2011 Annual Conference – February 13-15, 2011

Welcome

On behalf of the Northwest Association of College and University Housing Officers, we want to welcome you to the 2011 NWACUHO Conference! We hope this conference will give you a great opportunity to network with others in the region while also allowing you to grow your skills and share resources with others.

Why Vancouver?

Surrounded by majestic mountains, sparkling oceans, rainforests and rivers Vancouver, British Columbia perches on the south west coast of Canada. This gem of a city welcomed the world in February 2010 as it hosted the Winter Olympic and Parolympic Games. In February 2011 it will welcome you, the members of North West Acuho. World class shopping, world class dining, live entertainment, sporting events, theatre, outdoor adventure, spectacular sights and attractions – it’s all waiting for you. With its vastly multicultural population Vancouver is a natural choice if you wish to “Experience the Mosaic”. Check out the Tourism Vancouver Website for more information on all there is to see and do. www.tourismvancouver.com. If you have time for a side trip, consider taking a day tour to Whistler or a few days to take the ferry and see all that Vancouver Island and Victoria have to offer.

CONFERENCE COST

Members	$325
Non-Members	$400
Student/Grad-Student	$250
One Day Registration	$160
Banquet Only	$80
Exhibitor Booth	$625

Register before 2/1/2011 to avoid a $50 late fee

CONFERENCE SUSTAINABILITY

As an association, NWACUHO is hoping to make the 2011 Annual conference as green as possible. NWACUHO believes that environmental stewardship and the reduction of our negative impact is an important part of our region’s values, as well as our role as members of the higher education community. Housing professionals have enormous potential to make an impact on the future of sustainability within our profession; whether it is by our own personal choices, on the campuses where we work or live or as a regional association. Please join us in doing our part to make our conference as green as possible.

TRAVEL PLANS AND HOUSING

Hotel

Please make sure to contact the Four Seasons Vancouver (791 West Georgia Street Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) to book your room. You are also welcome to come early or stay late at the Four Seasons for a special price of $145(Can)/night for single or double occupancy (Additional people per room is $30can). Room reservations need to be made over the phone to receive the conference rate. Please call the Four Seasons at 1-866-223-9333 and ask for the reservations department and state that you are making your reservation for the “NWACUHO 2011 Conference”. Please book your room by January 12th 2011 to get the conference rate! The Hotel will continue to accept reservations after this date on a space available basis at the group rate or current available rates.

Driving

Located just 3 hours drive north of Seattle on the I-5 Vancouver is easy to get to. The possibilities are endless. Just don’t forget your passport if coming from the United States of America!

From the east:Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, accesses Vancouver from points east.

· Take the Hastings Street Exit

· Turn left onto Hastings Street

· Turn left on Howe Street

· The Four Seasons Vancouver is on the left

 

From the south: Vancouver is only three hours north of Seattle. Take the Interstate 5, which becomes Highway 99 at the United States-Canada border.

· Follow Hwy 99 north

· Cross the Oak Street Bridge and continue north on Oak Street

· Turn Left on 41^st Ave

· Turn Right on Granville Street and follow across the Granville Bridge

· Take the Seymour Street exit off the bridge

· After 8 blocks turn left onto Dunsmuir Street

· After 2 blocks turn left onto Howe Street

· The Four Seasons Vancouver is on the left

Flights

If you’re arriving by air, you’ll most likely be flying into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Located just 25 minutes from downtown, YVR is consistently rated one of the best airports in North America.There are more than a dozen international flights in and out of YVR every day, with 22 bound for the United States. www.yvr.ca

Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines

If you are coming from US, please make sure to bring your passport. NWACUHO has also worked with Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines to get a 7% discount on a flights from any US or Canadian city to Vancouver between February 10th and February 18th, 2011. When making your reservation through a travel agency or the Horizon Groups Department, the group ID is CMB1953. When using the web to make reservations, the group ID is ECCMB1953 and must be placed on the “discount code” box to receive the discount. This discount does not apply to web special fares and companion fares.

WestJet

NWACUHO has also worked with WestJet to get a 10% discount on a flights from any US or Canadian city to Vancouver or Abbotsford, BC between February 12th and February 16th, 2011. Please make reservations by contacting WestJet’s Convention line at 1-877-952-4696. Agents are available to assist Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (Mountain Standard Time). Please use code CC6741. This discount does not apply to web special fares and companion fares.

Train

See the Pacific Northwest up close on Amtrak Cascades. With daily multiple roundtrips between Seattle and Vancouver, you can sit back, relax and watch the scenery roll by – like one postcard after another. www.amtrakcascades.com

City Transportation

The easeyest way to get from the Airport to the hotel is through the public transportation:

View Larger Map

PRECONFERENCE ACTIVITIES

The Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre was formed initially as the Vancouver Public Aquarium Association in 1951. The Vancouver Aquarium, officially Canada’s first public Aquarium, opened on June 15, 1956. The Vancouver Aquarium always has been a self-supporting, non-profit organization receiving no annual government operational funding.

Through visionary, responsible growth programs with building additions starting in 1967, the Vancouver Aquarium has become the largest in Canada and one of the five largest in North America. The Aquarium is internationally recognized for display and interpretation excellence, and was the first facility to incorporate professional naturalists/interpretive specialists into galleries to explain animal behaviors. Aquarium research projects extend world-wide and we are internationally recognized for our successful Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Program.

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre was one of the first aquariums to introduce Naturalists, who are specifically trained to introduce you to the lives of all the animals, teach what we learn from them, and provide answers to all the most frequently asked questions that come from visiting this wonderful world of water.

• Belugas
• Dolphins
• Sea Otters
• Amazon Critters
• And more!

Transportation: car, transit, taxi

http://www.visitvanaqua.org/visitors

Granville Island

Imagine an island in the middle of a city. See? You’re already curious. Now picture a place moulded by a fascinating history, buzzing with a colourful artistic community. A living, breathing urban oasis filled with fine waterfront restaurants, theatres, galleries, studios, unique shops, cafes and the most spectacular fresh food market you’ve ever seen. Add a vibrant and diverse mix of people and activities, and you have a destination so dynamic, no visit to the city is complete without spending at least a day here. Just think of Granville Island as Vancouver’s Town Square. Where locals and visitors come together to be inspired, to be entertained or simply to breathe in some of its unique atmosphere.

• Public Market
• Arts and culture
• Unique gift shops
• Restaurants

Transportation: car, transit, taxi, water taxi

http://www.granvilleisland.com/

Whistler

With early season snow already appearing on the mountain, skiers and snowboarders around the world are anxiously awaiting the 2010.2011 season, particularly after last winter’s record breaking snowfall. As the second snowiest season on record, with a total snowfall accumulation of 1,492cm or 49 feet, the 2009.2010 winter brought Whistler Blackcomb’s average annual snowfall to 1,024cm or 33.6 feet. Meteorologists are also predicting a La Niña winter which means colder than normal temperatures and consistent heavy precipitation across Western Canada.

“A great long-term forecast and the continued afterglow of the 2010 Winter Games are setting the stage for a great winter ahead,” says Dave Brownlie, Whistler Blackcomb’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Our focus this year includes exciting new environmental initiatives, continued food and beverage enhancements, improvements to our terrain parks and an aggressive social media strategy centered around our Love Snow contest.”

1-Day lift ticket: $93 CAD and is only available at the ticket window.

Ski Set Rental: Skis, boots and poles start at $46 for one day

Hours: Mountain open for winter activities 8:30am-3:30pm

• Restaurants
• Shopping
• Nightlife
• Winter activities: skiing, snowboarding, zip trek, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and more!

Transportation: car, transit, taxi, helicopter, Sea to Sky Climb Train

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/index.htm

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Sunday, February 13, 2011
Time	Event
1:00 PM	Conference Registration Opens
4:00 PM	Past President’s Reception
6:00 PM 6:30 PM	New to NWACUHO Welcome Getting Involved in NWACUHO
7:00 PM	Opening Reception with Exhibitors
7:30 PM	Conference Welcome and Opening Event
8:30 PM	State and Provincial Meet and Greet
9:00 PM	Case Study Introduction Hospitality Suite Opens
Monday, February 14, 2011
Time	Event
8:00 AM	Breakfast
8:30 AM	Conference Welcome and Keynote
9:45 AM	Interest Session 1
10:45 AM	Break with Exhibitors
11:15 AM	Interest Session 2
12:15 PM	Lunch and Gear Exchange
1:45 PM	Functional Area Roundtables
2:45 PM	Interest Session 3
3:45 PM	Break with Exhibitors
4:00 PM	Case Study Presentations
6:00 PM	Dinner on your own – Night on the Town New Professionals Night on the Town
8:00 PM	Hospitality Suite Opens
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Time	Event
8:00 AM	Breakfast
8:30 AM	Conference Updates and Keynote
9:45 AM	Interest Session 4
10:45 AM	Break with Exhibitors
11:30 AM	Interest Session 5
12:30 PM	Lunch and Business Meeting
2:15 PM	Interest Session 6
3:15 PM	Town Hall Meeting
4:15 PM	Break
5:15 PM	Pre-Banquet Social
6:00 PM	Closing Dinner & Banquet
7:30 PM	Hospitality Suite Opens

WHAT TO PACK

Conference apparel is business casual until the final closing banquet on Tuesday night, where attendees typically like to dress up a little more. If you are planning on participating in the Gear Exchange on Monday, you will want to bring a piece of apparel or something else with your school’s logo on it to trade. Bring your business cards! The conference is a great time to make new friends.

The Four Seasons room rate includes wireless internet, and access to the business center. Rooms already contain hairdryers. There is also a state of the art work out center and pool. The average temperature in Vancouver in February is around 42 degrees (Fahrenheit), so bring warm clothes if you plan on venturing out.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

There are a lot of professional development opportunities at the conference if you choose to get involved in them!

FORMAL OPPORTUNITIES

New professionals who have been in the field one to three years are invited to participate in the Case Study Competition. During this competition, you will be paired with people from other institutions to work through a problem. On Tuesday, you will present in front of a panel of senior housing officers. Winners are announced at Tuesday night’s banquet. More information about how to get involved in the competition will be announced at the conference.

Presenting and attending programs at the conference are great ways to continue your professional development. More details are available on the NWACUHO website. Make sure to attend as many programs as you can during the conference! These are great places to network with others, share resources, and learn something new.

Volunteer! NWACUHO always needs volunteers to help at the conference. Not only will you find a sense of purpose in helping with a successful conference, but you will also have many opportunities to get to know others more quickly! If you are interested in volunteering at the conference, please indicate that interest in your registration.

INFORMAL OPPORTUNITIES

Conferences can be great places to network, but incredibly intimidating the first time. Here are a few tips to help you put yourself out there and truly gain everything the conference has to offer:

• At NWACUHO conference, nametags have ribbons attached to them that say things like “New Professional” or “Presenter.” Think of those ribbons as post it notes of conversation tips. As other new professionals what their experiences have been like. Most of the time, they have gone through some of the same road bumps of being a new professional and like you, this may be their first or second professional conference. Ask presenters what they are presenting about, why they found that topic interesting, etc. Encourage people to talk about themselves! We all love to do it.
• Though it is human nature to stay in our comfort zones and talk to people we already know, sit at tables with people you do not know, at least for one day of the conference. If you do not feel comfortable on your own, take one colleague with you. Meals are a great time to chat with people in a less formal environment. There are also enough people at tables to carry the conversation until you are comfortable enough to jump in.
• Attend the New Professionals events. Everyone in this room is in the same boat you are. Find a couple of other new professionals and chat with them. Make plans to meet up again at one of the exhibitor breaks to talk about how you are feeling as the conference goes on.
• Conferences are a time when business cards fly! After you meet someone and get their card, write some notes about the conversation you had and any other interesting things about them on the back of their card. This gives you a great starting place after the conference for e-mail correspondence about topics or issues, while also integrating the personal element. The conference attendee list is another great place to make similar notes. Do not be afraid to e-mail these people after the conference to ask the more about their areas of expertise or to get advice on how to handle a particular challenge.