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Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the Churchwide Assembly meetings be
held?
The assembly plenary sessions will be held at Navy
Pier (map). Hearings and workshops will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago
(map).
How do I register for the Chuchwide Assembly?
Registration for the 2007 Churchwide Assembly is
now closed. Visitors may register on site to attend assembly sessions.
When does the assembly begin and end?
The assembly officially begins with opening
worship at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 6, 2007, and concludes at the
close of the final plenary session on Saturday afternoon, August 11th.
At what hotel are we staying?
Everyone will be housed in the
Hyatt Regency
Chicago Hotel on East Wacker Drive (map). A complimentary shuttle will be
provided between the hotel and Navy Pier.
How much does a hotel room cost?
$118 + tax per room, per night for one or two
people. NOTE: Voting members and advisory members will have their hotel
rooms paid for as long as they share a room with another voting or
advisory member. Those having a private room will be charged one-half
the room rate + tax, per room, per night.
I am a voting or advisory member and am bringing
family members. How do I make those travel arrangements so we can all
fly on the same flight?
Please make travel arrangements for anyone
traveling with you by calling Best Travel at 1-800-543-8016 and placing
the charges on a personal credit card.
How do visitors make hotel & travel
arrangements?
When visitors register for the assembly they will
have the opportunity to make hotel and travel arrangements. Visitors
are welcome (but not required) to use Best Travel and to stay at the
Hyatt Regency at the negotiated rate, using their personal credit cards
for payment.
How do I get from the airport to the hotel?
Shuttle service
is available. Details will
be on the Web site or included in the paper registration packet.
How far is it from the airport to Navy Pier?
From O’Hare, it is 19 miles; from Midway, about 12
miles. Depending upon Chicago traffic, it is approximately a 45 minute
drive from either airport.
I know that voting members and advisory members
have their airfare paid by the ELCA assembly, but what if they drive?
Voting and advisory members of the assembly will
be reimbursed at the current IRS rate for mileage, along with the cost
of tolls and parking up to the lowest available advance airfare, not
exceeding $300. For example: If a round trip airfare between your home
and Chicago costs $250 and the costs involved for you to drive are $350,
you will be reimbursed $250 in travel costs. The lowest available fare
for each of our guests is established by our travel agent. The maximum
total reimbursement amount is $300. It is extremely important to keep
all receipts, including parking, tolls, etc., and to attach the original
receipts to your expense report. Expense report forms will be available
at the information desk in the registration area.
I’m driving. What about parking?
The Hyatt Regency Chicago hotel has agreed to a
reduced parking fee of $20 per day for guests attending the assembly.
What about meals?
Voting members and advisory members will receive
tickets for meals that are provided at the assembly site. All meal
tickets will be distributed at on-site registration. No meal
tickets will be sold on-site.
Each voting member and advisory member will
receive a per diem debit card to cover meals that are not provided at
the assembly. Per Diem cards will be provided during on-site
registration. Hotel restaurants, Navy Pier kiosks and local eateries
offer a wide variety of food and beverages ranging from casual fare to
fine dining from which to choose.
How do I find more information on all that
Chicago has to offer?
Contact the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
by phone at 312-567-8500 or visit their Web site at
choose chicago.com
How do I find out more about events held before
the Churchwide Assembly?
What is a congregational observer, and how do
they register?
Each congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America may register one congregational observer for the
Churchwide Assembly prior to May 31, 2007. Congregational observers
will have reserved seating in the observers section of the plenary
hall and will receive a copy of the report of recommendations for
assembly action and also materials distributed on the plenary floor
to voting members, advisory members, and non-voting members during
the assembly. Such observers shall have neither voice nor vote in
plenary sessions of the assembly.
EXPENSES: Transportation costs, housing, meals, and related expenses
shall be the responsibility of the registered observer or the
sending congregation.
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