Stay tuned for latest update on the 12th Annual NAACO Conference in Austin.
Conference Information and Call for Proposals
posted on 12:48 PM, October 11, 2011
It is that time of year again to start thinking about the NAACO annual conference. This year’s conference will be held February 6-8, 2012 at The University of Texas at Austin. The conference committee has been meeting for several months now and is planning a fun filled conference that we hope you will never forget. This year’s conference theme is “Creating aCulture of Connection through Ceremonies and Celebrations”.
Is there something special or unique that you do when it comes to planning Convocation or Commencement that you would like to share? Then we are looking for you. Proposals are now being accepted for Educational Session Presentations to be shared during the conference. All affiliate members of the association are welcome to submit a presentation proposal. Those who have attended NAACO conferences in the past know that educational session topics can cover a broad range of issues related to producing academic ceremonies on college and university campuses. This year we hope to add a layer of presentations that amplify our conference theme and share ways we use those ceremonies to help create a sense of connection to our institutions.
Conference Registration is open and you are encouraged to register soon. You will also want to make your hotel reservations quickly as availability is limited. Hotel room rates for the AT&T Center will be $149 (US) per night plus taxes. Reservations may be made online or by calling 1-877-744-8822.
The 11th Annual NAACO conference will be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and will be hosted by Concordia University. The conference co-chairs are Susan Durkee and Pina Greco.
Montrealers really know how to live, with a passion for fabulous food, exciting nightlife and making every day a celebration. From cobblestone streets and historic architecture in Old Montréal, to sleek office towers and shopping downtown, Montréal really stands out. It feels, looks, and sounds like Europe, but it’s got North American smarts written all over it. Enjoy your morning meeting with a bowl of café au lait. Get to know fellow delegates and fuel your professional creativity by sampling our inspiring cultural scene.
We look forward to greeting NAACO conference delegates with the traditional two-cheeked kiss and a hearty 'Bienvenue' to...
Information on the Educational Sessions is now available todownload.
How to Gain Approval Attend
Often the hardest part of getting to any conference is to convince those in charge of the value in attending a conference and the NAACO conference is no exception. We have a couple of documents that we hope you can use in order to be able to attend the NAACO conference in Montreal.One titled ‘Why You Should Attend’ and the other is a template that you can download and present to your university called ‘Justification Letter'.It is our hope that these will prove to be helpful to you when you are ready to submit your request for funding.
$595 for NAACO Members $795 for Non-NAACO Members (Membership is available for $200 per institution.)
A $50 late fee will be assessed for all registrations received after January 17, 2011. Fees are in US currency.
The registration fee includes:
»Attendance at your choice of all sessions »All conference materials »Attendance at receptions »Conference meals (three breakfasts, two lunches) »Attendance at the Evening Event in Montréal*
* Conference attendees who choose to bring a guest to the Evening Event in Montréal may purchase a guest ticket at a cost of $125. Tickets will be required.
Conference Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships for NAACO Affiliates were made available for the 11th Annual NAACO Conference. Scholarships cover the cost of the conference registration fee. The awarding of scholarships is now in progress and successful applicants will be notified in writing by the Conference Committee by December 15th. *
* Those applying for scholarships SHOULD NOT complete the normal conference registration at this time. All applicants will be notified of who has or has not been awarded a scholarship and given instructions on how to register for the conference accordingly.
Vendors and Corporate Sponsors
If you are interested in registering for the conference as a vendor you may click on the "Register Now" button above and select the Associate Level Sponsorship (Vendor) registration link. If you require more information on participating in the conference as a vendor or would like to become a corporate sponsor please contact Jane Smith, NAACO Past-President (Jane_smith@unc.edu) for more information.
Conference Travel
Conference attendees entering Canada from the United States or other countries will be required to provide a valid passport or other travel documents in order to proceed through Customs. US citizens do not require a visa to visit Canada. For more information on travelling to and from Montréal, see www.tourisme-montreal.org/Travel-Information/Accessible-Montreal
Arrival by Air*
Montréal is located in Québec, Canada and is serviced by Pierre-Elliot-Trudeau International Airport (YUL). NAACO delegates are being offered a 10% discount if the book their flight via www.aircanada.com and use the special code of QF7DFFC1.
* Special Note to US delegates traveling by Air: When you leave Montréal to return to the US it is recommended that you arrive at the airport 2 1/2 hours before your scheduled flight departure time as you will go through US Customs in Montréal on your return trip. As the conference ends at 12 noon on February 25th you should not book a flight earlier than 2:30 pm if possible.
Arrival by Train
Both Amtrak and Via Rail Canada offer rates to Montréal so make sure to check out their websites for more information should you wish to arrive by train. Montréal's Gare Centrale (Central Station) is located one block from the Conference hotel and is accessible via underground passageways.
NAACO Cares - Conference Charity - The Elizabeth House Foundation
NAACO is pleased to announce that the Elizabeth House Foundation will be the recipient of the 2011 NAACO Cares Conference Charity. Please click here for more information on the Elizabeth House Foundation and how you can make a donation.
This page will be updated as more details about the conference become available.
