2012 Conference Details

For 2012, as in past years, we will have both a spring and a fall series of meetings in Italy.  The spring and fall times of year are the best to visit Italy as the crowds are gone and the weather is fantastic.  Keep in mind that each meeting (spring and fall) will have 2 separate educational components.  Each educational program will offer 12 hours of top notch COPE approved CE.  You can register for either program for one fee, or both programs in either the spring or fall, at a reduced rate.  Thus, you can obtain 24 hours of COPE approved CE at each complete program, if you so desire.

Please note that you must register with me directly for the educational component of the program, and with the hotel directly for your rooms at a discounted rate.  The room reservations are being held for registered attendees, so be sure to register for the program before making your hotel reservations.

SPRING 2012 MEETINGS:

Cinque Terre, May 16, 17 and 18, 2012

The Cinque Terre is more commonly known as the Italian Riviera.  Though it is technically not a part of Tuscany, it is adjacent to Tuscany and is very close to Pisa and Florence.  The Cinque Terre (CT for short) consists of 5 isolated towns on the Mediterranean that are accessible only by boat or train.  From North to south they are:  Monterossa, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

Here is a link to the Cinque Terre so that you can get a feel for the incredible beauty of this area:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terre  Be sure to click on the links at the bottom of the page showing photos of each of the towns.

I have stayed in the Cinque Terre several times previously, and we have had a CE in Italy conference there a couple of years ago, so I am familiar with the area.  While the 5 CT towns are strikingly beautiful, they are not the best place to have the meeting, as conference space is at a premium, as are rooms.  In 2012, as in previous years, the meeting will be held in Portovenere, which is ‘right around the corner’ from the CT (look at a map online and you will see what I mean).  Portovenere is also a very beautiful, and very flat town, that has numerous hotels and restaurants.  It is conducive to strolling around in the evening in a relaxed setting.  It is also the launching point for the ferries that take you to the CT, and in my opinion, the views of the CT from the Mediterranean are spectacular.

Our conference hotel will be Hotel della Baia, located in Le Grazie, a section of Portovenere.  http://www.baiahotel.com/uk/default.htm  A 5 minute bus ride gets you from the hotel to the center of Portovenere.  Hotel della Baia sits on the waterfront overlooking a harbor and the hills beyond.  Please note that the block of rooms will be held only until January 31, 2012....after that time, the rooms will be released to the public and will be on an available only basis.  Make your plans early!

As with all resort, waterfront properties, the closer you get to the water and the center of things, the more expensive things become.  Rooms in Hotel della Baia are about 150 euros per night less than hotels adjacent to where the ferries dock in Portovenere.  Le Grazie is more representative of small town living, so you can get the best of both worlds, without breaking the bank.

If you going to the Cinque Terre meeting, you will need to make your hotel reservations directly with Antonio at Hotel della Baia at the following email address:  hbaia@baiahotel.com  Make certain to tell Antionio that you are with Dr. Fanelli's group so that you will get the discounted price on the rooms.  And a quick word about the rooms:  they are small.  Italian beach resort hotels typically have small rooms simply for sleeping and showering.  Larger rooms can be had at other hotels, with a much larger price tag.  Just an FYI.

Continuing education will be from 6:30AM to 10:30AM on the mornings of May 16, 17 and 18.  Coffee, juice and biscotti will be available to the doctors at the CE meeting, and a full breakfast will be available at the completion of the CE.  A cocktail welcome reception will be held on the evening of May 15 so that everyone can get to know one another and pick up their registration materials.

Immersion into Tuscany: Castiglion Fiorentino,  May 20, 21 and 22, 2012

Everyone talks about how beautiful Tuscany is, and frankly, it is!  But the real beauty of Tuscany can be found in many of the small villages found throughout the region.  Walk the small streets of a medieval village, listen to the sounds of the locals and the church bells, experience authentic Tuscan cooking.  And most importantly, slow everything down.  Immerse yourself in the true Tuscany you hear so much about. And relax.  The smile in your soul awaits.

The second 2012 Spring meeting will be held in Castiglion Fiorentino.  Many of you probably have not heard of Castiglion Fiorentino, which is exactly why we are having the meeting there.  It is a small, medieval hill top walled village that is completely self contained.  Everything you can want or need can be found inside the town walls.  Yet the town is easily accessible by car or train.  Trains from Rome and Florence stop in Castiglion Fiorentino.

You probably have heard of Cortona, which is where the movie Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed.  Cortona is about 6 miles from Castiglion Fiorentino.  It is a beautiful town with fantastic views, but honestly, it is full of tourists.  A great place to visit for a day, and the bus from Castiglion Fiorentino is 2.90 euros town center to town center, but to get the Tuscan experience, Castiglion Fiorentino is the place to be.  Just north of Castiglion Fiorentino lies the city of Arezzo, a larger Tuscan town that is a great mix of medieval streets and new shops.  Antiques and jewelry are the top products of Arezzo.  Train ride from Castiglion Fiorentino to Arezzo….5 minutes and about 4 euros.

Here is a nice video of Castiglion Fiorentino:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4M0DpKJDyk&feature=youtube_gdata_player     Watch the video, and you will feel yourself slowing down!

Our conference hotel will be Residence Le Santucce which is inside the medieval walls of the town.  Le Santucce is a converted convent with absolutely beautiful rooms in authentic Tuscan form.  Many of the rooms have kitchens and views of the Val di Chiana, the fertile grape growing region of Tuscany.  Here is a link to Residence Le Santucce:  http://www.santucce.com/home.htm

Make your room reservations for Residence Le Santucce directly by contacting Alfeo at:  info@santucce.com

Continuing education will be from 6:30AM until 10:30AM on the mornings of May 20, 21 and 22.  A welcome reception will occur on the evening of May 19.

There is a good likelihood that Residence Le Santucce will fill during the times of our meetings, and if this is the case, or if you are interested in looking at an alternative place to stay in Castiglion Fiorentino, I would suggest a nice bed and breakfast called Viziottavo  http://www.viziottavo.com/pages/ .   It is located within the town walls and is about a 10 minute walk to Residence Le Santucce which is where the continuing education will be held each morning.  You can contact Fede or Allessio at info@viziottavo.com for reservations.

Given that this area is best known for olive oil and wine we are working on finding a tasting or some such activity that highlights typical Tuscan life.  More details on that to follow on the blog pages.

FALL 2012 MEETINGS:

Florence, September 14, 15 and 16, 2012

Florence....the seat of the Renaissance.  An amazing city full of activity, sights, sounds, and of course, tastes.  From Michelangelo's David to the Uffizzi to the Duomo, the city of Florence will captivate your soul for a lifetime of memories.

As in years past, our meeting will be held at Hotel Silla, an absolutely wonderful boutique hotel that I have stayed in many times.  Hotel Silla http://www.hotelsilla.it/ is strategically located across the Arno River from the historical center of Florence, with a commanding view of the Florentine skyline from the hotel terrace.  A short 10 minute walk is all it takes to get to the historical center of Florence, Piazza Signoria.

Continuing education will be held in the conference room from 6:30AM until 10:30AM on September 14-16  for a total of 12 hours of COPE approved CE.  When you arrive in Florence, and when you leave…..it’s entirely up to you.  When making your hotel reservations, please do so directly with Hotel Silla.  It is important that when you make your hotel room reservations, you specify that you are with Dr. Fanelli’s group, as I was able to negotiate reduced room rates for our meeting.  Please contact Laura at hotelsilla@hotelsilla.it to reserve your room, and be certain to put in the notes "Fanelli meeting".  There is only room for 20 registered doctors and their guests at this hotel, so be sure to register with me for the meeting and with Laura for the room ASAP.

Castiglion Fiorentino, September 18, 19 and 20, 2012

 As described above, Castiglion Fiorentino is the ultimate Tuscan jewel of a medieval walled village.  The continuing education will be each morning of the conference, from 6:30 AM until 10:30 AM, also for a total of 12 houre of COPE approved CE.  You will have the whole day following completion of the morning continuing education to live, breathe, feel and taste Tuscany.

Space is limited so register EARLY!

Keep a look on my blog pages as I update specifics about each location.  
 

 
PLEASE NOTE:

1-You must register for both the meeting and the hotels separately.

2-Meeting registration forms are found on the Registration page of the website.  They are mailed to me

3-Hotel contact information is outlined above, and rooms must be reserved directly with the hotel, not me!

4-For the Italy meetings, since they are back to back, you may register for either or both meetings at a reduced rate.

5-Please keep an eye out on the blog pages of the website as I will offer hints, traveling tips, and suggested things to do while on CE with us.

A presto!

James L. Fanelli, OD, FAAO
jamesfanelli@ceinitaly.com

Take a look at what your colleagues are saying about the meeting:

“I have been in practice for nearly 25 years meaning that I have had over 1000 hours of CE. Never have I attended a conference that was as intimate and interactive as CE in Italy. The small group of doctors got to know each other on a personal level which simply does not happen at a larger gathering. The trio of Jim, Carlo and Joe are both informative and entertaining. I literally learned something that helped me make a diagnosis this week. Let’s not forget that we are also in Italy, one of the most beautiful and romantic places on earth. The setting is worth going to without the conference but let’s face it, we all need the hours so why not get them in Italy.
        Dr. Karl Wolfe, St Mary’s,  PA

“Best educational meeting I have been to in years!  The location was fabulous, all three lecturers were great, with very good material.”
        Dr. David Lowell, Westbrook, Maine

“Great academic info and great cultural experience.  Three great speakers in an informative yet light and interactive setting.  I would have liked to have heard the ‘Three Tenors’ (Fanelli, Pelino, and Pizzimenti) sing.”  (Editor’s note:  the last comment was probably written under the influence of too much chianti!)
        Dr. Brant Gehler, Colorado Springs, Colorado

“Excellent!  Great location:  Italy! Italy! Italy!  The CE was very appropriate for the role of the optometrist as we move our way into the medical healthcare future.”
        Dr. Tish Albin, Houston TX

“It could not have been a more perfect meeting!  The location was great for walking and sightseeing.  The group grand rounds lecture was one of the best I have ever encountered.  Please keep me informed for the 2010 meeting.”
        Dr. Bernard Martin, Buffalo NY

“I thought it was a great group of attendees and I enjoyed meeting everyone.  High quality CE in a beautiful location.  I can’t think of a thing to make next years’ meeting better.”
        Dr. Craig Murtha, Rock Hill, SC

“EXCELLENT!  I liked the early morning meeting times and the small size of the group.  Perfect location!”
        Dr. Pat Bartels, Omaha, Nebraska

“I think that Dr. Carlo Pelino did a fantastic job of presenting  his lectures.  Very knowledgeable individual.  I would like to see more of him on the agenda in the future.”
        Dr. Carlo Pelino, Philadelphia, PA

“The education was excellent and very informative.  Having the lectures on CD’s for us to take home was a great idea.  It’s great to mix CE and vacation.”
        Dr. June Chun, San Francisco, CA

“This was excellent!  The speakers are a great reminder of how important it is for us to constantly review and read new journals/eye literature.  We just need more of it!  The speakers:  too funny!! Great teachers!  Really, you guys were brilliant, full of great information, and a wealth of knowledge.” 
        Dr. Le Phan, Germany

“I’ll be back annually!!!”
        Dr. Graham Foster, Vancouver, BC, Canada

“The education was fantastic and the meeting group was a small, intimate setting, conducive to actually learning.”
        Dr. Susan Wiley, NATO

“The quality of the material was excellent, and the presentations were great.  Hotel della Baia is beautiful, and the service was great.  Keep up the good work!”
        Dr. Maurice Early, Danville, PA

“Everything was excellent in preparation to the finished meeting.  It couldn’t have been better organized.  Maybe some Italian lessons beforehand to help us when we ask directions when we are really lost J”
        Dr. Rebecca Ng, Mission Viejo, CA

“It is difficult to improve this meeting much.  The education was very good, and the size of the group and the comraderie was a plus.” 
        Dr. Conrad Modica, North Haledon, NJ

“The educational component of the meeting was good, and the CE being in the early morning was an efficient use of time.  Perhaps a future meeting in the lakes region???” 
        Dr. Kimberly Wampler, Cedar Park, TX

“Very good education.  The oral medications topic was excellent.  This was an outstanding location.  What I liked best was obviously the location, but the smaller size of the group gave me a greater opportunity for interaction, both during the meeting and while enjoying the sights.  I liked the meeting being split between two locations, giving us a choice of attending one or both.  I chose both!” 
        Dr. JoAnn Jeffers, Myrtle Beach, SC

“I went to the 2009 meeting and am back for the 2010 meeting.  Each one is better than the one before.  These are the best meetings I have attended.  I especially like the Italian time and slow pace. The weather was like heaven.”
        Dr. Philip Clark, Russellville, AR

“Italy-Bellisimo!”
        Dr. Joann Helmus, Davis, CA

“Very good education.  Practical information I can use in my practice.  I loved the Cinque Terre.  Also, here are suggestions for future meetings:  Santa Margherita, the Dolomites and Cortina, Lake Como, Bolzano, and Sardinia, as that is where Italians go for vacation.”
        Dr. Mark Helmus, Davis, CA

“I like gelato.  I really like gelato.  I really, REALLY like gelato!  And I think that Dr. Pelino is a fantastic lecturer.”
        Dr. Carlo Pelino, Philadelphia PA

"A great way to see Ireland and the world, and receive world class continuing education at the same time.  See you in Tuscany and the Italian Alps!"
        Dr. Suzanne Offen, Westfield NJ