2008 Capital District Convention Info
by Dave Martin

The 2008 Capital District Convention will be held this year from Thursday, August 14 through Sunday, August 17th in Richmond Virginia at the Downtown Marriot and the Richmond Convention Center, just a few blocks from the State Capitol. Hosted by the Heart of Virginia Region of the Capital District, this year's theme is "Prescription For Success," and one of the big highlights-not to be missed-is Friday night's Birthday Party at the Marriott to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the District Convention.

Sign up now for this three-day celebration and educational experience. Check out the schedule of events! At the convention you can learn more about the Kiwanis organization, get specific education and training, and enjoy the fellowship of Kiwanis members from clubs around the district as we all descend on Richmond. In addition to a number of training sessions, on the agenda is your chance to be involved in the first vote ever on the Capital District Long Range Plan, and you can learn about any proposed changes to the organization in the two House of Delegate Sessions.

Get here early, because Friday night is packed with activity as we kick off the Convention with a fun 90th Birthday Party - complete with cake and ice cream- at the Marriott Hotel. This immediately follows the honors and awards ceremony at 8:00 pm.

The first House of Delegate Session will be considering the proposed District Long Range Plan, developed by District Officers, Lieutenant Governors, and Club Presidents. The second session will feature the election of the 2008-2009 Governor and Governor-Elect, and the installation of the District Officers This is your opportunity to celebrate the year of Governor Art, and to learn about Governor Tom's plans for next year.

One special event is the program by Jane Erickson, President of Kiwanis International Foundation, who will get us started on Saturday morning at the Awards Breakfast. Patricia Cormier, President of Longwood University, will follow the morning sessions as our Saturday Fellowship Luncheon speaker. Other great 90th District Convention events include the Governors Banquet on Saturday evening, and Sunday morning's Inspirational breakfast, followed by more training and planning sessions. Also plan for the philanthropic Caring Corner, and the traditional Ducky Derby event, too! Please review the schedule for complete details.

For your spouses and guests we have lined up an entertaining four-hour bus tour of the City of Richmond's historic and significant landmarks. The highlight will be a personal tour of the recently renovated, classical Virginia State Capital, designed by Thomas Jefferson, first occupied in 1788 and home to America's oldest continuous representative assembly. The tour will also include St. John's Church, where Patrick Henry made his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech, as well as the popular Monument Avenue, the Fan district, Hollywood cemetery, the eclectic Carytown shopping district, and many other interesting sites. The tour will conclude with lunch and shopping in the downtown warehouse entertainment area known as Shockoe Slip.

We encourage you to sign up early for the Convention and reserve your hotel rooms as soon as possible, so you can secure a great discount from the hotel. You can sign up online at the district website www.capdiskiwanis.org, or fill out the registration forms included in the Builder. Registration forms and checks should be mailed to Nicole Jordan, Kiwanis Capital District Convention, PO Box 2275, Chester, VA 23831. If paying by credit card, registration forms may be mailed to the above address or faxed to (804) 768-9562. (No cover page needed.) Please direct all Registration Inquiries to Registration Chair Nicole Jordan at (804) 520-4602, 1-888-278-9729 or njordan236@aol.com.

As for the hotel accommodations, please make hotel reservations directly with the Richmond Marriott. Mention "Capital District Kiwanis" to obtain the conference discount rate, which is guaranteed until July 25. Hotel Information: Richmond Marriott, 500 East Broad Street Richmond Virginia, 23219, (804) 643-3400, http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ricdt-richmond-marriott/.

Also, if you are interested in running an ad in the Conference programs, contact Nancy White at nancy13104@gmail.com. This is a great chance to get some awareness from Kiwanis members from all over the Capital District.

Make your plans now, and get ready to meet new friends and enjoy old friends for this "Prescription for Success" in Richmond this August.