CEC 2008 News from Conference Chair Pat Malone

In our monthly archives of "The Christian Educator Newsletter" are several posts designed to provide the CEA community with valuable information regarding CEC 2008.  In October, Lynn Leaming posted several messages regarding our conference speakers and some helpful web links about their ministry background and current ministry work.  Also, in last month's archives is a nifty downtown Nashville map posted by Trey Laminack showing us places of special interests and all the restaurants, coffee houses, and ice cream shops Trey plans to visit while in Nashville.  Personally, I see this map as a sort of location finder or schedule key of Trey's where-abouts during the conference so we can easily track him down and request special delivery of a cappuccino when we are too lazy to walk there ourselves (of course, he may expect us to buy his coffee too).

There are other CEC-related posts in the archives and several more posts about our conference will be showing up as we grow closer to January 20.  I believe almost all your questions will be answered (or at least addressed) by visiting this site at least once a week.  As a bonus, you may also learn about the latest ministry resource on the ministry market or discover a great idea that will help you in your ministry.

Since blogging sites make archiving past messages so much easier to find and read again (compared to traditional listservs), I decided to add a portion of a CEA Forum email message from Pat Malone to this post (regarding our upcoming 2008 Christian Education Conference).  You can read it below my signature.  I hope we have a big group this year since many of us were snowed or iced out last year in Texas.  See you in Music City!  -- Eddie Mathews

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The following is an excerpt from an email sent to the CEA Forum on December 5 from Pat Malone (CEC 2008 Conference Chair)...

Good afternoon to you all,

Registrations are rolling in!  I get some in the mail each day.  Let me remind you that the Early Bird Registration Fees are good through December 21^st (means your envelope is post marked no later than the 21^st).  I am trying to save you (or the church) some money, but I understand that some of you have to wait for the new year in order to have church budget funds available.  Just a gentle reminder in case you can take advantage of the Early Bird fees.

Two things concerning our conference hotel, the Sheraton Nashville Downtown.  (1) Our block of rooms and the room rate are good through December 28^th.  After the 28^th, we must release all rooms not booked and regular rates at the hotel will apply.  I was able to negotiate a little later deadline date than usual which gives you a couple of days after Christmas to take care of business.  If you fail to get your reservation made on time, you are on your own.  (2) Saturday night, January 19^th.  Several of you have indicated a problem booking Saturday evening.  My fault; I take full responsibility!  I failed to include Saturday evening in our contract.  Ordinarily this would not be a problem.  But there is a major city event in Nashville that concludes the 19^th.  The hotel has promised to work with us as much as they can since they anticipate some cancellations for that night, but they won't know for sure until the end of December (the rooms are under contract like our rooms are under contract).  But they will give us every consideration they possibly can.

Or sponsors mean a lot to the financial stability of our conference!  Long time, faithful supporters are 21^st Century Christian Publishing (Tuesday evening CEA Banquet) and Standard Publishing Co. (Sunday evening reception).  Standard also sponsors presenters each year which is a real boost to our program.  Needless to say, I was elated when contacted by David C. Cook Co. about sponsoring a breakfast.  So when you enjoy breakfast on Monday morning, it will be courtesy of David C. Cook Co.  And other vendors are important as well.  Four J Pro Sound and A/V provides the audiovisual equipment we need for our classes, saving us a lot of expense.  Last year Karyn Henley was one of our presenters.  This year Karyn Henley Resources will be one of our commercial vendors.  ALL of these good people make contributions for which we need to be grateful and support their companies whenever we can.  If you were responsible to pay all of the conference bills, you would appreciate them as much as I do.

Jonathan Seamon, Site Chairman, is working on some extra special touches which will make our conference and our time in Nashville more enjoyable.  More about some of these next time.  For now, you will just have to speculate.  And Cheryl Chase, our Notebook Chairman, is working diligently with Jerry Bowling, Program Chairman, to produce the best possible notebook for our conference.

Do I sound excited?  Well I am!  Our conference is now just 6+ weeks away.  So get your registration in (if you have not already done so), and make your hotel reservation (if you have not already done so).  As a car dealer here in the Metroplex says, "Come by plane, come by boat, come by donkey.  I don't care how you get here, just get here!"  Looking forward to seeing you in Nashville!

With peace and blessings to you all,

Pat Malone, Conference Chairman