2024 ARCOA Convention

ARCOA 2024 – Let’s Meet in the Middle

Kansas City, MO - Here We Come - September 12-14, 2024.

Fly (MCI), train, bus, or drive to Kansas City MO in the heart of the USA. Celebrate ARCOA’s 75^th Birthday at the 2024 Annual Convention at the Marriott Kansas City Country Club Plaza, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City MO 66111. 

Hotel Reservation link:

        Online reservation default is for the nights September 11-14.

To extend your stay to include any of the nights September 8,9,10 or 15,16,17:

• Book the available Convention room nights online.
• Send an email INCLUDING YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBER to:
• Laura Lovisone laura.lovisone@aimbridge.com with the additional nights you are requesting.

BOOK EARLY TO ENSURE ROOM AVAILABILITY

ARCOA contact for hotel reservation issues:  Laura Riskedahl-Hampton phlyfolks@aol.com

Only ½ mile from the famed outdoor Country Club Plaza Shopping Center, room rates are $160/night ($191.45 with tax and fees). Price includes:

• ·       Complimentary self-parking in attached covered garage
• ·       Valet parking $30
• ·       $10 ($13.25 with service charge and tax automatically included) breakfast buffet coupons provided at check-in; payable when redeemed.
• ·       Complimentary wi-fi
• ·       Reservation Deadline August 23, 2024
• ·       Cancellation without penalty 2 days prior to your 1^st night’s stay·       

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

Afternoon Registration in the Hospitality Suite 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm; packets always available different hours Registration fee $55 for everyone including guests.

Visit some of the sights: https://kcfuntours.com and https://www.visitkc.com     

HOSPITALITY SUITE  

Hours open contingent on volunteers to “staff” the room. More information as Convention dates near

Table provided for “free exchange” of items willing to share/donate (i.e., books, Red Cross pins). Donations accepted to ARCOA for receiving items.  Items remaining at close of Convention will be donated rather than carried to next Convention.

PLEASE BRING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE.  THE HOTEL DOES NOT OFFER COMPLIMENTARY WATER BOTTLES IN THE ROOMS. ARCOA WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIMIT PROVIDING MULTIPLE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE RECYCLED.  THANK YOU.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

MORNING – ARCOA Business Meeting in the hotel

AFTERNOON – Lunch on your own with in-house and nearby options available. Individual transportation (public, rideshare, foot, POV) to the National WW1 Museum and Memorial 3.0 miles from the hotel.https://www.theworldwar.org/

• ·       Group tickets $11 include the Tower and Main Gallery.  Audio guides available on site $5
• ·       Tower has an elevator + 45 steps to reach the top.
• ·       Arrive at Museum independently, prepaid tickets available at Will Call

EVENING – Free – Ideas - Enjoy Crown Center or Union Station areas near the World War 1 Museum or take the free trolley to the Power and Light District food and entertainment area.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2024

MORNING – ARCOA subsidized bus departs hotel for Independence MO to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.https://www.trumanlibrary.gov

Approx 40-minute ride. Return to hotel by 1 p.m. Cost $10/ pp. Includes bus gratuity. 

AFTERNOON – FREE

EVENING – Banquet, Awards Celebration

Cash bar begins 5:30 p.m.; Dinner served 6:30 p.m.

Dinner includes salad, rolls and butter, coffee, iced tea and dessert. Menu options:

• ·       Oolong Brined Sliced Pork Loin, ginger honey glaze, served with sesame coconut rice and sauteed green beans with lemon oil.
• ·       Trout lightly fried served with Cajun rice and sauteed green beans with lemon oil.
• ·       Vegan Platter - Barley and Quinoa served with spinach, roasted Garbanzo Beans, marinated tomatoes, and roasted carrots with orange champagne vinaigrette-

We are not in Portsmouth any more , so Dinner Cost is $60 per person.

TOASTS – an opportunity to recognize an individual or group, send regards and make a donation to ARCOA

$100 – National World War 1 Museum and Liberty Memorial

$  50 -   Truman Presidential Library and Museum

$  25 -   Crown Center

RAFFLE – Have attractive/valuable items others may want? Donate them to the ARCOA Raffle. Contact Shirley Powers arcshirley@yahoo.com  This replaces the Silent Auction.

The Banquet is a time to recognize those who have done outstanding work for ARCOA and in the community. It is also an occasion to celebrate the opportunity to be together, relax, have fun, and continue ARCOA’s legacy.

ARCOA REGISTRATION DEADLINE AUGUST 23, 2024

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION – At this writing airport shuttle services charge by the number of people using the vehicle which makes it difficult to calculate or estimate. Rideshare services Uber and Lyft are available.

If you want to try to connect to other ARCOA’ns arriving similar times to share travel costs from the airport (MCI) to the hotel, send an email with your flight information and arrival day/time to arcoainfo@gmail.com.  We will attempt to match those arriving at similar times. Individuals are responsible to contact one another, make their own arrangements, and stay in touch with each other.

QUESTIONS:  Teri Fisk Hermans, terihermansco@gmail.com,  719-510-7034

                       Dorris Hecht Heaston, dhheaston@gmail.com,  605-351-0528