If you don't come, I am going to cry San Antonio another river. :(

So barring something tragic happening... I will be attending Convention YEAH!!! I might be 7 months pregnant but I will be there!!! This might sound weird but I'm glad! I really want to go this year!

San Antonio is wonderful. We go down there at least once a year. You should take an extra day or two and go to Sea World. Or stay at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort. The resort is like a vacation in itself. Old time family style. Just remember it can be humid on the RiverWalk, especially at night. And make sure your shoes are friendly. The walking downtown is non-stop. So if you don't have the right shoes on you will be miserable!

Even though I sadly can't go, I noticed IHQ has updated the website with convention information, including a place to request a registration packet.

I can't come this year either :-(

I have a few weddings to go to this summer and they're out of town.

It's about $200 cheaper if I fly from Birmingham, AL than from Atlanta!!

So I guess I may go that way!

Travel fares
 

I just checked Southwest fares into San Antonio...granted, MCO is a large airport, but flights are as low as $109 each way right now! I've asked when VST will need to arrive, then hope to book as quickly and inexpensively as possible. Any other options that y'all have found?

I received my convention packet today :).

If you are VST, please consider arriving early enough to attend one of the A+ Facilitation Skills workshops on Wednesday.

There are great optional workshops on Thursday, too, for advisors and alumnae. Some of these are not explained as in detail in the program, but hopefully the titles will make them self explanatory.

I'm excited! :D:D

Not to mention, us VST have a lot of fun before the collegiates arrive :D I will be there early for sure!

I got my packet today. LionMI, if you still need cost info, PM or email me!

Glad I'm not driving. It's $21 a day to park!

Rooms can be about $160 a night for 3-4 people.

Convention reg. is about $605.

This means I'll be getting my packet probably by Friday! AGDee or DoctorD, can either of you PM me and give me the scoop on VST stuff for Convention, please?

will do

Cheapest flight I'm seeing so far is $286.. which is still more than $200 less than my flight for Palm Springs!

I'm not seeing cheap fares at all. Nada. This does not make me happy.

Admittedly, I prefer one up and one down.... so that impacts the price some, but not much.

Dr. D--try Bham.

I'm already almost 2 hours from Atlanta... Just can't justify the time it would take for me to drive to Birmingham from where I live.

Time is money! :)

Doctor D. have you looked into Amtrak? There are trains that go from Georgia through New Orleans to San Antonio. We considered the train but there isn't a direct route for us that doesn't involve Chicago or Los Angeles., so we're going to fly.

But...I've been informed of a fabulous educational opporunity that is kind of a one time only deal (an archaeology dig) and if it conflicts I may do that instead. I want to go to convention, but I really want to be on this dig so I need to make choices. :(

A bunch of us from Michigan took Amtrak to the Chicago convention and I'll never do that again! When I booked the tickets, there was all this info about checking luggage and everything. So, I packed heavy... a 12 pack of Diet Pepsi, all my files, many shoes, etc. One large suitcase, one garment bag and a large carry on. I arrive, go to check my luggage "There is no baggage check for this route". <blink> I haul everything back to my car and start chucking things into my trunk. I get it down to my garment bag and the carry on, which both now weigh a ton. Then I realize I have to haul this junk up the stairs to boarding area, through Chicago's Union Station, etc. One of my zippers broke and I lost a bottle of medication. I had to find a spot to stash all this on the train and ended up with my feet on my carry on. I'll take the train to Chicago again, but only with a day or two's worth of clothes, not Convention luggage! I actually had bruises on my shoulders and upper arms from my garment bag.. it was THAT heavy!

As I'm shopping for Convention clothes this year, I'm trying to pick things that can all go with the same pair of shoes. I can't take 5 or 6 pairs of shoes again.. there's just not room!

They said that the hotel would offer a special rate before and after the convention for those who wanted a "real" vacation. If I end up going, we are planning to say in SA but at those prices, not that hotel.

non-convention hotels
 

Of course there are plenty of other hotels in the SA area, with many within walking distance of the convention spot, the Riverwalk, etc. For work, I stayed a couple months ago, at a Hampton Inn. It was less than a 5 min. walk to the RiverCenter area. It was free parking, it was clean and modern, and had the typical Hampton Inn breakfast items (juice, coffee, bagels, donuts, cereal, muffins, and usually a hot item like sausage, bacon, or hash browns). It would be my recommendation if you don't want to spend the convention hotel rate (although $160+taxes for that Marriott is quite decent, I've stayed there for a football bowl game trip).

Has anyone gone to convention before and not stayed at the hotel? What did you all think about it if you did?

See the thing is that... if my hubby goes I don't know if we will be able to pay for the hotel room for just the two of us. So if the Hampton is just up the way a little then I can just walk to the hotel and stuff. Also if he goes, we are driving and $21/day is pricey. The chapter would pay for convention but I don't think they should pay for the hotel and car if he is going with me.

Also... he would just be hold up in the hotel room playing video games all day long... so we would have to have a high speed connection.

One other question... if there is a chance you might not be able to make it last minute... what are the terms of getting refunded or sending someone in your place?

As for not staying at the hotel, my big answer here is: It Depends. I know that personally, it wouldn't work for me because I end up having meetings after the last event every night, sometimes early in the morning for breakfast, etc. But, a 5 minute walk isn't very far. Ideally, he would be able to meet you at the hotel and walk you back to your hotel. I would worry about you walking back to your hotel at 10 pm, no matter what city we were in. I'll be totally honest here. I end up leaving my room by 8 am daily, might scoot upstairs for 15 minutes before lunch, 40 minutes before dinner (to dress for dinner) and then to crash at the end of the day. I'm not sure of what the benefit would be to having an SO there during Convention. Before or after? Absolutely. But during, unless you don't have an official role, seems like he would be bored outta his mind.

I concur. Even when Convention was in Atlanta and I lived close by I stayed in the hotel, because I knew what my hours would be.

We've been looking at other hotels as well since it is the two of us and VandalShyster is obviously not an AlphaGam. ;) If we end up going our men can run around San Antonio doing whatever while we have Squirrel time. Since you're bringing a car that gives your husband a way to go to stuff outside the city or in different areas if he wants.

Did you get that rate from calling the hotel or did I not read my packet as carefully as you read yours? I didn't remember seeing a rate for the hotel.

hotel rates
 

I am pretty sure the packet mentions the hotel rates, as $160+taxes for 1 or 2 people in a room, and $190+taxes for 3 or 4 people in a room. Standard rate for Marriott RiverCenter around that time of year is about $340. To actually get the Alpha Gam rate, I had to call the hotel (i.e. could not get the rate over the internet).

p.s. The Hampton I spoke about does have complimentary wireless high speed internet in the rooms. I specifically remember using it one morning before I drove to the airport.

I really just skimmed my packet for the basics "What do I owe by when?" and "When do I have to be there?" I'll be able to read it more when the kids go to the ex'es house on Friday. They've been keeping me hopping this week.

Airline schedulers are sooo stupid and/or inconsiderate.

I was looking at 1 way tickets. I found 1stops from Bham to CINCY!!! to San Antonio! Or Bham to Atlanta to San Antonio. Or Bham to DENVER! to SA!

AGDLynn, just think about all of those frequent flyer miles for criss-crossing the country on your way to convention !!

Airlines are quite messed up in general, between their hub systems, their rates & specials, overbooking flights, etc.

no offense to those who work for the airlines ... I do recognize that individual employees work hard and do the best they can under their working conditions (like unhappy passengers, weather delays, etc.)

Well... I've got good news... and I've got bad news...

Which to do want first????

Bad... I won't be able to attend convention this year... so sad.
Good News... because I found out today that I'm 11 weeks pregnant!!!! YEAH!! I've known for a while but thought I was only 7 or 8 weeks pregnant which would allow to me still fly down. BUT NOW!!! I won't be allowed to! And the doc doesn't want me to travel after 32 weeks!

So it looks like I will have to wait another two years! Maybe this next time, it will be within 2 hours of my home (HINT HINT HINT to the BIG SQUIRRELS!! Nashville, Lexington, Louisville, somewhere in OHIO!!!)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

(I'm hoping Nashville.);)

Congratulations to you and your new little squirrel. I'm sad that I can't attend either

I did convention at 32 weeks preggers... had to take my medical records with me, though.

Not recommended. Not recommended AT ALL. I still remember the swelling in my legs/ankles. Gained 10 pounds that week, all in water weight. Then didn't gain any more the rest of the pregnancy, cause the water weight disappeared and the baby weight came on.

YAY for you! We'll miss you! Take care of yourself!

I must be channeling Miz Cleo because I already thought you were pregnant and made an announcement. Or I may not be paying close enough attention (that happens). Congratulations!

I also may not be able to go as my aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer and I may need to stay out here with my family. I'm about a 7 hour drive from them now, and being in San Antonio might make it problematic if I need to get home for a funeral. It has already metastasized to her neck and her liver, so radiation and surgery are out. She's starting chemo this week, so we'll see what happens. I lost my father to lung cancer so I know what I'm in for, but this is my mother's family and the only person who has died is my grandmother, and she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died a few days later so their frame of reference isn't a good one. My aunt is the glue that holds that side of the family together, so it is very hard on her six siblings, three kids, and four grandkids.

I'm very sorry to hear that! I was looking forward to finally meeting you!

Perhaps you'll come to Atlanta sometime!

Congrats! Here's hoping for a legacy!

The next Convention location has been probably been booked since last year, it's just kept very quiet until the official announcement! I believe someone said once that they have to book 3 or 4 years in advance to get the facilities, etc. 2010 is probably a done deal, but lobbying for 2012 could be useful! (oh my gosh, that's the year my daughter graduates from high school!)

Thanks everyone! If convention was closer to home then I would attempt the 32 week time but I'm worried about getting stuck in some RFD area... not the birth plan I want.

As to location... I figured that it was already set but I was just hoping it was going to be on the East Coast again. We seem to have a pattern to our locations... Atlanta (EC) Chicago (Mid-Cont), California (WC), San Antonio (Mid-Cont), so hopefully 2010 will be within a 5 or 6 hour travel time for me. I do hope to go to convention before I'm 90.

VanSquirrel... so sorry to hear about your aunt. I understand the long time cancer can affect a family and the trials and tribulations that can occur from it. I'll keep you and your's in my prayers.

So I found my convention info in the mailbox when I came home for lunch, and does anyone happen to know what events VandalShyster can attend? It says guests can come to certain events but I wasn't sure which ones those are. I'm guessing the dinner at the ranch and the diabetes walk, and maybe the opening dinner.

I'll probably call IHQ, but since many of you have been at past conventions I thought you might know off hand.

AGDee presented a horror story of "Convention luggage". Can any of you who have been to convention before offer advice on what kind of and how much clothing to bring for Convention? I'm so excited that Convention is in my area and that I'm not, nor plan to become, pregnant this Convention year so I'm actually going to attend for the first time!

Please advise on Convention clothes!

Your confirmation packet will come with a list of what appropriate attire is for each day/evening. We DO need a lot of outfits usually. I try to mix and match things, but the bottom line is, the Initiation dress and shoes are only going to be worn once! Other than that, I'm trying to keep the shoes to a minimum by being able to wear a pair of shoes with many outfits rather than having a pair for each outfit. I heard one IC member brag once that she had only brought 12 pairs of shoes that year! My goal is 3 or 4 pair. Somewhere in my multitudes of files, I have a sort of checklist that breaks down each day, day time and evening, into what you're wearing, what jewelry, what undergarments, etc. so you can use it as a packing list and make sure you don't forget anything. I think I got it from AGDZOSusan. We do need a lot of stuff, so don't expect to travel light!