Convention Parking Procedures  —  Perry 2007

FMCA's 77th International Convention, March 19-22, 2007

FAMILY PARKING PROCEDURES

All pre-registered families receive day and time of admittance credentials based on the date their registrations are received at FMCA headquarters in Cincinnati. Convention parking is divided equally over a three-day period. National officers, member staff, parking layout crew, volunteers, committee members, and past national officers are assigned early admittance. Parking crew members are available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during designated parking days to direct families to their appropriate final parking space.

Families arriving in Perry on the date and time specified on their credential should follow the directions in the confirmation materials. Many families will be directed to the Holding Area which will serve as additional family coach parking.

Families who arrive prior to their specified date and time of arrival, or who wish to meet and park with friends, should report to the official on-site Holding Area located at Elko and Starbuck Roads to wait until their assigned time for entry. (See directions in the January, 2007, issue or online at www.fmca.com). Families arriving on-grounds for the Perry convention, including the official Holding Area, prior to their assigned “date of entry,” will be assessed an early arrival fee of $15 per night for dry camping.

Families who arrive later than the date and time specified on their official window credential should report to the official Holding Area at Elko and Starbuck Roads. From there, they will be directed by the parking crew to their parking area at the earliest possible time.

Families who pre-register and receive March 19, 2007, “date of entry” credentials for Perry should arrive prior to noon on Monday, March 19, 2007. All families who register are guaranteed parking at the convention site.

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CARAVAN PARKING PROCEDURES

Caravan reservations will be accepted for Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18. Caravans will not be accepted on Monday, March 19. Your assistance with caravan reservations and scheduling is appreciated.

When a caravan leader makes the group’s reservation, he or she will be sent the appropriate number of orange “caravan” credentials. The caravan leader distributes one caravan credential to each coach. This caravan credential should be displayed in the coach window along with the date of entry card the member received when registering for the convention. Caravan families should enter the grounds according to the caravan reservation time and not according to the date of entry credential sent with the confirmation materials. Families arriving in a caravan must be pre-registered.

A caravan reservation guarantees a parking space at the convention site. A caravan reservation means that members of a caravan will be parked together as a group. Caravan reservation “assigned time” means that a caravan should arrive at the convention site at the specified time in order for the parking staff to park the group as efficiently as possible. Participating in a caravan supersedes the “date of entry” credential the registered family member receives in the confirmation materials. Families arriving with a registered caravan group will not be assessed the early arrival fee.

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WILL-CALL PROCEDURES

Many families request that FMCA not mail their confirmation packets and to hold their credentials at Will Call. Will Call is located at the convention Holding Area in Perry at Elko and Starbuck Roads. These packets may be picked up at the Holding Area office on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, March 16, 17, 18, and 19, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Will Call packets may be picked up at the Information Center, located in the McGill Exhibition Hall, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, March 20, 21, and 22, beginning at 8:00 a.m. After convention-goers pick up their packets, they should remain in the Holding Area, if necessary, until their appointed entry time.

Families picking up “Will Call” packets for large groups may be asked to submit their list and return later for packages.

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EARLY ARRIVAL FEES

Families arriving on-grounds for the Perry convention, including the official Holding Area, prior to their assigned “date of entry,” will be assessed an early arrival fee of $15 per night for dry camping. Upon collection of this early arrival fee, families will receive a special early arrival credential that must be displayed in the front window of the coach. Cash or check will be accepted as payment.

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Convention Parking Definitions

Daily Passport: A daily passport permits an attendee to all convention activities including seminars and evening entertainment for one day. The badge may be purchased near the West Gate of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Daily passport patrons should be directed to take exit 135 (Larry Walker Parkway) off I-75, go south on General Courtney Hodges Boulevard and follow signs to the public parking area adjacent to the West Entrance.

Day Pass: A day pass is available for family members and the general public to view coach displays and the supplier/component displays only. The day pass is sold at the Public Gate Ticket location near the Georgia National Fairgrounds’ West Gate and is generally available only for the day purchased. Public parking will be available near the West Gate.

Gate Registration: If space is available following the completion of general parking, families registering on site will be parked on a first-come, first-serve basis, on Monday afternoon, March 19, 2007, from noon until 5:00 p.m.

Holding Area: Members who arrive at the convention site earlier than permitted according to their entry credentials may stay at the Holding Area until their appointed time to enter the grounds. When it is time to enter the grounds, the parking crew will assist them in moving to their final parking space. An early arrival fee of $15 per night will be assessed to families arriving at the Holding Area prior to their assigned day of entry.

The Holding Area is also a place to meet friends who wish to park together. In order to park together convention attendees must arrive together. If members of a group have a later entry date than others in their group, they must all “hold” and enter on the later entry date. The best way to park with friends and avoid a longer wait in the Holding Area is to send registrations to FMCA in the same envelope with a note requesting identical date of entry credentials. The Holding Area does not have sufficient space for caravans to meet and reassemble. Please call the FMCA national office for assistance in locating a site.

Passport Registration: A passport registration entitles the convention attendee to all convention services and activities with the exception of overnight on-site parking of a motorhome. Passport registrants often choose to stay at a local campground or a friend's home and drive to the convention site each day in their personal automobiles. Car parking at Georgia National Fairgrounds will be located near the West Entrance, accessed via General Courtney Hodges Boulevard. Passport coaches cannot be accommodated. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Will Call: Due to travel plans or the time the registration was made for the convention, families may request the confirmation materials be held at the convention site for pick-up. Will Call will be located at the Holding Area registration office. Packets may be picked up Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, March 16, 17, 18, and 19, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Will Call packets may be picked up at the Information Center, located in the McGill Exhibition Building at Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, March 20, 21, and 22, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

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