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2008 Convention FAQs - Page 3

FAQ Page 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 
REGISTER TODAY!

FOOD & MEALS
Q: May we bring food with us?
A: You are welcome to bring food to eat in your hotel room, and you may request a mini-refrigerator when you make your hotel reservation. However, according to the Greater Richmond Convention Center's rules, no food may be brought into the Richmond Center from outside sources.

Q: Where can we get something to eat?
A: There are several options:

Richmond Center
Cafeteria (Exhibit Hall Building, Second Floor)
Concessions throughout the buildings  

Marriott
Blue Fire Steakhouse  

Local Fare
Go to the Information & Security booth and pickup a list of nearby restaurants, as well as driving directions to places further away. (Some restaurants offer discounts for customers from our convention.) 

REGISTRATION
Rebekah Bentley, Registration Coordinator,

Q: How can I register for the convention?
A: Pre-registration may be done online (preferred!), through the mail, or by calling our office at 804-278-9200. You may pre-register until Monday, May 19. If you miss the pre-registration deadline, you may register at the door when you arrive at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Please look for the registration area in the lobby of the  Exhibit Hall Building. However, you will save both time and money if you pre-register (see "What are the advantages of pre-registration?" below).

Q: How soon can I register for the convention?
A: Pre-registration will begin on January 7 and will remain open through May 19. Registration will also be available at the door.

Q: What are the advantages of pre-registration?
A: There are several great advantages:

• Early shopping! Pre-registration permits early admission to the Used Curriculum Sale before the sale opens to all registered attendees at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, giving you access to a better selection of materials.
• Money-saving prices! Registration prices at the door are $5 more for Full-Convention, Friday-Only, or Saturday-Only tickets. The Children's Program cost is $2.00 more per child, per day when you register your child at the door.
• Shorter Lines! You will also find the check-in line for pre-registered attendees moves along far more quickly than the line for those registering at the door, since payment will have already been exchanged!

If you were not able to pre-register before the deadline, we will be happy to register you at the door.

Q: What is the deadline for pre-registering for the convention?
A: May 19, 2008. Registrations postmarked after May 19 will be returned, and you will need to register when you come to the convention.

Q: May I bring my children with me to the convention?
A: Children of any age are welcome in the shopping areas when accompanied by a registered adult. Only children 10 and older who have registered and paid for the convention and nursing infants are permitted in the workshops. Parents who plan to attend workshops must make arrangements for their toddlers or other unregistered children to be cared for during workshop sessions. (The Children's Program is available for children ages 4 to 12.)

Q: How much does it cost to register for the convention?
A: Please see the registration costs and options below.

PRE-REGISTRATION FEES
(Pre-registration ends Monday, May 19)

ON-SITE REGISTRATION FEES
(After May 19) 

Q: Are there any exceptions to these registration options?
A: Yes, there are two:

Free Shopping - There is free shopping on Saturday, June 7, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. This allows interested persons to sign in and shop in the Exhibit Hall free of charge. The Used Curriculum Sale will be closed by that time and is not included as part of free shopping.

Lifetime Members - Lifetime Members of HEAV and any young adults, teens, or "'tweens" (ages 10-12) currently in their household are entitled to attend the full convention free of charge. The Children's Program registration fees still apply, even for Lifetime Member families. You can find out more about becoming a Lifetime Member here.

Q: What if my spouse is unable to attend, or I am not married? May I bring someone else along for free on my ticket in place of a spouse?
A: No. HEAV wanted to encourage moms and dads to attend the convention together, and we didn't want an extra admission cost to stand in the way. A free ticket is not available for any person other than a legal spouse. You may not bring a friend, relative, fiancé, etc., on a free spouse ticket. 

Q: May I get a discount on my registration by volunteering at the convention?
A: No. Volunteers do not receive a discount on registration costs, although they do receive other benefits. Those who volunteer at least two hours at the HEAV Convention will have the opportunity to shop first in the Used Curriculum Sale on Friday morning. This affords volunteers the best selection of materials at great prices!

Q: My child is between 10 and 12 years old-should I register him for the Children's Program or as a "'tween"?
A: Parents may choose whether to register their 10- through 12-year-olds as a "'tween" or for the Children's Program, depending on which the parents feel is more appropriate for their child. Only children 10 years old or older may attend workshops.

If your child is restless and uninterested in the workshop topics, the Children's Program will most likely be your best choice. (Workshops are being taped.)

Q: My child (12 and up) wants to volunteer, but not attend workshops. Do I have to register him/her?
A: Yes. All volunteers, including young adults and teens, must be registered to attend the convention. Teens must be registered for either "Shopping Only" (no entry to workshops) or with a "Teen Pass" (allows entry into workshops). BOTH teen volunteers AND their parents must be registered for convention. Volunteers for the Children's Program must be at least 13 years of age.

All "'tweens" and younger children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Q: I am only able to attend on Thursday and Friday. May I browse the Exhibit Hall on Thursday evening?
A: In order to enjoy Thursday evening's Exhibit Hall Premiere, you must be registered for a Full-Convention Pass or a Shopping-Only Pass. A Friday-Only Pass does not cover shopping in the Exhibit Hall on Thursday.

Q: I am only interested in the free workshops on Thursday afternoon. Do I need to pre-register?
A: There is no need to pre-register for Thursday's free workshops, but you will need to register on site. Please come to the Registration area in the Exhibit Hall Building lobby where you will be able to sign up for the free workshops.

Q: How do I register for particular workshops that I would like to attend?
A: We do not offer registration for individual workshops; please see our registration options. As many as eighteen workshops are running during each workshop session. Seating in the workshops is not reserved in advance, but rather fills up on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend getting to the workshop of your choice several minutes early in order to get a seat -- or volunteer as a host/hostess in that workshop to guarantee a seat! If your favorite workshop is full by the time you arrive, you may attend a different workshop where seating is still available. Most workshops are being recorded, so you can order a CD or MP3 of the workshops you missed or the workshops you would like to hear again.

Q: I have decided to attend the convention at the last minute. May I still register?
A: Absolutely! After May 19 you may register at the door in the Registration area in the lobby of the Exhibit Hall Building at the Richmond Center. Click here for the on-site registration fees.

Q: I registered for convention, but am now unable to attend. How do I go about getting a refund?
A: All refund requests must be made in writing and must be postmarked by May 31, 2008. No refunds are available after this date. A cancellation fee of $7 will be deducted from your refund amount. No refunds or adjustments will be made at the convention. There are no exceptions to this policy.

HEAV MEMBERSHIP
Rebekah Bentley, Registration Coordinator,

Q: How can I join HEAV?
A: You can join HEAV online; by mailing this membership form with your convention registration and payment to the office (P.O. Box 6745, Richmond, VA 23230); by calling the office and paying by credit card (804-278-9200); or by joining during the convention at the HEAV Tables in the lobby of the Exhibit Hall Building.

As a "thank you," sustaining and lifetime members receive an "Education Begins at Home" tote bag. Lifetime members also receive complimentary registration for our annual convention -- for a lifetime!  

HEAV is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Donations (not memberships) are tax deductible. 

Q: What are the benefits of membership?
A: In addition to the knowledge you are helping to protect and promote homeschooling in Virginia, you'll receive:

• A FREE classified ad in The Virginia Home Educator magazine ($100 value)
• Reduced registration rates for HEAV's Annual State Convention & Educational Fair;
• A 10% discount on all HEAV resources, including The Virginia Homeschool Manual;
• Discounted HEAV event registrations;
• Teacher/membership ID cards;
• A 20% discount on HSLDA membership;
• Specific discounts at Family Christian Stores, Science Museum of Virginia, WORLD Magazine, and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine;
• A $40 discount on College in a Box;
• A $120 discount on CollegePlus;
• A 20% discount on Auralog's TeLL me More Language-Learning software;
• A 10% discount and FREE shipping on Transcript Pro Home School Transcript Generator for Education Plus;
• A 15% discount off the Home Education 101 series;
• A 25% discount off tuition at Regent University;
• Plus, we are regularly adding new member benefits!

Q: Where can I learn more about the work of HEAV while I'm at convention?
A: Visit us at the HEAV table, where you will find not only HEAV board members and volunteers with years of experience, but also resources, freebies, legislative updates, encouragement, facts about the laws pertaining to homeschooling in our great Commonwealth, a list of member benefits, a myriad of resources available for purchase, and lots more!

Q: Where is the HEAV table?
A: There are two! The main table is in the lobby area of the Exhibit Hall Building, near the registration area. There is also an HEAV table just inside the main entrance to the Exhibit Hall.
Richmond Center Ground Floor

EXHIBIT HALL
HT & Tammy Bear, Exhibit Hall Coordinators, exhibithall@heav.org

2008 EXHIBITORS

Exhibit Hall Premiere
Thursday, 5 p.m.   

Exhibit Hall Hours
Thursday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

[ Photo credit: Seth Fisher, Through My Lens Photography ]

Q: Is (so-and-so company) here? If so, where are they?
A: Our online vendor list will be periodically updated throughout the convention season. As always, this information will also be in the convention program! 

View current vendors here.  

Q. Are bags allowed in the exhibit hall?
A: Yes, however, don't forget we have a Book-and-Bag Check. You can drop off and pick up items on Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Book-and-Bag Check is just inside the Exhibit Hall doors.

FAQ Page 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 
REGISTER TODAY!