AFA’s 2011 National Convention, Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition

September 16-21 - Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
National Harbor, MD

The 2011 AFA National Convention, will be held in National Harbor, MD, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center from September 17-18.

Our Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition will begin on Monday, September 19, and run through Wednesday, September 21. This is truly a one-of-a-kind event where the Air Force Association brings together Air Force leadership, industry experts, and academia from around the world to discuss the issues and challenges facing America, the aerospace community, and our US Air Force today. At this time, the confirmed speakers include: General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force; Mike Donley, Secretary of the Air Force; Columnist Charles Krauthammer; and noted authors, Warren Kozack and Robert Kaplan.

Important Reminders Regarding Potential Delegates

Who can be a Delegate? – Any voting member affiliated with a chapter can be a Delegate for their state if duly selected as a Delegate by the State President. (Cadets may not serve as Delegates.) All individuals who plan to represent their chapter on the state delegation must coordinate with the State President since the State President is responsible for selecting Delegates in accordance with the AFA National Constitution. The State President must provide a preliminary delegate roster to AFA Headquarters, c/o Kari Hahn, by August 15. The official roster of selected Delegates must be presented to the Credentials Committee on Saturday, September 17.

What is a Delegate required to attend during the Convention? – Delegates must attend the business session on Saturday, the Region Caucus held on Saturday night and the business session on Sunday. You should plan on attending the Congressional Morning Reception on Tuesday morning and the individual appointment with your Members of Congress if scheduled.

Following is the tentative schedule of events to assist you in making your plans:

Friday, September 16
Region Presidents Meeting
Aerospace Education Council Meeting
Executive Committee Meeting

Saturday, September 17
Board of Directors Meeting
Credentials Registration
Delegate Workshops (TBD)
Delegate Information Session
Catholic Mass
Field Awards Reception & Dinner
Regional Caucuses

Sunday, September 18
Continental Breakfast
Memorial Service at the Air Force Memorial
Convention Business Session
Official Delegates Lunch
AFA Convention Business Session (continued)
Delegate Education Session at Lockheed Martin facility

Monday, September 19
Continental Breakfast
Opening and Awards Ceremony
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Aerospace Technology Exposition
Air & Space Conference
Air & Space Workshops
Delegate Workshops
Outstanding Airmen of the Year Reception & Dinner

Tuesday, September 20
Congressional Breakfast Reception
Individual Congressional Appointments
Air & Space Conference
Aerospace Technology Exposition

Wednesday, September 21
Continental Breakfast
Air & Space Conference
Aerospace Technology Exposition
Air Force Anniversary Reception and Dinner

A complete schedule with times will be published on the AFA website and in a future issue of Newsline when available.

To ensure you have the accommodations and tickets you want to have, you must do two separate things:

FIRST – Register for the Convention and/or the Air & Space Conference

If you will be serving as a delegate to the National Convention, you MUST register and pay your delegate fee. AFA Delegates should use the on-line registration process to register. Please visit our main event webpage at http://www.afa.org/events/conference/2011/default.asp. Select the registration button on the right to register under the ‘AFA National Convention Delegates’ section in order to receive the special AFA Delegate rate. NOTE: Convention delegates are selected by the state president for each state. Delegates must have a current AFA membership and be affiliated with a chapter within the state they represent. (Cadets may not serve as Delegates.)

SECOND – Make your hotel reservation

The Air Force Association is pleased to extend our delegates the military rate of $211 single/double per night, plus applicable taxes (roughly $245). Please make your reservations now to ensure you get the military rate. Reservations will be accepted on a first-in basis until the block is full or until Thursday, August 25, 2011 by noon, whichever comes first. To reserve your hotel room, you must first register for the Convention/Conference. At the end of the registration process, your Internet browser will display a registration confirmation page. Scroll to the bottom of the page to click the button ‘Make a Hotel Reservation’ and then input the appropriate information. NOTE: Do not call the hotel directly; this is the only avenue available for you to make your hotel reservation at this rate.

Resort fee is now waived: The Gaylord National™ Resort & Convention Center on the Potomac has included the resort fee in your rate which covers local phone calls up to 20 minutes ($.10/minute thereafter), complimentary toll-free and credit card calls up to 20 minutes ($.10/minute thereafter), complimentary bottled water (2 per room, per day), complimentary daily newspaper, complimentary access to the resort's state-of-the-art Fitness Center, and complimentary high-speed Internet access in each guestroom.

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