TEAM FFELP: Going to Bat for America's Students
 
It's time to rally Team FFELP and gear up for a busy season ahead. Join us in Clearwater, Florida for the NCHELP Spring Convention to ensure you have the skills needed to succeed and lead your players. Team FFELP has a deep bench with expertise built up over years of being in the student loan game -- we need to go to bat for students and schools to make sure they continue to receive the services they rely on daily to increase college access, improve financial literacy and prevent loan defaults. As it is frowned upon for players not to show up for spring training -- we need all FFELP players to show up for this spring convention.

UPDATED AGENDA (06/07/2009)
 
Here's your session lineup for the 2009 Spring Convention:

Keynote speakers Jamie Merisotis, President of the Lumina Foundation, and Jane Wellman, Executive Director of the Delta Cost Project, will lay the groundwork for players to understand the goal of increasing college enrollment and the priorities for higher education spending. Jack Remondi, Vice Chairman and CFO of Sallie Mae, will discuss the future of the student loan programs. Tim Ranzetta, President of Student Lending Analytics, and market analyst Matt Snowling will describe the student loan market and expectations for the future and Political Science Professor Dr. George Gonzalez will lay out the priorities of the Administration and Congress.

We'll have two training workshops:

• • For the "Batters," we provide detailed finance sessions to provide background on market conditions, availability of student loans, the status of the federal liquidity programs, how states are developing innovative approaches to secure funds for private student loans, and insights about how students and families are coping with the turmoil in the financial markets;
  • For the "Fielders," we offer comprehensive college access workshops that highlight best practices for college and financial aid awareness programs, services targeted for veterans and foster youths, information on how states are using funds to improve college-going rates and strategies for working with loan-averse students.

Don't miss this chance to join your FFELP team mates and go to bat for students and schools.

Tentative Agenda:
**Subject to change

June 8th
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. NCHELP Board Meeting

June 9th
8:30 - 5:00 p.m.  NCHELP Spring Convention
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Welcome Reception

June 10th
8:30  - 12:00 noon NCHELP Spring Convention
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. New Board 2009 - 2010 Meeting

Sandpearl
500 Mandalay Avenue
Clearwater Beach, FL  33767
727-441-2425 

$191 plus $15 amenity fee. 

Amenity fee includes:
Complimentary High Speed Wired & Wireless Access, Bottled Water Daily, Nightly Turndown Service, Delivery of Newspaper, Shoeshine Service, Beach & Pool ervice, 24 Hour Access to Business Center, 24 Hour Access to Sand Pearl Fitness Center

Reservation Procedure
Attendees may telephone the Reservation Department by calling (727) 441-2425.  Reference must be given to the National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs to assure the group rate.  All reservations must be guaranteed for arrival with a major credit card and/or a first room night deposit. 

Cut-Off Date
The hotel will accept reservations until the cut-off date of May 15, 2009. After that date, the hotel will not offer special conference rates or assure availability, all rooms remaining in the group block will be returned to the hotel's general inventory for sale to other groups and individuals.

Room Cancellation
Reservations may be canceled up to 72 hours prior to arrival without penalty.  If cancellation of reservation takes place within 72 hours of the scheduled arrival one night’s room revenue will be charged.

Check-In/Check-Out Times
Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. Check-out time is 12:00 noon

What to Wear
The conference dress is business casual.   The average temperature in June is 90/72 degrees. 

Ground Transportation
Tampa International Airport is located approximately 25 miles from the hotel (45 minutes).

Shuttle Service:  Super Shuttle offers shared ride van service from Tampa Airport.  NCHELP has set-up online discounted reservations at http://www.supershuttle.com/default.aspx?GC=4H79U .  The roundtrip discounted cost will be $42 per person.  Discount is based on roundtrip reservations. 

Taxi:  A taxi will be approximately $65 one way.  Taxi's are located just outside of the baggage claim area.

If for some reason you need to cancel your registration the following cancellation policies apply:
•All cancellations must be in writing to the NCHELP office and addressed to conferences@nchelp.org.
•Cancellation fees will be assessed for both prepaid and non-prepaid registrations.
•Registrations cancelled prior to April 27, 2009 will receive a full refund minus a $75 administrative fee.
•Registrations cancelled between April 28 and May 25, 2009 will receive 50% refund minus a $75 administrative fee.
•Registrations cancelled after May 25, 2009 will not receive a refund.
•Registrations may be transferred to another registrant from your organization within the same conference at any time.
•Please note that registrations fees from prior conferences/conventions for your organization will be deducted from any refunds.
•Refunds will be processed 30 days after the conference