourly rate and then a max per day – usually about $20). Or, the Geico parking lot across the street is free and open to the public on the weekends. You will have to walk across a side road, in order to get to the area where our venue is.
Seriously, this is one of the best areas to stay near DC. Friendship heights and it’s right on the DC line, but not in the middle of DC. Friendship Heights is where DC, Chevy Chase and Bethesda all meet. You are still close to downtown Bethesda, but the immediate area has a whole foods, a ton of shops, great restaurants, etc. I’ve included a few links to what’s around the venue where Wellapalooza will be held: Shops at Wisconsin Place
Mazza Gallerie in Friendship Heights
Embassy Suites Hotel in Friendship Heights
Since you will be right down the road from Downtown Bethesda, here are a few Bethesda links:
http://www.downtownbethesda.com/
I am still working out details, but we are trying to figure out activities for the next day for those who may want to say the night. However, I had already scheduled an EDS Charity ride at Zengo Cycle in Bethesda, Md on Sunday, November 15th at 1pm (the day after ). It’s not on Zengo’s schedule just yet, but here’s the link to Zengo’s site and to the EDS Ride for a Cause FB page, as well as event page (I have to update date on the event flyer that’s on the page): EDS Ride for a Cause – November 2015 event page
I’m also in communication with Dr. Norris from The Mindfulness Center. I’m not sure what we will workout exactly. However, the Mindfulness center offers a ton of services for great prices. The are also a non-profit and happen to be also located right in the heart of Bethesda, Md. The Mindfulness Center – Bethesda, MD
Please let us know if you have any questions, buy understand that we cannot hold spots or push back the registration deadline. We don’t want to raise the fee, so we figured it’s best to set a deadline and a minimum, in order to make sure that our costs are covered and that we don’t waste the time and expense of Dr. Theo and our other speakers.
Thank you and we are so excited about this conference!
Please help us spread the word, by posting in groups and sharing with support groups. I will also help post, but we would love help spreading the word!
Wellapalooza also now has a FB page, an IG account, a Tumblr blog and we are also on Twitter! @Wellapalooza for all social media accounts.
Wellapalooza’s website is: www.wellapalooza.com
Last, if anyone is interested on helping with event details, please let us know!
