WE'RE BACK!!
SAFE-D is thrilled to announce the return of our Annual Conference to the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Round Rock (just north of Austin.) The event will be Feb. 6-8, 2025 and will be the year's biggest meeting related to ESDs and ESD issues. Just like previous years, the Conference will give you the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that will help you better serve your districts. This is the premier educational event for Texas Emergency Services Districts.
BUT THIS YEAR IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, SCHEDULE-WISE:
We're expanding the Conference! Essentially we're getting started earlier on Thursday. We'll also have registration/check-in open Wednesday evening (February 5th) for any early birds who want to try and beat the lines. Here's the schedule at a glance:
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
5 - 8 PM - Registration/Check-in
Thursday, February 6, 2025
8 AM - Registration Opens9 AM - Morning Pre-Conference Education Sessions BeginNoon - 1:30 PM - Lunch on your own2 PM - Afternoon Pre-Conference Education Sessions Begin4 PM - Exhibit Hall Preview Hour5 - 7 PM - Meet and Greet in the Exhibit Hall
Friday, February 7, 2025
8 AM - Opening General Session9:30 - 10:30 AM - Exhibit Hall Power Hour10:30 - 11:30 AM - Breakout Sessions11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Lunch with the exhibitors1:00 PM - Afternoon Breakout Sessions Begin3:15 PM - Refreshment Break/Door Prize Game Drawing in Exhibit Hall5:00 PM - Adjourn for the day/Exhibit Hall closes/Exhibitor move-out
Saturday, February 8, 2025
8:30 AM - Closing General Session9:45 AM - Breakout Sessions Begin12:00 PM - Adjourn Conference
SAFE-D will apply to the V.G. Young Institute of County Government, part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, to serve as the event's Educational Sponsor and certify this training for ESD Commissioner Continuing Education.
HOTEL INFORMATION: SAFE-D has a negotiated room block ($195/night) at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center. We anticipate the rooms will go quickly. To ensure our attendees have access to the rooms, the booking link will be in your registration confirmation email. You must register first to get the link.
There is complimentary self parking at Kalahari Resort & Convention Center.
Overflow Hotels if/when Kalahari block is full (SAFE-D does not have blocks reserved at these hotels, they are simply nearby Kalahari):
La Quinta (3900 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock, TX 78665)
Hampton Inn (327 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, TX, 78634)
Holiday Inn Express (323 Ed Schmidt Blvd., Hutto, TX, 78634)
Aloft Austin Round Rock (2951 Jazz Street, Round Rock, TX 78664)
Element Austin Round Rock (1770 Warner Ranch Dr., Round Rock, TX 78664)
Important Info Regarding Booking More Than 5 Hotel Rooms at the Host Hotel:SAFE-D negotiates hotel rates to provide reasonable rates for conference attendees. As part of this agreement, SAFE-D assumes financial responsibility for any unsold rooms at the hotels where we have contracts. The following policy will apply to anyone who books more than 5 hotel rooms at the negotiated SAFE-D rate. Any person, group, company or organization that reserves more than 5 rooms at the SAFE-D Conference rate agrees that they will cancel any rooms they do not plan to use earlier than the normal cut-off date for room reservations. The cutoff date for reservations in excess of 5 rooms is January 3, 2025. By registering for SAFE-D at the conference rate, and/or within the SAFE-D negotiated room block, any person, group, company or organization agrees that if they fail to cancel the rooms by the cutoff date above, they will assume full responsibility to pay for any unused rooms at the full conference rate including all taxes and other fees in the event the rooms go unsold and the hotel acts to hold SAFE-D responsible for any unused rooms under the terms of the contract.
LOA and Tax Exempt Info:Per our policy at Kalahari Resorts, we do not accept completed Letters of Authorization forms, Tax Exemption forms, nor Purchase Orders to be submitted to us at the hotel check-in. We have a dedicated team that approves these forms to ensure validity prior to attachment to the reservations prior to check-in. These forms should be submitted no later than 7 days in advanced to us at dellscallcenterfax@kalahariresorts.com or fax them to 608-254-6116. We highly suggest that attendees submit these forms at minimum two weeks in advanced prior to the hotel check in so our team can process them in a timely manner. Failure to follow this procedure may result in full room and tax charges to the attendees on their personal cards; since our Front Desk will not accept these forms at check-in. If you have any questions, please see https://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania/help/faq/
Tentative schedule:
Registration/check-in: open 5-8 PM on Wednesday, February 5th.
Registration re-opens: 8 AM Thursday, February 6th.
Pre-conference education sessions: 9AM - 4:00 PM, Thursday, February 6th (lunch on your own).
Exhibit Hall preview: 4:00 PM, Thursday February 6th.
Meet-and-Greet: 5:00 PM, Thursday, February 6th.
Conference Sessions: 8 AM - 5:00 PM, Friday, February 7th (Lunch in Exhibit Hall provided at 11:30 AM.)
Conference Sessions: 8:30-Noon Saturday, February 8th.
Adjourn: Noon, Saturday, February 8th.
We've held the cost static from previous years! Full registration is only $345 for an ESD Commissioner or service provider associated with a SAFE-D member district and $495 for a nonmember ESD Commissioner/service provider. The Early Bird Discount (reduces the price to $295 for members and $455 for nonmembers) is available until January 24, 2025.
FULL registration includes the Preconference Sessions, and 1 admission to Thursday's Meet & Greet. Lunch on Friday (the 7th) is also included with Full Registration.
Single day registration for Thursday the 6th, Friday the 7th, or Saturday the 8th are also individually available.
Commercial representatives may register for the Conference for $799. This registration is for attendees only and does not include a booth. If you are interested in exhibiting at the SAFE-D Conference, contact Tracy at tracy@gcptexas.net.
If your spouse or significant other plans to attend the conference with you, you must purchase a Guest Badge for them for $125 with your registration. The Guest Badge will grant them access to the Exhibit Hall, Thursday's Meet & Greet and Friday's Lunch. They will not be able to attend sessions, obtain training hours or participate in the Exhibit Hall Bingo Game.
SAFE-D Refund Policy: NO REFUNDS.
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