Red River Celiacs Host 4th Gluten Intolerance Conference

The Red River Celiac GIG Group is hosting their bi-annual Gluten Intolerance Education Conference November 6-7, 2009, in Fargo, ND. This information came to us via Sandy Kohler, a Red River Celiacs GIG Volunteer who held a leadership role in the group before stepping down last year. Sandy is still an active member in the group and is very involved in putting this great event together.

Stacey Juhnke is the RRCGIG Branch Manager. Also an integral part of putting this conference together is Stephanie Engel, owner of Sydney’s Health Market. Stacey and Stephanie help people deal with the local school systems in providing GF/Allergy free food for their children. The number of students on special diets is growing quickly in their area, as it is everywhere these days. Sydney’s Health Market is a gluten-free store that can provide shoppers with multiple food intolerances or allergies with a wide variety of foods. Both Stephanie and Stacey have a child with celiac disease.   

Red River Celiacs GIG is a branch of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America and this is their 4th conference. It promises to be both educational and entertaining with an exciting line up of speakers:

Cynthia S. Rudert- MD F.A.C.P. Gastroenterologist / Atlanta, GA. / Medical Advisor, GIG of North America.

Shelley Case – RD, Regina, SK, CAN / Gluten-Free Nutrition Expert and Author of Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide

Channon Quinn – Auburn, WA / Director of Industry Programs GIG of North America

Jules Dowler Shepard– Catonsville, MD / Author of Nearly Normal Cooking for Gluten-Free Eating” and “The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free” / Creator or Jules Gluten Free Flour Mixes

The two day event will offer educational talks and Q&A Sessions with Shelley Case, RD, Cynthia Rudert, MD, F.A.C.P. and Channon Quinn. Jules Dowler Shepard will “demystify gluten-free bread baking”! If you missed my review of her incredible flour, you can read it here.  

There is a gluten-free dinner buffet on Friday evening and another for lunch on Saturday. Additionally, Shelley Case will be doing a book signing at Sydney’s Health Market on Friday November 6th. Dr. Cynthia Rudert from Atlanta, GA spoke at the first RRCGIG conference in 2003 and they are excited to have her back in 2009. 

Sandy Kohler reports that  their “conferences draw people from a large area covering Canada, MN, ND, SD, WI, IA, and more. We are seeing an increase in the last two years of those being diagnosed with Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance and sensitivities.  One local medical facility is testing all type 1 Diabetics even though they are not truly symptomatic for CD, and diagnosing several through the routine testing because of the autoimmune connection. Our past conferences have had up to 300 attendees so we have moved to a larger venue at the Fargo Holiday Inn this year to accommodate more people.”

Sydney’s Health Market is a sponsor of the conference. Please note that due to a flood, the website for Sydney’s Health Market went down. They are working on getting their site back online, but they do accept phone orders and can be contacted by e-mail through their website.

There is still time to register for the Red River Celiacs 2009 Conference. If you can get to the area, it will be worth your while to attend this great two day event. The group has arranged for discount room rates at the conference hotel.

Special thanks to Sandy Kohler for telling us about this exciting event!