NARPA 2005 Conference Photo's (11/17 - 11/20/2005): Part 1

Although it was not possible for me to take all the photo's I had wanted both during the trip down and back as well as during the NARPA 2005 Conference itself earlier this month, including of everyone who had attended the event from Vermont (and, not every photo taken will end up being posted for that matter either), this particular blog post (as well as any others like it to follow) is an attempt to share some of the photo's taken.

Three of us boarded Amtrak's Vermonter southbound train at the Montpelier Junction station, where we joined six others already onboard who were also going as part of the Vermont Protection and Advocacy (VT P&A) contingent, for our trip to Hartford, CT.

The trip down was enjoyable and went well, the (two different) Conductor(s) and the rest of the train crew(s) we interacted with were both friendly and helpful, so were those we dealt with at the train stations on both ends.

It was good to be able to move around the train, have opportunities to visit with others and take photo's of those of us traveling to the conference together.

In addition, I was able to plug my laptop into an electrical outlet in order to download and process photo's to see how they came out and what I had to work with, all of which kept me quite occupied for most of the trip down.

It is certainly a scenic and relaxing way to travel, which this photo helps to illustrate (taken from onboard the train while moving).

There is nothing like train travel to enjoy the sights one can really only take in from the perspective and in the manner it affords.

With it having been fifty (50) years to the date (November 17th) of when I was born in Middletown (CT.), once we were within Connecticut and traveling along side the river of the same name, it felt to me like I was traveling home or close enough anyway. It was a good feeling, even though Vermont is where I call home and I have no need or plans of leaving.

The trip took about six and a half hours (6 1/2) or so, then all the off loading as well as yet another hour or more of waiting began when we arrived in Hartford, prior to heading to the hotel.

Once everything in need of doing at the train station was done, we were eager to get to the hotel and conference center, however everyone kindly paused for a moment so I could take a group photo while we waited for the free hotel shuttle to pick us up from the transit center (below).


Left to right: Robin, Subeer, Bonnie, Charlie, Jason, Crystal and Ed

It took a lot of creativity and a bit of effort for our driver to fit all of our luggage and two wheel chairs into the back of the shuttle van, but he managed to do so in short order.

We enjoyed a pleasant ride to the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center located in East Hartford, especially being able to enjoy a friendly and interesting conversation with Lansford, who drove us to our destination in a safe, timely and professional manner.

After we checked into the hotel, received our rooms keys and conference materials, brought all our gear to our rooms and quickly settled in as best we could, each of us made our way down for the evening's conference event -- which started just about a half an hour or so prior to our arrival at the hotel.

Following the usual kickoff speeches and introductions, Judi Chamberlin gave an inspiring keynote address.



A total of fourteen people attended the conference from Vermont, including mental health advocates Laura Ziegler and Michael Sabourin, who like most everyone else listened attentively during the presentation of Judi's keynote address. To my knowledge, nine of us were sponsored by VT P&A, at least two were sponsored by Vermont Psychiatric Survivors (VPS) and one person was from Vermont Legal Aid (VLA).

The speeches and keynote address were wrapped up sooner than I had expected they would and we were able to enjoy the dinner buffet, which meant I became to busy to take any more photo's for the evening, especially given how hungry I was and the length of the lines and the resulting wait to get through the two buffet tables each of which had different offerings.

For my part, besides eating my fill, I visited with various people; some of whom I had known previously as well as others I had never met before, including some I only knew from our mutual online interactions and activities.

Much of the rest of the evening was spent networking and enjoying the company of others, making for a long, full and eventful day.

As tired as I was however, it was hard to wind down and ended up spending time floating around a bit until I finally retired to my room for the night in the hopes of resting and getting a little sleep for the next day.