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Food Allergy Bloggers Conference: A great event for everyone living with and writing about food allergies

February 17, 2014  |  Allergy-awareness, Anaphylaxis, blog, Education, FABConference, Food, Food-allergy, food-allergy-blog, FoodAllergyBloggers-Conference, Recipes, support
Food Allergy Bloggers Conference: A great event for everyone living with and writing about food allergies
photo courtesy to FABC and Selena Bluntzer

by Jenny Sprague

Planning is underway for the Second Annual Food Allergy Bloggers Conference, which will be held again in Las Vegas at the South Point Hotel and Casino September 26-28, 2014. We were so pleased with the outpouring of support we received last year from everyone who got involved – speakers, sponsors, and attendees. It seems we really were not alone in our desire to connect on that personal, organic level.

One huge aspect about living and dealing with food allergies is that it can be isolating – you don’t go out to eat or socialize freely when you are always living on “high alert.” There is something that is just good for the soul when you can find yourself among like-minded people who speak your vernacular!

The beauty of walking into the opening night reception is a moment we won’t soon forget – instead of entering a room of strangers, you are entering a room of long-lost friends! You know us and we know you from our shared experiences, from reading posts on Facebook or Twitter, from reading blogs and books, or from simply sharing each other’s joys and pains in dealing with food allergies.

We set the bar pretty high with last year's conference, but we are really working hard to match or better what we offered last year, ironing out some wrinkles, and making sure to offer relevant content to our attendees. After last year's conference, we took survey results and other feedback very much to heart. Then we solicited topic and speaker suggestions from the online community. We love being able to include the sponsors who provide products relevant to living and managing life with food allergies.

We have some wonderful speakers this year – some who spoke last year and some new faces. You will likely recognize many of the names being announced this year, including Joel Warady (CMO of Enjoy Life Foods), Colette Martin (author of Learning to Bake Allergen Free), Jules Shepard (author, baker, blogger, and advocate), Dr. Ruchi Gupta (allergist and author), Alisa Fleming (author and blogger of Go Dairy Free), and Robyn O'Brien (author of Unhealthy Truth and founder of Allergy Kids). 

We will have more giveaway prizes this year (one of them we wish we could win ourselves!). Last year we gave away a Kitchen Stand Mixer, Omega appliances, and even a Vitamix. We will be hosting the Wine and Sign Cocktail party again this year as a way to celebrate the many authors in our community. Last year we had 20 different authors who generously signed tattered copies attendees brought from home and had copies of their books available for purchase. Some of last year’s authors included April Runge, Heather Mehra, Cybele Pascal, Henry Ehrlich, Kelly Rudnicki, and Sue Gantz-Schmitt. We hope to have them return and to add new names to our list of alums.

Some of the wonderful sponsors who were there last year included Sanofi Auvi-Q, Mylan, Enjoy Life Foods, Allergic Living Magazine, Attune Foods, 123 Gluten Free, Namaste, Suncups, Sunbutter, Don't Go Nuts, Medic Alert, Ian's, American Medical ID, AD Rescuewear, and many more. We are also proud to have a new sponsor this year - FAACT! If your company is interested in sponsoring the conference, please e-mail us at FABlogCon@gmail.com.

We are busy finalizing the agenda and hope to have the details posted in the next few weeks. The event will open Friday night with a Welcome Party. Then Saturday and Sunday we will have panels all day on various topics offered in a Blogging track and a Disease Management track. Attendees may join any session they wish. We will have the Wine and Sign party on Saturday night and the prize drawings towards the end of the day on Sunday. 

Tickets are available now until March 31st for $50 off the regular price. This includes meals as well as a number of drink tickets for the evening events. For more information, please check our Web site.

FAACT is also pleased to announce a very special giveaway for those who are FAACT Patrons: 10 tickets to attend this year’s FAB Conference! Please visit FAACT’s Home Page for more information.

All that is missing is you! These advocates are all truly kind and welcoming. New friendships were forged and a great perspective on what we can accomplish together dawned last year and there is more work (and fun) to come! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Warmest wishes,
Jenny