For those of you who are members of CUB or are interested in the organization you may want to mark your calendars and save the date for the 2007 CUB retreat which is being planned for Friday, September 28, 2007 – Sunday, September 30, 2007 in Chicago at the McDonald’s corporate campus in Oak Brook, IL. This is 88 acres of forest with a lake and four miles of hiking trails and beautiful setting that is conducive to serenity.

The facility that will be utilized for the workshop sessions will be held at Hamburger University which is McDonald’s... more

Ametz Adoption Program of JCCA presents its 12th Annual Conference for Pre and Post Adoptive Families and Professionals on Sunday, March 11, 2007 from 8:15 am - 5:30 pm at 130 East 59 Street in New York City.

The title of the Keynote address is The Attachment Process: A Two Way Street with the following professionals:

Alison Rosen, PhD, Amy Rackear, LCSW, Anne Malave, PhD, Benjamin Rosin, Esq., Boris Gindis, PhD., Caren Peet, LMSW, Carolyn Berger, LCSW, Dawn Smith Pliner, Dennis Cotter, LCSW, Dina Rosenfeld, DSW, Dr.... more

Petra B. Wynbrandt the National RegDay Coordinator is seeking volunteers for the 13th Annual RegDay which is being planned for November 10, 2007. I personally was a little surprised to see his posts and requests for volunteers so early in the year. RegDay is 11 months off. However, for an organization to plan a successful event planning ahead is one important key.

I know that in the latter months of 2006 I had wrote about RegDay and tried to encourage triad members to participate. Although I don’t know if I was clear in explaining truly... more

In the comments to my blog regarding a letter to Karen and Jan, a commenter has asked What is Reg Day? I initially was going to respond in the comment section but thought that Reg Day deserves it’s own blog.

Reg Day 2006 was actually held on Saturday, November 18th. Previous years, Reg Day was held in October. This is the first year of a new tradition where Reg Day was held in November because November is National Adoption Awareness Month.

Like I said earlier Reg Day is an annual event to increase public awareness of the International... more

For me one of the best parts about any event that I attend is usually the people whose hearts touch me in a myriad of ways. In past CUB retreats, I have met many inspiring and interesting people. In addition to CUB members from all over the country, there are also authors and speakers.

In past years, I have had the pleasure to meet some of the most notable “stars” in the adoption world such as Nancy Verrier, Carol Schafer, Evelyn Robinson and others. Most, for obvious reasons are women, but... more

PASS of Delmarva, a search and support group based in Salisbury, MD, is going to be very busy this fall. Right on the heels of their Voices of Adoption program, (See http://birthfamily-search.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/voices-in-adoption-event for more information on the Voices of Adoption event) they are planning a search workshop lead by Kate O'Connor, an Annapolis-based searcher who has helped many Maryland and DC-area triad members locate natural family... more

Ah, the CUB retreat. Think stunning orange/pink sunsets - perfect weather - a few strolls on the beach. Imagine 60 or so birthmothers, adoptees and a few birth dads together and basking in feeling understood and accepted. I often comment that I feel most understood with other birth mothers. CUB retreats offer a phenomenal experience for attendees.

All last week, Oct. 2-8, I was in Florida, visiting with my friend Patty, and then attending the CUB retreat. I can't wait to tell you about the... more

Off to Florida soon for me! The CUB Retreat is coming up on Oct. 6-8, and I am looking forward to attending. This CUB retreat will be my third one, and I am looking forward to seeing some of the warm and wonderful people I have met at past retreats.

Ann Fessler, the author of "the Girls Who Went Away," will be speaking at the retreat this year. With the success of her book, she is making the rounds and all reports are that she is winning many hearts along the way. Her book has been very well received... more

Adam continued on with his story and related how receiving his original birth certificate was an watershed experience for him. Holding the paper in his hand, knowing that it had his mother's name on it, filled him with awe. He used the word "mother" for his birth mother, so, I am staying true to how he related his story.

Adam's father spoke about how he believed that he was so open and willing to talk about adoption and Adam's birth family. When Adam when to his stepmother instead of his father when he became interested in searching, he began... more

In a week or so, I will be heading to my first American Adoption Congress Conference("AAC"). Normally AAC has one large national conference, but this year instead is having several regional conference. This conference is a one-day conference held on Saturday, August 12, 2006, entitled, "Creating the Empowered Reunion". Here is the link for more details about the conference.

This conference is also co-sponsored by Washington Adoption Reform Movement (WARM), Adoption Mosaic and Concerned United Birthparents... more