Member Information

 Download a PDF of the member information below

2009 Information for Conference Members and Visitors

Attendance Registration
Each lay and clergy member of the annual conference must complete an attendance registration card. Lay registration is located in the Foundry Building, Cypress. Clergy registration is located in the Foundry Building, High Shoals. Place completed cards in boxes located at registration tables or associate conference secretaries’ table in the Classic Center Grand Hall. Laity and clergy registration begins Monday, June 16, 3 - 6 p.m. and continues Tuesday, June 17, 8 a.m.

Cokesbury Book Store
The Cokesbury Book Store, located in the Foundry Building Empire Room # 1, offers a selection of books and church supplies for sale.

Communion Elements
Gluten-free communion elements are available for worship at designated serving stations as announced at the service.

2009 Conference Journals
The 2009 Conference Journal can be ordered during annual conference in the Classic Center Foundry Building Lobby. Orders with payment can also be mailed to: North Georgia Conference, Attention:  Journal, Box 102417, Norcross, GA 30368-2417 or ordered on the conference website http://www.ngumc.org/resources/journal/. 

Day Camp and Child Care Providers in Athens
Check the North Georgia Conference website www.ngumc.org for a list of Athens-area child care and day camp providers compiled by the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Neither ACVB nor the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church evaluates, advocates, recommends, guarantees, or warrants any of the childcare providers as listed, and neither ACVB nor the North Georgia Conference (UMC) nor their agents shall be liable for any reasons, conditions, situations, or injuries relating to the actions of any such provider or agency. Parents and/or guardians are responsible for selecting caregivers appropriate to the needs of their child(ren) and are solely accountable for any conditions, situations, injuries, or accident resulting from contractual day care agreements during annual conference 2009.

Displays
Display tables are an extension of reports presented at the annual conference session. The displays interpret and celebrate the program ministries of the annual conference. Various conference boards, committees, commissions, councils, teams and related agency displays are located in the 130 Foundry Building lobby, Empire # 2 and Willow rooms.

Email Access
Live port access to check email on personal lap top computers is available in the area outside the Classic Center Ballroom restrooms.

Food Service
Concessions located in the Lower Lobby of the 130 Foundry Building open at 7 a.m. Lunch concessions are served 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the 130 Foundry Building Courtyard and Lower Lobby.

Handbook Supplemental Reports (Tote Bags)
Supplemental reports are provided in a packet of materials at registration. The conference appreciates The United Methodist Children’s Home for providing the tote bags and the North Georgia Conference United Methodist Women and other volunteers for collating the materials into packets.  

Health Screening Opportunities
Procheck Health Screening Available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7-10 a.m.
HealthFlex Participants: Take Your HQ at Annual Conference 

Housing
Delegates make housing arrangements directly with the hotels/motels in the
area. Confirm reservations with the hotel and indicate the nights you will be staying. Please use the information for reservations on the North Georgia Conference website www.ngumc.org or call the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau at 706-357-4410 or 800-653-0603.

Language Translation
Spanish and Korean audio interpretation are available in the Grand Hall.
If you need simultaneous interpretation, you must contact the appropriate person by Friday June 12. 
Spanish:  Nora Martinez, 678-533-1388, nmartinez@ngumc.org
Interpretation.
Korean: Hyo Kim, 678-533-1448, hkim@ngumc.org 

Meals and Special Events
Find information about meals and events and download a complete schedule 

Medical Care
First aid and medical care is located in the lower level escalator lobby during sessions held in the Grand Hall. First aid is located in the Theater lobby main level for evening services. Contact the Message and Information Center for directions or assistance.

Message and Information Center
The message and information center is located in the Classic Center at the top of the escalators. Messages are placed on a display board and emergency messages are displayed electronically in the Classic Center Grand Hall. The telephone number for the message center is 706-357-4513.  The fax number is 706-357-4514.

Mission Offering
Even though the greatest growth of the United Methodist Church is in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Philippines, pension funds are minimal or nonexistent for pastors in those areas. There are presently about 2,000
retired clergy or surviving spouses in the central conferences outside the United States. After a lifetime of service to the church, many of these faithful servants are living well below the poverty level. A relatively small amount of pension support could make a tremendous difference in these persons' lives.

The Central Conference Pension Initiative is a denominational campaign to raise $20 million to fully fund pensions for retired clergy and surviving spouses who have served in conferences outside the United States. This year's mission offering at Annual Conference will help to provide those much needed resources.

Mobile Food Pantry – UMM mission project!
The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia will deliver 10,000 pounds of food and annual conference members will help distribute this food to the needy in the Athens community. The Mobile Food Pantry helps hundreds of people get basic food supplies they need to provide for their families. Please join us Wednesday, June 17, noon – 2pm on level 1, East Broad Street entrance of the Classic Center parking deck to help. Bring a Bible to donate to someone who comes for food. If you have questions, please contact Jon Mills: jon@mills.net or 706-372-5025.

Parking and Transportation

Parking:
1. Complimentary parking for delegates will be available in parking spaces at the Classic Center, Court House parking deck and the UGA parking deck.
2. Only delegates with state handicap parking permits will be allowed on the bridge leading to the Classic Center parking deck.
3. Parking permits must be displayed so they can be seen in all parking spaces for free parking. The UGA parking deck will accept either a parking permit or a nametag.
4. The upper deck at the Classic Center will be reserved on Wednesday for retirees. Please do not park there on Wednesday.
5. Level one of the Classic Center parking deck will be used for non-conference parking all week during the conference.
6. The bridge to the parking deck will be closed Monday night through Wednesday night during the conference.
7. Parking at the Classic Center is during the hours of the event. No overnight parking is allowed. Your vehicle may be towed if left overnight.
8. We will have spaces reserved for persons with handicaps during registration on the flat lot behind the 130 Foundry Street building.
9. The spaces in front of the theatre will be reserved for church vans and emergency vehicles.

Transportation:
1. Church vans will be used to transport delegates to and from the UGA parking deck and the Classic Center as needed from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.  They will load and unload in front of the theatre and the lower level of the UGA parking deck on North Thomas Street.
2. Anyone in need of transportation during the conference may go by the message center or call 706-357-4513
3. Foundry Street will be closed all week and a police officer will be on duty all day starting Tuesday until the conference ends on Thursday.

Offering for Annual Conference Expense
The offering received during worship on Tuesday night supports the costs of the 2009 session of the North Georgia Annual Conference.

Prayer Room
The Prayer Room sponsored by the North Georgia United Methodist Men is located in Athena A. It is open 8 am – 9 pm, June 15 and 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. beginning Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

Prayer Walk 7,000 Steps
Join your friends during the Wednesday lunch break, June 17, to walk 7,000 steps around downtown Athens (or utilize the indoor track at Athens First UMC). Bishop Watson is challenging us to walk 7,000 steps to promote health and wellness and to be in prayer for our neighbors in our community and around the world. Start and finish at your leisure from the Classic Center or from your hotel!

Red Cross Blood Drive
The Red Cross blood drive will be available at the Classic Center in the Firehall on Wednesday, June 17, from noon to 5 p.m. and Thursday, June 18, from noon – 5 p.m. Please make your appointment online: www.givelife.org or call Courtney Bowers, 706-543-1442, ext. 204.

Run/Walk - 3rd Annual North Georgia Conference 5K Run/Walk
Join us bright and early on Wednesday morning, June 17, at 6:30 a.m. The race route starts on Washington Street, a block from the Classic Center and runs through downtown and down the Oconee River Greenway, finishing behind the Classic Center. Proceeds benefit The Hope for Africa Children’s Choir. (For more information www.hopeforafricachildrenschoir.org). Download the race registration form at www.ngumc.org or register online at www.active.com. For more information, please contact Lisa Hudson: 706-769-6151 lisa_hudson@charter.net or Tracie Hedges, 706-769-1208 traciehedges@bellsouth.net.

Request for Video Duplication
Duplicated DVDs will not be made available for the 2009 Annual Conference Session.  Please log on to www.ngumc.org/2009ACVIDEO for viewable and downloadable segments and celebrations of the 2009 annual conference.  

Safety
Please be aware that Athens is an urban city. Use caution after dark, do not walk alone or leave valuables visible in parked/locked cars.

Sing in the Annual Conference Choir
Click here for more information
To participate, contact Beth Shugart at bshugart@johnscreekumc.org

Special Needs
Direct special needs requests to the Message Center located in the Classic Center at the top of the escalators.

Telephones
Public telephones are located in upper level lobby of the Classic Center.

UMCOR Emergency Kit Assembly
Please help the UMW collect the items listed below for UMCOR Health Kits. Your donated items may be dropped off in the Firehall at the Classic Center, Monday, June 15, and Tuesday, June 16. Help is needed assembling these kits on Wednesday, June 17 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. in the Theatre Lobby.


Web Site
Information on the 2009 annual conference session is available on the North Georgia web site: www.ngumc.org/ac2009.  Daily audio and video streaming is available June 16 – 18, 2009.