The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation
along with the
The Vascular Birthmark Institute of New York

Present the 2008 Vascular Birthmarks Conference
and the “Mark of Beauty” Gala

Lisa and Greg Fortunoff, Mark of Beauty Gala Chairs and Sponsors	Edward Strausman 2008 Conference Honoree

We are very excited to announce that the 2008 Vascular Birthmarks Conference will be held in New York City on Saturday, November 15th. This year the conference is one full day only, with a fundraiser the evening before the conference. For the first time in VBF history, we are having the “Mark of Beauty” Gala to jointly benefit VBF and the VBI (Vascular Birthmarks Institute) at Beth Israel. Dr. Milton Waner and Dr. Alex Berenstein are the 2008 Co-Directors of the conference and Lisa and Gregory Fortunoff are the Friday evening Gala Chairs and Event Sponsors. The “Mark of Beauty” Gala will take place at the incredibly beautiful Hudson Theatre located at 145 West 44th Street from 7pm until 10 pm on Friday, November 14th. The conference will take place at the Beth Israel Union Square Auditorium, Phillips Ambulatory Care Center, at10 Union Square East between 14th and 15th Street on November 15th. It will start at 8:30am, with day care drop off and conference registration/check-in starting at 7:30am.

This year’s conference is being held in Memory of Edward Strausman, and it will be unlike any other conference because it will include lectures by the top specialists in the country concerning the latest treatment of vascular birthmarks and tumors. In addition, the conference fee is only $50 per family and the clinic fee is only $50 per family. The clinic portion of the conference is critical, as it gives every family that signs up for a clinic appointment the opportunity to get an accurate diagnosis and an informal treatment plan. For those requesting that all fees other than a $25 non-refundable fee be waived, please contact Basia Joyce at (518) 374-2062 to register by phone.

We will have a limited number of free hotel rooms at the Milford Plaza located at 700 8th Avenue between 44th and 45th Street for FRIDAY EVENING ONLY. These rooms are available on a first come basis. After these rooms are gone, families will be required to make their own hotel accommodations. We will be providing a list of affordable places within a reasonable location of the conference for those who do not get a free room. However, this is a very expensive time of year and so any affordable rooms will likely be near the airport and will require train (subway), bus, or taxi transportation in order to get to the conference.

The cost to attend the Gala is only $125 per person. We are thrilled and honored that the theme “Mark of Beauty” will highlight this event. What is even more exciting is that we have Gary Mauer and his wife Beth Southard, stars of the Phantom of the Opera stage musical production performing for us at the Gala. There are also several other “surprise” guests who will be performing. More details will follow as we confirm these very special performers.

A tentative itinerary will be posted in early summer when topics are confirmed for the conference, and a detailed itinerary for the gala will also be posted at that time

Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all conference attendees and daycare will be provided during the conference lecture. No daycare will be available during the clinic appointments or the Gala.

There are three ways to register: online, by mail, or by phone. To register online, use our links. You can also download the registration form and send a check or money order with your $50 registration fee for each conference and/or clinic as soon as possible to VBF, PO Box 106, Latham, NY 12110. Registrations will be taken over the phone only if you are requesting to have all fees except the $25 non-refundable fee waived. For those who need to cancel, all fees will be returned minus the $25 non-refundable fee if you cancel on or before October 14, 2008. To register by phone, contact Basia Joyce at (518) 374-2062. If you have questions, you can email them to Basia Joyce at BasiaJim99@nycap.rr.com (subject: conference questions) or call her at (518) 374-2062. Thank you.