_____________________________________________
From: Mary Gordon
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 5:24 PM
Subject: Announcing the HELO Board of Directors Retreat for Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, July 14-16!
HELO President Sergio Rodriguez is pleased to announce that he is hosting a
Retreat of the HELO Board of Directors, July 14-16,2011, in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida. He has heard from many Board members who have indicated their
interest and availability in attending. At this time, the number of
individuals who plan to attend would constitute a quorum of the Board.
President Rodriguez welcomes your participation in this very important meeting
designed to help HELO grow and strengthen its strategic planning which began at
last year?s Board retreat in Dallas, Texas. Topics for discussion will
include: policy/advocacy development including the subject of comprehensive
immigration reform; the upcoming NLC Phoenix conference in November;
fundraising, and membership and leadership development, among others. There
will be a plenary session on a number of important topics such as broadband
expansion, financial literacy issues and education and immigration. In
addition, there will be a complimentary National League of Cities Leadership
Training Institute (LTI) which will offer you credits for participation on the
topic of team-building.
President Rodriguez is also collaborating again with Hispanic CREO to
co-sponsor a special Friday afternoon, June 15, plenary session on Hispanic
education reform, and we hope to have participation with NLC?s Institute for
Youth, Education and Families. This event will be followed by a press
conference and award reception. More details about the schedule will be
forthcoming.
HELO Board Retreat Travel Scholarships
President Rodriguez continues to raise funds to help provide scholarships for
your participation as Board members for those of you who need scholarships. He
asks that if your municipality can afford to cover your travel costs, please do
not request the scholarship. For those requesting scholarships, he wants you
to know that you will be reimbursed for your hotel (room and tax only) for up
to two nights and part of your roundtrip airfare costs. Your reimbursement
will be in the amount of $600 per Board member (to help cover your combined
hotel and flight expenses). Each Board member attending the Retreat who
requests a scholarship will receive the same amount of reimbursement
scholarship.
Your individual reimbursements will be provided following your participation at
the meeting. You will need to submit to NLC a copy of your hotel bill along
with a copy of your airline ticket (or car mileage information if you are
planning to drive). Your reimbursement will be processed by NLC on behalf of
HELO and will be sent to you within ten business days of your reimbursement
submission. At the Board retreat, you will receive an ?easy to complete?
expense form to help with your reimbursement submission.
Hotel Reservations at the Marriott?s Harbor Beach Fort Lauderdale Resort & Spa
Please plan to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and be checked in to the
hotel by about noon, if possible, on Thursday, July 14, 2011, with a departure
on Saturday, July 16, 2011, after the luncheon. The first event begins with a
Thursday informal Board lunch from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. to be followed by an
executive Board session from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will be an informal
dinner at a restaurant at about 7:00 p.m. Make your hotel reservations by
contacting the Harbor Beach Fort Lauderdale Resort & Spa, 3030 Holiday Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316-2414. You can book your reservations through
the global reservations center at 800.222.6543 and press 2 for convention. Any
agent will be happy to assist you. The room reservation code is under the
group name: NLC-HELO. The daily room rate is $149 per night with an 11% state
and local tax. The deadline for making your reservation is Friday, June 24,
2011 to ensure that you receive the NLC-HELO group rate.
You may also book your hotel room on-line via ResLink. It?s easy! Simply cut
and paste into your browser or click on the link below. You will be directed to
the property's home page with the negotiated rate code already entered in the
appropriate field and you can quickly make your own room reservation.
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/fllsb?groupCode=nlhnlha&app=resvlink&fromD
ate=7/14/11&toDate=7/17/11
Here is the general web link to the hotel.
http://www.marriottharborbeach.com
Travel/Flights
Please plan to book your travel directly with your favorite airline or through
an online travel group such as Travelocity, Orbitz, Priceline, or others to
find economical, low rate fares. For those needing scholarship reimbursement,
plan to hand in a copy of your airline travel receipt to NLC staff at the Fort
Lauderdale retreat. If you are driving, please plan to have documentation of
your mileage if you are requesting scholarship reimbursement.
You may fly into Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport which has all
major carriers.
Program Schedule
In the coming weeks, you will be receiving a comprehensive program schedule.
Here is the schedule at-a-glance with times and sessions that are subject to
change.
Thursday, July 14
Morning Board Member Arrivals
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Board Group Lunch at Hotel
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Executive Board Retreat Session
7:00 p.m. Group Dinner at Local Restaurant
Friday, July 15
8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. HELO Forum (Broadband, Financial Literacy for the
Latino Community, Immigration, Education)
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Group Luncheon with Local Speaker
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. HELO co-hosts with Hispanic CREO -- a Plenary Session on
Education Reform
5:00 p.m. Press Conference
Early Evening HELO/Hispanic CREO Awards Reception
Evening on Your Own
Saturday, July 16
8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Complimentary Leadership Training Institute for Credits
(Topic: Team-Building)
Noon to 1:00 p.m. Wrap-Up Working Luncheon with NLC President
Afternoon/Evening Departures
Discussion Issues
President Rodriguez asks that you reply to indicate if you have any specific
topics that you would like to discuss during the Thursday afternoon Executive
Board Meeting session.
Board Retreat e-Registration
There is no cost for registration for this meeting. Your reply about your
attendance will help us have an accurate count for meeting materials and meals.
Please e-Register for the HELO Board Retreat by replying and indicate that you
plan to attend, or are not planning to attend, and please provide your cell
phone number in case we need to reach you in advance or on-site. If you have
special needs such as dietary or mobility, please let us know. Please provide
the full name of your spouse/guest if you are planning to have that individual
participate in the meal functions.
Questions/Comments?
Please contact NLC?s HELO staff at (202) 626-3169. Remember to make your hotel
reservations no later than Friday, June 24, to receive the group rate!
Have safe travels to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Mary Gordon ; HELO Director ; National League of Cities ; 202 626 3168
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