|
 |
Home | General Information | Schedule | Social Events | 5K Walk/Run | Guest Information | Register |
>Click here for a printer-friendly version< QUESTIONS If you have any questions regarding this on-line registration process, please contact: Connie Johnson HOST HOTEL JW Marriott Indianapolis The host hotel for the 2014 National Convention and Sales Conference is the crown jewel of Indianapolis, the JW Marriott. This new hotel is the largest JW Marriott in the world and the tallest building in Indiana. The 33 floors and 1,005 guest rooms boast a sophisticated contemporary design and we are sure you will enjoy the exceptional service and world class amenities the JW Marriott has to offer. The location of the JW Marriott is at the hub of the vibrant city of Indianapolis. Within steps outside the hotel you will find over 200 shopping, dining and entertainment options. Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the Colts), Bankers Life Fieldhouse (home of the Pacers) and Victory Field (triple A minor league baseball) are just a short distance from the hotel's front doors. Across the street is White River State Park which is home to the Indianapolis Zoo, NCAA Hall of Champions, Eiteljorg Museum and the scenic White River Gardens and Canal. With the JW Marriott as your starting point, the city of Indianapolis awaits for you to explore. INDIANAPOLIS Of course everyone knows Indianapolis is home to the Indianapolis 500. This annual race event began in 1911 when the average race speed was 74 miles per hour. Today the average race speed is around 187 miles per hour and top speeds on the track can exceed 220 miles per hour. A.J. Foyt, Bobby Unser and Mario Andretti are all winners of the Borg-Warner Trophy and a sculpture of their faces with many others are permanently affixed to the historical trophy. Some additional fun facts about the race and the speedway:
Other Indianapolis fun facts:
The above facts give you a small sample of what Indianapolis has to offer. This historic and vibrant city is an ideal fit and great venue for Modern Woodmen's 42nd National Convention. Below are some web sites you may wish to review before you begin your exciting adventure. Please do not try to reserve your room accommodations on the JW Marriott site as your room will be reserved through our group room block. Click here to view the "JW Marriott" web site. Click here to view "Visit Indy" web site. Click here to view the "Indianapolis Information Center" web site. AUTHORIZED ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DATES For the National Convention we bring together three meetings; Regional Directors Conference, National Convention and National Sales Conference. The Regional Directors Conference will be on Saturday, June 28th. The National Convention is all day Monday, June 30th, morning session on Tuesday, July 1st and morning session Wednesday, July 2nd. The National Sales Conference begins Wednesday afternoon, July 2nd and ends Thursday, July 3rd at 12:00 noon. Below are authorized arrival and departure dates and times. Please see the Schedule tab for more detailed information about meeting and event times and required dress apparel. Regional Directors Managing Partner Inner Circle, Managing Partner Round Table, President's Cabinet, President's Club Managing Partner and Financial Representative Trip Qualifiers Board of Directors National Officers - Advisor, Escort, Watchman, Sentry Delegates Home Office APPROVED FAMILY MEMBER (AFM) If you are single, in lieu of a spouse, you may request a parent or child attend the conference as an approved family member (AFM) at Modern Woodmen's expense. If you are in this category, before you are able to complete the registration process, you will need to have your family member approved by Pat Barnes, Chief Marketing Officer. Please e-mail your request to Pat.Barnes@modern-woodmen.org. Please wait for a response from Pat Barnes or Mark Turner before you proceed with the registration process.
REGISTRATION Registration will run the following hours in Griffin Hall:
All invited attendees are required to check in at the National Convention registration station. Here you will pick up your event name badges and registration box with conference gifts. Regional Directors, trip qualifying Managing Partners and Financial Representatives are required to check in at the National Sales Conference station to reserve their table assignment for the Gala Dinner on Wednesday evening July 2nd. "Fit For Life" 5K walk/run contestants need to register at the Fit For Life station to pick up race day t-shirts and other race information. We urge all invited attendees and guests to stop by Griffin Hall for registration. It is an ideal opportunity to gather with friends, family and other Modern Woodmen members from across the country. Enjoy refreshments, family friendly activities, unique displays and a surprise or two. AIR ARRANGEMENTS Air arrangements will be processed through our travel agency, The Travel Business, Inc. Once you complete your online registration, your airline registration information will be forwarded to The Travel Business, Inc.; they will contact you via e-mail with a proposed flight itinerary. We will work very closely with the travel agency to place you on your preferred carrier, but please understand we are not always able to accommodate your requests due to airline fares and flight schedules. If The Travel Business, Inc. is unable to reach you by e-mail, they will attempt to contact you by telephone. When you receive your proposed flight itinerary, it is very important you review and approve it by responding by e-mail or phone to The Travel Business, Inc. within 24 hours. A reservation can only be held for 24 hours. Please be certain the names, gender and date of birth match your travel identification documents. Also, please be certain the flight itinerary you approve coincides with your authorized arrival and departure dates and times. Changes to an issued ticket will incur a service fee and possibly the purchase of a more expensive new ticket. The additional costs for ticket changes will be your personal expense. If you wish to purchase a ticket class that is upgradeable, please indicate this during registration. Additional costs for upgradeable tickets, traveling outside your authorized dates or special arrangements will be the attendee's personal expense. For upgrades, you will be responsible to contact the airline to secure the upgrade. The Travel Business, Inc. is also able to assist you with rental cars while you are in Indianapolis. They have access to corporate discounts on rental fees and are able to make these reservations for you at the same time they make the air arrangements. Please type this request in the "Special Travel Requests" box located in the air reservation area of the on-line registration. If you have any questions once you receive your itinerary, please contact The Travel Business, Inc.'s Operations Manager, Barbi Ragan at 1-800-747-0070 or 1-309-762-9625. Please identify yourself as part of the Modern Woodmen group attending the National Sales Conference. If you have any issues that cannot be resolved directly with The Travel Business, Inc., please contact the home office and speak with Connie Johnson, ext. 7321 or Mark Turner, ext. 5682. DRIVING ARRANGEMENTS If you are driving, Modern Woodmen will reimburse your round trip mileage from your home town to the JW Marriott - or - the cost of two round trip airline tickets whichever is less. If you are a single traveler, the reimbursement is round trip mileage - or - the cost of one round trip airline ticket, whichever is less. Mileage reimbursement is determined by the Home Office and is currently .54 per mile (subject to change). Self parking at the JW Marriott is approximately $21.00 per day and we will take this into account in determining the amount of your driving reimbursement. You will be required to pay your parking fees on site. Modern Woodmen will not reimburse for valet parking expenses. AIRPORT TRANSFERS Modern Woodmen will not provide organized airport arrival or departure transfers. Each invited attendee who is flying will be provided a round trip transfer allowance in the per diem check we provide. The best means of transfer to and from the JW Marriott is taxi cab or the airport shuttle, Go Express.
For information about all transfer options from the airport visit http://www.indianapolisairport.com. DESTINATION MANAGEMENT COMPANY Our partner company for the Indiana trip is Accent On Indianapolis. They will assist with off site events and be available during registration and the conference to assist you with information, restaurant reservations or other special arraignments.
PROGRAM EXTENSION AND EXTRA ROOMS Modern Woodmen has negotiated a group room block at the JW Marriott. The nightly room rate is $144 plus 17% tax for a total of $168.48.
GUESTS A guest is an adult or child who is not your invited spouse or approved family member (AFM). Children and guests may attend this conference at the trip qualifier's personal expense. Guests may also attend specific functions for a stated fee. Please review the Guest Information tab accessed from the home page of the registration site for additional information.
HOST EXPENSES / PERSONAL EXPENSES The hotel room expense and taxes for your authorized conference dates will be paid through Modern Woodmen's master account. All planned food and beverage events will also be direct billed to the master account.
GRATUITIES Gratuities for planned events and tours have been taken care of by Modern Woodmen. For personal services, please tip appropriately as this reflects well on the Modern Woodmen group.
CHECK IN / CHECK OUT The hotel check in time is 3:00pm but earlier arrivals will be accepted if guest rooms are available. The hotel has extended a 12:00 noon check out time to the Modern Woodmen group departing on Thursday, July 3rd. The regular check out time on the other days is 11:00am. INTERNET Internet service in the guest rooms is provided at no charge. SMOKING / NON-SMOKING The JW Marriott, like many hotels today is a non-smoking facility. Smoking is prohibited in all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms and public spaces. TAXABLE INCOME If your spouse or approved family member attends this event, his/her expense for airfare, meals, gratuities, tours and some planned events will be considered taxable income to you for 2014. WEATHER AND WHAT TO WEAR In late June and early July, the low temperature average is 66° and the high average is around 85°. Rainfall is possible as it is in all mid-west cities during summer time. Much of the city can be navigated through covered bridge walkways and tunnels. However, we urge you to bring an umbrella because most of what you will want to see is within a short walking distance. DRESS Dress for events can be found in the Schedule tab accessed from the home page of the registration site. TIME ZONE Indianapolis is in the Eastern Time zone. JW MARRIOTT DINING
FIT FOR LIFE See 5K Walk/Run tab which can be accessed from the home page. MODERN WOODMEN TV Modern Woodmen will sponsor a private TV channel at the JW Marriott. The channel number will be provided in the registration box that you will receive in Indy. We urge you to tune in as we will have up-to-date conference news, compelling interviews, representative recognition and other pertinent information. QUESTIONS If you have any questions about the conference, please contact Connie Johnson, ext. 7321 or Mark Turner, ext. 5682.
Home | General Information | Schedule | Social Events | 5K Walk/Run | Guest Information | Register |