Experience the entertainment provided by both the AORN Congress and the city of New Orleans—Congress highlights

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2005  

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Saturday, April 2, to Thursday, April 7, 2005

AORN's 52nd annual Congress will be held Sunday, April 3, to Thursday, April 7, 2005, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in vibrant New Orleans. Pre-Congress is Saturday, April 2. The Congress theme is "Celebrating Our Value." Following are some of the highlights to experience during Congress.

Awards Dinner

Individual outstanding achievement, chapter, and writers awards will be presented during the Awards Dinner on Saturday evening, April 2. Outstanding achievement will be the focus of this memorable evening for all AORN members, especially those who have contributed so much of their personal and professional resources to the mission of AORN.

The dinner will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and dinner is at 7 PM. This black-tie optional dinner is open to all Congress participants and their guests. To purchase a ticket for the event, check the Awards Dinner box on your Congress registration form. Tickets are $50. Seating at this event is limited, and reservations will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mardi Gras

At 7:30 PM on Tuesday, April 5, you are invited to take a look behind the magic at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, where Mardi Gras is made. Walk through this once-forbidden location and experience a carnival showcase with sensational sculpted props and breath-taking giant figures. Bring your camera and take pictures of your colleagues with Marilyn Monroe, the giant Bacchsaurus, and King Kong as you watch Blaine Kern's artists and sculptors create the magical images and figures of Mardi Gras before your eyes.

Join in the fun as you and your colleagues celebrate New Orleans style. Kick up your heels to New Orleans' favorite band, Rockin Dopsie, and eat, drink, and make merry at the Congress 2005 Mardi Gras Party. There will be music, dancing, masks, beads, coins, themed entertainers, parade floats, and much more. Save the date on your calendar now.

A generous donation from the AORN Exhibitors' Advisory Committee, which represents the Congress exhibitors, is subsidizing this Mardi Gras evening, so tickets are only $20 per person. AORN shuttle service will be available from all official AORN hotels and the AORN Mardi Gras Party. Shuttle service will be available from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for guests staying at the Embassy Suites Hotel, the Hampton Inn & Suites Convention Center, and the Holiday Inn Select Convention Center. Tickets may be purchased in advance on your registration form or on site until noon, Tuesday, April 5.

Closing Celebration

"Celebrate Our Value" by relaxing, unwinding, and kicking up your heels as you catch up with old friends and spend a last night with new acquaintances on Thursday, April 7, at 6:30 PM. Join your colleagues, exhibitors, and the AORN Board members for a night of food, fun, dancing, and celebration.

This event will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside and is casual, so dress comfortably and put on your dancing shoes. Food, a complimentary drink, a cash bar, and music are included in the ticket price. The Closing Celebration is a must-attend event for everyone. Reserve your $25 per person ticket when you submit your registration form. Tickets also will be available on site until 10 AM on Thursday, April 7.

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. Your financial support helps make these scholarships possible.

Stop by the Foundation booth in the AORN Resource Center 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 the lifeblood of the AORN Foundation. You are invited to make a contribution of any size at the Foundation booth. For more information on how Foundation contributions are used, visit the Foundation booth.

Black Tie. Formal, festive, and fun, the Black Tie Gala is the AORN Foundation's premier fund-raising event of the year. This elegant event is sure to be a night you will never forget. The Black Tie Gala will be held on Monday, April 4, 2005, in the Grand Ballroom of The New Orleans Marriott. The reception begins at 7 PM, followed by dinner and dancing at 8 PM.

Eighth Annual 5K Fun Run/Walk. Wake up with an invigorating 5K Run/Walk. This popular event is a great way to start your day and contribute to the AORN Foundation's many worthy programs. The Run/Walk will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at 6:15 AM at Audubon Park. Last year, more than 500 attendees registered for the Run/Walk, so the Foundation encourages you to sign up early to reserve your T-shirt. AORN shuttle buses will rotate among all official AORN hotels and the Run/Walk site. Refreshments will be provided after the race.