Reality Planning for “Reality Check”

1. Reality Planning for“Reality Check” One Accord 2010 National Conference www.gammalo.org

2. Agenda • “Reality Check” General Info • Registration Dates and Rates • What’s Included with Conference Fees • Travel Arrangements • Estimated Total Cost Per Person • Where Money Can Be Saved… • Fundraising Ideas • Limited Conference Financial Aid • Suggested Timeline • Questions

3. “Reality Check” General Info • Dates • Wednesday, August 4th – Sunday, August 8th 2010 • Galatians 6:3-5 • Celebrating ALO’s 20th Anniversary • City • Lansing, MI • Hotel • The Lexington Hotel Lansing • 925 South Creyts Rd., Lansing, MI 48917 (http://www.lexingtonlansing.com) • Reservations – $95 per night (Rate is good till early July 2010) • $75 SAVINGS!!!! • Call 517-391-1298; under Gamma ALO room block • 1st night room deposit, major credit/debit card, or Conference Committee • Some Amenities - Free Airport Shuttle to and from Airport & Free Wireless Internet

4. Registration Dates and Rates • Early Registration – September 1st, 2009 thru February 28th, 2010 • Standard Rate: $139 per person • Student Rate: $99 per person • Married Couples Rate: $199 per couple • Regular Registration – March 1st, 2010 thru July 15th, 2010 • Standard Rate: $160 per person • Student Rate: $120 per person • Married Couples Rate: $240 per couple • Late Registration – July 16th, 2010 and beyond • Standard Rate: $185 per person • Student Rate: $145 per person • Married Couples Rate: $290 per couple • *Students are considered those who are enrolled as a full-time student, including graduate students, after December 31st, 2009

5. What’s Included with Conference Fees • Conference fees include • Access to seminars • Social outings • “Put It Down” national step show • Two meals • Thursday lunch • Friday night gala • Other conference materials and amenities • Disclaimer:Conference Fees WILL NOT be prorated if a person registers and is not able to attend the entire conference. After May 1, 2010, Registration fees are non-refundable, yet are transferable between individual parties. Contact your hotel directly for their refund policy.

6. Travel Arrangements • Airport(s) • Capital City Airport, Capitol City Boulevard, DeWitt, MI (LAN) • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) • Michigan Flyer Motor Coach Service (www.michiganflyer.com) • Book plane flight early • Research travel search engines or use a travel agent for best rates • e.g. Expedia.com; Hotwire.com, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com, Airlines Sites • Later flight bookings can lead to higher costs • Consider renting vehicles to making a road trip • Research travel search engines or car rental places for best rates • e.g. Budget, Avis, Alamo, Enterprise • Consider traveling by bus or train • Greyhound and Amtrak have great rates • Charter bus for a region

7. Estimated Total Cost Per Person • Estimated Total Cost Per Person - $700 • Registration (based off early student rate) - $99 • Travel (based off a round trip plane flight) - $300 • Lodging (based off 4 people per room) - $100 • Additional Food/Fun Stuff - $100 • Paraphernalia, Books, & Gifts - $100

8. Where Money Can Be Saved… • Register early!!!! • You have an entire semester + early spring for early registration • Travel • Book Travel Early - Later bookings can lead to higher costs • Consider flying into Detroit and taking the Michigan Flyer • Travel with a group – Discounts typically available with all forms of transportation • Stay at the conference hotel – Great Room Rate!!! • Room with 3-4 people • Higher chance to arrive to sessions in a timely manner • Additional Food/Fun Stuff • Purchase snacks before conference • General idea of what you might do before conference • Paraphernalia, Books, & Gifts • Make a list of what you might want before to conference • Look vendors website to see what’s offered

9. Fundraising Ideas • Highly encouraged! • G-Phi-D & ALO understands • Financial challenges • Chapters raise funding for campus events • Plan Accordingly

10. Fundraising Ideas • Group up for a special event or sporting event • Talk with your local special events center or sports teams about: • Clean up after a concert/game • Serve as ushers during a concert/game • Work a concessions stands during a concert/game • Negotiate fundraisers with local restaurants • Receipt collections, Saturday breakfast, Car hops • Could earn portion of restaurants proceeds • Could earn tips made during that time • Host a raffle • Various products, gifts, signed items as prizes • Ask businesses, athletic departments, etc. for donated raffle items • Follow your campus’ procedure on raffles

11. Fundraising Ideas • Host a tournament challenge with entry fee • Basketball, Video Game, Bowling, Dominoes, Dance-Off, etc. • Offer a nice prize for the winner • Sell t-shirts, baked goods, or other appealing items • Small investments can go along way • Research local business for best rates on products • Host a banquet, Club Virtue, or other social event • Use part of the proceeds towards conference funds • Host car washes • Best weekends to host – payday weekends (On or near 1st or 15th) • Spring Time (High School Proms) might be the optimal for best results

12. Fundraising Ideas • Talk with your campus student life center or college department • Some schools help to subsidize cost to major national conferences • Confirm commitments in a written document • Solicit local businesses or churches for sponsorship • Best time to ask - before December 2009 • That’s when businesses & churches set budgets for upcoming year • Offer to host a booth at conference on behalf of the business • Talk with your family members • Most family members are willing to help if you ask • Before Christmas break would be good (Christmas Gift, wink-wink) • Offer to cut grass, clean house, baby-sit, etc.

13. Fundraising Ideas • Step Show competitions • Prizes vary depending on the competition • Some give for only 1st place, others give for 2nd place • Prepares team for the “Put It Down” National Step Show • Write letters to your specific chapter alumni • Alumni like to know how they can give back to their chapter • Be Specific • Tell them what you have • Tell them what you need • Tell them when you need it by • Be open for partial coverage

14. Limited Conference Financial Aid • Please exhaust all of your fundraising options prior to asking the One Accord Conference Committee • Will consider the following • Have you exhausted all of your fundraising options? • What Do You Have? • What Do You Need? • Will You Have Funds to Eat & Sleep? • Note • Will only cover a portion of conference costs • Cannot guarantee to provide assistance

15. Suggested Timeline • By End of November 2009 • Create a plan of action for fundraising with chapter • Talk to family about financial support for conference • By End of February 2010 • Register and pay for conference • Perform at least one fundraiser with chapter • Begin setting up travel arrangements • Research travel websites • Look at bus or train information • Regions - research charter bus companies • Announce # of riders needed and individual cost to potential riders

16. Suggested Timeline • By End of May 2010 • Book Travel arrangements • Pay for your plane ticket • Remember, later flight bookings can lead to higher costs • Pay for Bus or Train • Pay for Charter Bus Individual Amount • Make your hotel reservations • Talk with potential roommates • Perform at least two fundraisers with chapter • By Beginning of July 2010 • Confirm travel and lodging arrangements • Know who’s in your hotel room

17. Questions

18. Thank You For additional Questions Email: oneaccord@gammalo.org