SEE YOU IN CHICAGO!

Board Chair Connie Halporn ‘goes to the mat’ for NWMAF!

5 days til the Conference!

We want to say a massive “thank you” to everyone who’s joining us for all or part of the Conference, whether in-person or online! Our members are what this organization is all about, and we can’t wait to see so many new and familiar faces in Chicago! (As a reminder, registration is still open for Super Saturday and Hybrid ESD participants.) And if you’re not able to join us this year, we definitely hope to see you in 2026!

For quick reference — attendees, please click here to view or download our:

• “Camp letter” to full conference attendees (Please read, as this letter contains an RSVP request for your arrival time and Thursday dinner plans)

• Letter to Super Saturday-only attendees

• Full conference schedule

• Sign-Up Genius (for volunteers)

Update on Continuing Education Units

We’re excited to announce that 20 of our ESD sessions have been approved for Social Work Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for in-person conference attendees. In addition, all 8 Hybrid ESD offerings have been approved for Social Work CEUs! We will be providing attendees who would like to earn Social Work CEUs with a form that they can use to track and log their sessions.

Be a GENIUS! (Volunteers needed)

Thanks to the many folks who managed to volunteer despite our initially glitchy form. We now have an easy-peasy SignUp Genius form (click here), and we could still use some helping hands at the Help Desk, set-up/clean-up for Saturday, etc. So check out the SignUp Genius if you can — many hands make light work!

Shut the Door!!!

Here’s a bit of fun from our Martial Arts Coordinator, Emily Mckee! While at the conference, we invite you to join our 50 Ways to Close a Door Challenge! We want to film you closing the door with your martial art, healing art, or ESD skills, and then we will compile them to make a final video, something like this: Closing the Fridge.

So start thinking about your door closing technique, and at the conference, look out for the selected door with the 50 Ways to Close a Door Challenge poster on it!!!!

A Sweet Treat to Beat the Heat!

It’s the little things that make life sweet! 😍 After the performances on Saturday night,  Kona Ice of Naperville will be in front of Pfeiffer Hall from 8:45-10:15pm to serve their Klassic Kona Ice to anyone in our group who would care to indulge. Cost generously paid by our sponsor Heartland Investments, USA.

Conference Playlist

Can’t wait to get some of those good conference vibes going? Check out the growing Spotify playlist of fun and inspiring tunes for Forward Together! And email Connie (chair@nwmaf.org) any songs you’d like to see added — we love finding new tunes!

What’s Up on WhatsApp?

Looking for a fellow attendee to share a ride from the airport with? Want to reconnect with old camp friends? We’ve created a WhatsApp group for the 2025 Forward Together Conference. We will also be using WhatsApp once we’re on campus, to send out conference-wide updates and announcements, so it’s a good idea to join the group now!

If you already have WhatsApp installed on your phone:

Simply join the Forward Together group by scanning the QR code below — or clicking here!

If you don’t have WhatsApp on your phone yet:

WhatsApp is FREE, is used and trusted all around the world, and is easy to download at your phone’s App Store. If you need more help, you can visit the WhatsApp Help Center. (Be sure to select whether you have an Apple or an Android phone.) Once WhatsApp is installed, join our group by scanning the QR code below or clicking here! We can’t wait to see you there!

Note: If you prefer to join the group by copying and pasting the URL into your browser, it is: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ITvEMDmSPNtI2OPHr67d6j

More Purple Ribbon Team Members Needed!

Do you have experience in providing victim advocacy, crisis, or counseling services?  Do you have experience in the human services? Can you be an empathic and active listener?  Do you want to help make the 2025 NWMAF Conference a safer, more supportive space? If so, we’d love to have you join our team.

Members of the Purple Ribbon Support Team are there to check in and listen when someone is having an emotional time. If you have experience with things like peer counseling, crisis intervention or other therapeutic models, this is a great way to participate in the in the conference. As a volunteer, you decide when to wear your purple ribbon or bandana. When you wear it, this lets people know you are available to listen if needed.

We’d love to have you join us (and thanks to those who have already volunteered!) Please call, text, or email Darla Bolon at 614-327-7209/darlabolon@gmail.com.

Image courtesy of Susana Cipriana on Pixabay