Anyone registered yet?
Nope. I've been to two of them. I was excited to go but found that my time and money was better spent elsewhere. Most of the seminars weren't well prepared (CISM and PAO were notable exceptions). I thought that Reno might have been a fluke but Atlanta nailed it. Unless you're a national board member, there's not much reason, IMO, to spend hundreds of dollars.
IMO the whole thing could be done over the internet, and should be. CAP is in precarious financial straits right now and we should find ways to economize. The national board meeting and its opulent settings (resorts & convention centers) should be scaled back. CAP is paying for airfare, meals, and rooms for 80 or 90 folks (round numbers $800 bucks each) plus regions and wings are footing the bill for many staff members (figure 10 per region and two per wing - another 100 or so). That's nearly $200,000 twice a year. That's not including shipping of equipment, etc.
That said, I think that if you have the opportunity, you should go at least once. Especially to San Antonio - that's a great town!
I'm satisfied with watching the proceedings on streaming video: I've heard feedback from rank-in-file members that after going, they 'could have had a V-8.'
I'll save my travel money for WingConfs and quarterly Wing Command & Staff Calls, which with travel (gas) and lodging can be pricey too. Group CC's and Staff in large states like CA and TX can appreciate that.
I'm going to take my usual pass until 2010, when it will be held in Sandy Eggo. No hotel; will go home every night.
I went to Reno. I'll wait until it comes up here where the air is rare.
I'll have to wait until it comes my way again. I was going to attend the one in Orlando, but it didn't pan out...
I'll wait until it hits close to home. St Louis was close though
I've attended them since 1984. There used to be a lot of cameraderie and wing and region social get togethers. Don't see them anymore.
Listen to all of you, "I'll wait until it comes my way."
Odds are I will never travel to one outside of the Southern US. Not that I wouldn't want to go, just don't have the cash.
I really enjoyed Atlanta in 2007.
Forgive me I'm fairly new to CAP. What happens at the National Board? Is this something I should look in to? San Antonio's not too far away and it's a great place to visit, and several of the previous posters mentioned they enjoyed the experience. Oh, and when's it happening? While I've only been in CAP for a couple months I'm pretty enthusiastic and trying to do as much as I can.
Quote from: MooneyMeyer on July 17, 2009, 05:25:59 AM
Forgive me I'm fairly new to CAP. What happens at the National Board? Is this something I should look in to? San Antonio's not too far away and it's a great place to visit, and several of the previous posters mentioned they enjoyed the experience. Oh, and when's it happening? While I've only been in CAP for a couple months I'm pretty enthusiastic and trying to do as much as I can.
Just consider it a wing or region conference on steroids! ;D
The National Board meets for the second time in the year (first one is usually in March). Various breakout sessions in ES, cadet programs, professional development and aerospace education will be presented, and usually the National Commander presents a 'state of CAP'address to the general membership. I think it's on Labor Day weekend in San Antonio at the Marriott Riverwalk; one of the earlier threads about the NB meeting has the link to registration.
Attendance at two wing, region or national conferences (proof furnished by your receipt for attendance or by others vouching your presence) fulfill part of the requirements for Level III.
Quote from: AlphaSigOU on July 17, 2009, 07:00:35 AM
(proof furnished by your receipt for attendance or by others vouching your presence) fulfill part of the requirements for Level III.
I've always struggled with the fact that there are no fields in the e-services interactive membership profile for conferences attended.
If anyone decides to come, come over and say hi. I promise I won't bite. ;D
I am thinking about going....but the hotel costs are kind of a show stopper.
Anyone in the same boat want to room up and spit the cots (about $300 each for Tue-Sun)?
If its ever in NYC...ill be there...
Visiting quarters at one of the many military installations in the San Antonio area might be an interesting possibility. I have no idea of going, but being retired military is a positive.
Quote from: bosshawk on July 18, 2009, 03:16:19 AM
Visiting quarters at one of the many military installations in the San Antonio area might be an interesting possibility. I have no idea of going, but being retired military is a positive.
Paul:
That is QUITE a benefit of service.
I went to Cibolo, Texas for firearms instructor training, and stayed at Randolph AFB. Great to visit such a historic old post, and definitely easier on the budget than a commercial hotel.
I have stayed at military facilities on vacation all over the country. Safe and secure, comfortable, and not too costly.
Quote from: bosshawk on July 18, 2009, 03:16:19 AM
Visiting quarters at one of the many military installations in the San Antonio area might be an interesting possibility. I have no idea of going, but being retired military is a positive.
The "Visiting Quarters" in the San Antonio area are usually booked pretty solid with "Duty" customers.
Trying to get "Space A" would be iffy at best.
Airline tickets and registration for National Board/Conference in hand. Hope to meet some of you in SA.
I will be there. Stop by my Learning Labs and the PA Town Hall Meeting. See you all in San Antonio. :)
Still deciding. Getting shift changes for work can be a challenge as we do 48 hours.
Does anybody know if CAP was able to get discounted hotel rooms? or are we all paying retail?
At the last Texas Wing Conference I attended, CAP was able to get a heavily discounted hotel room rate. I can't emagine how CAP would not think of getting a great discounted rate seeing how expensive San Antonio hotel rooms are plus the amount of people that are coming.
Quote from: PHall on July 18, 2009, 05:30:24 AM
Quote from: bosshawk on July 18, 2009, 03:16:19 AM
Visiting quarters at one of the many military installations in the San Antonio area might be an interesting possibility. I have no idea of going, but being retired military is a positive.
The "Visiting Quarters" in the San Antonio area are usually booked pretty solid with "Duty" customers.
Trying to get "Space A" would be iffy at best.
+1
I've stayed at Lackland's VAQ twice, the first time there was no issue, the second time I got lucky. They'll bump your non-AD reservation in a millisecond for an AD spot. The only reason I got in the second time is because the family in front of me had asked for two rooms, and the gal at the desk said "we only have one room available." They said they would go off base, and I stepped up and said I would take the room :-D
Well, I reserved a hotel room using the Government rate, it's far cheaper. My police ID is a Government ID card so I'm good.
National should have worked the deal to get all attendee's the Federal or State Government rate for hotel rooms, look at the number of people coming, the hotel would have made money on this anyway.
Quote from: DrJbdm on July 25, 2009, 07:25:44 PM
Well, I reserved a hotel room using the Government rate, it's far cheaper. My police ID is a Government ID card so I'm good.
National should have worked the deal to get all attendee's the Federal or State Government rate for hotel rooms, look at the number of people coming, the hotel would have made money on this anyway.
I believe they did, use the link on the information page.
I did, it isn't much of a rate cut. It's a $10 difference then retail. It's far better to book using a government ID if you are lucky enough to have one. Still think National could have gotten a better deal.
$149 a night using the link on the conference website
$117 a night booking with govt rate.
That's a huge difference.
Registered a few days ago. Rooming with National Historian. Looking forward to the trip.
Quote from: DrJbdm on July 26, 2009, 02:49:24 AM
I did, it isn't much of a rate cut. It's a $10 difference then retail. It's far better to book using a government ID if you are lucky enough to have one. Still think National could have gotten a better deal.
$149 a night using the link on the conference website
$117 a night booking with govt rate.
That's a huge difference.
You have to remember that CAP also stands for "Come and Pay". What the member has to pay for actual attendance (as well as transportation costs) is of little concern to those that put this national meeting on. for example airfare wise it probably would be cheaper in the Dallas/Fort Worth TX area, Boston metrowest area, Chicago metro area, & maybe back to the FL area.
Hotel capacity will always be a concern, but depending upon how you write the contract you should be able to have a cancellation clause IF a cheaper deal comes up. Realistically you could make this happen with only a 90 day window and in the current economic climate save a lot of money.
Anybody know what the average attendance has been over the last 10 years or so?
RM
Folks........
San Antonio is one of my favorite places on the earth to visit, live, and also went to school while there. I just enjoy the area and the people.
However, for all the positives, San Antonio is the last place in Texas to take a convention. Over the years, I have been involved with numerous national organizations and societies as a convention director or host in various cities in Texas and Florida. I learned the hard way that San Antonio with its chamber and convention organizations are not very helpful. If you aren't bringing a meeting with less than 5,000 with money to burn, don't bother the folks at the various meeting agencies. They are not interested in being bothered with such a small group.
I've directed or been a host for groups of between 500 to 1,000 that while they were not turned away, the meetings received no agency assistance from the cavb. This agency assistance is paid for by special hotel taxes from the city and one would think everyone should receive at least a pleasant hello.
The organizations still want to hold their national meetings in San Antonio because it is such a unique town; it just wasn't a pleasant work situation for the hosting committees. The situation in San Antonio is such that most organization's state conventions would be held in cities closer to DFW or Houston. At least in those cities you got a smile and a hello. And the locations are closer to the majority of the state membership.
All that said, enjoy the meetings and get down the riverwalk for some fun.
73s
National does have a history of picking sites that are inconvenient for all. With the exception of St. Louis, Denver, and Philadelphia, all the conferences have been held in locations which require a layover in a hub city along the way. For that matter, NER has only had two conferences in 35 years, both in Philly, while PCR has had at least 5 Reno-2, LV-3, and San Diego, and SER also had had at least 5 all in New Orleans and San Antonio. Additionally why have they gone back to NEV so often? I thought we were supposed to keep the cadets away from gambling, drinking, and legal prostitution!
Quote from: MSG Mac on July 26, 2009, 09:26:34 PM
Additionally why have they gone back to NEV so often? I thought we were supposed to keep the cadets away from gambling, drinking, and legal prostitution!
Nevada goes out of its way to make sure their convention guests are well taken care of. It tends to be a resort destination of sorts and appeals to the Senior Members who would be able to contribute most to the economic pulls of Vegas (casinos, drinking, etc.)
Additionally, prostitution is not legal in Clark County (Las Vegas) or Washoe County (Reno), so the cadets are plenty far away from the legal prostitution...
Quote from: BrandonKea on July 27, 2009, 02:08:29 AM
Quote from: MSG Mac on July 26, 2009, 09:26:34 PM
Additionally why have they gone back to NEV so often? I thought we were supposed to keep the cadets away from gambling, drinking, and legal prostitution!
Nevada goes out of its way to make sure their convention guests are well taken care of. It tends to be a resort destination of sorts and appeals to the Senior Members who would be able to contribute most to the economic pulls of Vegas (casinos, drinking, etc.)
Additionally, prostitution is not legal in Clark County (Las Vegas) or Washoe County (Reno), so the cadets are plenty far away from the legal prostitution...
The question was why the sites are generally within SER and PCR, and why cities in other Regions are generally not selected. The fact that the site is only chosen 2 years out is another question. Why isn't there a 5 or ten year plan for the distribution of the conferences. and to lock in prices.
Being a member of another organization that has traveling annual events. I can say that many venues are unwilling to commit to a price structure that far out. We barely manage to get ours scheduled three years out.
Quote from: MSG Mac on July 27, 2009, 04:55:31 AM
The question was why the sites are generally within SER and PCR, and why cities in other Regions are generally not selected. The fact that the site is only chosen 2 years out is another question. Why isn't there a 5 or ten year plan for the distribution of the conferences. and to lock in prices.
Sites selected in the last 10 years have been SWR, SER, NER, GLR, MER, PCR, RMR and, NCR. ALL 8 regions have been chosen. We were in SER twice (Tampa and Orlando) and PCR twice (Reno and Vegas). I don't think we are concentrating in any one area.
There is a policy of moving the summer NB meeting to different regions. Why we don't book further out is a good question. However, costs over the last few years haven't changed much. CAP can not get govt. rates. Hotels usually don't comp us much because of the size of our conferences (we average 7-900 attendees).
Then again, compared to some other organizations I belong to, this conference is a bargin.
Quote from: FW on July 27, 2009, 11:56:11 AM
Quote from: MSG Mac on July 27, 2009, 04:55:31 AM
.
There is a policy of moving the summer NB meeting to different regions. Why we don't book further out is a good question. However, costs over the last few years haven't changed much. CAP can not get govt. rates. Hotels usually don't comp us much because of the size of our conferences (we average 7-900 attendees).
Then again, compared to some other organizations I belong to, this conference is a bargin.
As historic attendance figures indicate, most CAP members don't really want to spend their discretionary income on attending these type of affairs. :-[ Perhaps it's time for a through review on all the costs of all these meetings/conferences with a goal of reducing/eliminating costs.
Again I'm not sure if CAP realizes that we are in an economic downturn & EVERYTHING we do should look at reduction of costs. Of course perhaps we are part of the economic stimulus ;)
RM
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on July 28, 2009, 12:11:42 PM
Quote from: FW on July 27, 2009, 11:56:11 AM
Quote from: MSG Mac on July 27, 2009, 04:55:31 AM
.
There is a policy of moving the summer NB meeting to different regions. Why we don't book further out is a good question. However, costs over the last few years haven't changed much. CAP can not get govt. rates. Hotels usually don't comp us much because of the size of our conferences (we average 7-900 attendees).
Then again, compared to some other organizations I belong to, this conference is a bargin.
As historic attendance figures indicate, most CAP members don't really want to spend their discretionary income on attending these type of affairs. :-[ Perhaps it's time for a through review on all the costs of all these meetings/conferences with a goal of reducing/eliminating costs.
Again I'm not sure if CAP realizes that we are in an economic downturn & EVERYTHING we do should look at reduction of costs. Of course perhaps we are part of the economic stimulus ;)
RM
I would really rather spend my loot on a mission...reimbursement or not. However, don't knock the experience of simply sharing time with CAP people of similar minds.