Dates and Times
- Full Conference: Tuesday, July 29, 10:00 am – Thursday, July 31, 3:00 pm
- Negotiating Orchestras Workshop: Monday, July 28, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
- New Delegate Meet and Greet: Tuesday July 29, 8:30 am
Location
- Philadelphia, PA / Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square
Host Member Orchestra and Local
- AFM Local 77
Conference Registration
- REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE: http://ropaweb.org/ropa-join/ropa-conference-registration/ You must also check-in at the conference, where you will receive conference materials and your ID badge. Register by July 5.
Hotel/Reservations (Deadline for ROPA Discount: July 5)
- Hotel: Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square 1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Phone: 215.561.7500
- Online Reservation: https://book.passkey.com/go/ROPA2025
- Room Rate: $179
- Check In: 04:00 PM Check Out: 11:00 AM
- More Information about the Sonesta Philadelphia (from the hotel website):
About Our Downtown Philadelphia Hotel
Our Center City hotel offers a prime location within the Financial District. Stay just steps from Rittenhouse Square and explore fine dining and upscale shopping. Enjoy effortless access to Philadelphia’s treasured attractions such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Reading Terminal Market…
…When it’s time to unwind, head to our outdoor heated pool for a dip or an energizing workout in our state-of-the-art fitness center. Savor delectable food at one of our three in-house dining venues..
- Pet Policy: Sonesta Philadelphia is pet-friendly and welcomes well-mannered pets, with no breed or weight restrictions. Up to two pets are permitted per suite. $75 fee per stay applies.
- Parking: Valet parking only. Rates:
- Sunday – Thursday: $56.00 per car per night (plus applicable taxes and fees).
- Friday – Saturday: $52.00 per car per night (plus applicable taxes and fees)
- Several self-parking garages located nearby, within walking distance
Getting to the Hotel from the Philadelphia Airport
(click on picture for an enlarged image)
- SEPTA runs from the airport to the city center. The line is called AIR. The stop to take is the “Suburban Station”. Fare appears to be $7.50 (free for 65+). Duration of ride is approx. 1/2 hr.
- LINK to an interactive map of the AIR line (you may also click on the above map). Select the Suburban Station link to get more details about the stop.
- Average Uber rate: $32
- The hotel does not provide a shuttle.
Map of Downtown Philadelphia (click for enlarged image)
ROPA Guide to Philadelphia
- HERE you will find suggested restaurants, pharmacies, stores, museums, historic sites, etc., near the hotel
Agenda
- tbd (link not yet live)
Schedule/Documents
- Find handouts, reports and daily schedules HERE (link not yet live)
Conference Email Archive
- NEW: Find conference-related emails HERE as they are sent out.
Orchestra Reports
Delegates only will be able to view the 2025 Orchestra Reports HERE as they become available (link not yet live) (Delegates: please log in to the website, and follow instructions for viewing restricted pages).
All ROPA Delegates are expected to file a report on his or her orchestra’s situation or activities over the past year. It should be filed with the ROPA Secretary by July 5, 2025 and you should bring copies to the Conference to distribute to the other Delegates and Conference guests, as directed by the ROPA Secretary. The report should be between 200 and 350 words, and fit on one page.
Please begin your report right now – it’s never too early. Try not to spend more than a half hour to one hour writing your report, but do make it easy to read and understand. You will be able to view the Delegate Reports as submitted by ROPA Delegates for the 2025 Annual Conference in San Francisco, at the link above.
Settlement Bulletins
Settlement bulletins that have been submitted from orchestras which have concluded negotiations this year will be found HERE (link not yet live). (Delegates: please log in to the website, and follow instructions for viewing restricted pages).
Negotiating Orchestra Workshop
If your orchestra is negotiating during the 2025-26 season, the AFM will pay the Pre-approved Orchestra Delegate for the extra hotel night and one day Per Diem for Sunday, July 27 so that you can attend the Negotiating Orchestra Workshop on Monday, July 28.
Elections
This year’s ROPA Officer elections will be for Vice President, Secretary, and four Members-at-Large. If you’re interested in running, please plan your travel so you can remain in Philadelphia over Thursday night in order to attend the post-Conference Executive Board meeting if you’re elected.
Resolutions
If you would like to present a resolution on the floor of the ROPA Conference — especially if it involves an amendment to the ROPA Bylaws — we ask that you submit it, in a format consistent with Robert’s Rules, to Alana Wiesing . Please watch the Delegates discussion list for opportunities to comment on proposed resolutions.
Host a Conference
If you’re interested in hosting a ROPA Conference, please contact us.
To hold a ROPA Conference in your city, ROPA requires an invitation from your Local as well as your orchestra committee. The ROPA Secretary will send you a copy of the guidelines and information for hosting a ROPA Conference, with information your orchestra and your Local will need.
Attendance
All ROPA Delegates are expected to attend the ROPA Conference. If you are a Delegate and can not attend, please make arrangements for your Alternate Delegate to go to the Conference. All ROPA AFM Local Representatives are invited to the Conference, as well as other AFM Federation staff.
If you are a Delegate, your Local is required to pay “the reasonable and necessary expenses of sending one delegate to the appropriate annual conference.” This should include airfare, hotel, and a modest per-diem for meals.
Please attend a meeting of your Local’s Executive Board before the conference to discuss your expenses, and also to tell them what kinds of things you expect to get information about at the conference. This year’s speaker topics will be announced soon.
If you can’t make it to a Local board meeting, at least give a call to your Local officers to talk with them about the ROPA conference.