General Information:

Conference Dates:

August 22-25, 2012 (Wednesday through Saturday) –conference officially in session

Pre-Conference Classes will be held on Tuesday, and Wednesday –

Wednesday is registration day, and the conference officially convenes on Thursday with the opening session. The Memorial Service will be held on Friday this year.

The 2012 Georgia Fire Service Conference sponsored by the Georgia State Firefighters Association and Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs will be in Dalton, Georgia, on August 22-25, 2012. Check-out is on Sunday, August 26.  The conference is being hosted by the Dalton Fire Department who is ‘ALL FIRED UP’.

Pre-conference classes will be held on Tuesday and on Wednesday. The Training and Education Committee has planning on these classes in progress and these should be announced by the time you get the next issue of the magazine. They also will be announced on line at our website and in quarterly flyers. ALL conference forms will be included on our website as planning progresses on the conference. Watch our website for these updates.

Conference meetings and business sessions will be held at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, Georgia 30720. Exhibits will also be at the convention center.

Included in this issue is a listing of hotels that will be utilized for the conference. There is no ‘headquarters hotel’ this year, or an overflow hotel. People will be spread out throughout the four selected hotels. Hotels are situated all in a group with ‘connecting’ parking lots. Parking is free at all hotels. Room rates range from $84 to $104.95. The convention center is located up the hill a short distance from the hotels. You can make reservations directly with the hotel of your choice. The four hotels in use are:

• Holiday Inn & Suites,
• Courtyard by Marriott,
• LAQUINTA Inn and Suites,
• Holiday Inn Express 

The Dalton Fire Department plans to run a shuttle between the hotels and the convention center, as well as providing free shuttle service to all the City’s dining, entertainment areas and nightlife as needed.

REGISTRATION FEES AND DETAILS

The Advance registration deadline is July 15, 2012. After this date, attendees will have to register at the conference. An advance registration form will be available within the next month at our website, and will be included in the next issue of the magazine. The conference registration fee covers all socials with the exception of the annual banquet, which is extra to attend. Conference fees can be paid by check, purchase order, or credit card. We accept VISA, master card and discover. Not American Express.

Payments with purchase order: For fees taken from the 2013 budget, send in registration form before July 1^st  and send the money by August 1^st. Children ages 12 and under can be registered at no charge, unless they attend the adult banquet, then they must pay the banquet fee.  A dinner is provided for children on Saturday evening while parents are at the banquet.

WHAT is covered in your registration fee?

Training classes for credit and outstanding speakers

Socials: Welcome Reception, 3 luncheons, 6 refreshment breaks, Meal at competition on Friday

The BANQUET is extra and is not included in the registration fee.

SPECIAL EVENTS/ACTIVITIES:

The Dalton Convention & Visitors Bureau will be providing a list of recreational activities which may include golf, bowling and other activities. There will be no formal golf or bowling outings sponsored by the Conference.

NOTES OF INTEREST:

Please be sure to include your e-mail address on your registration form if you have one. Your registration confirmation will be sent to that email address (unless submitted by your department). Important Note: There is no need to purchase EXTRA TICKETS if you have already paid the full registration fee unless you have other people in your party not paying the registration fee who only want to attend certain conference socials.

Members who do not want to pay the conference registration fee may still attend the business sessions of each Association, however you MUST be registered to attend and receive credit for the training sessions offered during the conference (Thursday, Friday & Saturday).

PHOTOGRAPHER/NAME BADGES

Registration will be open on Wednesday from 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. in the atrium (lobby) of the conference center. The photographer will be set up in the same location. Registration will continue on Thursday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

If you registered in advance, go to the ‘Pre-Registration desk’. If you have to register at the conference, go to the ‘Conference Registration desk’. If you are a vendor, go to the exhibit hall and check in with the official on duty there.