2015 Annual Convention

Click here to view the 2015 Annual Convention Brochure

Tours and Activities details and registration

HOTEL & TRAVEL

HOST HOTEL

The Phoenician
6000 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480)941-8200

Book your rooms by phone or online:

ONLINE: visit https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/gasesandwelding

PHONE: (480) 423-2575

Book your room reservations early!

For more details on The Phoenician, visit http://www.thephoenician.com/

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2015

TIMEMEETINGLOCATION

2:00pm – 6:00pmEarly Bird Convention RegistrationGrand Ballroom Registration

DAY ONE – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2015

TIME MEETINGLOCATION

8:00am – 6:00pmConvention RegistrationGrand Ballroom Registration

8:00am – 9:00amExecutive Committee MeetingIl Terrazzo Salon & Patio

9:00am – 12:00pmBoard of Directors MeetingIl Terrazzo Salon & Patio

1:00pm – 2:00pmRegional Chair MeetingTBD

2:00pm – 3:30pmCommittee MeetingsVarious Rooms

5:00pm – 7:00pmPresident’s Welcome ReceptionPhoenician Patio and East Lawn Please join GAWDA President Tom and his wife Terri as they welcome all members to the 2015 Annual Convention in Scottsdale, AZ. We will also toast to GAWDA’s 70th Anniversary. Attire for this reception is business casual. This reception will be hosted outdoors on a grass lawn, we recommend comfortable shoes.

7:00pmIndustry Hospitalities

DAY  TWO – MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2015

TIMEMEETINGLOCATION

7:00am – 6:00pmConvention RegistrationGrand Ballroom Registration

7:00am – 8:00amNetworking BreakfastPhoenician Patio and East Lawn

8:00am – 12:00pmOpening General Business SessionCamelback Ballroom

-“Since Last We Met” video

-Opening Remarks by GAWDA Executive Director John Ospina

-Welcome Address by GAWDA President Tom Biedermann

-GAWDA Gives Back Presentation

-2015-2016 Slate of Officers

Speaker – David Nour

CEO – The Nour Group

“The Quantifiable Value of Business Relationship”

Industry Speaker – Bob Ewing

 President of Red Ball Oxigen Company

 ” Delivering the Perfect Order”

12:00pm – 1:30pmPast President LuncheonIl Terrazzo Salon & Patio

2:00pm – 5:30pmContact Booth ProgramGrand Ballroom
This year the Contact Booth Program will be hosted in the afternoon, following the Opening General Business Session.  Beer and Wine will be served.  Suppliers have the opportunity to upgrade booth space to 10 x 20 or bar row. We encourage all attending distributors to attend the Contact Booth Program.

5:30pmIndustry Hospitalities

DAY THREE – TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

TIMEMEETINGLOCATION

7:00am – 1:00pmConvention RegistrationGrand Ballroom Registration

7:00am – 1:00pmGolf TournamentThe Phoenician Golf Course
This year’s golf tournament will be hosted onsite at The Phoenician Golf Course.  Named “North America’s Leading Golf Resort” by the World Travel Awards, The Phoenician has been ranked among the “Top 75 Golf Resort in America” by Golf Digest.  The Phoenician offers a spectacular desert golf course experience in Scottsdale, Arizona, one of the hottest golf destinations on the planet.

11:30am – 3:30pmWomen of Gases and Welding EventOffsite

Women of Gases and Welding Event Flyer

12:30am – 6:00pmTours and ActivitiesOffsite

3:30pmIndustry Hospitalities

DAY FOUR – WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2015

TIMEMEETINGLOCATION

7:00am – 1:00pmConvention RegistrationGrand Ballroom Registration

7:00am – 8:00amNetworking BreakfastPhoenician Patio and East Lawn

8:00am – 12:00pmClosing General Business SessionCamelback Ballroom

Speaker- Dan Thurmon

Author and Renowned Speaker

“Off Balance on Purpose”

Keynote Speaker – Mike Rowe

Creator and Host of Somebody’s Gotta Do It and Dirty Jobs

and Narrator of Deadliest Catch

12:30pm – 6:00pmYoung Professionals EventOffsite

12:30am – 6:00pmTours and ActivitiesOffsite

7:00pm – 10:00pmPresident’s Farewell GalaJokake Inn

GAWDA President Tom Biedermann and his wife Terri invite all attendees and their spouses to join them for their Farewell Gala.  The theme of this Gala is “Southwest”, which means western jeans, boots, buckles, hats, scarves, and bolo ties if you have them.  If you do not have western theme attire then business attire is appropriate.  The Gala will be hosted outdoors, on gravel.  Comfortable shoes are recommended.

REGISTRATION DETAILS:
You can register to attend the Annual Convention three ways: Online, By Fax and By Mail

ONLINE – Click here to access the GAWDA Portal.  You can register online with credit cards only. Confirmations are sent immediately.

BY FAX – Download the Attendee Registration Form.  Send the completed form to 954-367-7790 with credit card information to the attention of Bruce Ellenbogen. Confirmations will be sent within 5 business days.

BY MAIL– Download the Attendee Registration Form. Send the completed form to the attention of Bruce Ellenbogen, 1 Oakwood Blvd. Suite #195, Hollywood, FL 33020, with credit card included on the form or a check, made out to GAWDA. Confirmations will be sent within 5 business days.

Register Early to Save on Registration Fees! Send your registrations by Tuesday, September 8th, to SAVE and to be included on the Attendee List in the Annual Convention Program Book! Attendees who wish to be listed in the Supplemental Attendee List should register by Monday September 28, 2015.

FULL PROGRAM ADMITTANCE BADGES: Individuals attending all programs must purchase a Full Admittance Badges. The Full Admittance Badges allow access to all GAWDA Events, including Receptions, Breakfasts, Business Sessions, Group lunches & Booth Program. The Full Admittance Badges available for purchase are:

o Full Delegate: general badge for all attendees registering for the complete GAWDA Program. Exhibitors do not need to purchase a booth badge in addition to this, it is all-inclusive.
o Spouse: for a Spouse of an already registered attendee
o Child: includes dependents attending with a Delegate or Spouse. Please include names for the children’s badges on the Attendee Registration Form

PARTIAL PROGRAM ADMITTANCE BADGES: Individuals attending only specific programs at the convention may purchase badges at a reduced rate. The partial program admittance badges do not include access to other events. The partial program admittance badges available for purchase are:

o Booth Only Badge: this badge allows the registrant to attend the Contact Booth Program on October 12, 2015, from 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm. If a full delegate is already registered, they do not need to purchase this in addition to the delegate badge.
o Receptions Only Badge: this allows the registrant to attend the President’s Welcome Reception on October 11, 2015, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and the President’s Farewell Gala on October 14, 2015, from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
o Gala Only Badge: this allows the registrant to attend the President’s Farewell Gala on October 14, 2015, from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

BOOTH REGISTRATION:
(ONLY AVAILABLE TO GAWDA SUPPLIER MEMBERS CURRENT WITH DUES)

This year the Contact Booth Program will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015 from 2:00pm – 5:30pm. To register a booth for this program:

Step 1: Include payment for your booth on the Attendee Registration Form.

Contact Booth Only badges are available to Exhibitors for $150. After the deadline of Tuesday, September 8, 2015 all Booth Only Badges will be an additional $100… A company must have at least one representative registered as a Full Delegate prior to the purchase of a Contact Booth Only badge. Please note that Contact Booth Only badges will not admit the bearer to any other function at the Annual Convention except the Contact Booth Program. You can include payment for a Contact Booth Only badge on the Attendee Registration Form.

Step 2: Complete the Contact Booth Application/Contact. All Exhibitors must complete this form to agree to the terms of participating in the Booth Program and list competitors to assist Headquarters in assigning the best Booth location for your company. Return completed forms to Bruce Ellenbogen by FAX 954-367-7790 or by email bellenbogen@gawda.org

Step 3: Arrange shipping for your booth materials and order additional materials with CSI, the tradeshow decorator. Details can be found in the Exhibitor Kit.

Please remember that every exhibiting company must be current with dues, have at least one fully registered delegate for Annual Convention and pay for the booth space by Tuesday, September 8, 2015. Payment for a Contact Booth does not include registration for the Annual Convention. To attend any meeting functions (receptions, business session,) you must be registered as a Full Delegate.

Booth assignments will be completed by the week of August 10. Again,please be sure to fill out all the information on the Contact Booth Application to assist us in the booth assignment process. We will do our best to accommodate booth assignment requests. We cannot guarantee distance between competitors.

Exhibitor Schedule
Tuesday, September 8, 2015 Contact Booth Program Payment Deadline
Monday, October 12, 2015 Exhibitor Move-in: 6:00 am – 2:00 pm
Monday, October 12, 2015 Contact Booth Program: 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Monday, October 12, 2015 Exhibitor Move-out: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

GOLF TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION:
The Phoenician Golf Course, 6000 E Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
7:00 am-1:00 pm

Golf Fee: $199 (includes green fee, cart, practice balls and breakfast)
Golf Club Rental: $49
Tournament Format: Four-man Scramble, tee time at 7:00am
Deadline to register: Tuesday, September 8, 2015

To register for the Golf Tournament:

Step 1: Include payment for the Golf Tournament on the Attendee Registration Form. Golf Clubs are also available for rental. Check off the Golf Club rental box on the Attendee Registration Form.

Step 2: Submit Pairing Request to Headquarters by completing the Golf Pairing Form. Send to Bruce Ellenbogen by FAX 954-367-7790 or by email bellenbogen@gawda.org

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
Convention cancellation must be submitted to Headquarters in writing. All refunds are assessed a $150.00 processing fee after Monday, October 5th.  After this date refunds will be given for emergencies only. Allow 2-4 weeks after the meeting for refunds.

GETTING THERE

Scottsdale’s central Arizona location means you are within easy reach of the state’s most popular
attractions and natural wonders. The Phoenician is located just nine miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport, approximate travel time is 25 minutes. The Phoenician offers PHX Sky Harbor Curbside Pick-Up for $37, PHX Sky Harbor Meet & Greet for $62. Full Service Meet & Greets with SUV, Limos or Vans starting from $85. Reservations must be made prior to arrival.

WEATHER

Scottsdale serves up more than 330 delightful sunny days each year. The average yearly temperature
for the Valley of the Sun is a balmy 72 degrees. During the month of October, the maximum temperature
is 87 degrees with a minimum of 57 degrees.