DONA International
PO Box 626
Jasper, IN 47547 (888) 788-DONA (3662)
Fax: (812) 634-1491
General Information We are excited to host the 13th Annual DONA International Conference in the Westport area of St. Louis, Missouri. We have worked hard to design an invigorating and dynamic program that will help each participant return home energized to support childbearing women and their families.
Everyone is invited: birth doulas, postpartum doulas, childbirth educators, nurses, midwives, doctors, massage therapists, lactation consultants, parent educators, social workers, and all others with an interest in birth and birthing families.
At this conference we offer you the opportunity to learn from and mingle with many distinguished speakers and authors. You can learn new skills, network with new and experienced doulas and other professionals, renew old friendships and make new ones.
Last but not least…..our conferences are FUN!
Since you give to others all year, give yourself the treat that you deserve. Meet us in St. Louis!
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATIONS
Conference registration includes the special pre-conference Welcome Reception on Thursday, July 19, the core conference which includes six (6) general sessions, your four (4) choices from 24 concurrent sessions, and admission to the Exhibit Hall. Your registration fee also includes continental breakfast on Friday and Saturday with American Breakfast Buffet on Sunday, lunch on Friday and Saturday, and all refreshment breaks served in the Exhibit Hall. A bound Conference 2007 Manual, complete with handouts and/or articles from conference speakers, will be given to each registrant. To receive the early registration discount, the completed registration form and fee must be postmarked no later than June 5, 2007 by 5 pm EST.
All refund requests must be submitted in writing to the DONA International Home Office and will not be accepted if postmarked after July 10, 2007. A non-refundable processing fee of $50 (US funds) will be retained in all cases for each conference fee refund request. After July 10, you may find a substitute to use your registration, but you must notify the DONA International Home Office of this change.
Application has been made for contact hours/continuing education credits for the core conference to the Indiana State Nurses Association, which is accredited as an approver of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses' Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. It is the responsibility of the individual registrant to ascertain whether this offering meets Board of Nursing rules of mandatory continuing education in the registrant's state or province. This conference qualifies as formal continuing education for recertification with DONA International. The registrant must attend the entire session to receive continuing education credit for that session.
CHANGE IN PROGRAM
DONA International reserves the right to substitute or cancel speakers and/or sessions.
Breastfeeding babies up to six months of age (in arms or sling only, no strollers) who remain quiet may attend sessions with parents. Mothers may find it easier to have a support person accompany them to watch their baby outside the meeting rooms between feedings. If you plan to bring your baby to the conference, please respect the needs and desires of other registrants and arrange care for your baby outside the room if he/she is making happy or sad noises. There will be a designated room for nursing mothers available. Babies in arms only (no strollers) will be allowed to accompany a conference registrant in the Exhibit Hall and at lunch.
Do you want to meeting new people and be in on the activity? Be a 2007 conference volunteer! Conference volunteers assist DONA International to present a high-quality, well-organized conference. Volunteers will not miss sessions or meals. Conference volunteers contribute a little bit of their time knowing that they, together with all of the others helping, were an essential part of the huge success of the conference. If you would like to participate and receive a heart-felt "Thank You" from the conference registrants, conference committee members, and the DONA International Board of Directors, then place a check mark on the volunteer line on the registration form and our Volunteer Chair, Patti Treubert, will contact you after your form is processed, a few weeks after it is received. Your help and support will be greatly appreciated.
As a networking opportunity for our registrants, DONA International is accepting business cards to be printed in the conference manual. Mail a $30 check (US funds) made payable to DONA International and two (2) of your business cards to: Uta Mattox, Conference Co-Chair, 2345 Rollinghill Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28304. No electronic submissions, please. Business cards and fee must be received no later than May 15, 2007. DONA International will not guarantee the quality of reproduction of business cards printed on dark colored papers or in colored ink. All cards will be printed in black ink on white paper. If you are interested in other advertising and exhibit opportunities, contact Uta Mattox at
or view the Sponsor/ Exhibitor/Advertiser Prospectus located on this web site.
The Exhibit Hall will provide you with an opportunity to learn about a wide variety of services and products. There will also be items available for sale by exhibitors and at DONA International's DONA Boutique. Once again we will provide you the opportunity to place your bids at the Silent Auction. All proceeds from the Silent Auction will go to the Doula Spirit Fund that will provide registration fee waivers for the 2008 conference. The Exhibit Hall will be open periodically from Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon. Specific hours will be listed in the conference manual that all registrants will receive.
Video and audio taping of any session is strictly prohibited. Audio recordings of most sessions will be available for sale on-site and after the conference.
Photos, video and audio recordings will be made throughout this conference for educational and promotional purposes. Your attendance at this conference indicates your willingness to be photographed, filmed, or recorded.
Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel
St. Louis, Missouri
July 19-22, 2007
Here's what some of our attendees had to say about past DONA International conferences:
"Excellent conference and speakers. It was great to be able to interact with the Founders and BOD all were approachable and friendly. ... This convention has made me very enthusiastic about going home and promoting DONA especially knowing that DONA is standing behind me. Thank you for this great opportunity."
"Enjoyed the slide show and the entire conference. Quality of speakers were excellent!"
"This was my first doula conference. Already I can't wait until next year. It was so exciting to meet and hear from the Drs/authors of the books I have read and continue to refer to. ... There were some speakers that I felt the clock played tricks on us. The time went by too, too fast."
"Great conference, learned a lot."
"Loved everything overall – such a warmth and feel of community – nutritious food."
"I am so impressed with how this conference has been organized! It's the friendliest, most informative conference I have ever been to, and I can tell that the organizers worked incredibly hard and were very dedicated to making it run smoothly. THANK YOU!"
