Dates
August 3-5, 2012 with Negotiating Orchestras Workshop on August 2, 2012
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Host Member Orchestra and Local
Minnesota Opera Orchestra and Twin Cities AFM Local 30-73
Hotel
The Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis. The hotel cost is $99.00 plus tax a night. The Radisson Plaza Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, just blocks from the business district and shopping. Airport transportation options include the inexpensive metro light rail system, with a stop two blocks from the hotel.
Conference Registration
Register for the conference here (coming soon): 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.
Tentative Agenda
Tentative Agenda here (coming soon): wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ropaagenda111.pdf
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. Please
Pre-Register with the ROPA Secretary so you will have a Conference Badge.
Delegate Reports
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 1, 2012 and you should bring 110 copies to the Conference to distribute to the other Delegates and Conference guests. 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.
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 the ROPA Secretary by July 1, 2012.
Negotiating Orchestra Workshop
If your orchestra is negotiating during 2013, the AFM will pay the Pre-approved Orchestra Delegate for the extra hotel night and one day Per Diem so that you can attend the Negotiating Orchestra Workshop on August 2, 2012.
Other Information
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 (TBA).
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.
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 Portland over Thursday night in order to attend the post-Conference Executive Board meeting if you’re elected.
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.