Sparks, NV Wed, 16 May 2012 4:54 pm PDT Currently: Partly Cloudy / 84 F Wind Chill: 84 Wind Speed: 21 mph Sunrise: 5:42 am Sunset: 8:08 pm Thu 17 May 2012 Temperature: 48/80 F Conditions: Partly Cloudy/Wind Convention Materials: Online Registration for Convention & Materials Convention Registration Form (to download and print) Banquet Form (to download and mail) Convention Deadlines (downloadable) Convention Agenda

National Convention

The 32nd NARFE National Convention will be held in Reno-Sparks, NV, August 26-30, 2012. Tabs above provide information on convention and hotel registration, convention forms and materials, convention deadlines, NARFE’s National Bylaws, and, when available, the convention agenda, candidate statements, proposed revised Bylaws and resolutions. Additional links offer tourist information on the Reno-Sparks area, other Nevada travel destinations and the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The theme of the convention is: "NARFE: Our Best Bet for the Future.” If you plan to attend the banquet on August 30, hotel reservations will be required for the night of August 30. Starting in January, you can pay for your convention registration and banquet tickets online. You also can still make your reservations by mail.
 

Click on the “Convention Registration and Materials” tab at the top of the page to register online, to obtain forms, to access the proposed Revised Bylaws and to view candidate statements.

TRAINING TO BE OFFERED
NARFE plans to offer “Lunch and Learn” sessions from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday of convention week. Lunches will be available. To determine the size of the meeting rooms necessary for each session, NARFE is asking delegates who are interested in attending the sessions to complete the form online. Delegates can attend only one session each day. To access the form, go to the Convention “Registration & Materials” link above.
 
Service officer training also will be offered on Monday evening (August 27) of convention week by David Snell, director of NARFE’s Retirement Benefits Service Department

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
An optional tour of the National Automobile Museum is being offered on Wednesday, August 29, from 6-9 p.m. The event will be held at the William F. Harrah National Automobile Museum, which provides a display of more than 200 antique, vintage, classic and special-interest automobiles. A no-host bar will be available. Price includes transportation to and from the Museum, museum admission and dinner buffet reception. The dinner buffet includes salad, Italian sausage and mushroom lasagna, three-cheese tortellini, vegetables, cookies, coffee and tea. Cost: $70 per person. 

Visit www.conventionactivities.com and complete registration online or click on the “Convention Registration & Materials” link above to download, print and mail or fax (details on form) your reservation. Telephone reservations will not be accepted. Registration must be received by August 3.

CONVENTION SITE
The Convention will be held at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, NV. This four-star resort is three miles from Reno and a 10-minute drive from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Amenities include a salon, spa, eight award-winning restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, shops, a casino and a nightclub. All convention activities take place at the hotel.
 

Hotel Rate: The hotel rate is $95 single/double, plus 13.5 percent county tax. Triple and quad occupancy rates are an additional $10 per person over the quoted rate. Rates apply three days before and three days after the arrival and departure dates, based on availability.
Parking: Valet and self-parking; the rate is included in the $3 per room per night resort fee. The resort fee also includes round-trip shuttle transportation to and from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, unlimited use of the pool and unlimited use of the fitness center.
Reservation Cutoff Date: July 20
Check-In: 3 p.m.
Check-Out: 11 a.m.

Hotel reservations may be made by phone with the convention hotel by calling 800-648-1177. To get the NARFE rate, you must mention the NARFE Convention. You also can register online at a special link for NARFE members. Click on the “Hotel” tab at the top of the page.
 

RENO-SPARKS AND NEARBY DESTINATIONS
Known as the Rail City, Sparks was founded in the early 1900s by the Southern Pacific Railway Company. The convention hotel is across from downtown Sparks’ Victorian Square. Destinations include the Sparks Marina Park and the Outlets at Legends, a shopping and entertainment area.   
 

Reno, Sparks sister city, features the Truckee River Arts District, the Nevada Museum of Art and the National Automobile Museum.   
 

Other nearby destinations include Virginia City and Carson City, Nevada’s capital. Tahoe, where Nevada and California meet, is less than an hour from Sparks. See the links below for more detailed information on what these travel destinations have to offer.      
 

For more information on these destinations as well as a link to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, click on the “Other Links” tab at the top of the page.