Jul 27

Written by: F.E.A.S.T.
Friday, July 27, 2012 

Early bird registration for the 2012 Alexandria F.E.A.S.T. conference ends July 31: register now!

Laura Collins, F.E.A.S.T. Executive Director, wrote this on her personal blog today:

"Yes, I do pay may own registration for the conference. I suppose I could talk the F.E.A.S.T. board into waiving my registration or paying for it -- I am a full-time volunteer for the organization after all -- but I don't because I don't want other parents to pay my way. You see, we don't have revenue from sponsorships or grants or advertising. F.E.A.S.T. is solely staffed by volunteers, financed by individual donations, and guided by a nonprofit board of directors. We do this because we believe parents need a voice and have a unique role to play in ED advocacy and in supporting other families.

Our conference is a group effort. We don't make any money from it -- it isn't a fundraiser. We don't spend member donations ON it: registration fees are the only way to pay the expenses. And there are no tote bags or printed pens.

What are the expenses? You'll love this: it's food! Conference space is free if you contract for a certain amount of catering. There are a few other expenses: cancellation insurance, signs, registration software, and printing programs, for example. But all our speakers waive their speaker fees and most pay registration for themselves, too.

We charge exactly what it costs us per person to put on this conference. We want to make it available for as many families as possible and keep the prices as low as possible.

I do take one discount, however: the early bird discount that ends on July 31. Don't miss it: register now!"