This topic is about the absence of MeetAnOstoMate (MAO) at the 20th United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) conference in Florida. The person who attended the conference was disappointed that MAO did not have a booth or any representation, which they felt was a missed opportunity to promote the website, attract new members, and increase revenue. They initially thought Coloplast was MAO’s sponsor because of their presence at the event, but it turned out that Hollister is the actual sponsor.

Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. If you find yourself at an event like this, you can become an informal ambassador for MAO. Talk to other attendees, share the website address, and encourage them to sign up.

2. Make sure you know who the current sponsor is. Hollister is the sponsor for MAO, not Coloplast. If you're unsure, ask the staff at the booths for clarification.

3. If Hollister has a booth at the event, ask them if they can display information about MAO since they support the site.

4. Keep in mind that MAO might be based in the U.K., which could explain why there was no official presence at a U.S. conference due to travel costs.

5. For future conferences, consider organizing meet-ups with other MAO members. You can post on the forum beforehand to coordinate, share photos, and work together on outreach efforts.