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Saturday, March 20, to Thursday, March 25, 2004

AORN's 51st Congress will celebrate "Unity: Perioperative Partnerships," Sunday, March 21, to Thursday, March 25, 2004. Following are some of the highlights to experience at Congress, which will be held at the San Diego Convention Center in beautiful San Diego.

AWARDS DINNER

National, chapter, and committee awards conferred on behalf of AORN will be presented at the Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, March 20, from 6:30 to 10:30 PM. Outstanding achievement will be the focus of this memorable evening for AORN members who have contributed their personal and professional resources to the mission of AORN. The dinner will be held in Room 20D of the San Diego Convention Center. Doors open at 6:30 PM. This black tie optional dinner is open to all Congress participants and their guests. Cost includes a three-course meal, tax, gratuity, coffee, tea, red or white wine, and the awards presentation. A cash bar will be available before and after dinner. If you plan to attend, please indicate this on the Congress registration form and remit the appropriate fee.

CLOSING GET-TOGETHER

Please join us on Thursday evening, March 25, at 7 PM at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina in the San Diego Ballroom for the Closing Get-Together. Tickets are $45 per person, and must be purchased by 2 PM, Monday, March 22. Cost includes food and entertainment. Dress is casual, so come prepared to dance and have a good time.

AORN FOUNDATION EVENTS

Founded in 1991, the AORN Foundation exists to serve and support perioperative nurses and educate and prepare a new generation of perioperative nurses for the challenges to come. The Foundation provides numerous scholarships and education and research grants to AORN members and students who wish to pursue a career in perioperative nursing.

Stop at the Foundation booth during Congress and make a difference in the future of perioperative nursing. Find out about the Foundation's programs and goals, as well as scholarships and grant opportunities. This is the place to learn what the Foundation can do for you and what you can do for the Foundation.

Donations from AORN members, chapters, state councils, corporations, and individuals are time lifeblood of the AORN Foundation. You are invited to make a contribution of any size at the Foundation booth.

The AORN Foundation awards scholarships to AORN members and students each year as part of its goal to provide funds for education and research to enhance perioperative nursing and patient care. Your financial support helps make these scholarships possible. For more information on how Foundation contributions are used, visit the Foundation booth.

BLACK TIE GALA. Formal, festive, and fun--the Black Tie Gala, "Jewels of the Sea," is the AORN Foundation's premier fund-raising extent of the year, as well as an elegant and glamorous way to spend the evening of Monday, March 22. Festivities begin at 7 PM at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. The Foundation invites Congress attendees to participate in this fund-raising event. Space is limited, so register early. Tickets are $250 for AORN members and $300 for nonmembers.

SEVENTH ANNUAL 5K RUN/WALK. Congress attendees are invited to participate in this popular event, which is a great way to start the day and contribute to the AORN Foundation's many worthy causes. Last year more than 400 attendees registered for the race, so sign up early to reserve your T-shirt. The 5K Rim/Walk will take place along the waterfront and will begin at 6:15 AM on Wednesday, March 24. Refreshments will be provided after the race. Registration is $25 in advance or $30 at Congress. For further information on the 5K or the gala, please contact the Foundation office at (800) 755-2676 x 366.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

In addition to an education session, a report at one of the Forums, and a booth in the Congress Resource Center, Government Affairs Department staff members are available to present legislative updates and advocacy strategies at meetings of state councils, committees, and other ancillary groups on request. To schedule an update, contact Fred Franko at (800) 755-2676 x 289. Information presented will focus on AORN's recently revised legislative priorities, current activity in state legislatures, and plans for the Public Policy Conference and Advocacy Day in Washington, DC.

PERIOPERATIVE NURSE WEEK DISPLAY

Perioperative Nurse Week was established in 1979 and is a time for recognizing and honoring perioperative nurses everywhere. A bulletin board featuring press clippings generated from AORN Perioperative Nurse Week 2003 activities will be displayed at Congress in San Diego.

PERIOPERATIVE NURSING DATA SET HELP DESK

Do you have questions about the Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS)? The PNDS Help Desk, located in the AORN Resource Center and staffed by volunteers and Susan V.M. Kleinbeck, RN, PhD, CNOR, will be open during exhibit hours to discuss PNDS implementation issues. Exhibit hall maps identifying booth locations of vendors with a PNDS license will be available at the PNDS Help Desk.

CONGRESS NEWS

Beginning Sunday, March 21, Congress News will be published daily during Congress week. Attendees can pick up copies in the San Diego Convention Center lobby by the registration area. AORN plans for one copy per attendee. A special edition will be published Thursday afternoon to announce the results of the election.

CONGRESS ONLINE

AORN's web site offers special features to help plan your week at Congress. Visit http://www.aorn.org/congress today.

* Personal schedule planner--Plan your week with a personal calendar online and print a copy to take with you.

* Searchable database of sessions and events--Search a database of all Congress events and sessions to help you plan your week.

* e-Expo online exhibits--Use e-Expo to plan your exhibit experience. View a list of companies, floor layout, and products and services, or contact a company sales representative.

* Access the online session attendance/evaluation form at http://www.aorn.org/education/SessionAttendEval1.asp to evaluate Congress sessions and print your contact hour certificate online. This form will be available through May 20.

TOURS

Do not forget to schedule sightseeing into your busy agenda for Congress week. AORN, in conjunction with Whirl-A-Round tours, has selected customized tours and events for your entertainment. The tour program was developed to enhance your free time before and after Congress, as well as provide options for evening entertainment. Tours are offered Friday, March 19, to Saturday, March 27. Make sure all arrangements for tours on Friday, March 26, and Saturday, March 27, are completed before 5 PM on Wednesday, March 24.

Whirl-A-Round will accept preregistration for tours through March 8. Tickets purchased on-site will he subject to a $3 service fee. Cancellations received in writing by March 8, will receive a full refund.

Please notify Whirl-A-Round of any special needs, and every effort will be made to accommodate those with disabilities. Following is a brief description of the tours provided. To register or obtain additional details, go to http:// www.aorn.org/Congress/Attendees/tours.htm. A link to the tour company allows registration through the web site. If you wish to contact the tour company directly, contact Whirl-A-Round by mail at 2900 Bristol St, Suite J 108, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; by telephone at (714) 751-3555; by fax at (714) 751-3888; or by e-mail at wirlrnd@exo.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19

VILLAGE BY THE SEA: CARLSBAD WITH LUNCH AT NEIMAN'S RESTAURANT--9:30 AM TO 4:30 PM. Imagine a place where the charm of the past blends effortlessly with the pleasures of today and provides some of the best shopping opportunities in the country. You will find all this in Carlsbad, "the Village by the Sea." You will visit the Carlsbad Company Stores, where outlet shopping is an art form of its own, and Carlsbad Flower Fields, an annual celebration of brilliant blooms where flower lovers will rejoice. After shopping, lunch is included at the charming Neiman's Restaurant in Carlsbad Village. Preregistration is $60 per guest and includes lunch.

THE HIDDEN VALLEY: ESCONDIDO INCLUDING THE WILD ANIMAL PARK--10:30 AM TO 6 PM. Journey first to Escondido, where towering trees overlook sidewalks that guide you past antique stores, gift shops, and handicraft studios. Victorian architecture buffs can view homes that preserve the era's beauty at its finest. Have lunch on your own at one of a variety of eateries. Next, it is time to explore the world-famous, 700-acre San Diego Wild Animal Park, where you can take in free shows and exhibits designed to increase awareness of the "circle of life." Preregistration is $67 per guest. Sunscreen is recommended.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20