Braceland Registration

HOW DO I REGISTER?

Registration for the Braceland Seminar is simple. All you have to do is send me an email to say you plan to attend and I will reserve a place for you. I will reply with a message about payment options. Once I receive your payment, your registration is complete.

DO I HAVE TO PAY IN ADVANCE?

Yes. In the past I have allowed people to pay at the conference, but not this year. I am no longer willing to take the chance that people promise to attend and pay at the door, then suffer the loss of no shows. The deadline for payment is 29 April 2011. I encourage you to register and save yourself a place, then send your payment by 29 April 2011.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

The Braceland Seminar costs $75, which represents a great value compared to last year in New Orleans where the cost was $155.

CAN MY SPOUSE OR PARTNER ATTEND THE BRACELAND?

Absolutely. Coming to Hawaii with your loved one makes sense. Why not bring him/her to the Braceland. Think the entire day might be boring? This year I am offering a lunch-only rate of $28, so that loved ones can attend without having to sit through the presentations. Why not have your loved one join us for lunch at the Hale Koa?

CAN I PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD?

Yes. I accept credit card payments through PayPal. PayPal credit card payments, however, incur an extra fee. PayPal also allows you to send a payment by directly debiting your bank account with no extra fee.

WILL MY TRAVEL OFFICE PAY YOU IN ADVANCE?

No, your travel office will not send me a payment in advance because I am an individual. You have to pay me personally in advance, then get reimbursed on your travel claim. I will furnish you with a receipt.

WILL I GET CME CREDITS?

No. Last year we had CME credits through Portsmouth, and honestly is was more work than it was worth. And all that work did not attract more people to the seminar.

WHO CAN ATTEND THE BRACELAND SEMINAR?

Anyone who remits the conference fee can attend the Braceland Seminar. The Braceland Seminar is not a closed conference for active duty Navy psychiatrists. I encourage departments with civilian psychiatrists to pass this information along to them. If you are funding a civilian hire to attend the APA, please inform them of the Braceland. We need our civilian counterparts to join us at the Braceland and gain the knowledge we receive. Other federal mental health practitioners, other military service psychiatrists and psychologists, retired psychiatrists, spouses, significant others - all are welcome.

WHY SHOULD I ATTEND?

Because it's the Braceland, silly. It's the Navy Psychiatry Community's great tradition. It's fun. It's Hawaii. It only happens once a year. You'll see your friends and meet new people. It's a chance to network. It's great food. I've been doing this for several years, and if you haven't been to one of my Braceland Seminars, ask around. I put on a great conference. Don't balk at the cost of the conference. You'll be on funded orders. You can't get a day-long medical conference for $75 anywhere else.

IS THE CONFERENCE FEE REIMBURSABLE IF I AM ON FUNDED ORDERS?

Yes, the conference fee, minus the cost of meals, is reimbursable if you are on funded orders. Joint Travel Regulations say that because you are receiving money for meals while on funded orders, you cannot be reimbursed for the cost of meals served in conjunction with a meeting when the cost of the meeting includes meals. The cost of meals for the Braceland Seminar is determined to be $15. This means that all but $15 is reimbursable to you while on funded orders. And for $15, we are going to eat our way through the conference. You should be stuffed when you leave. But if you are still hungry, you will have $70 left over for dinner, because the daily food per diem in Honolulu is $85. So come to the Braceland, eat all day, skip dinner and put $70 in your pocket.

CAN I CRASH THE BRACELAND?

No.