2008 PRE-CONFERENCE
Now Open to RWA Members
Tidbits to read and remember:
- If you did not take advantage of renewing early this January, it is mandatory you renew your membership before you register for the Pre-Conference.
- Registration will close JUNE 1st, except for Pubbed Daphne Finalist(s). They will have until June 15th but only to sign up for the Death by Chocolate Party.
- For the TOUR we will need your name, date of birth & passport number with country of citizenship before your registration can be processed. If you prefer to snail mail or privately email Debbi your PASPORT number that will be fine, but remember that your registration WILL NOT be processed until we have ALL your information.
All questions can be directed to the Co-Chairs listed below:
Debbi Ward & Amber Wentworth
preconference@rwamysterysuspense.org
2008 KOD Pre-Conference Co-Chairs
KOD 2008 PRE-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
TOUR - U. S. Customs
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
MORNING TOUR
Check-in
Lobby at 7:10 am
Bus Departure
7:30 am
We have all heard of human trafficking and the smuggling of drugs into the U.S. via containers sent through seaports. Well, this year’s Tour will give us an opportunity to experience a day in the life of a U. S. Customs officer stationed at the fourth busiest seaport in America, the Oakland Seaport, where the majority of containers arrive daily from Asia.
This is your opportunity to be on the front line and ask the questions that could enrich your story, while you view first-hand what a mammoth job the Customs agents face daily in helping to keep a portion of our Western border safe.
We’ll be given a PowerPoint display demonstrating an overview of CBP’s (Customs and Border Protection) layered-approach to fighting terrorism. This will include a discussion on remote portal monitors around the piers, the trade partnerships with importers/exporters and some of the targeting techniques used, the recent changes in the processing of passenger document requirements for both the seaports and airports and how this new technology works. Then, we will be treated to a tour of the CBP port operations as we tour the pier and view a demonstration of the mobile X-Ray Van, and, last but not least, the CBP K-9 unit will demonstrate their wares then a wrap-up with Q&A.
Lunch – Location to be announced. The Tour cost does not include lunch.
AFTERNOON TOUR Our afternoon Tour will take us to SFO (San Francisco International Airport) where we will tour parts of the airport that only Homeland Security screened employees are allowed to enter. We will see how the processing of passengers is completed with a demonstration of the new ten-print fingerprinting process that is currently being tested. We will also observe the new e-passport technology that came online last year and have a demonstration of how the CBP dogs are used for searches of drugs and alien agriculture, with a possible visit of the explosive dogs borrowed from TSA, a wrap up and a Q & A session.
Please note: Fill out the registration form with all MANDATORY information. We will need your name, date of birth & passport number with country of citizenship before your registration can be processed, as previously mentioned. If you prefer to snail mail or privately email Debbi your passport number, instead of including it on your registration paperwork, that will be fine, but remember that your registration WILL NOT be processed until we have ALL your information. If there are any openings available May 1st, the registration will be open to the Public.
Due to the exorbitant cost of the Tour buses, which doubled in price, we will need to increase the cost of the Tour for both members and their guests. I apologize, but KOD’s budget is limited this year.
Tour Cost Please note that July can be chilly in San Francisco, so remember this when packing. Also, shorts will not be allowed. Slacks, skirts, or a knee-length skorts are acceptable, and no one under 18 is allowed on the Tour.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Our Annual General Meeting will begin with a light meal before the actual business meeting is called to order. All members who choose not to dine before the meeting will be greeted at the door around 6:30 pm, and there will be no charge to attend. Our very special guest speaker will be NYT bestseller and KOD member Allison Brennan.
AGM Cost with light meal $10.00 / AGM Cost just for the meeting FREE
Members only are allowed to attend the AGM. DEATH BY CHOCOLATE PARTY Thursday, July 31, 2008 KOD members and their guest(s) are cordially invited to the Annual Death by Chocolate Party and The Daphne du Maurier Awards for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Ceremony. The Awards Ceremony for the Daphne du Maurier Finalists and the Daphne du Maurier Award for the Overall winner of both the Published and Pre-Published categories will begin at 9:00 pm. All Finalists who did not register for the Death by Chocolate Party will be greeted and seated at 9:00pm. Again, we apologize for the increase, but the San Francisco Marriott is very pricey, and KOD funds can only cover so much. DBC Party Cost: Member - $15.00 Guest(s) - $50.00
It is IMPERATIVE we have the name of your guest(s) for their name badges. Also, please do not bring an unregistered guest with you to the check-in desk. It is embarrassing for all concerned. And note, ONLY Agents and Editors come as the guests of KOD.
Members $30.00 Guests $50.00
The Tour cost does not include lunch.
6:00 pm until 9:30 pm
Room to be announced later
and
THE DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARDS
for
EXCELLENCE IN MYSTERY/SUSPENSE
8:00 pm until 10:30 pm
Room to be announced later