IMPORTANT DATES

JANUARY 11, 2008 - CONVENTION REGISTRATION DEADLINE
ATTENTION: No events can be added after this deadline.  No exceptions.  Registration forms must be turned in to the team leader so that all information can be updated on the Internet by January 11, 2008.  The team leader must make all changes through the online registration system by January 11, 2008.

One important thing to remember about the posted deadlines is that this is not the date to enter the registration or to mail entries, but this is the LAST day to do it.  Please do not wait until the last minute.  That way, if there are problems, you will still have time to get it done before the deadline.

Verification forms must be turned in to the team leader by January 11, 2008 for the following events: Advanced Bible Reading, Advanced Puppeteering, Advanced Speech, Advanced Song Leading, Advanced Songs of Praise, GIFTS, GUARD, Second Language, Centurion of Scripture, Good Samaritan, Know the Books and Parade of Winners.  If the requirements for these events are not completed by January 11, do not register for them. 

Scholarship applications, Mass Media entries, Music Composition entries, Advanced Speech files, Advanced Song Leading files, Advanced Songs of Praise files, GIFTS forms, GUARD forms, Second Language forms, Advanced Bible Reading forms, Good Samaritan verification list, Parade of Winners verification list, Centurion of Scripture verification list, Know the Books verification list and Jonathan Bourland nominations must be postmarked by January 11, 2008.

Mail Mass Media entries to:
East Ridge Church of Christ, ATTN: Tonya Lively, 951 McBrien Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412

Mail Music Composition entries to:
Adam Miller, 1258 Joiner Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Mail Jonathan Bourland nominations to:
Jonathan Bourland Committee, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Scholarship applications to:
Scholarship Committee, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Advanced Speech files to:
Advanced Speech Committee, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Advanced Song Leading files to:
Advanced Song Leading Committee, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Advanced Songs of Praise files to:
Advanced Songs of Praise Committee, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail GIFTS verification forms to:
Lads to Leaders, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail GUARD verification forms to:
Lads to Leaders, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Second Language verification forms to:
Lads to Leaders, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Good Samaritan verification list to:
Lads to Leaders, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Parade of Winners verification list to:
Lads to Leaders, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

Mail Centurion of Scripture verification list to:
Lads to Leaders, 5280 West Alabama Christian Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 11 - PEARLS and Bible Bowl Testing
The tests, blank answer sheets and instruction sheets will be posted on the “Tests” page of the Lads to Leaders website by January 30.  The tests will be accessed through the online registration system.  Tests will be administered at local congregations according to the guidelines in the Official Convention Rules Book.  Test answer sheets must be returned to the national coordinator and be postmarked by February 11, 2008.  Mailing addresses will be provided with the tests.  Please ensure that all names and other information are legible.

MARCH 21, 2008 11:00 AM
Entries for Art Says It, Banner and Scrapbook are to be turned in to the appropriate registration booth at the convention.

REGISTRATION FEES
NOTE: Fees are due for everyone that is registered as of January 11, 2008 (based on the fee schedule below).  After this date, de-registering someone, whether the group’s registration fees have been paid or not, will not reduce the amount owed for registration.  Meeting rooms, awards, schedules, etc. are all based on the totals as of this date.

THIRD GRADE - ADULT

     $35 per person

KINDERGARTEN - SECOND GRADE

     $35 per student if participating in Centurion of Scripture, Good Samaritan, Parade of Winners, Puppet Theater, Advanced Puppeteering, Second Language or Bible Bowl

KINDERGARTEN - SECOND GRADE

     No fee if not participating or if only participating in Oral Bible Reading, Know the Books, Song Leading, Songs of Praise or Speech

PRE-SCHOOL

     No Fee

PARTICIPANTS NOT ATTENDING CONVENTION

     $15 (This covers awards)

EXTRA AWARDS CEREMONY SEATS

     $5 per day

Visitors attending only the awards ceremonies owe $5 per seat, per day.  These persons are not eligible for the special convention room rates.

LATE FEES

     $5 per person added by the National Service Center after January 11.  This is in addition to the fees noted above.

MAIL PAYMENT TO THE NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER BY JANUARY 28, 2008.  Checks, VISA or MasterCard are accepted.  Note that seating order in the awards ceremonies is determined by the date that registration payment is received.  You will pay the hotel directly for your rooms.  If possible, please submit one lump sum payment per group rather than individual checks.  You can pay part of the registration early to ensure your seating location and then pay the balance as soon as registration is complete.

HOTEL INFORMATION

CONVENTION LOCATION

Gaylord Opryland Hotel
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, TN 37214-1297
615-889-1000
www.gaylordhotels.com

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotel rooms will cost $102.00 per night (quad occupancy, including self-parking), plus 15.25%* tax (as of 9/07).  Rollaway beds are available for $25.00 per night.  Rollaways can ONLY be added to rooms with KING beds.  Rollaways cannot be added to any room with two beds.  Rates are available from Wednesday through Sunday of convention week. ABOVE TAX RATES UPDATED 3/10/08 BASED ON NEW INFORMATION FROM STATE OF TENNESSEE. HOTEL TAX IS NOW 6%, PLUS $2.00 PER ROOM PER NIGHT. ALSO, RATE FOR ROLLAWAY BEDS WAS INCORRECT AND HAS BEEN FIXED.

NOTE: The hotel has added a mandatory $10 per room, per night resort fee for all rooms.  This fee provides guests with the following services: High-speed internet services in the guest rooms; access to the Cyber Café; free local and toll-free calls (up to 20 minutes); bottled water in room (2 bottles, refreshed daily); and scheduled transportation to Opry Mills, Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson and Gaylord Springs golf club.

* If you provide the hotel with your congregation’s 501(c)(3) designation letter from your state or if you receive a tax exempt certification from the state of Tennessee, you will be exempt from the 9.25% sales tax.  You will still have to pay the 6% hotel tax.  The hotel must receive the letter/certificate prior to  February 18, even if you have used it in past years.  You should fax it to Nikki Rehberg at 615-871-6345.  If you have questions, please call the Tennessee State Department of Revenue at 615-253-0600.

Suites/Team Pads: Concierge Suites are $395 per night, plus tax; Junior Suites are $175 per night, plus tax.  All suites are held on a first come, first served basis.  There is a limited number of suites available.  Although rare, there is a possibility that the suite may not be located with the main block of rooms for a group.  The Concierge Suite does not have any beds and will hold about 40 people for meetings.  The Junior Suite has one king bed and will hold about 15 people for meetings.

King and Double Rooms: About 20% of the rooms provided for our convention will have a King bed.  If we do not request enough King rooms, they will be assigned as necessary.  Please help by requesting as many King rooms as your group can use.

Amenities: All rooms have a coffee maker, iron & ironing board, hair dryer and safe.  Baby cribs are available at no extra charge.  Mini-refrigerators are $20 per room, per stay. 

Early Payment Option:
The hotel will provide a copy of your bill 1-2 weeks prior to convention.  This gives you an opportunity to verify that the hotel has the correct number and type of rooms.  You may pre-pay to avoid delays at check-in.  This service is ONLY available if you include an accurate FAX number or email address and tax exempt status in the Group Registration section of the online registration.

Do not call the hotel directly for reservations or changes.

So that the hotel can accurately block your group’s rooms, you must have the total number of King and Double/Double rooms indicated by the January 11 registration deadline.  After January 11, Team Leaders will be able to make changes to their group’s Hotel Reservations in the Registration Database until midnight on February 18, 2008.  The information in your reservation database on February 18 will be considered your final request.  Any changes, except room cancellations, made after February 18 will be accommodated if possible, but are not guaranteed.  Please make every effort to have all reservations finalized by the February 18 deadline.  Adding rooms after this date may not be possible.  If they are able to be added, they will most likely NOT be near your group’s other rooms.  Please request all rooms that you will need by February 18, 2008.  Please note that any cancellations MUST be made no later than five days prior to arrival.  Any no-shows or cancellations after that will be charged one night’s room and tax.  Please make sure that all requested rooms are used to avoid these penalties.

All requests for changes to hotel reservations must be requested through the online registration system.

The team leader should choose a person to be the hotel room coordinator.  This person should be the first to arrive and the last to leave.  Your hotel room coordinator will check in and check out your group. 

PARKING INFORMATION
Self-parking fees at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel are included in the room rate.  Valet parking will be billed at the prevailing rate at the time of our convention.  Handicapped Valet parking will be half of the standard valet parking rate.