KNOW BEFOREYOU GO

Welcome to Nashville!

Bishop Gregory G.M. IngramChairperson of the General

Conference Commission

Bishop Vashti M. McKenzieHost Bishop

Bishop John BryantSenior Bishop

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

35DAYS TO GO

2012 Platinum Golf Tournament 7:00 AM at the Opryland Links Golf Course

Believe Banquet7:00 PM in the Delta Ballroom

Tickets are still available for both events!For more information visit www.13thame.com

Pre-Conference Events

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Arriving In Nashville

When arriving into Nashville International Airport (BNA), baggage claim is located one level below the terminals

Gaylord Stars (employees) as well as representatives from the 13th District will greet guests at baggage claim with signage with the AME logo on it.

The Opryland Airport Shuttle cost is $28 roundtrip to Opryland or the Radisson. (A taxi will cost approximately $25 each way.) Tickets may be purchased in advance through the transportation web link on www.AME-Church.com or upon arrival at the Gaylord Opryland Welcome Desk. The welcome desk is located one level down from baggage claim.

Buses are located to the left when exiting the airport. The shuttle leaves the airport every 30 minutes, on the hour.

By Plane

Arriving In Nashville

Driving directions to Opryland will be posted on the website at www.AME-Church.com

When arriving by car, signs will direct you to the Cascades entrance. This is the main lobby entrance.

Self parking at Gaylord Opryland is $10.00 per day for all guests as well as local attendees. This includes in and out privileges.

Valet parking is $26.00 per day. Valet parking does not include in and out privileges.

Guests with a handicapped placard or license plate may use valet parking for the self-parking price of $10.00 per day.

Parking at the Radisson is complimentary for overnight guests

By Car

Arriving In Nashville

We have been working with Opryland to coordinate the flow of traffic in order to avoid bottle necks and allow our shuttles to run smoothly.

Are You Arriving by Church Van or Chartered Bus? PLEASE NOTE:

We have arranged for complimentary parking for large vans and buses at Opryland. However, you will need to pre-register those vehicles in order to have access to that lot.

Once registered you will receive a placard that should be placed in the window of the vehicle which will help the driveway attendant know how to direct your vehicle.

There will be a charge to do it on-site.

Pre-registration is free and can be done online at www.13thame.com on-site registration will cost $100 and will be on a space available basis.

Vans/Buses

Check-In

Upon arrival, guests will enter the Cascades Lobby for check in. Guests will have the option to have their luggage delivered by Bell Services. The bell stand is located just to the right as you enter the lobby. 

Check in time is 3:00 PM. If a room is available prior to 3:00 PM, guests will be provided a room number and room key. If their room is unavailable upon arrival, guests will receive a room key and will be asked for their cell phone number. The guests will receive a call on their cell phone and told their room number once the room is ready. 

At check-in, guests will be asked if they would like to place a credit card or debit card on their room for incidentals. If they opt to not put a card down on the room for incidentals, they will be unable to place any charges on their room.

If guests opt to place a credit or debit card on their room for incidentals, the card will be authorized for $50.00 per day and the funds will not be available to the guests until approximately five days after check-out. Guests using a debit card will be asked at check-in to sign a form authorizing the hold.

If you are a Delegate or Alternate and all of your room has been prepaid by your district, you will be asked to show ID and can decide if you will provide a card for incidentals. If a partial payment or deposit has been made on your room, you will be required to provide the remaining balance due at check-in.

Check InCheck-In

Each guest will be provided a map of the facility at check-in. A line will be drawn on the map directing guests to their room. The room number is located in the top left hand corner of the map.

Opryland guestrooms are

located in 4 neighborhoods

Each neighborhood is color coded to assist you in getting around.

Room keys and the carpet in each neighborhood are the same color as the map.

Hotel Map

All rooms come equipped with: In-room iron & ironing boardBlow dryerIn-room safePersonal coffee makerRefrigerator2 phones with data port and voicemail

Guestrooms

Additional hotel amenities include: High Speed Internet Access in all Guest Sleeping Rooms Free Local Calls and Toll-Free Calls (up to 20 minutes) Access to the fitness center Online access to the Wall Street Journal Bottled Water (2 per day) Scheduled complex transportation to Opryland attractions to

include Opry Mills Mall Concierge Desk Relâche Spa and Salon On-site shops and restaurants Indoor and Outdoor swimming pools

Hotel Amenities

Expediting Check-In

We have been working with Opryland to come up with a plan to expedite check-ins and avoid long lines where possible.

If you are arriving as a group by bus to check in, we can work with you to expedite your check in process. Please let us know so we can plan for your arrival.

We need your help to make check-in flow smoothly.

Expediting Check-In

Provide the hotel with as much information in advance as possible:

Split Checks – If you have a roommate and would like to set up split checks, this can be setup in advance by calling the hotel and requesting it.

Special Needs - Guests should provide advanced notice of any accessible needs (such as roll-in showers, a lower bed, padded toilet seats, feather allergies, etc.)

Getting Around Opryland

Scootaround will be on-site June 26-July 4 for scooter rentals. Cost per day is $35 or $260 for the week. Manual wheelchairs will also be available for $20 per day or

$150 for the week. Scooters or wheelchairs may be reserved in advance on

www.AME-Church.com We recommend you reserve in advance because availability is

limited. Scooters will not be allowed on the General Session floor. A

parking area/charging station will be available in the foyer area outside the General Session room.

Scooters

Getting Around Opryland

Beginning on June 26th, shuttle buses will circle Opryland and drop off at the Delta Portico which is the closest entrance to the General Session.

Each neighborhood lobby as well as the Radisson will have it’s own shuttle stop on the route.

Schedules will be posted on-site.

On-Site Shuttles

Registration

Registration will be at the Ryman Hall B Registration Desk.

On-site registration and kit pickup will open at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, June 26, 2012.

To expedite your registration, please bring a copy of your registration confirmation with the printed barcode.

To date we have approximately 3,000 of Observers registered.

The deadline for mail-in registration was May 15th. At this point we are no longer accepting registrations by mail.

Online registration will remain open through out the conference.

Price for Observer registration is $125 (Student & Youth are also available)

RegistrationObservers

Benefits/Kit Items– General Conference bag*– General Conference badge– General Conference T-shirt– General Conference key chain– General Conference pen

Plus…– Shuttle service outside hotel that loops around (badge required)– Access to observers seating in general session– Entry to Sunday’s event– General Conference Agenda

*Youth observers will receive General Conference backpack

RegistrationObserver Registration Includes

Tuesday, June 26th - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PMWednesday, June 27th- 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM

(Closed for Worship Serv.)Reopen after service to 6:00

PMThursday, June 28th - 7:30 AM to 5:00 PMFriday, June 29th - 7:30 AM to 5:00 PMSaturday, June 30th - 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday, July 1st - 4:00 PM to 7:00 PMMonday, July 2nd - 7:30 AM to 5:00 PMTuesday, July 3rd - 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday, July 4th - 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

RegistrationHours

Day Passes will be available on-site only Cost for a day pass is $50 per day Badges or valid Day Pass will be required to

enter the main hall during Business Sessions. Badges or Day Pass will not be required during

the Worship Services.

RegistrationDay Passes

All reports that are to go in the kits must be on-site by Tuesday, June 19th.

We will be preparing approximately 2,000 kits for Delegates and Church Officials.

We have copies of the shipping label that must be used for all kit material.

Please do not ship any items you do not want included in kits to the hotel using these labels. We cannot guarantee that they will not end up in the kits.

RegistrationKit Material

Dining Options

We have been working with Opryland to create customized dining options for our conference. They are designed to please your palate, be kind to your pocket, and accommodate our program schedule.

Cafeteria-style dining option in the AME Mall Detailed information on all dining options will be

available on-site.

On-Site

Dining Options

12 dining options, including grab n go’s, quick eats, a la carte menus, and varying sizes of hot buffets.- 6 grab n go’s / quick eats- 3 a la carte menus- 3 hot buffets

Some outlets opening as early at 5:30am to accommodate the early morning risers.

Breakfast

Dining Options

17 dining options, including grab n go’s, quick eats, a la carte menus, and varying sizes of hot buffets.

- 8 grab n go’s / quick eats

- 5 a la carte menus

- 4 hot buffets Opryland is aware of the 2-hour lunch break

between business sessions.

Lunch

Dining Options

19 dining options, including grab n go’s, quick eats, a la carte menus, and varying sizes of hot buffets.

- 8 grab n go’s / quick eats

- 5 a la carte menus

- 4 hot buffets

- 2 upscale / fine-dining Opryland is aware of the 2-hour dinner break

between business sessions.

Dinner

Dining Options

6 dining options, including grab n go’s, and quick eats.

Limited menus and options available until 2:00 AM.

In Room Dining available 24 hour.

Late Night

Dining Options

Several restaurants are available in the immediate area surrounding Opryland including the food court at Opry Mills Mall. (A complimentary shuttle runs from Opryland to Opry Mills Mall.)

We have reached out to these properties to make them aware of our convention and our schedule

Many are adjusting their hours and offering discounts for our attendees who present valid convention badge

A complete list of these discounts will be available on-site as well as the website

Outside Opryland

Mobile Meeting App

New for this General Conference we are creating a mobile meeting app.

Available on 3 platforms:– Apple – Android– Blackberry

Mobile Meeting App

App will offer access to details about the convention, including:- Agenda with real time updates- Restaurant information with menus &

pricing- Event information on scooters, registration, transportation schedule, facility maps- Link to downloadable documents such as daily minutes.

Mobile Meeting App

Launch date is June 22nd. The link to download the app will be posted on

the website. We recommend you download the app prior to

arrival.

For Further Information

www.AME-Church.com

(202) 371-8700

www.13thame.com

(615) 242-6814

Opryland: (615) 889-1000

Questions

We look forward to seeing you in Nashville!