It's been 3 long years but the live, in-person SOFT Annual Conference is back!
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.
Explore this page to see all that is being planned for you this July in Roanoke, VA. Registration is now open.
The 2022 SOFT Conference!
We invite you to join us for the 2022 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: Roanoke, Virginia
When: July 13 - July 17, 2022
Important dates & details:
Early registration deadline: June 15, 2022 or when space fills up.
Final registration deadline: June 30, 2022
Hotel block closes: June 11, 2022
Deadline for Kari Holladay Video photo submission: June 15, 2022
Deadline to apply for assistance from the Joey Watson fund: June 15, 2022
No walk up registration will be permitted this year.
Full ADULT (ages 12+) Conference Registration (Conference, Workshops, Clinics, Picnic):
Early Registration: $149
Late Registration: $169
Full Child (age 5-11) Conference Registration: Early registration: $119
Late registration: $139
Children under 5 and SOFT children: FREE
Adult Picnic & Auction Registration: $49
Child Picnic & Auction Registration: $35
About the Conference Hotel
The conference will be held at the historic Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
Address: 110 Shenandoah Ave NW, Roanoke, VA 24016
Phone: 540-985-5900
Special Rate: $135/night* plus tax.
*This rate expires June 11th, so don't wait! You can reserve this rate for your stay up to three days prior to, and after, the conference.
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 and valet parking. Ask about any costs when reserving your room.
The SOFT Registration desk will open on Wednesday July 13th 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 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, entertainment, and plenty of opportunities to socialize with families and friends!
"SOFT Friends" Annual Video
The Annual Kari Holladay "SOFT Friends" video, in memory of Kari Holladay, 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 15, 2022. Any photos received after this date can not be included in the video.
Outings & Events
Annual SOFT Remembrance Outing
The annual SOFT Remembrance Outing will be held at Taubman Art Museum on Thursday morning. $15 per person. Lunch on your own. See schedule for times.
Siblings Outings
The Older Siblings Outing will be an Escape Room event. The cost is expected to be $30 which includes transportation, a T-shirt, and Lunch.|
Younger Siblings will go to the Science Museum, Cost $25 and lunch will be provided for them as well.
See the schedule for departure and return times.
Picnic
The Picnic and Memorial Celebration will be held at the Hotel Roanoke from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
Picnic will include a catered picnic meal, entertainment, the Ryan Cantrell memorial celebration and other events.
Ryan Cantrell Memorial Celebration
The annual Ryan Cantrell Memorial Celebration will be held at the Saturday Picnic.
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 Jamie Lint, PO Box 1074, Raven VA 24639
Memory Room
The Memory Room will be will be open as outlined in the conference schedule. Please bring photo albums or other memorabilia to display! Be sure to remove your belongings prior to closure!
| Wednesday | |
| 7:00 am- 10:00 pm | Memory Room Open |
| 8:30 am - 10:00 am | Board Breakfast |
| 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | Board of Directors Meeting SOFT Board of Directors |
| 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Registration Room Open |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Lunch for Board of Directors Board members & their families |
| 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | SOFT Conference Meet & Greet S'mores Family Social Garden Courtyard |
| Thursday | |
| 7:00 am - 10:00 pm | Memory Room Open |
| 7:00 am - 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Registration Room Open |
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Remembrance Outing Taubman Art Museum Lunch on your own |
| 9:30 am - 11:00 am | Breakout Session #1 Trisomy 18 and 13 Dr..John C. Carey |
| Breakout Sessions #2 Vision / Seizures Dr. Steve Cantrell |
|
| 11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Breakout Session #3 Dynamic Movement & Safety Dr Adam Howell & Dr. Lauren Cantrell |
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Activity Room Craft for kids |
| 11:00 am - 4:00 pm | SOFT Clinics Held at the Hotel Roanoke |
| 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Lunch (on your own) |
| 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Breakout Sessions #3 Complicated Grief / Loss |
| Breakout Sessions #4 Trisomy 9 and General Trisomy Issues |
|
| 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Activity Room - SIB Panel |
| 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Welcome Dinner Keynote Speaker Zion Lint Parade of Stars Remembering our Angels (in memory of Stacy VanHerreweghe) Erin Jorgenson Scholarship DJ / Dance |
| Friday | |
| 7:00 am - 10:00 pm | Memory Room Open |
| 7:00 am - 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 8:00 am - 10:00 am | Registration Room Open |
| 9:45 am – 2:00 pm | Older Sib Outing Escape Room Lunch included |
| 9:45 am - 2:00 pm | Younger Sib Outing Art Museum Lunch included |
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Dad’s Group |
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Family Craft Breakout |
| 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm | State Representative Lunch |
| 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm | SOFT Family Lunch |
| 2:00 pm | Youth return from Sib outings |
| 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Mom’s Group |
| 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Dinner on your own |
| 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | SOFT Story Night Speaker: Kris Holladay Kari Holladay “SOFT Friends” Video Presentation Light refreshments |
| Saturday | |
| 7:00 am - 5:00 pm | Memory Room Open |
| 7:00 am - 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am - 10:00 am | SOFT Business Meeting New Family Welcome Election of Board Members (must be in attendance at meeting to vote) |
| 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm | SOFT Annual Picnic and Ryan Cantrell Memorial Celebration Crystal Ballroom |
| 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Dinner on your own |
| 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Silent Auction / Live Auction Light Refreshments Served |
| Sunday | |
| 7:00 am - 9:00 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am - 9:30 am | Non-Denomenatial Church Service |
| 9:30 am | Closing |
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 27th 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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