WCNA 30 NEWS For the most recent updates or to download additional copies of this update, go to www.na.org. Get ready to celebrate 50 years!! The miracle of recovery has been proving itself in the lives of addicts for 50 years. The 30th World Convention, where we will celebrate this important NA anniversary, is almost upon us. This update on our historic convention will give you information you need to get the most out of your stay. or anyone interested in finding out more about Narcotics Anonymous, but only addicts may share at these workshops. When you arrive to the convention, please refer to the table of contents in convention program for detailed information regarding meetings and events. REGISTRATION Sure, you re registered, but are your friends? Chances are that if you are getting this newsletter you are already registered. Many of us have been asked why we should register for the convention, and why the cost of registration is more than previous world conventions or regional and area conventions. Here is what you can tell your friends: The prices at the World Convention are set to cover direct expenses and not to generate income for NA World Services. While the cost of registration may seem high, please keep in mind that putting on such a major event is very expensive and cannot be compared to the costs incurred at a typical regional convention. A typical World Convention costs more than a million dollars to produce! Registration fees cover many aspects of the convention s expense, such as facility rentals, translation services, shuttle buses, non-ticketed events, audio/ video equipment, and labor costs. Here is where your money is going: For this convention, about 35 percent of all the registration dollars goes toward facility expenses, 16 percent covers events included in your registration (i.e. dances and coffee houses), 10 percent pays for shuttle buses, 12 percent goes to planning and implementing the event, 15 percent is dedicated to the program, and 12 percent covers the sound and video for the meetings and events. Based on NA s principles of individual responsibility and self-support, we strongly encourage all those attending the World Convention to register. And the most important question What s in it for me? Your convention registration badge grants you admission to the Kickoff Harbor Festival, Rocky Recovery performances, the Coffee Houses, and all dances, and is required to board all buses. All other special events require a separate ticket to attend. All workshops and main meetings are open to addicts Coronado Island Beach Trip at Silver Strand Beach Buses begin departing at 2:30 pm from outside Lobby C of the convention center. San Diego Zoo Buses begin departing at 2:30 pm from outside Lobby C of the convention center. A NOTE ABOUT WEDNESDAY, 2 JULY 2003 If you have a ticket to the Coronado Island Beach Trip or the San Diego Zoo please go to the convention center at 1:00 pm. Pre-Registration is located in Hall A of the convention center. When you arrive please let a line monitor know that you have a ticket to the beach trip or the zoo and the line monitor will escort you to the front of the line so you can get your ticket and catch the shuttle to the event. Buses begin departing from the convention center at 2:30 pm. You must have an event ticket in order to board the event shuttle. The shuttle will return you directly to your WCNA hotel once the events have ended.
for newcomer donations determines how many newcomer packages we can distribute per session. Newcomers can pick these up at the On-Site Registration desk during the following hours only: Thursday from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm and 10:30 pm to 11:30 pm Friday from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm Saturday from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Sunset Boat Cruise Boat boards from the Marriott Marina behind the Marriott Hotel. After you pick up your tickets from Pre-Registration, you can walk to Dock 3 at the Marina. The boat departs promptly at 5:30 pm. Dinner will be served on board at 6:30 pm, followed by a meeting at 7:30 pm. The boat will return you to the Marriott Marina at 9:00 pm. On-Site and Pre-Registration Wednesday and Thursday: Pre-registration pickup will be located in Hall A of the convention center, and on-site registration will be located in Ballroom 6A of the convention center during the following hours: Wednesday from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm to midnight Friday and Saturday: Both pre-registration pick-up and onsite registration will be combined and located in Ballroom 6A of the upper level of the convention center during the following hours: Friday from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm to midnight Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Registration packages will not be split up. For example, if you sent in a registration for three people, all three registrations must be picked up at the same time. The person picking up the package must be the person listed on the top of the confirmation with the address. If you are listed as the guest on the confirmation, then you must have the confirmation in hand. NA World Services is not responsible for the replacement of lost convention registration badges. 15 May was the deadline for refunds or exchanges on registrations or special events. There are no refunds after that time. Newcomer Packages We would like to thank all of you who made donations for the newcomer, as the number of packages offered is contingent upon the donations received. In accordance with our belief that we can only keep what we have by giving it away, we offer this opportunity for members to make this special donation to pay for the convention registration of newcomers with thirty days or less clean time. A limited number of newcomer registration packages are available on a first-come/first-served basis. The money collected ADDITIONAL NEEDS In the registration, merchandise, meeting, and event lines we will have line monitors and ushers who will be responsible for escorting members in wheelchairs and/or with other disabilities to the front of the line. If you require assistance at any time, please ask a line monitor or usher for assistance. NA World Services will provide wheelchair-accessible shuttles during the convention. Starting on Wednesday, 2 July 2003 you can call the Convention Information booth to schedule these shuttle pick-ups. The phone number is 619-525-6500. An Insiders Guide to access in San Diego can be obtained at the Convention Information booth. While there is access to the convention center from the boardwalk behind the convention center, people who need to use elevators should enter from the front of the convention center. This is where the shuttles will be dropping off and picking up. The boat cruise events are not wheelchair-accessible. Headsets for the hearing-impaired can be obtained in the Program Office located in Room 11A on the upper level of the convention center. Wheelchairs and scooters can be obtained each day of the convention at the First Aid office located in Room 5A on the upper level of the convention center. A very limited number of wheelchairs and scooters are available on a first come/first served basis. NA World Services will not be held responsible for making sure that you get a scooter or wheelchair. If you would like to make certain that you get one, you can rent your own on an individual basis by calling The Ability Center at 858-541-0552. Children All children under the age of 13 years must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the convention. Children 13 and over must have a registration badge to gain access to the Kickoff Harbor Festival, Rocky Recovery Shows, and the dances, and to board the buses on their own. In addition, they must have a ticket to enter all ticketed events. We ask for your support and cooperation with volunteers who are working the doors at events. NA World Services does not provide day-care services.
Entertainment/Events Limited tickets are still available for the Thursday Retro Party, Unplugged Luncheon, Late Comedy Show (Midnight), Jazz Breakfast, and Concert. While we do expect to sell out, you can purchase tickets as soon as registration opens while supplies last. Now for the long awaited question WHO S PLAYING AT THE CONCERT? Getting from the Airport to the Hotel Cloud 9 Shuttle, San Diego s largest airport ground transportation company, is offering WCNA a rate of $5.00 per person, each way to any Downtown hotel. You must mention WCNA when the driver picks you up from the airport to get the discount. Advance reservations are not necessary for shared ride airport arrivals. Departures, on the other hand, should be called in at least 24 hours in advance. You should allow for a pick up approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to your flight departure time. Reservations can be made by calling Cloud 9 directly at 1-800-9SHUTTLE (1-800-974-8885) or through the concierge desk. Or if you prefer, you can take a taxi from the airport to your hotel for an average price of $8-12. BUS SHUTTLES: Getting to the San Diego Convention Center 50 years of the blues salutes 50 years of NA! Starring the King BB King that is and some of his friends! Including Reprise/Warner Bros. Recording Artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd Joined by Double Trouble Limited tickets are still available. You can buy your tickets onsite when you pick up your preregistration packet while supplies last. PACK YOUR BAGS Dress/Weather One of the craziest things about California is definitely its weather! If you ask the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau what they have to say about the weather they will tell you: San Diego enjoys beautiful weather year round with an average daily temperature of 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit (21.4 degrees Celsius). A marked feature of the climate is the wide variation in temperature within short distances due to the topography of the land. You can enjoy coastal, mountain, and desert environments all in the space of one day. In other words be prepared for anything! You will want to dress casually and comfortably with good walking shoes. Make sure to bring your bathing suit and suncreen, but you will also want to have a sweater handy for the evening on the harbor or if you are going on a boat cruise. Don t forget it can also get chilly in the convention center itself, and most convention activities will be indoors. How do you get to the convention center the first time? If you are staying at one the WCNA hotels listed on the convention flyer, just jump on one of the shuttle buses provided by NA World Services. After your first trip to the convention center, you must have a registration badge or be with a badge holder in order to board the bus. A copy of the shuttle schedule will be distributed at your hotel, and will be posted at the Convention Information booth in Lobby C of the convention center and in the lobbies of all the hotels on the shuttle route. Driving to the convention center: San Diego Convention Center is located at 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, California. Directions from various points in Southern California are as follows: Driving South on Interstate 5: Take Front Street exit. Continue on Front Street until you reach Harbor Drive. Turn left. The convention center will be on your right. Driving West on Interstate 8: Take Highway 8 (West) to 163 South. Follow into city (will turn into 10th Ave) Follow 10th Avenue to Market Street, and turn right. Take Market Street to 5th Avenue, and then turn left. Take 5th Avenue to Harbor Drive, and turn right. The convention center will be on your left. The San Diego Trolley If you are driving to the convention on a daily basis and/or not staying at a WCNA hotel you may want to use the light rail system to get down to the convention center. The trolley runs approximately every 8-15 minutes from early morning to late evening, depending on the destination. All trolleys are wheelchair accessible. Trolley fares are $1.00 $2.50
each way. Individual tickets can be purchased at the stations, and all tickets can be purchased at the Transit Store, 102 Broadway (at First Ave.). The Transit Store is open seven days a week, 619-234-1060. The train stops right in front of the convention center. Parking (Be Prepared!) Parking is not easy in downtown San Diego Make sure you have a plan. Plan A If you are driving to the convention and staying in a WCNA convention hotel, you should park at your hotel during the whole weekend and use the WCNA buses, the trolley, take a taxi, or walk to the convention center. Plan B If you are driving to the convention on a daily basis and/or not staying at a WCNA hotel the first option is the parking garage at the convention center. It costs $8.00 per day with no in/out privileges. No overnight parking is permitted. This garage fills up fast. If it is full please proceed to Plan C. Plan C Very limited downtown parking is available within a few block walking distance of the convention center. Prices vary from $6.00 to $15.00 per day. Plan D When all else fails, most hotels offer valet parking at $25.00 per day. Pull into a hotel and just valet it! All prices are subject to change. Motorcycle Parking Limited designated motorcycle parking will be available at the convention center, the Marriott Hotel and Marina, and the Manchester Grand Hyatt. Parking in the convention center parking structure and downtown lots is the same cost as regular parking. If you park on sidewalks, you will be ticketed and towed by the city. RV Parking is not available in the downtown area. For information, contact the San Diego CVB at 619-232-3101. Crossing the Border San Diego offers a two-nation experience with Tijuana, Mexico just miles from downtown. However, due to the Fourth of July holiday weekend, it could potentially take you several hours to get back over the border from Tijuana. If you choose to take a trip across the border, you should plan on that being an all day trip; do it before or after the convention. Be sure to bring a valid passport or state-issued photo identification. It is also your responsibility to know the laws and regulations for bringing items (including yourself) back over the border. NA World Services will not be held responsible for members choosing to take a trip South of the Border. HOTEL INFORMATION Limited rooms are still available. To make a reservation please go to www.na.org or call the WCNA Housing Bureau at 800-331-3962 or 702-798-6380. After 16 June 2003 please call the hotel directly if you need to make changes to your hotel reservation. Best Western Bayside 619-233-7500 Bristol Hotel 619-232-6141 Clarion Bayside 619-696-0234 Comfort Inn 619-232-2525 Courtyard by Marriott 619-446-3000 Embassy Suites 619-239-2400 Hampton Inn 619-233-8408 Hilton Gaslamp 619-231-4040 Holiday Inn Harbor View 619-239-9600 Holiday Inn on the Bay 619-232-3861 Manchester Hyatt 619-232-1234 Marriott Marina 619-234-1500 Quality Inn 619-696-0911 Radisson 619-239-6800 Sheraton Suites 619-696-9800 US Grant 619-232-3121 W Hotel 619-231-8220 Westgate 800-524-4803 Westin Horton Plaza 619-239-2200 Wyndham Emerald 619-239-4500 If the hotel does not have your reservation in its system please call the WCNA Housing Bureau at 800-331-3962 or 702-798-6380. Hotel Credit Card Charges If you made your original reservation using a credit card, please know that the hotels have not charged your credit card yet. They only charge cards upon cancellation of the reservation or people who do not show up. A note about credit cards and ATM/check cards some of us have grown accustomed to using our ATM/Debit card instead of a regular credit card. Please note that the hotel will charge your ATM or check card for the FULL amount upon check-in and hold the amount of the required deposit for all the nights you are staying at the hotel, thus potentially tying up funds you might have been relying on for food, shopping, or recreation. Check with the front desk of your individual hotel for clarification about its individual policy. If you do not have a credit card, the hotels require you to pay the full cost of the room upon arrival, and to put down a refundable security deposit for incidentals (phone, movie charges, etc.). If you spend the initial deposit, they will require an additional deposit. In some cases, the hotel might limit your access to the hotel amenities such as the phone, movies, etc. Please check with the hotel front desk upon arrival as each hotel has its own policy when it comes to cash deposits. For WCNA, all hotels have agreed to charge a $50.00 cash deposit per day, except where noted below:
If you do not have a credit card, the hotels require you to pay the full cost of the room upon arrival, and to put down a refundable security deposit for incidentals (phone, movie charges, etc.). If you spend the initial deposit, they will require an additional deposit. In some cases, the hotel might limit your access to the hotel amenities other than the phone such as the movies, restaurant charges, etc. Please check with the hotel front desk upon arrival as each hotel has its own policy when it comes to cash deposits. For WCNA, all hotels have agreed to charge a $50.00 cash deposit per day, except where noted below: Marriott Marina is a $25.00 per day deposit W Hotel is $200.00 per day Westgate is $25 per day Smoking Rooms are considered a special request. If you made a reservation and asked for a smoking room, that does not mean that you are guaranteed a smoking room. If you smoke in a non-smoking room, the hotel will hold you liable. They will charge any applicable cleaning fee for smoking in your room, which is above and beyond any of the deposits listed above. TRANSLATIONS We have planned meetings in Spanish for members whose primary language is Spanish. A complete list of workshops that will be held in Spanish, as well as the main meetings that will be translated into Spanish will be printed in the convention program. If you have any questions please visit the Program Office in Room 11A on the upper level of the convention center when you arrive to the convention. If you require translation or can volunteer as a translator, please come to the Program Office in Room 11A on the upper level of the convention center as soon as you arrive to convention. Members may obtain translation headsets in the Program Office. In order to obtain a headset, you must provide a driver s license, passport, credit card, or other government-issued picture identification. In addition to the simultaneous translations for the meetings listed above, there is also the ability to translate workshops held in meeting rooms in the convention center and the Marriott. Translations in these rooms will be available based on how many volunteers we have available to provide translations. If you volunteered or wish to volunteer to provide translations, please sign up in the Program Office, so we can coordinate our translation schedule for workshops. Meeting Rooms for Additional Languages If you would like to create a meeting in a language other than English or Spanish, please go to the Program Office on the upper level of the convention center. We will be there to support you by providing meeting space based on availability. Speaker Check-In Upon arrival to the convention, all main and workshop speakers should check in as soon as possible at the Program Office in Room 11A on the upper level of the convention center. In addition, all speakers and chairpersons should report to their respective meeting room 15 minutes before the start of their scheduled meeting or workshop. Volunteer Information If you would like to volunteer or if you have already volunteered but need to be directed to your assigned area, please go directly to the Convention Information booth in the main lobby of the convention center once you arrive to the convention. If you have not volunteered yet please consider how much help is needed to keep everything running smoothly. Volunteering to serve is a wonderful way to meet people and enhance your convention experience. Alternative Merchandise The Alternative Merchandise Store will be held in Ballroom 6B F on Sunday, 6 July 2003 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. In order to be approved to sell in the store, the area or regional service committee must have obtained a WCNA approval certificate. Only approved regions and areas may sell their leftover merchandise in this room. No private vendors are permitted. For additional information, go to www.na.org.