Justin's Blog

 Archive for the ‘Allison’s Travels’ Category

Allison is now on her way to the west coast, even XKCD noticed!

:: Justin ::

If you are out there somewhere in the top left hand corner of the US, be sure to look out for Allison over the next couple of weeks.

She’s going to be heading out there and has a wild schedule of training and presentations which she’d love to involve you in.

So, if you are in Oregon or Washington, check out Allison’s blog and get in touch.

:: Justin::

We are putting together our 2008 travel schedule and it’s going to be a wild one, so be sure to get in touch with us if you’d like to get involved or host a session at your agency.

Warren and Maureen are about to head off to Bangladesh for a couple of weeks.

Allison has trips planned to Maine, Oregon, and Washington.

Richard and Justin will be in Oregon and California.

Jim will be in Florida (several times).

Justin will be in West Virginia and Indiana

Maureen will be in Delaware

Justin, Richard, and Kara will be all over New York and New Jersey.

and… That only gets us into February!

After that we’ll be off to conferences all over the country as well as hosting our own conferences in South Dakota, Oregon, Delaware, and Connecticut.

You can keep track on our website by looking at Therap Conferences, Other Conferences, and User Group Meetings.

As always, if you’d like to join in anywhere, or if you would like some on-site training, then please get in touch.

:: Justin ::

September and October are conference months.

All of us here in Therapville will be criss-crossing the country showing our wares.

While we’re out and about we’d love to come and meet with you and your agencies and colleagues.

If you are at any of the conferences, we’d be happy to set up meetings, sessions, and training there.

Take a look at the list here or below

:: Justin ::

The ORA conference was a lively affair. I have a new best friend, Jeff, who helped me set up the Therap display (Jeff has replaced Lloyd!) along with Kay from ORA who was also extremely helpful throughout both days of the conference. Many nice people from agencies in Oregon and Washington stopped by to inquire and say hello. The live walkthrough was well-attended and I believe, well received, by the people who were there; members of Partnerships in Community Living offered some encouraging remarks about their success with the system thus far, as well as the headway they have made in working with their state and county monitors in regards to its reporting features. Thanks to Sarah for also helping me breakdown after a fun and eventful couple of days.

On Friday morning, I met with Oregon Supported Living Program in Eugene. Don and his managers, Lori, Theresa, and Shyra, were very enthusiastic and offered many questions and suggestions as they continue to set up their various programs and sites. They seem like a great organization and I look forward to assisting them however needed with their training and support needs. On Friday afternoon, I met up with Sarah to train two case managers on accessing the system to review the information they require with their given clientele throughout PCL. Both were extremely enthusiastic, taking my cards and planning on discussing it with their colleagues who work with other agencies that are also presently using the system. It was very exciting to see their enthusiasm over the possibility of increased and easier communication, as well as the immediate access to information that the system offers.

I went on my tour of the coast and enjoyed dinner at Mo’s in Lincoln City, walked by the ocean, and had a very nice evening surrounded by some breathtaking scenery. We drove by an internet café and toyed with the notion of heading in to compose some Tlogs but decided it was a little late for us as we were all pretty tired. Thanks to all of you who made me feel so welcome in Oregon. I look forward to returning and continuing to assist you throughout your use of TherapServices.

Please click on the following link to view a few photos of my newfound friends and colleagues in Oregon (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allisontherap). Thanks again. (Upon arriving at Portland International Airport this morning, I found the terror alert still at orange…hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!) >>Allison

While I wasn’t able to click my ruby slippers to get here, the trip over yesterday.

I approached security at Bradley with some trepidation as I too was carrying a projector screen. The chap asked me what it was, “a projector screen” says I. “Cool” says he! No problem. They really are very cool, portable screens, you can see mine in the photo above.
I’m looking forward to meeting some of our Kansan customers and hopefully a bunch of new folks, before donning the slippers and heading home!

:: Justin ::

PS Allison, I hope you had fun setting up the booth in Oregon!

Tuesday it was raining as it is supposed to do in the Pacific Northwest. Another foggy drive this morning to Salem along I-5. I went to visit the fine folks at Sunny Oaks, Therap’s VERY FIRST Oregon user. They have a lovely little office and I was greeted by Karen who immediately was ready with a bunch of great questions about Provider Administration things. Char and Sandy joined us and we went through all types of things including an abbreviated look at Health Tracking, TMS, and ISPs. Our brief meeting turned into a couple of hours and I had great fun with them! Char was very excited about all the system could do and I pointed out that I’d be happy to do some web conferences to help Sunny Oaks use even more of it. They’ll become more friends to add to my list of long distant buds in Oregon…I think I may have to claim Oregon as my own although it is quite a commute! Also, Sarah from PCL offered Sunny Oaks her assistance whenever they have questions as well!! I love this community thing that’s going on around here…Once Karen has rested from her busy morning on the computer, I’m sure she’ll figure out some dates for all of us to get together; I’ll be waiting! By the way, Sandy said she LOVES THERAP!

More pictures tomorrow and I’m sure there will be plenty going on at the NW ORA Conference…See you soon! >>Allison

So, I began my voyage from Hartford, Connecticut, on Sunday morning around 4AM. I had a lovely gentleman, Lloyd—my new best friend—check my bags from the sidewalk and keep me from standing in a dreadfully long luggage line. I thought I may have to check three bags as I had an additional projection screen THAT JUSTIN GAVE ME to bring with me but Lloyd suggested I carry it on to save the extra fee. Please note that this screen is in an oblong black case that has a handle to carry over your shoulder. After my new best friend saw to my luggage I went through security and as I was removing my shoes, one of the TSA officers asks, “What’s in the case, Miss?” I told him that it is the projection screen THAT JUSTIN GAVE ME…He, however, decided that several of his friends should have a look and they pull me aside after the rest of my things and (suspicious-looking) me go through security. After a detailed inspection (I was tempted to get the projector and do a walk-through for them), they decided I was not a threat to national security and finally let me on my way. Thanks, Justin…A nice flight to Chicago, by the way, to meet the connection to Portland, however, I was greatly concerned upon landing at O’Hare. Shortly after I entered the terminal and paid for my Starbucks coffee—still carrying the screen THAT JUSTIN GAVE ME—an announcement sounded through the airport: “The Department of Homeland Security has raised the national terror alert to ORANGE!” I looked warily at my case next to me and the group of TSA officers standing by one of the gates and imagined Warren having to bail me out of prison. Was this all my fault? Or was it Justin attempting to make absolutely everything ORANGE? Another mystery….

Upon arriving, I found that my tour guides had been unexpectedly detained and would not be able to make it. Weeping, I made my way to the rental car and then headed down Route 5 to Eugene. There is an expansiveness to Oregon that is absent in the northeast; it just feels big; mountains and hills framing the scenery, silhouettes of pine trees, wide, flat fields with sheep and goats dotting the long, straight drive through Salem and Corvallis. A great ride.

Monday morning began with a dark, foggy ride back up Route 5 to go visit Shangri-La Corporation (http://www.shangrilacorp.org). Ginger, Tracy, Mary Jo, and Jessica, were all very thoughtful, offering suggestions and asking questions. Jessica is beginning to cruise through TMS! Ginger offered many good suggestions—she is very insightful! And Tracy takes a lot of notes…That’s why she’s done so well helping Shangri-La get off the ground. I’m starting to think she knows more than I do (which is probably not terribly hard…but she did know the exact number of pages of ICD-9 codes in the system!!!). How does she do that????

The afternoon was spent with Flory and Sarah over at Partnerships in Community Living (http://www.pclpartnership.org). They are very cool and are continuing to work with the system and offer some great feedback. They were camera shy but promised to take some pictures at the conference on Thursday! Sarah is so enthusiastic about (everything but especially) Therap and the ways she is sure it will continue to grow and help PCL provide the fine services they all ready do…but even better!! I had an easy time finding the place; a big blue building! Note all names and organizations are being used with permission and foreknowledge of being blasted all over this blog!

Tomorrow, more Shangri-La and another few providers! See you then…Check out the pictures (http://www.flickr.com/photos/allisontherap/)…There is a pending tour of the coast so postcard shots and wallpaper pics are coming…Promise!! >>Allison

Justin has given me the highest privilege of posting on his blog! Surely, the blogging world will never recover from such a severe lapse in judgment. So, I’m getting ready to head to Eugene, Oregon, for the Northwest ORA conference (http://www.oregonrehabilitation.org). My suitcase is brimming from the pile of things that Justin gave me to bring along. Next week, I’m going to be traveling all over the state visiting Therap-using providers, helping them with training and answering their questions. That is, of course, when I am not at the conference sitting with the big ORANGE booth on Wednesday and Thursday! On Thursday, there will also be a live walkthrough and a Users’ Group so feel free to come by. I’ve been told by EVERYONE to check out Oregon’s coastline so I have secured two tour guides for Sunday afternoon. I’ll try to post a picture or two for you! By the way, the Mets cannot win…it simply is not allowed, Justin!      >>Allison