Date: Saturday, July 26 / Delegate Conference email #7: How to get to the hotel from the airport
Hello, ROPA delegates and guests – we look forward to seeing you in a few days. Here is some information on how to get from PHL to the Sonesta Hotel:
On the Conference Information Page, (http://ropaweb.org/news/2025-annual-conference/) there is information and maps to help you get to the hotel.
Briefly, there is no hotel shuttle, but there is the SEPTA train, which runs every ½ hour and costs $7.50, and drops you off a couple of blocks from the hotel. The stop to take is the Suburban Station (the previous stop is 30th Street – no signage in the cars, just a crew member announcing stations).
On the downtown map on the Conference Info Page, find City Hall; the Suburban Station is up a block and to the left, and from there, the Sonesta is down a block and to the left.
For other options, taxi flat rate is $35, and an Uber runs around $35.
See you soon! Karen Sandene, ROPA Secretary
____________________________
Date: Thursday, July 24 / Conference email #6: Thursday, July 24: Conference email #6: 1) Updated orchestra report document, 2) uploaded settlement bulletins, 3) 2024 Conference minutes for approval during business meeting
Hi, all –
1) The orchestra report document has been updated to include those reports that I received before midnight last night. I will continue to add more reports as they come in. Remember, you will need to be logged in to view them. HERE is the link. If you’ve turned in your report, please check the document to see if your report is included, in case it got lost in my emails.
2) Many delegates have submitted settlement bulletin information this season. Those documents can be found in the “News” area of the website, or at this link: http://ropaweb.org/news/settlement-bulletins/
Again, you will need to be logged in to view these bulletins. They can be very useful during negotiations. If you have a bulletin to submit, please do so at your earliest convenience.
3) Delegates will be asked to approve the minutes from the 2024 Conference during the business meeting on Wednesday. The board has already looked them over and given its approval. The minutes are attached to this email and can be found at this link: http://ropaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2024-San-Francisco-Minutes-for-Delegate-Approval.pdf Please take some time to look them over before Wednesday. If you see anything that needs correcting, please let me know – typos and such can be handled before Wednesday.
Thanks! Karen
____________________________
Date: Tuesday, July 22 / Conference email #5: Tentative Agenda, Orchestra Reports
Good afternoon, all –
1) The Tentative Agenda is posted on the home page of the website, on the Conference Information Page, and also at this link: http://ropaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-Conference-Agenda-Draft-3.pdf Please keep in mind that the agenda is subject to change, but it’s current as of July 22.
2) Orchestra Reports – The Orchestra Report document was updated on July 18. I have received several more since then, and another update will be made in a few days. Many reports still need to be turned in, so if you need to take care of this, please do so as soon as you can – the conference starts a week from today! Please remember that you need to be logged into the website to view the reports and that there is a second layer of security to get through. Please let me know if you have any problems logging on.
Thanks! Karen Sandene
____________________________
Monday, July 7 / Conference email #4: Orchestra reports online, remember to register for conference
Hi, all – If you are a substitute delegate for your orchestra, this might be the first conference email you’ve received. Please go to the link above to view previous conference emails that have gone out.
ORCHESTRA REPORTS: The orchestra reports that I have received so far (as of this morning) are now on the website, via the Conference Information Page (http://ropaweb.org/news/2025-annual-conference/) or at the direct link: http://ropaweb.org/news/2025-annual-conference/2025-orchestra-reports/
You must be logged in to view the reports, and once you are on the orchestra report page there are instructions on how to get past a second level of security – there is a different username and password.
If you are a new delegate or filling in for your orchestra’s delegate at the conference, you will be given access to the protected areas of the ROPA website. Look for an email from WordPress stating that you have access.
There are many reports that are not yet submitted – please get your report in as soon as you are able – they will be used at conference. If you submitted it but don’t see it on the website, let me know – I might have misfiled it.
Also, a few of you have booked your rooms but still need to register for the conference. Register for the Conference HERE.
Thanks – Karen
____________________________
Date: Saturday, June 21 / Conference email #3: Please register on the website/book your room/ submit your orchestra reports/ Sandene on the road Tuesday, June 24-Sunday, June 29
Hi, all –
Thank you to those of you who have completed your website registration, room reservation and have submitted your orchestra reports! We need you to do these things as soon as you can for a number of reasons:
- Your website registration gives us and our Local 77 hosts an accurate number for food/beverage/social events, and allows you to let us know any dietary concerns you might have.
- You want to make sure you get a room at the ROPA discount rate – you don’t want to explain to your local that they have to cover more expenses because you were too late to get the special room rate.
- Your orchestra report is necessary for your MAL group breakout sessions, and is used to help the institution of ROPA chart the trajectories of all of our orchestras over time. Also, all of the reports are compiled into a single document (by me), and having nearly 100 reports come in at the same time is a bit daunting.
Some of you have booked your rooms but haven’t registered, and some of you have registered but haven’t booked your rooms yet, and most of you need to get in your orchestra reports. Please work to get your conference preparation all completed by July 3.
Here are your links:
(by July 3) Book your room at the Sonesta Philadelphia HERE
(by July 3) Register for the Conference HERE
Conference Information Page HERE
Orchestra Report Instructions (email reports to ropasecretary@gmail.com)
Also, I will be “out of the office” this coming week – I will be on my annual bike tour in the Nebraska Sandhills (June 24-29) and will have limited internet access. I will be able to read emails on the phone, but it would be easier to help you with a computer at home rather than on a phone in a tent. If you have questions you can contact your member-at-large, or leave me a message and I can get back to you starting Sunday night the 29th. You can still email your orchestra reports to ropasecretary@gmail.com.
Thanks! Karen Sandene
_________________________
Date: Saturday, June 7: Conference email #2: Orchestra Reports/Settlement Bulletins
Hi, all – a few conference reminders this afternoon:
Important Links:
(by July 3) Book your room at the Sonesta Philadelphia HERE
(by July 3) Register for the Conference HERE
NEW: Conference Information Page HERE
1) Write your Orchestra Report
An important part of conference preparation for us is the submission of Orchestra Reports from each orchestra, so we can compile them and share with delegates prior to conference. The Orchestra Reports are important historical documents that help us keep track of the status of our orchestras over the years.
I’m attaching a sample report to this email as well. There is no set format, but do your best to keep it to one side of one page – a 1-page summary of how your orchestra did this year. You might want to check with your Orchestra Committee chair for information to include.
If you are a delegate but someone else will be attending conference, please get a hold of your sub and see which of you will be writing the report.
Please submit reports to me via my ROPA Secretary gmail account (ropasecretary@gmail.com) rather than to the whole list. Do this by July 3, please.
As reports come in, I will compile them into a single document and a link will be posted on the http://ropaweb.org/news/2025-annual-conference/ Substitute delegates, you will have access to the delegates portion of the site so you can view these and other documents you should have access to at conference.
Please don’t wait for the last minute to file your report. It takes time to process and compile nearly 100 orchestra reports, so do me a favor and try to get yours in by July 3.
2) Settlement Bulletins
If your orchestra settled contracts this past season and you have not yet sent in a settlement bulletin, please do so, so they can be shared with other delegates and posted on the website. This can be done one of two ways:
- Link to the Google Form: http://tinyurl.com/Settlement-Bulletin-Form
- Link to the Settlement Bulletin Template: https://tinyurl.com/Settlement-Bulletin-Template(download, complete, and submit to ROPA Secretary
Thanks! Karen Sandene
______________________
Date: Monday, May 19 / Conference Email #1a: revised reservation cut-off date
Hi, all – Conference email #1 had an incorrect room reservation cut-off date. The actual cut-off date is July 3rd. Have your reservations made before the 4th of July weekend. Thanks again! Karen
________________________
Date: Monday, May 19/ Conference Email #1: Conference Info Page, Registration and Hotel Links Ready to go / Who is Attending? / Book Your Transportation / Talk to your Local
Good morning, all!
Conference information is now up on the website. Info can be found via links on the homepage.
1) Conference Information Page: http://ropaweb.org/2025-annual-conference/
All information as it comes in will be posted there, including agendas, Delegate and Local responsibilities, speaker info, etc. An archive of Conference Emails will also be found there so you don’t miss anything.
2) Conference Registration Page: http://ropaweb.org/ropa-join/ropa-conference-registration/ Please register by July 5. Let me know if you have any difficulties. You should receive a confirmation email after you register.
3) Hotel Registration Link: (Deadline for the ROPA discount rate: July 5): https://book.passkey.com/go/ROPA2025
Hotel rate per night is $179 (+ whatever taxes). The hotel is:
- Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square
- 1800 Market Street
- Philadelphia, PA 19103
- 215.561.7500
The conference info page has more details about the hotel. It also gives you options for transportation to/from the hotel, including SEPTA and Amtrak.
4) Make sure your orchestra has a delegate who will be attending the Conference. If you are unable to attend the conference yourself, make sure there is someone available to attend. Please let your MAL and me know who will be attending, and if it’s someone else, please let us know right away and direct them to the ROPA website so they can get information, register and book a hotel room.
5) Start looking for transportation to Philadelphia. Many delegates are within driving distance or have train access to Philadelphia, as well as flying in. Regardless of how you choose to get there, your Local is required to reimburse you for travel expenses, as well as per diem and hotel expenses.
6) Communicate with your Local about your plans for attending the conference. The Local covers your expenses, so come to an agreement on how and when this will be handled. You will also be reporting back to the Local after the conference, so be prepared to take good notes!
That’s all for now – please let me know if you have any problems accessing the pages or registering. Please remember that July 5 is the deadline for hotel room, conference registration, and orchestra reports (more about them in a future email). Register for the Conference and book your room early if you can – it will help us plan efficiently.
More later – Thanks! Karen Sandene