AVA Convention Questions & Answers (updated March 22nd 6 new Q/As added)
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Why Should I register for Full
Convention vs. a 3 or 1 Day Package?
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I admit I’ve only attended the last 2
conventions, but the good feelings I came home with both
times made me look forward to attending many more in the
future. At my first convention, I was a “picker” as
most of our convention attendees are. I did the
walks, two socials and a few workshops, but just felt
unconnected.
So, my second convention I did the full package. I
attended the General Membership Meetings which enlightened
me with how hard our AVA Headquarters, AVA elected National
Leadership, and all our regional directors work for the
betterment and health of our club. I felt a part
of the worldwide volkswalking community.
The workshops this year deal with a myriad of issues from
club procedures, increasing membership a - paramount concern
of most clubs, Stress Management, Meet the Candidates - who
will be guiding us deeper into the 21st Century,
publicity-getting our name out there, etc. Convention
workshops all deal with history topics: Underground
Railroad, Cooperstown, Albany - 400 Years of History, and a
few more. There is a $5 charge for each of these to
pay the honorarium for the speakers.
The socials are where you enjoy local entertainment, food,
friends - old and new, and AVA’s 1st Annual Walk of Fame
Awards. The final evening banquet and entertainment is
a culmination of the wonderful 3 days we have been
together. Friends to reconnect with at the next
convention.
Take a huge chance for a better time at convention - get a
picture with “Sal the Mule”, enjoy a BBQ lunch, see what
Group Works is all about, and learn about the Boot Monument
at Saratoga National Historic Park’s walk just to name a few
highlights.
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What are
the Workshops About?? Info about each workshop
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AVA
WORKSHOPS ESCV WORKSHOPS
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| What is a Delegate Floor Fee? |
| This is a fee for
someone who is ONLY attending the 2 General Membership
Meetings, speaking from the floor, and voting. They
are not be attending any other convention
activities. Walks are paid for separately according
to what the individual chooses to do and pay. The
convention must pay for the setup of the room, AV needs,
room rental, etc. and this will help to defray the
costs. This fee is
included ONLY with the Full Convention. |
Are there any YRE or Seasonal Walks from the
Red Lion Hotel?
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Yes, Sign up,
Start/End Point are the Hospitality Table in the Vendors
area located in the Courtyard. Walk a 5k or 10k
anytime during daylight hours. Check the Hospitality
hours to make sure the table will be manned when you are
hoping to walk. Rated 1A, suitable for wheelchairs and
strollers. Pets allowed on leash. Trail is in a
town park, “The Crossings”, on paved hiking/biking paths
plus dirt paths through a wooded area. Bathrooms are
available at hotel and the complex by the playground in the
park. AVA Event 111654
2019/Y0332
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Bridges-Spanning the USA
Free Libraries
Points of Reference
Take a Walk in a City Park
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| Why do clubs have to pay for a table
to display their club’s materials? |
| It costs the convention
$30.00 per table and chairs. AVA is offering a 50
Percent off price of $15.00 to clubs only. |
| Why are we strongly
encouraging taking a bus
to all 3 Albany Convention Walks? |
| Limited parking at each
of the convention walks has necessitated arranging busing
for all walkers. Two of the walks are designed as linear
events, starting at one point, and finishing at another,
allowing participants to experience more of each venue.
There will be videos on the bus, explaining the history,
engineering and usage of each area. Your bus
transportation, walk fee and award will be included in the
price. The buses will leave each morning from the
convention hotel (Red Lion Hotel where there is plenty of
parking) and returning to the Red Lion Hotel. The
convention hotel is in walkable distance for those staying
in nearby hotels. You will have plenty of time to
walk, eat and get to workshops. As
a bonus for taking the buses, AVA is
planning some surprise chances to WIN
free prizes will be for ALL bus riders. |
| Why are all socials, box meals and closing
banquet only available thru preregistration? |
| It is imperative for all
of our food vendors to have accurate numbers for their
respective events ahead of time for ordering of food and
delivery times. They want to make their event a success in
the eyes of the convention goers. |
Why is the BBQ NOT included in Full,
Associate or Lifetime Registrations ?
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| This is an optional
lunch not at the hotel, but at the finish of the Thursday
walk. Not everyone may want to partake. |
| What is the Wednesday “Take Me
Out to the Ballgame” Meet &
Greet Social all about? |
| It will be typical
baseball park food. Full size hot dogs (vegetarian
available), with mustard, chili or sauerkraut toppings,
vegetable crudities, popcorn, jumbo soft pretzels with
mustard dip, assorted cookies, assorted soft drinks,
bottled water, pitchers of lemonade and a cash bar will
all be avail-able. We encourage all walkers to wear their
favorite team hat, tee shirt, or jersey for some
interesting fun and conversation. We will also enjoy
some baseball trivia, so ya better get with the stats and
start memorizing! |
| What is the Thursday Evening New
York State Desserts & Fiddle Tunes, Folk
Songs and Fancy Footwork Social all about? |
John
Kirk and Trish Miller are a popular
duo who have a wide repertoire of American/Irish/English
music. They will present fiery fiddle tunes,
folksongs and fancy footwork-clogging, to our audience. It
is our desire to entertain you with some local talent and
history from the Northeast and Beyond. Be prepared
to be entertained and don’t be surprised if you start to
tap your foot or even sing! Our desserts will
feature New York Cheesecake with a variety of toppings and
the All American Favorite - Apple Pie. We will have
a cash bar along with tea, coffee and water available.
2 shortened music Samples
from one of their Albums:  Rivers
of the Adirondack
Snowdrops
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| What is so special about attending the Friday
Evening Closing Banquet with Inspirational
Speak-er and seeing AVA give out awards to people I
don’t know. |
First and foremost, it
is a celebratory closing event with friends old and new.
It is a dinner to share and converse with people of the
same interest and love of walking, biking, and
swimming. Min-gling with old and new walking friends
from all over the continent.
AVA is going to be making this a fun evening for
all. We will be having a Master of Ceremony to usher
us through the evening. They have worked diligently
to secure an inspirational speaker who most of us can
relate to thru common experiences and/or knowledge of what
they stand for in their goals.
Our speaker will be one of the family members of the Crazy
Horse sculpting Ziolkowski family. They will tell us why
AVA has helped to get the word out to hundreds of
thousands of people of their life’s commitment to Native
Americans. How in the last 33 years this friendship
has benefit-ed both Crazy Horse and AVA with name
recognition and helping legions of people walk for their
health, experience the great outdoors, and behold this
awesome site. How many of YOU have had this
incredible experience?
This year will be the introduction of a biennial tradition
with future AVA Conventions. AVA will be hosting the
1st Biennial “Walking Hall of Fame
Awards”. They will be showcasing and
awarding members who have gone above and beyond to make
AVA a current and viable club in this fast moving 21st
Century. AVA will show their appreciation to our
associations members who have exhibited dedication and
support for the ideals AVA is striving to achieve.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be there to support and share in
your region’s winners accolades and excitement?
This
is an evening you won’t want to miss!
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How does my club or region obtain a table at
convention?
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Simply email Marian at marian@ava.org that
you would like to get a table to display your club’s or
Regions Traditional, YRE or Seasonal brochures/Year
Schedules. She will want to know who (club/Region) to
invoice for the $15.00. Upon receipt of money, Marian
will let the convention folks know you have purchased one. A
table will be set up in the Vendor Area waiting for you to
display your areas interesting places where you have walking
events. Put out some penny candy to attract lots of visitors
to your table! Have some fun decorating and showing
off your Region to all.
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Does
your Region or Clubs have left over Awards or Patches
from past Events?
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We would like to suggest all of our US
Regions to gather together their leftover items and showcase
them at their Region tables. All items could be priced
at the reasonable price of $2 and all the proceeds could go
to Convention or kept in your treasury. Let’s see
which region drums up the most business. Great way to
share your old Awards and clean out someone’s basement that
is housing these treasurers for someone else.
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Leashed
Dogs are welcomed on all the walks?
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Just to reiterate, yes leashed dogs are
welcome on all the convention walks. You should check
with the Saratoga National Historic Park for their
requirements before showing up with Fido.
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What
Time are the Buses Leaving and Returning to the Hotel
each day?
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| LEAVING: A bus line will form inside
the rear Courtyard of the indoor pool, near Door G. We
cannot line up in the hallway. These must be kept clear per
Fire Department Regulations and for the benefit of the
hotel’s other guests. Signs will be posted.
Buses will start loading10 minutes before departing.
On Wednesday, beginning at 7:30 am buses will leave in 10 to
15 minute intervals until 9am. and on Thursday, beginning at
7:15am, and Friday, 7:30am and on till 9am.
RETURNING: to the hotel, buses will leave, once the
first bus is full. 5k walkers normally take 1 hour, but when
walking at the Saratoga Battlefield you must add time as you
will be walking on various surfaces, looking out on the
fields trying to visualize/understand what went on and
reading the walk notes. So add extra time. The last
bus back to the hotel is at 2 pm each day. |
National
Park Passport Stamp
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| We were asked by the Park Rangers, if we
would like to get a special Passport Stamp to commemorate
our day of walking in the Battlefield for our Convention
walkers. Yes. Make sure
at Stop 9 to ask for your
Passport stamp. It will only be available here, not in
the Visitor’s Center, and then back at the Hospitality Table
at the Red Lion Hotel. Also on the day of the
event we will also have a stamp at the
start/finish point at the American Legion Post in
Schuylerville. |
How can
you support your Albany Convention?
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By making a donation of $100.00, your name
will be listed in the Convention Book as a FRIEND. You
will know that you have helped to pay for the various
convention walks expenses. Without our walks we
wouldn’t have an International or national organization.
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