NSGC D.C. Area Regional Meeting

April 17, 2009
National Institutes of Health - Bethesda, Maryland
Natcher Building (Building 45), Rooms E1/E2
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Click on the links below to be taken to the appropriate section.

Genetic Counselors Day on the Hill

Feel like you can't make a difference in policy? Think that you don't know enough about the legislative process to visit anyone "on the Hill"? Well, you CAN make a difference, and you don't have to be an expert in anything except genetic counseling to do it!

The NSGC Public Policy Committee is inviting you to join us for Genetic Counselors Day on the Hill. In coordination with individuals who will be arriving in town for the Regional Conference, we are planning to visit the offices of various representatives and senators on Thursday, April 16.

We will meet in groups led by an experienced person, so you will not be alone. We will have a brief training session prior to going on the Hill, on Thursday at 12 noon. This will take place at the NSGC offices at 2025 M Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. From there, we will travel together to visit congressional offices.

It's important for us to highly organize this effort, therefore, if you are interested in participating, please e-mail Christine Perez at cperez@nsgc.org. If you have questions, please contact Barbara Harrison at 202-806-6329 or bwharrison@howard.edu, or John Richardson at 202-367-1239 or jrichardson@nsgc.org.

We look forward to seeing you!
Barbara Harrison
Public Policy Committee Chair

John Richardson
Government Relations Director

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Conference Location
The conference will take place at the main campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Specifically, the conference will take place in the NATCHER BUILDING (Building 45), ROOMS E1/E2.

Getting to the National Institutes of Health and to the Natcher Building

For complete transportation information, including information on how to get through security, directions from area airports, driving directions and public transportation, click here.

You may choose to drive, take a taxi, take the metro, or walk to campus depending on where you are staying or coming from.

• If you drive, please refer to the campus map for parking locations and directions. Please note that due to the limited amount of visitor parking, driving is not recommended. For meeting attendees, designated visitor parking is available in MLP-11 (attached to the visitor center) is the most efficient option. You will not be required to have your vehicle inspected if you park here and then proceed to visitor gateway center.
• If you take a taxi, the taxi will be required to go through vehicle inspection and driver and occupants will proceed with screening inside the vehicle.
• If you take the metro, you want to get off at the MEDICAL CENTER stop on the RED LINE. For more information, go to www.wmata.com
• If you walk or take the metro, please note that it is about a 10 minute walk from the Main Entrance (on Wisconsin Avenue) to the Natcher Building. There is also a shuttle that runs from the Visitor/Gateway Center at the Main Entrance to the Natcher Building. This shuttle is labeled "CAMPUS".

Security
Please note that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) operates under heightened security. Visitors must show photo identification. Also, visitors will have to go through metal detectors and their cars and belongings will be screened for explosives before they are granted access to the NIH campus. Please allow up to 30 minutes to go through the security process. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

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Conference Agenda

For detailed session learning objectives, please click here or click on the session name.

CEU Information
We anticipate approval of the meeting for approximately 0.7 Category 1 CEUs

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Registration Information
Registration includes breakfast, refreshments and lunch on Friday.

CEU’s for the meeting must be purchased separately.

Advance and discounted registration is available before April 10, 2009. You may register online by clicking here. If you prefer to register by mail or fax, please download and submit the registration form.

After April 10, advance registrations will not be accepted. All participants wishing to register may do so on-site at the meeting on April 17 for an increased fee.

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Hotel & Travel Informaion

For a list of suggested hotels, please click here. Please note that NSGC does not have an official room block these hotels. However, it is recommended that guests stay at any of the four hotels located on Wisconsin Avenue (about a 15 minute walk), or the Hyatt on Bethesda Metro Center (one metro stop away from the Medical Center). If you are interested in accommodations, please contact the hotel directly to make room reservations. You may find the contact information for these properties by clicking here.