National Chrysanthemum Society 20008 Convention

65th Annual NCS Convention and Show
October 16 – 19, 2008, Linthicum, Maryland

The Chesapeake Chrysanthemum Society (CCS) is hosting the 2008 National Show at the Holiday Inn BWI Airport Hotel and Conference Center, Linthicum, Maryland in conjunction with the National Chrysanthemum Society (NCS) hosting the National Convention in the same hotel (Linthicum is a close-in suburb of Baltimore). In addition to the normal meetings and convention, activities such as the Annual Meeting, Awards Banquet, and tours will be available for participation by our attendees.

HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS

The 2008 NCS Convention will be held at the Holiday Inn BWI Airport Hotel and Conference Center, 890 Elkridge Landing Road, Linthicum, Maryland, 21090. The Holiday Inn is well suited to our rather watery pursuits, and should prove to be a nice venue for our show and meetings.

Hotel check in time is 3:00 p.m.and checkout time is noon. You should plan to arrive before 6:00 p.m.or guarantee your room with a credit card number. The Hotel will honor the group room rate of $125 plus tax per night for single or double occupancy from October 15 through October 19 for NCS members provided reservations are made no later than Thursday, September 18, 2008, otherwise the Group Rate will not be honored. If you want to come early or stay late, the hotel will honor our group rate for 3 days prior and 3 days following our event, based on availability. A credit card number or one night’s advance deposit will be required. Once a reservation has been made, any change should be made directly with the Holiday Inn BWI (telephone 1-410-859-8400).

Reservations may be made directly with the Hotel at 1-410-859-8400, or toll free at 1-888-HOLIDAY, or via fax at 1-410-684-6778. New this year is your ability to book online at: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/advancedsearch?hotelCode=balap
Trust me, it is much easier to search (through “Google” for example) for Holiday Inn BWI, and let your browser take you there. Be sure to ask for the National Chrysanthemum Society group rate!

TOURS AND ATTRACTIONS

We are taking a new approach for our tours this year. This year we have made arrangements with a local tour company to manage the tours. Baltimore Rent-A-Tour (4401 East Fairmount Avenue Baltimore, MD 21224) is the tour company and you will be booking directly (and paying) with them. You can contact them at 410-464-7994 (local), 888-842-6323 (toll free), or 410-522-0403 (fax). Their website is: http://www.baltimorerent-a-tour.com. Baltimore Rent-A-Tour is offering two different tours. A separate tour registration form is included.

Discover Baltimore – on Thursday, October 16

• 10:00 a.m. – Buses pick up group and guide at Holiday Inn BWI. En route your guide will begin sharing stories of Baltimore’s exciting history
• 11:00 a.m. – You’ll arrive at the Ft. McHenry Visitors Center where you’ll learn about the War of 1812 and the birth of our National Anthem. (Fort admission not included)
• 12:00 p.m. – After visiting the Fort, you’ll head to Baltimore’s famous Inner Harbor, where you can have lunch on your own and do some shopping
• 1:00 p.m. – Following lunch, you’ll board your coach for a narrated tour of Baltimore including Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, and the Washington Monument, among others.
• 3:00 p.m. – Buses drop off group at Holiday Inn BWI

$40.00 PER PERSON (Minimum 25 people)
Includes guide service, transportation, and arrangements at Ft. McHenry.

National Arboretum and Washington D.C. – on Sunday, October 19

• 9:00 a.m. – Buses pick up group and guide at Holiday Inn BWI for trip to D.C.
• 10:00 a.m. – Upon arriving at the U.S. National Arboretum you’ll be met by a docent for a tour of the grounds
• 12:30 p.m. – Following Arboretum tour, you’ll visit Union Station for lunch on your own
• 1:30 p.m. – After lunch, your licensed D.C. guide will conduct a narrated tour of the city, pointing out important landmarks and monuments
• 4:00 p.m. – Buses depart D.C.
• 5:00 p.m. – Buses drop off group at Holiday Inn BWI

$65.00 PER PERSON (Minimum 25 people)
Includes guide service, transportation, and arrangements at the Arboretum.

CONVENTION REGISTRATION

Registration for the Convention and Show must be postmarked by September 30, 2008, and sent to Richard Heeseler. His address, e-mail, and telephone number are shown on the registration form. The registration fee again this year is $40.00.

VOLUNTEERS:

Volunteers will be needed at the Registration Desk, and to act as Tour Guides. If you work the desk you will have an opportunity to put a face to the many names that you see written up in The Chrysanthemum.

Baltimore Rent-A-Tour, the company that put our tours together, has agreed to put our show on their menu. We will offer 3 tours for them to incorporate into their programming, one on Saturday afternoon, and two on Sunday. If you are good with people and would like to explain some of the intricacies of our show to the starry eyed visitors, please indicate so on your convention registration form.