AGA's Third Annual National Leadership Conference: General Information: FAQ

WHEN AND WHERE WILL THE CONFERENCE BE HELD?

This year’s conference will be held February 7 – 8, 2005, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, in Washington, D.C. All conference events will take place on the Concourse Level.

The Ronald Reagan Building is located next to the Federal Triangle Metrorail Station, connected by the Orange and Blue lines.
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AGA has reserved a block of rooms at the JW Marriott Hotel, located at 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004.

The room rate is $153 (plus tax) per night for single or double occupancy. The rate of $153 is only guaranteed until Monday, January 17, 2005, or until the room block sells out. Reservations received after January 17, or after the room block has been filled, will be made on a space-available basis, and may be subject to higher rates. To make reservations call the JW Marriott Hotel at 202.393.2000 or 800.228.9290. Be sure to mention that you are attending the "AGA NLC."

Hotel rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis until the hotel is sold out. Make your reservations early!

Please refer to our Hotel & Travel page assistance and information about travel to our nation's capital.

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HOW CAN I REGISTER FOR THE NLC?

There are three ways to register for the conference. Register online with a credit card and save $25! You may also register by fax or mail. See the registration information page for instructions.
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WHAT IS MY AGA MEMBER ID NUMBER? WHAT IS MY PASSWORD?

Please contact our Customer Satisfaction Center at 800.AGA.7211, or e-mail Catena Sanders at csanders@agacgfm.org
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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MY REGISTRATION PACKAGE?

Your conference registration fee includes entrance to all education sessions and the Exhibit Hall, 2 continental breakfasts, 4 refreshment breaks, 2 luncheons, a registration tote bag and the ability to earn up to 14 CPE hours.

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IF A LUNCH, RECEPTION OR REFRESHMENT BREAK IS NOT SPONSORED, DOES THAT MEAN IT WILL NOT BE PROVIDED?

No. All of the meals and food and beverage events included in your registration package will be provided regardless of whether or not the meal/break has been sponsored.

Confirmations will be e-mailed to the address provided on your registration form (or mailed if no e-mail address is provided) within 5 - 10 business days after receipt of your registration form.

If you do not provide credit card, check or purchase order for payment with your registration, a confirmation will NOT be sent until full payment or a copy of your purchase order is received. If you do not receive confirmation within four weeks of submitting the registration form with payment, check with your accounting office to confirm the form was actually sent and then contact Julie Cupp, jcupp@agacgfm.org, for further research.

Conference attendees, exhibitors, and speakers may pick up their badges at the Registration Desk, located in the Amphitheater Foyer at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Upon arrival, please stop by the Registration Desk to receive your name badge and other conference materials. Registration will be open during the following hours:

IF I CANCEL MY REGISTRATION, IS MY HOTEL ROOM AUTOMATICALLY CANCELED AND VICE VERSA?

No. These are independent of each other, and you need to cancel each separately. As a reminder, the hotel will charge a penalty for all reservations not canceled at least two weeks before the scheduled arrival date.

CAN I GET A REFUND IF I NEED TO CANCEL MY REGISTRATION?

Refunds, less a $50 processing fee per registrant, will be granted for cancellations received in writing at the AGA National Office by January 28, 2005. Refunds will not be granted for cancellation after this date. “No-shows” are responsible for full conference payment. You can e-mail your cancellation request to Julie Cupp at jcupp@agacgfm.org, or fax to 703.548.9367. Cancellation requests may also be mailed to AGA, 2208 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301.

Yes, if you are unable to attend the conference and have already registered, you may designate another person to take your place. Just complete a registration form for the new attendee and indicate on the form the name of the individual that is being replaced. Membership status is not transferable. Additional fees may be required based on the replacement's membership status. Substitutions must be made in writing. Please fax to 703.548.9367 or mail to Julie Cupp, AGA, 2208 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301.

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CAN I ATTEND JUST THE EXHIBIT HALL ONLY?

Sorry, AGA does not offer “Exhibit Hall Only’ registration.

Your confirmation letter serves as your official receipt. If you need another form of documentation, please contact Julie Cupp, jcupp@agacgfm.org, at 703.684.6931, x207.

Approximately two weeks before the conference all registered attendees will receive an e-mail providing a link to the 2005 registrant List. The roster will also be updated approximately two weeks after the conference. If you did not include your e-mail address on your registration form, please contact Julie Cupp, jcupp@agacgfm.org, by phone at 703.684.6931, x207.

Registration lists are provided as a service for conference attendees, offering a convenient way to network with colleagues. The data provided in these lists may not be harvested, sold to others, incorporated into any type of database, used to generate mailing lists, or employed for any promotional purpose. Send questions to Julie Cupp, jcupp@agacgfm.org

AGA will do its best to accommodate special meal requests (diabetic, low sodium, kosher, vegetarian, etc.) during the “sit down” or plated luncheons. Individuals that notified us of a special meal request at least two weeks before the conference will be provided with a meal based on their dietary needs. Because these meals are pre-ordered before the conference, special meal requests received onsite cannot be guaranteed.

Please note: Food service at plated meal functions will stop after approximately 35 minutes to allow for announcements and award presentations. Please be sure to arrive early enough to be served, especially if you have requested a special meal.

A message board will be located near the conference Registration Desk. The message board will be available throughout the conference for posting messages for conference attendees. AGA does not have the ability to deliver messages directly to attendees, so we ask that you check the message board occasionally.

In cases of emergency, we will do our best to locate attendees in the meeting rooms at the beginning and end of each session. However, sessions will not be interrupted, so please remember to check the message board and/or voice mail during breaks.

Approximately two weeks before the conference all registered attendees will receive an e-mail providing a link where they may view and print speaker's PowerPoint Presentations. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis to include new presentations as they are received. If you did not include your e-mail address on your registration form, please contact Julie Cupp, jcupp@agacgfm.org, by phone at 703.684.6931, x207.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

Business attire is appropriate for all conference activities. Be sure to pack a light jacket since meeting rooms in the hotel are frequently cool. Washington's average high temperature in February is 46° and the average low is 29°. Temperatures may vary from day to day so please dress accordingly.

If you are an award recipient, you and your guest are welcome to join us for the awards luncheon free of charge. If you are registered for the conference, your luncheons are included in your registration package. In addition, if you are registered, you will be able to attend the conference sessions and earn CPE.

No, we just ask award recipients to sit at the "RESERVED" tables at the front of the room.

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STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP.

If you have additional questions, contact Julie Cupp, jcupp@agacgfm.org, at 800.272.7211, x207.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IF I CANCEL MY REGISTRATION, IS MY HOTEL ROOM AUTOMATICALLY CANCELED AND VICE VERSA?