Registration Package 2011 Information Letter # 1 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6 13th Biennial Convention July 14-17, 2011 TCU Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Phone: 204-984-9150 Toll free: 1-888-786-6707 Fax: 204-984-9185 Website: www.elcic.ca February 25, 2011 Dear Delegate/Visitor: A warm welcome to the 13th Biennial Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada! We look forward to seeing you at 2011 National Convention, Covenant People: In Mission for Others, taking place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, July 14-17th. The convention is being held at TCU Place, The Saskatoon Arts & Convention Centre, situated at the heart of beautiful downtown Saskatoon. The convention gets underway on Thursday, July 14th at 12 noon with lunch, followed by opening worship and the first business session. An orientation session for delegates will be included at the beginning of the first business session. Please refer to the enclosed Program-at-a-Glance for an overview of our convention schedule. In preparation, we have compiled an information package to help assist you with your registration and travel plans. Please review all of the following information carefully before completing your registration form: 1. Information Letter #1 2. An “Order of Blessing” for Delegates 3. Delegate/Visitor Registration Form 4. 2011 Convention Hotels List 5. 2011 Convention Program-at-a-Glance Thank you for praying for the church and for the 13th Biennial Convention to be a time of blessing and inspiration. We invite your congregation to use the “Order of Blessing” on the Sunday before the National Convention. We look forward to seeing you in July in Saskatoon! Yours truly, Don W. Storch National Secretary Enclosures An Order of Blessing for Delegates to the National Convention This service can be used one Sunday prior to the national convention. If the pastor is a delegate, someone else should lead this order of the service. Following the hymn of the day, the delegate(s) are called forward. LEADER: Delegate name(s), you have been chosen as a delegate to the National Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. We join with you and with the whole church in confession of our faith. The Apostles’ Creed follows. LEADER: You are sent to this gathering to serve the whole church. Will you seek the guidance of God as you join others in making decisions for the church? Will you bear the reconciliation of Christ as you work with others to determine the will of God for the future of the church? DELEGATE(S): Yes, and I pray that God will help and direct me. LEADER: People of God, Will you support this Delegate in prayer? Will you pray for the National Convention? CONGREGATION: We will. The Congregation extends their hands in blessing. LEADER: Delegate name(s), we bless you as you go forth in the name of God to serve us and all the people of God in the work of this convention. May the light of Christ shine in you. May the Spirit of Christ guide you. May God bless you in your travel, this work and in your homecoming. CONGREGATION: Amen. The prayers of the church follow. Intercessions for the National Convention and for the leadership of the church should be included. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6 13th Biennial Convention July 14-17, 2011 TCU Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Phone: 204-984-9150 Toll free: 1-888-786-6707 Fax: 204-984-9185 Website: www.elcic.ca 13th Biennial Convention Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada TCU Place, Saskatoon Arts & Convention Centre Saskatoon, Saskatchewan July 14-17, 2011 INFORMATION LETTER #1 February 25, 2011 Welcome Delegates! The 2011 ELCIC National Convention will be held at TCU Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, July 14th to 17th. The convention site is at TCU Place in beautiful downtown Saskatoon, situated near the popular Midtown Plaza Shopping Centre. TCU Place is a short drive from the Saskatoon Airport and is within 10-15 minutes walking distance from our five major convention hotels. The convention begins Thursday, July14th with a lunch in Centennial Hall at 12 noon, followed by opening worship and our first business or plenary session. This letter provides you with detailed and important information for delegates and visitors making registration and travel arrangements to attend the convention. For further inquiries, please e-mail or call: Barb Wiebe, Convention Registrar Toll free: 1-888-786-6707 ext. 177 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6 Winnipeg: 204-984-9177 Email: [email protected] CONVENTION CHECK LIST REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 13, 2011 Please book your travel as early as possible, after March 1st and preferably before the convention registration deadline to ensure that the travel schedule you want is available at the lowest rate. Delegate travel only (no accommodation) is included in the convention registration fee. The 2011 Convention registration form must accompany your payment. Please review and complete all sections of the enclosed registration form and return it with your credit card information or cheque payment of $1,040 registration fee (for delegates - rostered and lay) to: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6 Please carefully complete the travel section on the registration form with your accurate travel times, in order to assist our Local Arrangements Committee in Saskatoon with airport pickup coordination. Special events include a Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) sponsored breakfast on Saturday morning, July 16th and an ELCIC 25th Anniversary Banquet on Saturday evening, July 16th. Please indicate on the attached registration form if you plan to attend. Lutheran Theological Seminary will host free one-hour tours July 13th and 14th. For information please contact Joe Stolee at (306) 966-7846 or email: [email protected]. Confirmation of Registration: A statement acknowledging receipt of your registration form and payment will be emailed or mailed to you. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg MB R3B 3H6 13th Biennial Convention July 14-17, 2011 TCU Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Phone: 204-984-9150 Toll free: 1-888-786-6707 Fax: 204-984-9185 Website: www.elcic.ca REGISTRATION Please remember to enclose DELEGATES – ROSTERED or LAY your fees with your registration form. The Delegate registration fee is $1,040 per delegate. The fee is to be paid by your parish/congregation. Delegates are responsible for their own accommodation. See attached Hotels List. YOUTH DELEGATES Youth Delegate Registration: $475 per participant. The dates for the Youth Assembly are July 13-17, 2011. Youth delegates will meet one day prior to the beginning of the convention to learn about convention procedures and to get acquainted. Youth delegates are appointed by their synods. Information for youth delegates will be provided in a separate information letter. For more information on Youth delegates, visit the ELCIC website, www.elcic.ca or contact: Rev. Paul Gehrs, Assistant to the Bishop: [email protected], Toll Free: 1-888-786-6707, extension 156; in Winnipeg: (204) 984-9156. VISITORS Visitors to the convention have two registration fee options: $325 per visitor with meals, (lunch and dinner only, no breakfast, no accommodations), a copy of the Bulletin of Reports, and coffee break provided in the morning and the afternoon, or, $225 for visitors without meals. Visitors should complete the enclosed registration form (a photocopy is accepted). A copy of the registration form will also be available on our web site: www.elcic.ca. Visitors or spouses are responsible for paying their own travel expenses including service fees and accommodation. Visitors are welcome to use the convention booking service with Continental Travel. NATIONAL CHURCH COUNCIL (NCC) & OTHER COMMITTEES NCC and other committee meetings will take place before the convention. Please check times with your council or committee contact person prior to planning and booking your travel arrangements. TRAVEL Delegate travel only (no accommodation) is included in the TRAVEL BOOKING convention registration fee and will be billed directly to the convention account. The approved convention airfare for delegates is the least expensive applicable fare. Service fees for seat selection, Please contact Michelle Thorvaldson insurance and airline meals are not covered by the convention. by e-mail at [email protected] Some airlines do not allow a purchased airline ticket to be transferred to another delegate. If you book an air ticket, and later Michelle will respond to your e-mail cannot attend the convention, you will be personally responsible within 2 business days, and begin booking st for the ticket. after March 1 . Delegate travel is to be arranged through Michelle Thorvaldson of When arranging travel with Michelle, Continental Travel Group. You may contact Michelle to arrange please quote order number: 69100 your travel after March 1st, 2011. Please include your travel information on the registration form. If your travel is booked after the April 13, 2011 deadline, please contact ELCIC National Office with your travel information. 2 In most instances, travel for the convention is by electronic ticket. Michelle will require an e-mail address to issue an electronic ticket and itinerary. You are required to present your itinerary and photo identification at the airport or airline desk to obtain a boarding pass. Airline seat selection and meal purchases are not covered by the convention. Email travel booking is the most efficient option, however if you don’t have email, you can make arrangements by contacting Michelle by phone: Toll free: 1-800-665-2626; Winnipeg: 204-989-8581. NON-AIR TRAVEL & EXPENSES Delegates travelling from an airport that has an airport facility fee in effect, please pay the fee.