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If the meeting area is focused on the NE erea... wouldn't the fall be perfect?

The dates are perfect for "pre July 4th" vacations,though.
As long as its finalized, place is very seconday. I agree with Steven.

I would disagree slightly with location. If it is being narrowed down to east coast, New England, then Rhode Island or Boston, why not make it Cape Cod/Nantucket?

My guess is that Jon is making it affordable to bring a large number of support staff with him (how far is providence from AC headquarters ?).

I am from Washington = anyplace on the East Coast is exotic....

For the record, it is 25 miles. Pretty much everything in Rhode Island is close.

Just to play Devil's Advocate, is there a reason to bring a large number of support staff? Is this a gigantic teaching session on how to install v5. Just wondering? I wasn't at last years.

Again, just to get together and hang out and have fun.

I am sure there may be some nice places in Newport, although the mansions don't seem to cater to conferences.

This is the first time I saw this:

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/...mp;newsId=20090924005656&newsLang=en

I think Jon wanted to do it like a conference with some teaching sessions - I am encouraging him to video/web cast it (probably just do DVDs as live webcasting may be too hard) and I think he really wants to spend some time brainstorming and looking at new features, old features that some of us never knew existed, etc.

I think he wants staff to help people, maybe set up machines for demos, etc.

I don't care - may not be able to attend, but want to. Was not at last one and so new experience. I just want place that is family friendly as my wife and children want to go (pool, etc).

I guess I wouldn't want the cost of support to keep the conference from being in a cool place. Granted there are cool places in Rhode Island and Boston. Of course, The Fountainbleu in Miami is hard to beat.

What was unique and in keeping with the original premise of the last ACUC was the fact that the current users who were familiar with the program helped the newer users learn it. There was a tremendous exchange of ideas and all of us learned things from others we did not know about AC. Also, not only was the EMR part of a medical practice discussed, there were discussions about setting up entire computer systems, other software uses and general swapping of ideas on how to run a medical business and keep one's head above water. For me, this was much more useful than the time spent with the programmer or formally with Jon.
Just my 2 cents.

And those are great sense (cents). I think it's great that Jon is there, but I don't want to turn it into a three-day support workshop. I doubt they do either.

But, I think they would love to have an all expense paid mini vacation to wherever (Cape Code -- hint, hint).

I would have to agree with Leslie. It was wonderful to put faces and names together, to chat. I learned a dozen simple things that truly sped up the practice. I helped others and they me. It was almost like the users board was turned live but Jon and his crew were there both showing things and taking notes. They possibly learned more than us.

I would agree a nice place would be great, but there are liekly to be people in every capacity from lookers to novices to regular and power users at the conference. It would be nice to be have Jon's staff there not so much as formal teachers but as coaches and additional listeners.

Cost counts. A $50-75 dollar a day difference may have a big impact on those who practices are either starting up or barely breaking even, or those who want to bring the wife and kids. Cape Cod is looking at about $200 a night. That's $600 + conference costs, and maybe no CME. Yes, it is still tax deductable but.

I see there is a lot of interest in having another ACUC.
I'm glad Jon is considering this again. It was great to meet so many of the other users, Jon, and his staff at AC. I really loved it two years ago.

There seems to be consensus that East Coast is the general region. If Jon is seeking input on where to have the conference, then I would agree that Cape Cod is ideal. It's beautiful there in June. I can't think of many other places in New England that I would like to have it.

It's ultimately up to Jon, but I hope he picks someplace nice and worth going to.

There were some comments about no CME? We were able to get CME last conference, why not this one? I guess it doesn't matter to me, I teach medical students which qualifies for a lot of CME credit.

I'm not giving any lectures. I know very little about AC. Besides, I may get sick again.

Bert could lecture if we let him log on from a remote site and do it online......Bert Headroom.....

I would be interested in attending ACUC, especially this year since we need to get the implementation of V5 right in order to increase odds of getting the stimulus package.

I've been holding off on hardware upgrades, going paperless, interfacing with lab for that reason.

I echo Bert, don't need CME - I too get plenty from uptodateonline

I would prefer that the UC straddle a weekend. Also moderate range hotel would be nice. Don't plan on making a family vacation out of this.

Looking forward to it!

I'm in Anchorage AK, went to the last mtg - before even purchasing AC. Very valuable, helped me decide to jump in. I too like to meet the people, hear tricks and tips from the horses mouths. I HATE to leave AK in the summer but will for this again. Doubt anything on the East Coast can hold a candle to home sweet home.........

BTW - just spent 4-5 hrs with a local FP group in town, now they're part of the family - they'll probably come.

John

PS Just filled out Jon's survey. Several of my computers labeled it as spam, I just happened to look in the trashcan. Hope that doesn't happen to others

What survey?

I agree with KenP,

Moderate range hotel, straddle a weekend.

I never get to make it a vacation at this point as I am still building the practice (Age 52yo, practice 26 months old).

Maybe a little more central location would help.

Well, it's inevitable that we will have lots of different opinions. And, I certainly didn't get to my post count without being opinionated. OK, Stephen -- no comments there.

Frank, I think we got Missouri last year because of Brian and Jim spending countless hours setting it up. They were and should have been tremendously commended. And, Jim set up the CME, but it meant a lot of users doing talks. I was assigned three, freaked out, got sick and stayed home.

In reality, I think the only way these conferences will fly every year or so is if Jon takes the bull by....well you know. There may be years where he can set it up somewhere else, I just think, for him, it is easier to do it near R.I.

I agree with you that a central location or Grand Canyon or Miami would be nice.

Boston and R.I. have some great places. I used to live in Boston, and there are great sites, maybe even take in a Red Sox game. But, it is pricey as well and the drivers there are mean spirited, and I doubt we could all put up with the accents.

I was thinking Cape Code, because it is incredible. Yes, it's a little pricey, but there are other hotels much cheaper, albeit the drive would be a little long.

I will offer and (go out on a limb and offer Adam as well) to at least ask the resort the pricing.

It's also really sad (AND I AM IN THE SAME BOAT) that we all have to be money conscious. Just goes to show where primary care is.

Maybe President Obama can take all of us to Cape Cod/Nantucket with his family this year.

Uhhh..just getting my post count up.

I can't believe Bert gets stressed over talking in a public forum - I really think we could just put up a computer screen with a webcam and just broadcast him - make him think he is just talking to his computer.

There was a movie like that. And, it's not the public forum, it's coming up with three different or even one lecture. It's strange -- OK sure, I know a little about AC and PCs -- but then I get down to it and it's like:

OK, I will give a lecture on how many medications are in the registry. Ummm...5 minutes.

Or, maybe talk about how to forward the chart to myself.

Or, Hi, my next talk will be on doing an Addendum without a Superbill.

I think there are plenty of people from either Jon's camp or others who would be willing to talk. That is not a problem.

The interesting thing during the conference last time was the interactions and comments from the users, both prospective, new and old.

I would not worry about having to present, Bert. I'm sure you will have something to say, and it will be interesting, even if you do not know a lot

Leslie, Jon sent out a survey about a week ago, asking if a user group mtg was desired, how tech support did, how we would prioritize "fixs" etc.......

I received it too. Maybe he didn't like to see your responses

just kidding

I would love a Users conference with Tech or someone to address a couple of workshops,
walk me through the e-Rx. (or maybe I am just too lazy?)
walk me through restoring from a backup?
walk me through making sure my backup is really there?

I would love to see everyone and encourage everyone who attends to bring some photos of things from the office. I would like to see how we handle the Instant Medical History? or vitals? or what EKG etc.

Talk through some work flows like we did for the development, but include everyone to get a broader view of the problems and solutions.

I HAVE ONE REQUEST. PLEASE DON'T PLAN IT FOR THE FIRST OF JULY, AS I WILL BE ON VACATION. My son and his friend are going to follow me on motorcycles to "the Tail of the Dragon", in Deals Gap North Carolina. 218 turns in 11 miles, the best motorcycle road in America.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Good post Martin! After reading this thread and talking to Adam, I have come to one conclusion.

Probably the best way to do the conference is the way the AAFP and AAP and just about every other conference is done. Do it annually or biannually and Jon just picks a place and a date and there it is. Then send it out and those who can come, come, and those who can't, can't. I mean there is no way any time will be convenient for everyone just like there is no way the AAFP meeting dates would be convenient for everyone.

The farther the dates are set, the easier it is for everyone to put it on their calendars. I think that even at this conference, the dates and place for the following year's conference should be set.

If you like this idea, please tell me.

If you hate it, it was all Adam's idea.

I think this is a logical conclusion.

Just make it RI, and the date is at the end of June.
Marty will just have to leave early and come from the West coast to the South (NC), then to the East coast and swing back home. Thats a lot of miles.

I just think we need to get everybody who is interested to POST. We need to get Jon to finalize and make the commitment.

Count me in with enough warning. Have RV, will travel, RI sounds good in June.

I am going to try and arrange it - but I have to have a guarantee that I will meet BERT in person - the man behind the posts...

There are only two people who know what I look like. Adam and Paul. So, I think I will just show up as a newbie.

Wait...I better not. People will think I am you, lol.

I was hoping you would show up in a Mickey Mouse outfit! I would love to see you in leotards. But, most importantly, just show up. We won't make you give any speeches.

MIGHTY Mouse, you meant Mighty Mouse! (:-)

As long as it is not a Minnie Mouse outfit.....

Since Steve said I was the man behind the posts, maybe I will come as the Postman.

You really gotta love AC and its users. I just can't imagine a NextGen or Logician board like ours.

I would recognize you because you would be the one with the blow-up date and lobster butter on your chin

They might look the same. Most of us were docs on a limited budget to begin with. They are now poor docs who sent all their money to the EMR.

But I'm sure we will be happier.

Would love to be there, but can't get away. Will be there in spirit. Would be fun to have faces and voices to go along with all the Avatars!

Learn lots and share with us!!

Now you sound like Donna. Come to think of it, I need to get her email address from Adam.


That is funny.