All attendees must arrive at the hotel by 7:00 PM on Sunday, August 24th, unless you have contacted the Conference Coordinator no later than Wednesday, August 20th.
If you arrive after 7:00 PM on Sunday, your room reservation will be canceled. You will need to work directly with the hotel staff to find a new room, based on availability.
Please note: The cost of your room will still be covered by your registration fee.
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The Real Voices – Real Choices Conference is designed to inform, educate, and empower individuals who receive services through providers supported by the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
The event is organized by a volunteer committee made up of individuals with lived experience in areas such as substance use and addiction, developmental disabilities, and mental illness.
The conference will be held August 24 – August 26, 2025. The conference will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24 and end at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
The conference will be held at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach, MO. The web site for Margaritaville Lake Resort is https://www.margaritavilleresortlakeoftheozarks.com/ Directions to Margaritaville Lake Resort are listed on their web site. You may also contact them at 573-348-3131.
Click here to get directions or view the location on Google Maps.
You may want to bring money for personal expenses, including:
Conference t-shirts
Additional meals not covered by the event (see “Meals” section below)
Vending machines and on-site shops at Margaritaville
Having some cash or a card on hand is recommended to cover these optional costs.
Registration Dates
May 1–16: Scholarship Recipients
May 19–June 30: General Attendees
July 1–August 1: Professional Registrations
When you begin the registration form, you will have one hour to complete it. Please ensure you have all necessary information ready before starting
Registration Fees
Single Registration (Private Room)
$150 per person
For consumers, self-advocates, individuals in recovery, or family members who prefer not to share a room.
Double Registration (Shared Room)
$250 total ($125 per person)
For two individuals willing to share a room.
You must list your roommate during registration.
Both individuals must register and pay.
If your roommate does not register, you will be responsible for the full single rate.
Personal Care Attendants (PCAs)
PCAs do not need to pay a separate registration fee if they are rooming with their client.
If a PCA prefers their own room, additional fees will apply. (See PCA section below for details.)
Single Registration
Includes:
All conference materials and activities
Four meals:
Sunday Evening Box Dinner
Monday Breakfast & Lunch
Tuesday Breakfast
One private sleeping room for two nights (August 24–25, 2025) at Margaritaville Lake Resort
Double Registration
Includes (for two people):
All conference materials and activities
Four meals per person:
Sunday Evening Box Dinner
Monday Breakfast & Lunch
Tuesday Breakfast
One shared sleeping room for two nights (August 24–25, 2025) at Margaritaville Lake Resort
Please make checks or money orders payable to:
Missouri Mental Health Foundation
Mail your payment to:
ATTN: RVRC Registration
Missouri Mental Health Foundation
223 E. Capitol Ave, Suite 100
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Professional Registration
The registration fee for professionals is $200. This includes:
All conference materials and activities
Four meals:
Sunday Evening Box Dinner
Monday Breakfast & Lunch
Tuesday Breakfast
Please note:
Professionals are responsible for booking their own hotel accommodations. A discounted rate of $129 per night (plus tax) is available when reserving under the Real Voices group.
To book your stay, contact:
Margaritaville Lake Resort
📞 573-348-3131
Individuals who purchase CEUs for $25 will receive a certificate for 6 CEU credits.
Attendees will have the opportunity to pre-order conference t-shirts for a limited time. More details will be provided soon.
If you are unable to pre-order, t-shirts will also be available for purchase onsite in the merchandise room, just like in previous years.
You may register up to 20 people at one time using the online registration form.
For assistance or more information, please contact the Conference Coordinator:
📞 573-751-3143 (Office)
📧 consumerconference@dmh.mo.gov
We will do our best to place group members’ sleeping rooms near each other, when possible. Your cooperation helps us make these arrangements smoother.
All substitutions must be approved and arranged through the Conference Coordinator.
No substitutions will be allowed without prior approval.
For questions or assistance, please call:
📞 573-751-3143 (Office)
We understand that sometimes delays happen. However, if you miss the June 30, 2025 registration deadline, the Conference Committee may not be able to accommodate your requests—including hotel accommodations, special meal needs, or provide conference materials.
To cancel your registration, please notify either:
Missouri Department of Mental Health Conference Coordinator at 573-751-3143 (office), or
Missouri Mental Health Foundation at 573-635-9201
Deadline: August 1, 2025
Cancellations or replacements made after August 1, 2025 will not receive a refund.
Please note: If you register but do not attend and do not cancel, you will not be guaranteed a hotel reservation for next year’s conference.
Conference Check-In
Check-in opens at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 24.
The conference officially starts at 2:00 p.m.
Hotel check-in begins at 4:00 p.m.
If you have questions, you can contact the Conference Coordinator at:
📞 573-751-3143 (office)
📧 consumerconference@dmh.mo.gov
Please note: If you register but do not attend and do not cancel, you will not be guaranteed a hotel reservation for next year’s conference.
Meals Provided
Four meals are included with your registration:
Sunday Evening (boxed meal)
Monday Breakfast
Monday Lunch
Tuesday Breakfast
On Sunday evening, the boxed meal can be enjoyed in Windgate Hall with other attendees or taken to your room.
You are welcome to bring your own food and store it in your hotel room refrigerator. Additionally, various restaurants are available onsite at Margaritaville Lake Resort, or you can explore local dining options off the property.
Important:
To enter Windgate for the provided meals, you must show your conference badge. Without a badge, entry will not be permitted.
Optional Meal
An optional meal will be offered on Monday evening. You may pre-purchase this meal during registration or pay for it onsite by noon on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Additional Guests
Meal tickets for additional guests can be purchased at the Conference Registration Desk for $35 each.
Payment accepted: cash or check only.
Special Dietary Needs
If you require a special diet, please indicate this when you register.
The hotel will do its best to accommodate reasonable requests.
When dining, please ask Margaritaville Resort staff for your special meal, as these are prepared and set aside only upon request.
Yes, there are several dining choices available within the main complex. Please see the link below for details on all the options.
Please note: During busy times, lines can be long and service may take longer than usual.
Evening Entertainment
Sunday Evening: Bingo
Join us for bingo in Paradise Rooms A, B, and C. Signs will be posted that evening with instructions on where to go and how to participate.
Monday Evening: Karaoke
Get ready to make history with the longest Conga line Margaritaville Lake Resort has ever seen!
We’ll be hosting karaoke on Monday evening. To perform, you must sign up on Sunday for a chance to have your name randomly drawn.
A list of selected performers will be posted in the lobby Monday morning. Due to high interest and limited time, all performers will be chosen by random drawing.
Hotel Reservations
If you register as a consumer, self-advocate, person in recovery, or family member, conference staff will reserve your hotel room for Sunday, August 24, and Monday, August 25.
Please indicate any special accommodation requests on your registration form so we can communicate them to the hotel. Rooms are limited, so early registration is recommended.
If you register as a professional, you are responsible for booking your own hotel room.
To reserve, contact Margaritaville Lake Resort at 573-348-3131 and mention you are with the Real Voices, Real Choices group.
Hotel Accommodations
Margaritaville Lake Resort has reserved rooms for our conference primarily in the main buildings (Building A and Building E).
Due to the conference’s growth, some attendees may be assigned rooms in other buildings on the resort grounds.
For groups, larger duplexes that sleep 8–10 people may be available. These duplexes include kitchens and multiple bathrooms. If you’re interested, please contact conference staff as soon as possible.
A shuttle service runs between these duplexes and the main building for your convenience.
Please note: These duplexes do not have phones in the rooms. Make sure to bring a cell phone for emergencies.
No, you are not required to share a room unless you have signed up for a double registration, where you have already chosen a roommate—such as your PCA.
Consumers, self-advocates, individuals in recovery, and family members who register and pay for a single registration will have a private room and will not be asked to share.
Unfortunately, due to lodging limitations, Margaritaville and the Conference Staff cannot offer discounted rates for additional nights before or after the conference.
You may still book extra nights at the regular rates set by Margaritaville if you wish to extend your stay.
The official hotel check-in time is 4:00 p.m. at the hotel lobby.
When you arrive, feel free to ask if your room is ready. If it’s not, conference staff will securely hold your luggage in a designated room reserved for attendees.
Please be patient with hotel staff if your room isn’t available before 4:00 p.m. They are working hard to prepare rooms after previous guests check out.
Luggage will be able to be stored upon check in and departure in Windgate 64. Please watch for signs.
Wi-Fi is available at the hotel in the guest rooms and public foyer areas. Meeting rooms do not have Wi-Fi access.
Margaritaville Lake Resort staff can provide transportation within the resort complex upon request. Please contact the front desk if you need this service.
For transportation outside the resort area, you will need to arrange your own transportation.
Only designated/dedicated service animals will be allowed on the property.
Casual dress is appropriate for the conference. Please be aware that conference rooms may be cold, so you might want to bring a sweater or jacket with you. It is difficult to control the temperatures for everyone’s liking, so please plan accordingly.
Margaritaville Lake Resort offers swimming areas, including an indoor accessible pool. You may want to bring a swimsuit.
If you have any questions about swimming facilities during your stay, feel free to ask resort or conference staff.
Please note: There is also a waterpark onsite available for an additional fee.
There is free accessible parking located next to the hotel.
Accessible Rooms
Margaritaville Lake Resort offers accessible hotel rooms. If you need an accessible room, please register as soon as possible and include your accessibility needs on the registration form. Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
The resort has recently added accessible raised toilet seats for regular rooms and portable shower stools.
If all accessible rooms are booked, you may want to consider staying at another nearby hotel.
Please note: Your conference fee does not cover rooms at other hotels, and the Conference Committee cannot make reservations, reduce your conference fee, or pay additional expenses if you choose to stay elsewhere.
Interpreter Services
Interpreter services will be provided only for conference workshops and only as needed.
If you require an interpreter, please indicate this on your registration form and submit it by July 1, 2025.
Afterward, the Conference Coordinator will contact you to identify the sessions you plan to attend so an interpreter can be arranged.
It is important that you speak with the Coordinator by August 7, 2025 to finalize details. If you cannot be reached by that date, interpreter services will not be provided.
Large Print and Braille Materials
The Conference Committee will provide large print and Braille materials for conference workshops on an as-needed basis.
If you need this service, please email the Conference Coordinator at ConsumerConference@dmh.mo.gov by July 15th to request it.
If you have arranged for large print or Braille materials, they will be available at the conference registration desk.
Please remember to inform the staff when you pick up your materials, as these will not be included in your registration packet.
Yes, but only designated/dedicated service animals will be allowed on the property.
PCAs do not have to complete or pay for a separate registration but they must be listed as a PCA on someone’s registration form. PCAs will not be given a separate sleeping room from the person they are assisting. If a PCA wants to stay in a separate room from the individual they are assisting, they must make the reservation and pay for the reservation on their own.
If you have a PCA, you will need to provide us the attendant’s name so they will have a name badge for provided meals. If you do not have their name at the time of registration, we will make a generic name badge for your attendant and they can personalize it when they arrive.
Our staff does not provide transfer services for individuals. Please make sure your PCA is able to perform the necessary functions for your care.
You must know the name of every person who is in your group before arriving at the resort. The Conference Coordinator will be in touch with the main contact person to ensure that all folks are accounted for prior to arrival.
To keep everyone in the same block of rooms contact the Conference Coordinator ahead of time.
Phone: 573-751-3143 (office)
Email: consumerconference@dmh.mo.gov
If you have substitutions on the day of the conference, you must get with the Conference planning staff for approval. No substitutions will be made without the Conference Coordinator’s approval.
Exhibits will be located in Windgate Hall.
This year, we’re providing a checklist—get signatures from all exhibitors on your list to enter your card into a prize drawing!
If you registered as an exhibitor, your registration materials will be available in Windgate Hall with the Conference Planning staff.
If you arrive late, please check in at the registration desk in front of Paradise A.
Your exhibit registration includes all conference meals for up to two people.
Please note, you are responsible for making your own hotel reservations.
Presentations will be about 45 minutes long with 15 minutes of questions and answers.
Presentations will be about a variety of topics. You can find out the content of a presentation by looking in your program booklet.
The committee will give away prizes throughout the conference and during each session.
A grand prize will be awarded at the final session.
You must be present when your name is called to win.
This year, the Real Voices Real Choices Conference will offer five presentations at a time, each organized into a specific track.
The tracks include:
Developmental Disabilities
Mental Illness
Substance Use Disorders
Family/Youth
General (for topics not specific to a designated track)
Attendees are welcome to join any track. The track and presentation descriptions will help you choose sessions based on what you want to learn.
Yes! The Art Room will be located in Windgate 61 — come unleash your creativity!
Art Room hours will be posted on the door. Please note, supplies must stay inside the room.
A Sensory Room will also be available in Parasol I for anyone who needs a quiet, calming space.
We will be hosting some pre-conference activities for early arrivals which will begin at noon. Activities include trivia. Watch for signs.
Yes, meetings will be held each night located in Windgate 62, Windgate 63, and Windgate 64.
The Conference Committee will be selling T-shirts — pricing will be announced later.
Sizes are limited, so we encourage you to purchase early during the conference.
Small mementos will also be available for purchase at the T-shirt sales desk.
Yes, a nurse will be available 24 hours a day.
During conference hours, the nurse can be found in Windgate 60.
After hours, please contact the hotel front desk to page the nurse or emergency personnel.
Please note, nurses are not responsible for providing transfer services.
Need Help?
If you need assistance or have questions during the conference, please visit the Conference Registration Desk or speak with a Conference Planning Committee member.
Committee members will be around throughout the event and can be identified by their volunteer t-shirts.
Lost Nametags and Items
If you lose your nametag, we can provide a replacement.
However, if you lose your conference bag or any items you’ve given away, the conference committee cannot assist. Supplies are limited.
We encourage you to put your name on your belongings.
Lost and Found is located at the Registration Desk.
Photographers will be taking pictures throughout the event.
Photos will be featured in a slideshow at the conference’s end and on the DMH public website.
All attendees are required to sign a photo release form as part of the online registration.
Please note, the committee cannot guarantee that your photo won’t be taken or shared.
To the fullest extent allowed by law, I/we agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Mental Health Foundation, Margaritaville Lake Resort and Conference Center, and their directors, officers, consultants, agents, employees, and volunteers from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses—including attorney’s fees and court costs—that arise from my participation in this event.
This includes any injury, illness, death, personal injury, or damage to property related to my involvement or to others connected with the event.