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	Support Survivors? By Kristine Ward National Survivor Advocates Coalition July 6, 2011 http://nationalsurvivoradvocatescoalition.wordpress.com/editorials/ If you are a survivor supporter the 2011 SNAP Conference this weekend is a perfect place for you. It's a prime opportunity to put what you believe into action. The SNAP conference opens Friday evening, July 8 and continues through Sunday at noon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, (Crystal City) Washington, DC – and there is still time to make plans to be there. Wednesday is a great day for getting airline specials if you will be coming in from further than a day's drive from Washington. If you are within driving distance, now's the time to catch the best gas special and fill 'er up. Don't make the trip alone, invite as many folks as your car will hold. The SNAP conference will recharge your engine, introduce you to amazing people, and broaden your vista. We guarantee it. If you are a regular reader of NSAC News the names Barbara Blaine, David Clohessy, Barbara Dorris, Peter Isely, Tom Doyle, Richard Sipe, Jason Berry, Terry McKiernan, Anne Barrett Doyle, and Carolyn Disco are very familiar to you. Here's your chance to meet them in person and if you've already met them to reconnect with them. Email is great, so is the phone, but you can't beat face to face. Don't let this opportunity pass. On this year's agenda are reports from the European front, the Philadelphia trenches, new avenues of treatment approaches for healing, outreach for vulnerable adults, ways to find new resources. And that's just part of the official schedule. In the hallways, at breakout sessions, in the restaurants, in the lobby, on the morning walks there are countless, priceless opportunities that will be unique and life giving. You'll find all the information on the conference schedule, registration and hotel by going to: www.snapnetwork.org The presentations at the SNAP conference are ahead of the headlines. If you are in this movement, this is a must weekend. If you are on the edges of this movement, it's time for you to dive in. Ask yourself: how long will I be lukewarm? Worried about coming alone? Don't be. NSAC knows that's easier said than done. That's why we're hosting an Ice Cream Social reception at the end of the opening session Friday evening. It's designed to be a great meet and greet session and no one will be a stranger. Consider this your official invitation to be our guest of honor. (Don't worry, for those with medical needs, we've arranged for fruit plates.) Wallet a bit thin? When there's a will, there can be ways. Scholarship assistance is available to meet registration fees. Roommates can be found to keep the hotel cost down. Car pooling helps with the expenses. On the East coast there is good train transportation in the District of Columbia. And, did we mention that Wednesday is a wonderful day to find airlines specials? NSAC salutes the hard and dedicated work that survivors have done with scant support from most Catholics in the pews. Many survivors face each day without the support of their own families. This year you can change that. It's way past time the survivors looked out in the audience at the SNAP conference and saw tons of supporters. Without the survivors and their enduing work to seek justice and protect children the darkness would never have been broken about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and other religious institutions. Our debt of gratitude to them can never be repaid. Our solidarity with them is the baseline minimum we can do. That's why NSAC will be at SNAP this weekend. We'll see you there!
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