Agenda for 2010 NASB Annual Meeting in Hamilton, Ontario

NASB associate member Galcom International will host the 2010 NASB-DRM USA annual meetings on May 20 and 21 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  This will be the first time that the NASB has held an annual meeting in Canada, or anywhere outside the U.S. for that matter.  The meetings will be held at the Mohawk College Conference Center and will be open to listeners and broadcasters – anyone interested in shortwave radio. 

This year there is a registration fee, unlike recent years.  However, it includes some meals and coffee breaks, transportation to the outside venues, and allows us to rent the conference center at Mohawk College, where there will be free wireless Internet service.

Meeting Agenda

On Thursday, May 20, meeting participants will go by bus to Crossroads Communications in the morning to participate in the taping of a syndicated television program and to talk about shortwave radio.  A tour of the Crossroads facility will follow.  Later, the bus will take everyone to Galcom for a tour of the factory where they build fix-tuned shortwave receivers and other broadcast and receiving equipment.  There will be a barbecue lunch at the Galcom factory before returning to the Mohawk College Conference Center for the DRM USA meeting.  At 4:30 pm, a bus will take meeting participants on an optional trip to world-famous Niagara Falls, including a private NASB dinner in that city.  The bus will then return to Mohawk College.

On Friday, May 21, the NASB annual meeting will officially take place.  Talks and presentations will focus on Canadian subjects.  Members of the Ontario DX Association will tell about their very successful shortwave/DX club and about their role as QSL coordinator for the Toronto shortwave station CFRX.  We have also invited representatives of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Canada International and the CBC Northern Service to give presentations.  Lunch will be catered at the Mohawk College Conference Center, and in the afternoon the meeting will continue, including the NASB Business Meeting, which will conclude by 5:00 pm.

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM - click here

Explanatory Notes for Registration Form:

Block A – Please fill out one form for each person attending.  The registration fee is C$55 per person (i.e. Canadian dollars).  This will cover the basic registration fee, lunches on Thursday and Friday, and coffee breaks on both days.  Please check the days you plan to attend (Thursday, Friday or both).  If you do not require accommodation, or if you plan to stay somewhere other than the Mohawk College residence, check the box indicating that you will take care of your own overnight accommodations.

Block B – This is the cost of accommodation at the Mohawk College residence.  These are student residences which are made available to the public in the summer months.  The C$87.50 rate (Canadian dollars) is per person for TWO nights (Wednesday and Thursday), based on double occupancy in a standard suite.  This is, for example, if you plan to share a suite with a colleague from your own organization (or anyone else you want to share with).  Please indicate the name of the person you will be sharing your suite with.  Note that each suite has two private rooms, along with a shared bathroom and kitchenette.  See the suite layout at:  http://www2.mohawkcollege.ca/dept/market/vtour/WhereToLive.html.  The C$175.00 rate is per person for TWO nights (Wednesday and Thursday) if you prefer a private suite for yourself and/or family members.  The residence suite includes the two nights' accommodations, two continental breakfasts, free parking and free Internet.  The address is 245 Fennell Avenue West, Hamilton, Ontario.  It is not possible to stay at the Mohawk residence for just one night.  (See Alternate Accommodations below.)

Block C – There will be an optional visit to Niagara Falls on Thursday evening.  The price of C$55.00 per person includes bus transportation from Mohawk College to the Falls and back, and a private NASB dinner at the Old Stone Mill restaurant in Niagara Falls, Ontario.  You are welcome to bring family members along for the same price of C$55.00 per person.  Please note on the registration form  the names of any family members who will be accompanying you, and put the total amount in the box.  Here is the tentative menu for the dinner:  Bread Service.  1st Course:  Mixed Green Salad with House Dressing.  Main Course:  Dry Aged Angus Prime Rib of Beef au jus with Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables; or Angel Hair Pasta with caramelized onions, crumbled goat cheese, arugula and olive oil; or Eggplant Parmesan.  Dessert Course:  Choice of New York style cheesecake, Lemon Craze, or Apple Blossom.  Coffee, tea.

You may send your registration form by standard mail along with a personal or company cheque payable to Galcom International, or you can pay everything by credit/debit card if you wish.  Just indicate if it is a Visa or MasterCard and provide the card details.  If paying by Visa or MasterCard, you can fax your registration form to Galcom at the number indicated, or you can scan and e-mail the form to them.

Alternative Accommodation:   The Mohawk residence package above is for two nights (May 19 and 20); there is no rate for just one night of accommodation.  The Mohawk College residence is not available on Friday night.  However, there is alternative accommodation available (for Friday or for any other nights) at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, 1224 Upper James Street in Hamilton for an NASB group rate of C$129 per night plus tax.  The normal rate for May is C$169 per night.  The group rate of C$129 per night is for single, double, triple or quad occupancy, with two queen beds or one king size bed, free high-speed Internet and free parking).  This hotel is approximately seven minutes from the Mohawk Conference Center by car.  To get this conference rate, call the Marriott 800-number (+1-800-MARRIOTT) and tell them you are with the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters group.  If you prefer, you can also e-mail Marilyn Frame, the hotel's Sales Manager, at:  m.frame@concordhotels.com to make your reservation with your name, address, telephone number and credit card details.  You should guarantee your reservation with a credit card.  The group room block expires on April 19, 2010.  If you reserve after that date, the price will be at the hotel's regular rate, if rooms are available.

If you have any questions about the 2010 NASB-DRM USA Annual Meetings, or would like to sponsor an event at the meetings, contact Jeff White at radiomiami9@cs.com