Convention 2009
 

Convention 2009 ... Denver, CO ...


is anyone else going? I'll be there once again... conventions are so much
fun.

information about hotel and such are up on the web site

http://www.alphaxidelta.org/index.ph...vention%202009

I'm thinking about going. Just not 100% sure right now.

DEFINITELY
 

I'll be there....I CANT FLIPPIN WAIT....

I don't know yet. :( They haven't annouced the cost and my budget is tight for "extra's." I heard they are rolling out some changes to make the trip more cost effective, but I just don't know.

It makes me sad too...this would be my fifth convention.....

To any influential people out here (and I know you are ;))....please post the cost as soon as possible! It will be most helpful and I REALLY want to go to my 5th convention!!! :D

I, unfortunately, will probably not be at Convention. Even though it's fairly close to me (well, closer than the East Coast), I still don't think I'd be able to swing it financially. I'm bummed :(

AlphaXi_Husky ... off topic here .. I just noticed the tag line in your signature .. I love that song

Thanks :) It's one of my favorites.

I started my savings account specifically for convention a year ago, and I havent touched it except to add more to it. No way was I going to miss it. I just figured it was easier to plan for what the cost of convention has been in the past. Hopefully it will be cheaper though - but if it is, that's going to be GREAT!

I was hoping to go this year, but nope... preggo lady can't go... :(

You know, I was just poking around at the hotel website. I checked out prices last summer, and I thought FOR SURE we would get a discount for the rooms. They are still listed as around $225 a night. What collegiate chapter can afford that? The last 2 conventions the price has only been around $125 a night. *sigh*

and the sad part of it, is it doesn't make sense to try to find a more affordable place to stay in the area because you need to be able to go back and forth to your room during the day....

Some more information on convention has been posted on the web site ...

go check it out

WOOOOOOOOOO!

Who's gonna do the Foundation run/walk on Saturday morning with me this year?

And YAY for lunches on our OWN!

Exciting - now I reaaaalllly want to go! Maybe I can swing going for Fri-Sun. I checked airfare and it's pretty cheap. Hmmmmmm...

Anyone know when they will release the prices?

Convention registation and hotel registration information are up on the web site

Hotel rooms are $129 per night. But in the online Hotel registration, I don't see anyway to get that rate.

YYAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!
 

Now I just need to figure out what hours I will be "working" at convention, so that I'll know which packages are appropriate for me to register for. No sense in paying for the day time educational sessions if I'm going to have my booth set up instead....

I also need to find out what package is required for those members who are going specifically for the Workout. it looks like the workout is ONLY on Friday, so it might be appropriate to have Workout members get the weekend special plus pay the workout fee. From a chapter standpoint, if she wants the whole package, she can pay the difference....

Darnit.....the get up and go isnt a 5K walk/run this year. :( I'm not doing those exercise sessions...LOL. I guess I'll turn in my "Sleep In" donation to the Foundation instead.

Looks like they are going to start myspace and facebook groups soon to help sisters find roommates....that's cool!

I registered today! Anybody else register yet? Dont forget, if you're getting the full package, tomorrow is the deadline to receive the $25 discount! Registrations after May 1st are charged a $25 late fee.

Yep I registered last weekend ... Still trying to figure out how to get the convention rate at the hotel with online registration.

I'm sad. I was so looking forward to going but I will not be able to.

I am interested in going to convention, since I have never been. I am a little confused on what activities I am going to be interested in attending. Can anyone help me out? I was thinking of just doing the full convention so I can attend everything. But I am not sure if I need to as an alumni.

I am interested to hear what you all think. Thanks.

It depends on what you're interested in. Full convention package is, as you said, access to everything. Daily packages get you just that day and just meals get you just that meals.

Look at the schedule posted on the alphaxidelta.org web site and see what you're interested in attending.

Bad News for chapters trying to save money....
 

Double bed rooms are already booked, so if you wanna fit 4 people in a room, you're going to end up with a king size bed and have to request rollaways... :(

I had no problem getting a double room. I called the hotel and said i was coming in for the axid convention and made my reservation.

The hotel can not accept online reservations cause the whole hotel is booked for Alpha Xi Delta.

darn it. I called them the day i posted that message and they said none were available. I'm gonna call them back right now and see if that status has changed. That ticks me off. Hope I can get one, because I need to be able to fit 4 girls in a room to split the costs with another chapter....


*edit*
okay, I just called....apparently my reservation is requested as a double, but not guaranteed.

Has anyone heard about any of the planned excursions that might be in the works? How much notice are they going to give us to either sign up or at least know what they are?

Sure would like to know what registration is paying for. I know you have to pay for meals but they've been cutting them down and we have to pay for more on our own. Yes, we have to pay for the use of the hotel but how much is that? And us keeping the hotel fuller should help that. The presenters are fraternity volunteers. So......are we basically paying for Natl Council and the volunteers to have their trips paid for or discounted??? This is an expensive trip for people that pay their own way.

I agree it is an expensive trip. But also look at it this way... if it was a cheap trip than you would have every sorority girl attend. I think the cost of the trip limits the attendance so it doesn't end up being one huge party.

The last time I looked into going, convention was in AZ. They were charging $25 for a boxed lunch, so I am glad lunches are on our own.

This is the first convention I am attending. I hope it is everything I am expecting and more.

You must have never rented a hotel room for anything - especially for extended periods of time, over the course of 4 days. I have had friends get married in hotel ballrooms, and they arent cheap....and the fact that those rooms will be reserved for us all day every day for the time we're there in order to prevent conflict with other organizations also has alot to do with it. Time of year - it's one week before a major holiday.

It's just like paying your regular sorority dues while you're a collegiate. You dont always understand why some of your money is going towards fees, but it happens, and it's necessary.

I dont know what is paid for who, and IF some of our money is to help pay for our national council and volunteers, so what? Go and have fun, or don't go. That's the great thing about convention. You have a choice. And I completely agree that the cost HAS to be high in order to limit attendance so that it can be effective, and not mass hysteria.

And I'm SO GLAD they cut out some of the meals so that I can get food on my own. Last time, I had to go to spend extra money afterwards anyway because some of the food was just not what I had in mind. At least now, that part is already discounted and you can plan to go out and eat on your own.

I would love to go. But I'm having financial difficulities. And frankly, I think it should be priced so more people can go, what's this about trying to be exclusive??? Aren't we supposed to be promoting diversity? If you try to price it to keep the masses out, isn't that holding up sterotypes that we've been fighting? Who is it you don't want to come? I just want to know what things are being paid for. There are lots of collegiates that want to come but can't pay these prices.

Hey everyone - Cora's posted a group to help find roommates to convention on facebook!

Let's think about it from a collegiate perspective, as it sounds like you are not an alumna (yet). A formal for a chapter of 60-ish, so say 100 people with dates, in a nice city hotel with a sit down dinner can run $5-8k without any extras (and that's the cost when I planned then 10 years ago!!).:eek: Add transportation, DJ, Dance floor, third party vendor for beverages....and before you know it, you are out $10k+! And that just for ONE night?

A Convention for 3-4 days, multiple meal options, additional conference rooms for breakout sessions, hotel staff to serve the 500+ people who attend. Well, it's expensive! FHQ makes Convention as cost effective as possible by giving US, the attendee's, the option to pick and choose the events we want to attend. If you don't want to attend everyday all day, select the parts that are important for you and your interests.

If you are close enough to drive...pay for the parts you want to attend, pile some of your sisters in a car, and GO! If you cannot, talk to your chapter about adding additional budget for the next Convention. Or better yet, attend The Workout session next summer with a large collegiate group. The The Workout is much cheaper and many times more exciting for a collegiate.

Unfortunately all collegiates cannot attend events such as convention, but it's not due to being exclusive. And for the diversity comment, I'm not sure how Convention would promote diversity other than already having sisters from each collegiate chapter in attendance. We are all Alpha Xi Delta's after all! Lastly, I was a volunteer presenter at the last Convention as were 2 sisters with me....I paid my own way and so did they. Granted we weren't keynote speakers, but in ANY Convention a keynote speaker is a special guest and therefore a cost I am willing to pay for in my fees.

I understand the financial concerns....I took an $8k pay cut this year and it hurts really bad, but I'm budgeting to go, getting a hotel roomie, and picking the events that matter to me. Do what Amanda did....she created a savings account, just for Convention!!

Just my two cents.....sorry I'm wordy, but it's been a long, long few days in Alpha Xi advisor land and I finally get my give my opinion!:rolleyes:

many moons ago as a collegiate (eary 1970s) I really wanted to go to convention and couldn't afford it. My father every year had us setup a Christmas club account to which we made weekly deposits out of our allowance. When I graduated and got a job, I took that example and setup a convention fund and made deposits to it from each check. Over two years, you end up with money for convention... doesn't help much for this year, but if you start now you'll have money for 2011.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I guess I hadn't looked at like that. I know other sisters that have gone and had a good time, and that's what I'd like to do. Guess I won't be able to go but will start saving

Yay! I got my plane ticket. There is no turning back now.

Okay...the excursions have been posted for a little while. are any of you going?

I think I'm going to do the Coors Brewery one...even though I hate beer.

I am undecided... I am a huge Titanic fan but it seems like a museum visit and what fun is that. I think the brewery would be more social.

I really wanted to go rock climbing or white water rafting or something like that.

So far I am also leaning towards the brewery. Let me know your final answer Amanda.

Well, registration for the excursions is due by June 18th, so we've got about 2 more weeks to decide. I think I am going to go ahead and register for it when my next paycheck comes in. I am not a spa kinda person, and like you, I'm not too keen on museums.

Do we want to try for a greek chat meet up? We've tried in the past .. without alot of success ...

Usual meeting place has been the hospitality room before the opening dinner ... any takers this year?

I'm in. Matching faces and names would be nice.

What time does the opening dinner start? My flight comes in the afternoon. I'd be interested in seeing the Greekchatters again. I think we met up in Arizona.