RCM Newsletter

Book Now for Early Bird Registration
Deadline 1 March 2008

Register before 1 March for the ICM Congress in Glasgow and save £70 (over 100 Euro). The cheaper Early Bird Registration Fee of £460 for the five-day Congress, commencing 1 June 2008, provides an excellent deal at £92 per day for a world class event packed with professional midwifery expertise and innovation.

A special student midwife rate of £175 for the full 5 days is available until 1 March. This is a £60 (over 90 Euro) discount on the final student rate and is excellent value at £35 per day. Student midwives are those undertaking a recognised course of study leading to qualification as a midwife.

The Congress daily programme and abstracts can now be viewed online and delegates can make workshop and symposia selections which can then be saved as a personal planner.

[log in to unmask]" target=_blank>http://www.midwives2008.org/

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Who’s For ICM Glasgow?

As the number of delegates heads towards the 2,000 mark, it is understandable that the largest delegation will come from the four home countries, with one third of the midwives’ bookings from the UK. Following proudly in second place is Australia with 300 delegates; to those of us at the Brisbane Congress the popularity of the 2008 event was no surprise as the “Aussie” midwives had already taken Glasgow to heart. Japan, with a delegation of 160, is in third place, followed by the delegations from New Zealand, USA, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Hong Kong.

At least 50 countries will be represented, including Brazil, Croatia, Indonesia, Malta, Taiwan, and, Trinidad & Tobago.

First Minister for Congress

The First Minister of the Scottish Government, the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MP will address Congress at the plenary session on Tuesday, 3 June. Mr. Salmond also serves as a Member of Parliament in the Westminster Government and took over as Scotland’s First Minister in May 2007.

1st June Extravaganza

It is important to arrive in Glasgow in time for the first day’s opening events, and to ensure that you can participate in the extravaganza of entertainment between 13.00 hrs and 18.00 hrs. It is the ideal opportunity to meet and mix with midwives from all over the world. Make sure you arrive in Glasgow in plenty of time for the first day’s programme on Sunday, 1 June 2008:

• 13.00 hrs: The Celebration of Midwifery: a multi-faith event to celebrate the skills of midwives. A thoroughly enjoyable one-hour programme of song and dance.

• 15.00 hrs: The Opening Ceremony: this is really unmissable, starting with a world championship performance by the Neilston Pipe and Drum Band, followed by the spectacular flag ceremony of ICM countries.

• 17.30 hrs: The Exhibition Opening and Reception with refreshments.

If you are in Glasgow on the Sunday morning you can take a city Tour by bus and find out about the
host city!

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The Unmissable Celebration of Midwifery (Sunday, 1 June)

The voices of the Midwives of South Africa, singing their stimulating and emotional ‘midwives anthem’ will open the celebration.

This multi-faith event features Voicebeat, Glasgow’s most cosmopolitan singing group, consisting of people from Georgia, Germany, Poland, Russia and the African continent, as well as those who were born and live in Scotland.

And then there is Indepen-dance, a company which specialises in dance performance projects, predominantly for adults with learning disabilities and their carers. The organisation believes that everyone should be able to participate in theatre and arts, and provides an environment which is safe and appropriate for the needs of the dancers to perform in, whilst retaining each individual’s dignity and integrity.

Catherine MacDonald, a midwife from Scotland’s Western Isles is a Gold Medallist for Gaelic singing, and will perform at the first event of ICM 2008.

The Programme Organising Committee would like to thank all our Sponsors and Exhibitors for their support to the Conference. In particular, Johnson & Johnson, who are ICM 2008 Premier Sponsors.

After the Congress…what then?

See spectacular Scotland with its breathtaking views on a post-congress tour, and stay in Scotland a little longer to sample more of what your host country has to offer.

‘Hello Scotland’ has been appointed to organise a variety of different tours ranging from a day in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, to an extended 2-night tour of the Highlands and Islands. There is an opportunity to head to St Andrews, home of golf, and learn how golf clubs were made over the ages, or for the romantics in the group to travel into Ayrshire, birthplace of Robert Burns – Scotland’s best-loved bard.

You will not be disappointed by extending your stay for a few days in one of the best small countries in the world. It really does offer something for everyone!

All tours leave from, and return to, central Glasgow, it could not be easier to join!

Go to the [log in to unmask]" target=_blank>Congress home page for more information or alternatively contact Hello Scotland Ltd on [log in to unmask] or call Kirsty on 00 44 (0) 141 944 7224.