As of March 5, there are 387 members and guests from our district registered for our International Convention in Las Vegas from June 24-27, 2010. Our total is second only to the convention host district, California-Nevada-Hawaii which has twice as many members as we do. As we had hoped, the Kiwanis world is sitting up and taking notice of the depth of our affection for Tom and our support of his campaign. However, while we are pleased with our response to date, we all realize that we still have a long way to go to reach our goal of 400 delegates and 600 attendees from our district.
Our district will have many more attendees in Las Vegas than Kiwanis International planned. We are currently at 131% of the quota that they set for us (the average district is at 73%), and going up! In order to stay at our district hotel, the Paris, you should make your reservations now, while there are still rooms available.
In addition to electing Tom, our delegates in Las Vegas will be voting on 18 amendments to the Kiwanis International Bylaws, at last count. We will also have appearances by Colin Powell (Opening Session), Jay Leno (Superstar Night) and Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers (Kiwanis Breakfast). Then add the announcement of a new Worldwide Service Project to the mix. It should be an incredible and historic convention to attend!
Registration
The Kiwanis registration fee is $250. Please register now, even if you are uncertain as to whether you might have a conflict that could force you to cancel your registration later. Kiwanis registration fees will be refunded in full if canceled in writing prior to April 25, 2010. There will only be a $25 cancellation fee if the cancellation takes place after that date but prior to May 25, 2010. Registration fees will not be returned if the request is postmarked after May 25, 2010.
Club Delegates
Club delegate certification forms are included in each convention receipt packet. Club delegates should give these forms to their club secretary to sign and submit to Kiwanis International as soon as possible, and in any event, by April 30 so that their delegate certification materials can be included in their on-site registration packet. If you do not expect your club to be represented by the two delegates to whom you are entitled, please reach out to a Past Lt. Governor from another club in your division to represent you. Every Past Lt. Governor who attends the convention but is not a delegate is a lost vote for Tom! Also, please remember that in order to have your delegates accredited when they arrive in Las Vegas, and permitted to vote, your club must be current on all dues and fees owed to Kiwanis International. Wouldn't that be the worst thing of all - To travel all that distance and not even be allowed to participate in the convention!
Things to Do in and around Las Vegas
In addition to the gambling and entertainment for which Vegas is internationally known, there are tremendous shopping venues (Forum Shops at Caesar's, Luxor Galleria Stores, Bally's Avenue Shoppes, to name a few), and a wide variety of attractions (for example, Volcano at the Mirage, Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens and Madame Tussaud's), to say nothing of the spas (Flamingo Health Spa, Four Seasons Spa, MGM Grand Pool and Spa Complex). The possibilities are endless, and there is much to see and do outside the city as well, like for example, visiting the Hoover Dam.
District Reception
Our District Reception will be at the fabulous New York-New York hotel, less than a mile away from our hotel. It will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, the night before the election. It will be a reception, and not a sit down dinner, so people will be free to circulate and enjoy each other's company. And there will be plenty of food, with stations for different kinds of pasta and sauces, jumbo shrimp, vegetables and cheeses. Beer and wine will also be included for the first hour and a half, and there will be a cash bar for the rest. The price for our gathering will be $44 - One dollar for each year that Tom has been a member of the K-Family, and less than the actual cost of the event.
Our reception will be the social event for our district in Las Vegas, the one time and place that all of us will be gathered together prior to the election. It will also be our principal campaign event in Las Vegas, as we will be inviting guests from other districts to join us there to seek their support. We need a tremendous turnout from our district to be there to greet them. Afterwards, we will remain there for a brief meeting of our volunteers to organize ourselves for our campaign activities later that evening and the following day.
Soon, you'll be receiving more information from our district with all of the details about our reception. I hope that you will make it your business to join your fellow "New York-New York"ers for what should be a great evening.
Column Posted on Web Site April 17, 2010
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