CONVENTION 2008

[DoctorD]

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!

[VandalSquirrel]

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.

[AGDee]

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!

[AGDLynn]

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.

[DCDisney]

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).

[GtownGirl98]

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?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by GtownGirl98

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.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by GtownGirl98

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?

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.

[Neeter97]

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!

[AGDee]

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!

[GtownGirl98]

So i know that I took TOOOOO many shoes with me to Pitt this past summer and I know that VST was nothing compared to Convention but I highly suggest tennis shoes (for walking) and flip flop/sandals for meetings because Texas will be getting hot by this time of year... not as bad as August/September but it will be warmer than you might think.

Also... I am a laid back kind of girl... I wear jeans 3 out of the 5 days for work. So here is a suggestion for all those sisters like me... what you might consider "casual" is not "casual" at AGD events... at least that is how it appeared to me. So if you think jeans and a t-shirt is casual, step it up a level. Besides shoes, I took too many t-shirts for sure. Think more along the lines of jeans and polo-shirt or forget the jeans all together and go with nice capri slacks and nice casual dress shirt. Just a suggestion from someone who had an eye opening experience last summer.


Speaking of events at convention... I thought they did more workshops than are presented this time. Are they trying to limit "job-specific" workshops for VST years? Or are the workshops/presentations about normal?

So I did some numbers and I could still attend... I would only be 30 weeks along by then so I could still fly and travel. So I don't know... I will see how things go.

[NutBrnHair]

I see that you'll be in San Antonio and going to the Knibbe Ranch one night. Our 2004 Convention was there & we had a ball the night we went to the ranch. It was a fun, laid-back casual night.

Best wishes for a great meeting.

[DoctorD]

Originally Posted by GtownGirl98

Speaking of events at convention... I thought they did more workshops than are presented this time. Are they trying to limit "job-specific" workshops for VST years? Or are the workshops/presentations about normal?

Workshops last go round were mainly prior and after convention. Attendance at the ones after convention was sparse, so that idea was nixed this go round. My gatherings as workshops have been created have been that the arrangements for hotel meeting space were made with that idea in mind - hotel meeting space was actually at a premium during convention proper, and I can tell you that resulted in less workshops being offered than were originally planned. There is also a different philosophy in place with the workshops that are offered: much like the new community structure where you see a mixing of alumnae and collegian in roles and responsibilities, most of the workshops are designed to be applicable to collegian and alumnae alike, so that guided the selection of workshops that are being offered this go round, too.

Job specific offerings/discussion one can find at the roundtables, as well as the offerings the day prior to convention. Those topics will be advertised to those who select roundtables as part of the registration process. It was chosen not to include that information in the registration packets because of the information overload that would cause.