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In-Person Event
Virtual Meeting
WAGR Weekend 2022 will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, July 8-10, 2022. The Galloway family is hosting the IWSA's first official in-person gathering since 2019. The main meeting on Saturday morning will be offered virtually via Zoom for families and others not able to attend in person.
WAGR Weekend is a wonderful opportunity for families to meet with others who understand the stressful challenges and special joys of caring for a person with WAGR syndrome. It is also an occasion to learn about current research and new therapies and treatments for WAGR syndrome, as well as updates on the activities of the International WAGR Syndrome Association.
Each year, WAGR Weekend takes place in a different location, and is hosted by an IWSA family. Specific presentations and information sharing vary from year to year, however, the focus is always on education, research, and family support. The main meeting, held on Saturday July 9th, will be available live around the world via Zoom.
If attending in-person, special evenings called "Mom's and Dad's Night Out" provide an intimate opportunity for parents and primary caregivers of individuals with WAGR syndrome to safely share challenges and accomplishments and simply be with others who understand their lives.
Please note, all conference events will be held in English. Interpreters will be offered for the Saturday, July 9th main meeting (available live via Zoom). If you require interpretation assistance, please indicate your language preference on the Zoom registration form.
IMPORTANT NOTE: IWSA families who wish to receive the conference box must register for the Zoom meeting no later than May 15.
Register to attend in person: Friday, July 8 - Sunday, July 10
Register to attend main meeting via Zoom: Saturday, July 9, 9am - 12noon EST
If attending in person, official group activities begin around 5pm EST on Friday, July 8 and end on Sunday morning with breakfast at the hotel. The host family, the Galloways, is also planning a Sunday barbecue, and more information will be shared for families who complete the registration form.
Hotel
A group rate has been secured at the Wyndham Garden Marietta/Atlanta North, located at 455 Franklin Gateway SE, Marietta, GA, 30067.
Reserve your room online or by phone at 1-770-425-9977.
Airport
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is about 30 minutes by car to the hotel.
Friday, July 8
9:00am-2:00pm – IWSA Board of Directors Meeting
3:00pm-5:30pm – Check In/Registration at Hotel
6:00pm - Group photo
6:00pm-7:30pm – Dinner
7:30pm-11:30pm – Mom’s Night Out
Saturday, July 9
7:00am-8:30am – Breakfast at Hotel
9:00am-12noon – Main Meeting (available LIVE via Zoom)
12:15pm-1:30pm – Lunch
1:30pm-5:00pm – Group/Family Activity--Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta
5:30pm-7:00pm – Dinner
7:30pm-11:00pm – Dad’s Night Out
Sunday, July 10
7:00am-9:30am – Breakfast at Hotel
The host family, the Galloways, is planning a lunchtime Barbecue at their home on Sunday. More information will be provided to registered families.
Out of concern for the health and safety of event attendees, the IWSA will follow local COVID-19 safety protocols for indoor and outdoor gatherings at the time of the event.
{The} Impression which leave this meeting with me is for an exclusive commitment, tolerance, understanding, friendliness, responsiveness and solidarity to those families who have found a great way through the collection of a one weekend to share their experience and knowledge, to share the full range of emotions surrounding the upbringing of a child with WAGR syndrome. After such a meeting filled with many activities (games , entertainment, mom’s night, shared breakfasts, lunches and dinners, charity raffle, meeting with doctors, useful and educational presentations, etc.), I was really very happy confident and informed, especially with many new friends and memories that warm my heart.
There is something magical about being in a room filled with people who get what you have been going through without ever having to say a word. It was no longer about explaining and more about sharing which I have always been thrilled to do.
I was welcomed by big smiles like the sun of San Diego and warm hugs. My heart was full of delight in meeting everyone – lovable children, their families and awesome board members. Mom’s night with warmth, laughs and tears were emotionally stirring. Especially experienced mom’s words penetrated my heart. New knowledge presented by specialists and fun time at San Diego Zoo were, no doubt, valuable.
Start training for WAGR Weekend early in the year. Put plenty of sleep in the sleep bank so you can make several big withdrawals, exercise your vocal cords so you can talk nonstop, drain your tear ducts so they won’t constantly overflow, and build up your abs so they can withstand prolonged laughter. All the work is worth it, though. There’s no high like a WAGR Weekend high!
For the first time in a while I felt like I innately belonged to this group of people. We were magically joined together by our amazing children. I was not an outsider looking in, nor was I in a fishbowl for others to examine. Even though I have never met any of the fellow WAGR families prior, those three days felt like home at heart
I’ll never forget how welcomed I felt walking into the lobby of the hotel; the culmination of the many months on the internet. We met so many wonderful people with shared experiences. I felt an instant bond. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of this instant family.
The highlight of my trip was during the most vulnerable part- dad’s night. I wasn’t sure what to expect and it was definitely a moment when I could have questioned myself as a father, but I didn’t. I didn’t because of the support I got from all the other dad’s who have traveled and would soon travel the road I was on. We laughed, we got misty eyed, and we grew to be stronger and better people and that made us all better fathers.
If you have ever had doubts about attending WAGR Weekend, GO!!!!! It was an environment where everyone was accepted for who they are, no questions, bottom line. We felt absolutely loved and absolutely accepted by every single person we met.
Moms night always makes me realize that I truly am not alone in this journey even when I feel so alone. Thank you ladies you are truly my family I never knew I needed.
It was inspiring to spend time with a group of families and their children, challenged and not, and to see that similar challenges are experienced by all. Even more inspiring are the siblings of our special children and the love and understanding that they exhibit. My only regret is that our two younger daughters were not able to attend.
Event Host: Teigan Galloway at teigan.galloway@gmail.com
Zoom Meeting: John Morris at john.morris@wagr.org
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