The Office of Congregational Development of the Episcopal Church is pleased to be offering this seminar in cooperation with the Anglican Church of Canada.  We look forward to a seminar with attendees from both the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. 

All registrants are welcome!  This seminar is designed for both clergy and laity.  Individuals will learn a great deal and can then share what they’ve learned with others.  BEST OF ALL ARE TEAMS!  We encourage congregations to send teams of clergy and laity to attend together and then bring their expertise and vision back home.

This popular seminar consistently sells out before the registration deadline.  We recommend registering early to ensure your space and suggest you call to call to verify availability (800-334-7626, ext. 6003 or 212-716-6003 or sobrien@episcopalchurch.org).  Registration concludes March 12, 2008.  Your enrollment will be confirmed via e-mail after receipt of payment and the registration form.  Any registrations accepted after March 12 are subject to hotel availability and the market room rate.

Request to ‘courtesy hold’ a reservation: As a courtesy we are pleased to hold a reservation while you prepare the fee and registration form.  Please submit them  promptly. 

Note: When the seminar fills to capacity all spaces remaining on a ‘courtesy hold’ will be notified to submit payment immediately.  Unsecured spaces will be released to those on the waiting list who are prepared to complete the registration process. 

Payment made by a third party: If payment for your registration is being made by a third party (such as your parish or diocese) it is your responsibility to ensure that payment is issued and received on time.

To enroll, mail the registration form and a check issued to the Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society to:

Episcopal Church Building Fund
Attn: Start Up!Start Over!
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY  10017  USA

The seminar is sponsored and significantly subsidized by the Office of Congregational Development and coordinated in partnership with the Episcopal Church Building Fund. 

The all inclusive registration fee includes the seminar tuition, five nights lodging, and 10 meals:

Single occupancy	$ 775.00
Double occupancy	$ 650.00 per person*
Commuter (no lodging, 5 meals)	$ 395.00 **

      
The following meals are provided:

Breakfast	Monday through Friday
Lunch	Monday through  Thursday
Dinner	Monday

*Roommates will be matched if they are available.  Double room rates are not guaranteed unless a roommate is available. 

**Commuters are asked to arrive on time for all sessions.  The commuter meal package provides all lunches and dinner on Monday night.

Guests who are not attending the seminar may join an attendee in the hotel room at no cost.  The attendee should register at the single room rate of US$775.  Guests are welcome at the opening Monday dinner; the cost is US$40.  Due to contract requirements this reservation must be paid in advance and is not refundable after March 20th.

The meeting and lodging will be held at an attractive and centrally located property :

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown Hotel
1128 West Hasting Street
Vancouver, British Columbia 
CANADA
604-684-1128

Lodging for the seminar begins on the evening of Sunday March 30, 2008, departing on Friday April 4, 2008.  Each room has a coffee maker, refrigerator, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, voice mail, and data port.  The hotel has a swimming pool, steam room, sauna, hot tub, fitness room, and business center.  The meeting rooms have wireless internet capacity.

CONGREGATION DEMOGRAPHICS

If there is a serious intent to grow we believe regular attention must be given to counting attendance.  An opportunity to analyze your growth patterns will be incorporated into a seminar session.  Average Sunday Attendance and pledge statistics for every Episcopal congregation have been charted and are available on the Congregational Development web site.  We suggest printing the chart and bringing it with you.  The chart for your congregation can be downloaded from: www.episcopalchurch.org/congdev/, select Studying Your Congregation, print out your chart and submit it with the registration form.

(Note: Statistics are available only for Episcopal congregations in the USA based on information submitted from the annual parochial reports.  Canadian attendees may wish to prepare their own charts to include ten years of attendance and giving.  If you do not have a chart at the seminar you will still be able to follow the session easily and fully.) 

Diocesan staff may wish to bring the chart for a congregation with which he/she is working.

MEETING SCHEDULE

March 30, Sun	Lodging begins (hotel check-in begins at 4:00 p.m.)
March 31, Mon	Seminar begins 8:30 a.m., hosted reception and dinner at 5:15 p.m.
April 1, Tues	Seminar meets 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
April 2, Wed	Seminar meets 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
April 3, Thur	Seminar meets 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
April 4, Fri	Seminar concludes 12:00 p.m.

While the presenters are from the United States and their learnings come from this context, most of the teachings are considered quite relevant and transferable to the Canadian context.  We are aware that there are social and cultural differences and therefore time will be given for Canadian attendees to examine and discuss the relevancy of the topics to their specific situation.

Immigration Requirements and Airport Arrival: Americans must have a passport if arriving to Canada by airplane.  No passport is needed at this time* if arriving to Canada by car or ferry. 

The hotel is 16 kilomoters/10 miles from the Vancouver International Airport.  Taxi fare averages CAD ~$30.  Shuttle service to downtown Vancouver is available every 20 minutes from the ‘Airporter’ bus service (in Vancouver 604-946-8866/ outside Vancouver: 800-668-3141) for CAD $13.50 at both the international and domestic level curb (http://www.yvrairporter.com/).

A car is not necessary, as the hotel is in the center of the downtown area.  Driving directions will be sent upon registration.

Hotel parking: CAD$24 per day.

Free Time: You will have free time to relax or to enjoy the fun and beauty of Vancouver.  The Wednesday session concludes at 12:30 p.m., leaving both the afternoon and evening free.  The hotel is near to Stanley Park, Vancouver’s lovely 1000 acre park with walking paths that follow the coastline.  You can take the water taxi to shop on Granville Island.  A short drive away you can take a Gondola ride to the top of Grouse Mountain.

Weather:  Spring will be in full blossom.  Vancouver has a temperature marine climate year round (5°-13° C / 41°-55° F); some rain is likely.
 
Dress: Business casual

Cancellation Policy: Due to binding contracts required to secure the seminar site the refund policy is stringently applied.  Because the seminar is significantly subsidized, the registration fee does not reflect the cost committed to the hotel property.  Please understand that refunds therefore cannot be adjusted.  Exception: If another registrant fills the space a full refund will be issued.

Cancellation received by March 12 = Full Refund
Cancellation received March 13-20:
Single =  $200 Refund
Double =  $250 Refund
Commuter =  $250 Refund
Cancellation received after March 20th = No Refund

For additional information contact:
Sally O’Brien, Vice President, Episcopal Church Building Fund 
(800)334-7626 ext.6003 or 212-716-6003 
FAX: (212) 716-6267 
sobrien@episcopalchurch.org
www.episcopalchurch.org/congdev/

*passport requirement current as of June 2007