We are excited to bring you the 2023 SOFT Conference!
The 2024 SOFT Conference will be held July 10-14th in Bloomington, MN. Our conference host is Marta McCallahan.
SOFT's annual conference is a place for families to connect with each other, learn new things in our forums, clinics and workshops, and remember all the angels who have gone too soon.
This page will be updated as more details are announced. Be sure to bookmark this page to keep up with all that is being planned for you this July in Bloomington, MN!
The 2024 SOFT Conference!
We invite you to join us for the 2024 SOFT Conference. This in person conference is designed for all our SOFT families (including extended families, friends and your kids' caregivers) wherever you are in your trisomy journey.
Where: Bloomington, MN
When: July 10 - 14, 2024
Important dates & details:
Hotel block closes: June 1, 2024
Early registration deadline: June 15, 2024 or when space fills.
Final registration deadline: TBA
Deadline for "SOFT Friends" Video photo submission: June 1, 2024
Deadline to apply for assistance from the Joey Watson fund: May 31, 2024
No walk up registration will be permitted this year.
Full ADULT (ages 12+) Conference Registration (Conference, Workshops, Clinics, Picnic):
Early Registration: TBA
Late Registration: TBA
Full Child (age 5-11) Conference Registration:
Early registration: TBA
Late registration: TBA
Children under 5 and SOFT children: FREE
Adult Picnic & Auction Registration: TBA
Child Picnic & Auction Registration: TBA
Donations for the SOFT Auction can be sent to:
Marta McCallahan
check back for address
About the Conference Hotel
The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Bloomington, MN
Phone: 952-967-8700
Special Rate: $125/night* plus tax for queen or king suite.
*This rate expires TBA, so don't wait! You can reserve this rate for your stay beginning Wednesday July 8 - Sunday July 14.
Remember, a hotel reservation does NOT register you for the conference; that is separate. Click the "Register for Conference" button above for your conference registration.
The hotel offers on-site self parking included with room rate.
The SOFT Registration desk will open on Wednesday July 10th at 1pm. For location and additional information please see the conference schedule.
Please check in as soon as you arrive so you can receive your conference bag which contains essential conference information and much more.
Welcome Dinner
Thursday night’s Welcome Dinner will be served buffet style. The evening will feature a Keynote Speaker and events such as the Parade of Stars, Remembering our Angels (in memory of Stacy Vanherreweghe), Erin Jorgenson scholarship awards, other awards, DJ, music, dancing, entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to socialize with families and friends!
"SOFT Friends" Annual Video
The Kari Deann Holladay “SOFT Friends Video”, will be shown during Saturday morning's Business Meeting.
Click the "More Information" button for all the details on submitting your child's photo. Submission deadline is June 1, 2024. Any photos received after this date can not be included in the video.
Outings & Events
Annual SOFT Remembrance Outing
Details for follow.
Siblings Outings
Details to follow.
Picnic
Details to follow
Ryan Cantrell Memorial Celebration
The annual Ryan Cantrell Memorial Celebration will be held at the Saturday Picnic. You can register your SOFT Angel in the Memorial Celebration when you register for conference.
If you are not attending conference you are still welcome to register your SOFT Angel to be included in the Memorial Celebration by completing the Conference Registration form as a non-attending Memorial Celebration participant.
All memorial registrations must be submitted prior to the beginning of Conference.
Registration details to follow.
Auction
The Auction will be held Saturday night at the conference hotel. The auction includes both silent and live auctions.
All auction items are donated from the local community as well as from SOFT members across the country and around the world.
Please send your Auction Donation Items to
Marta McCallahan
address to follow
SOFT Angel Memory Room
The SOFT Angel Memory Room. A Place for our families who "carry their child in their heart" to share precious memories of their child. We will have a special place for you to display photo albums or other memorabilia you want to share to help us get to know your child. Be sure to remove your special belongings prior to closure!
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Details to follow
When available you'll be able to download the full conference schedule here:
Joey Watson Memorial Conference Attendance Assistance Fund
The Joey Watson Memorial Conference Attendance Assistance fund exists to assist qualifying families with basic conference expenses. Typically this might be help with conference registration fees or a possible hotel night. The deadline for submitting the form is May 15th and requestors must seek other assistance in their communities prior to asking for help from this fund. These funds are very limited, so start early.
Notices
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Travel Tips, for those traveling by air with children and/or equipment.
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