Conference Funding

Here is a list of agencies or organizations to contact about the possibility of assistance with conference expenses

Senior citizen groups, Elks, Lions, Soroptimists, Masons, International Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, YMCA, YWCA,Rotary, Kiwanis, area Woman's Clubs, Optimists, Altrusa, Telephone Pioneers, PTA, teachers' organizations, Grange, Farm Bureau, Farmer's Union, business associations, employee's associations, Chamber of Commerce, Medical Society, Dental Society, Business and Professional Women, church groups, Urban League, NAACP, college, university alumni groups.

Another is through your state Special Education Departments or the Department of Human Services, whoever administers money in the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) budget for a disabled individual or a parent. They will often provide stipends or scholarships to attend conferences.

Here are some tips to get you started.

Write a neat letter to the organization:

1. Ask for financial assistance in providing travel. lodging and registration
2. fees for (me and my daughter...) to attend the (name conference, location and date)
3. State why you need to attend this conference, itemize how much it will
4. cost, and state how much you or other individuals or groups can contribute.
5. State your goals in attending, ie. gain valuable information to help my
6. child with albinism and to help others in my community.
7. State length of conference and general subject areas to be covered.
8. State that you will collect conference and vendor material and will be
9. glad to speak to (the group you are writing to) after the conference with a
10. description of the conference and to share information about albinism.  Also
11. state that you want to share this information with others in your community.
12. List a detailed budget:

• Airline and cost of tickets
• Early and Late registration fees
• Hotel, price per night, number of nights, and est. total
• Taxi or ground transportation