NORTHEASTERN ICE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION The Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel PORTMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE September 27-30, 2015 CONVENTION REGISTRATION
NORTHEASTERN ICE ASSOCIATION Dear Association Members, It s that time again, time to take a break and look forward to relaxing from a very busy summer in the northeast. I m writing to remind everyone that this fall s Northeastern Ice Association Convention will be held at the beautiful award winning SHERATON PORTSMOUTH HARBORSIDE HOTEL, located right in the OLD TOWN AREA of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This is the perfect location for a fall convention. We have done everything possible to keep costs low, while providing excellent accommodations in a prime location that will allow you to enjoy all this area has to offer. One of the exciting highlights of this year s meeting is the chance to visit a very special block Ice Plant! A wonderful NIA Style lunch will be included in this day of touring. The meeting will also include round table discussions on industry topics that will be sure to give you new insight into the industry trends and ways to better manage your businesses. Our annual business meeting, along with fun filled tours and evening events will round out our convention. Combine this with time with our suppliers and other industry friends and you have a great meeting to look forward to. This is a great time to learn more about your association. After the great summer season we have had what better way to relax than at the Portsmouth Old Town, within walking distance of great shopping and great seafood, can you say LOBSTER! Again, please do not miss this opportunity to meet old friends, make new ones and visit with your suppliers. Don t forget to block out September 27-30, 2015 on your calendars and send in your registration immediately. ROOMS ARE LIMITED. We need to confirm all hotel reservations by August 30th. We look forward to seeing you at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel in exciting Portsmouth, New Hampshire this fall. Get your registration in NOW! Warmest Regards, Chad Rossi President, NIA
Convention Highlights Portsmouth, New Hampshire sits near the mouth of the Piscataqua River, a short, wide river that divides New Hampshire and Maine. The city also is at the hub of a metropolitan region that includes the cities of Rochester and Dover, N.H., and many towns Exeter, Hampton, Greenland, Stratham, Newington, and Rye, N.H.; Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick and York, Maine; and others. Settled in 1623, Portsmouth claims to be the nation s third-oldest city. It served as a focal point on the Eastern seaboard until the late 1800s when rail travel did in the shipping industry. John Paul Jones ship The Ranger was built in Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (which lies across the river in Maine) was established in 1800 as the country s first Naval shipyard. The geographic location, historic past and cultural strength of Portsmouth regularly lands it on various best places to live lists. The region as whole is noted for its many restaurants, attractions and shopping opportunities, which include downtown Portsmouth, outlet malls in Kittery, Maine, as well as major malls in Newington, New Hampshire. And who can resist the beautiful harbor setting of our hotel, the outstanding food and shopping, not to mention the fact that fall is in the air. Portsmouth is known for it s micro breweries so what better place to have our annual pub crawl? What a great place to have our 2015 Northeastern Ice Association Convention, and the end of September is the ideal time to be there. Hotel: The Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel At the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel you will experience old world charm, distinctive design, and impeccable service at the top hotel in the Portsmouth area. Situated on the banks of the Piscataqua River overlooking Portsmouth's working harbor and beyond, to the Maine coast, the hotel is two blocks from Market Square, the heart of historic Portsmouth.
Great lobby, dining With its grandly scaled lobby offering sweeping views of the harbor, the hotel also has one of Portsmouth's best restaurants and a fitness room. Sweet beds, Internet Guestrooms feature Sheraton's Sweet Sleeper beds, with triple-sheeting and multiple pillows atop an extra-thick plush-top mattress. Complimentary Internet access and spacious desks are also offered. Getting There: Portsmouth is a wonderful city, easy to drive to for many of our members. Portsmouth is on the New Hampshire Seacoast, roughly an hour north of Boston, an hour east of Manchester, N.H., and an hour south of Portland, Maine. Airports Logan International Airport (BOS), Boston C&J bus line provides regular service from Logan Airport to the Portsmouth Transportation Terminal, which is 3 miles from the city center. From the terminal, take a taxi, rent a car or take a COAST bus to downtown Portsmouth. (COAST hours are limited. See below. Manchester Airport (MHT), Manchester NH East-West Express provides hourly public transportation between Portsmouth, Epping and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire. See below. Portland (International Jetport (PWM), Portland ME Meeting Highlights: Sunday, September 27 Tuesday, September 29 This year our convention will kick off on Sunday, September 27 th with our welcome reception with our suppliers. Monday, September 28 th sessions will include our annual NIA business meeting, where you will be updated on the business of the association for 2014-2015, followed by our educational plant tour. Tuesday will bring opportunities for you to hear a keynote speaker and enjoy one of NIA s favorite formats, our Round Table Discussion, sure to hit on industry topics of interest to all. Pub Crawl & Brewery Tour: Monday, September 28 Optional Activity What NIA Convention would be complete without an afternoon on the town enjoying a favorite NIA activity, a little Pub time! Join fellow members for our annual pub crawl through the seaport of this charming town. This tour promises to offer a little history of the area, some craft concoctions and delicious appetizers amidst tales of the seafaring town s past! Following the optional pub crawl you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Old Port restaurants and Nightlife on your own, all right outside of our hotel.
Plant Tours: Monday, September 28 Included In Registration As part of your convention registration you will have a really special opportunity to visit an original block Ice Plant. Enjoy a uniquely "COOL" visit to the Cape Pond Ice Company, where they have been icing Gloucester's fleet since 1848. They were featured in Sebastian Junger's account of THE PERFECT STORM. Our visit highlights the history of the industry, with vintage film of natural harvests. Explore their historic Ice House and see first-hand 300-pound block ice being made - up to 150 tons per day. See fishing vessels taking on ice, and ice sculptures being carved in our historic ice house on Gloucester's working waterfront! The Cape Pond Ice office shop features historic photographs and tools documenting the company's history since 1848, and vintage movie footage of early 1900 ice harvesting. Lunch: DID WE SAY LOBSTER!?! After our plant tour you will enjoy an included lobster feast at one of the areas top seafood restaurants, The Glouchester House Restaurant. Get ready to feast on fresh lobster, clam chowder and all the fixin. An NIA First: Tuesday, September 29: Optional Tours Have Been Replaced With A Special Included Activity: A Historic Portsmouth Harbor Tour 2:30 pm 4:00 pm Join fellow NIA friends for a special tour of the historic harbor of Portsmouth. We will enjoy seeing this wonderful city by sea, while enjoying beer, wine or soft drinks and light refreshments. What a great way to spend an afternoon together during the convention. We will be cruise the area on the M/V Thomas Laighton, operated by Isle of Shoals Cruises. This 300 passenger vessel is perfect for our group, with a great open air deck for the great fall weather, but with two covered decks just in case mother nature doesn t cooperate! This event is included in your convention registration. There will be no optional tours offered at additional cost and we believe this cruise will offer a better, more cost effective way for our members to see the area and enjoy time with our members. NIA New England Farewell Dinner: Tuesday, September 29 Included in your registration! Our final evening will be a wonderful one as we enjoy a great meal together. Support the association and our officers and board as we celebrate with a closing convention dinner. Tonight you will feast on some of the areas best food! Two drink coupons are included to top off the enjoyment! It is our year to have our change of officers so please plan to support Chad Rossi as he hands the gavel over to Bruce Hanson, incoming Chairman!
AGENDA Sunday, September 27: 3:00 5:00 PM Board of Directors Meeting 2:30 5:00 PM Supplier Set up 6:00 7:30 PM Registration 6:00 9:00 PM Welcome Reception with Suppliers (2 drinks and heavy hors d oeuvres included) Monday, September 28: 7:30 9:00 AM Breakfast with the Suppliers 9:00 9:30 AM Annual Business Meeting 9:45 AM Depart hotel for our plant tour 10:45 AM Ice Plant Tour & Lunch 1:30 PM Depart for Portsmouth Hotel 2:30 PM Hotel Return 4:30 6:30 PM NIA Annual Pub Crawl 6:30 PM- Until Dinner and evening on your own Tuesday, September 29: 8:00 8:30 AM Coffee Time 8:30 8:45 AM SPEAKER: IPIA Representative - updates from IPIA 8:45 9:45 AM Keynote Speaker 9:45 10:00 AM Break 10:00 11:30 AM Industry Round Table Discussions 2:15 4:00 PM NIA Harbor Cruise (Meet in lobby- cruise 2:30 pm) 7:00 PM Cocktails 7:3 0 9:45 PM NIA Award Dinner & Changing of Officers Banquet Wednesday, September 30: Departures
Northeastern Ice Association The Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel, Portsmouth, New Hampshire September 27-30, 2015 Conference Registration To ensure proper registration, please fill out separate registration, hotel and optional activity forms for each person planning to attend. We thank you for your attention to this matter. PLEASE MAIL FORMS AND PAYMENT TO: Meeting Expectations, Ltd. 112 Livingstone Drive, Cary, NC 27513 Questions Call: Jacquie s cell: 919-244-9459, Fax: 919-469-5556 E-mail: jacquie@meetexpect.com Company Name Company Address City State Postal Code Phone Fax E-Mail REGISTRATION FEES: $350.00 PER PERSON. $395.00 AFTER August 30, 2015 PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO MEETING EXPECTATIONS. ** Please support the association by your attendance. Registration includes: Welcome Reception with Suppliers, including 2 cocktails and heavy hors d oeuvres, one breakfast, breaks and coffee Time, plant tour with lunch, Portsmouth Harbor Cruise with included beverages and light snacks and final night reception & dinner with two drink coupons, all meetings and exhibits. Name Spouse Form Of Payment Check Credit Card Credit Card Type Number Expiration Security Code: Signature of Card Holder ** There is an addition fee of 5% for use of credit card for payment of registration and optional pub crawl. No additional fee is required for the hotel booking. REGISTRATION GRAND TOTAL $
**All cancellations must be received in writing in our office via mail, fax, or e-mail before September 5, 2015. After this date the registration fee is fully non-refundable. SUPPLIER REGISTRATION: ** SUPPLIERS ADD $175.00 FOR YOUR EXHIBIT SET UP TO THE TOTAL REGISTRATION. (ONLY ONE PER COMPANY, NOT PER SUPPLIER FROM THAT COMPANY. I am a supplier and need an exhibit table The Supplier/Exhibitor is provided with an 6-foot exhibit table at a charge of $175.00, to cover the cost of the exhibit area. Please note, there is no pipe and drape to accommodate the table area. The Supplier/Exhibitor is responsible for any additional cost, if bringing in special equipment. Suppliers attending must pay the supplier fee even if not requesting a table, one charge per company. HOTEL & OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES REGISTRATION HOTEL: SHERATON PORTSMOUTH HARBORSIDE HOTEL SEPTEMBER 27-30, 2015 Portsmouth, New Hampshire Room Rate: $199.00 per night, single or double occupancy Tax is additional at 9%. Parking is additional. Name Arrival Date Spouse Departure Date Smoking Nonsmoking Other special requests Form Of Payment Check Credit Card Credit Card Type Number Expiration Signature of Card Holder A one-night room deposit, including tax will be retained if the room is cancelled after September 5, 2015. OPTIONAL PUB CRAWL: Monday, September 28 4:30 PM 6:30 PM This annual NIA event will take you along the waterfront and to several of the top brewery establishments in this quaint town, samplings of beer and spirits and great food along the way. COST OF PUB CRAWL: $ 45.00 per person I want to join the Pub Crawl Tour Number of people attending Name Name
Name Name Form Of Payment Check Credit Card Credit Card Type Number Expiration Signature of Card Holder ** GETTING REGISTRATIONS IN BY AUGUST 29, 2015 IS CRITICAL TO AVOID LOSSES TO THE ASSOCIATION ON HOTEL ROOMS RESERVED FOR THIS MEETING.