In celebration of NAFDMA's 25th Annual Convention, we'll be incorporating pictures, best ideas, and members' stories throughout the Lancaster program. Send in your favorite NAFDMA Photos, the best idea you ever got from NAFDMA, and YOUR NAFDMA story... e-mail to Charlie@WhiteLoafRidge.com

Arrival Day at a NAFDMA Convention is one of the most fun days of the year!  It’s also a time when ideas flow, discoveries are made, and energy rejuvenation begins.

The organizers of NAFDMA Conventions are well aware – as hard as we work to organize great tours, line up insightful speakers, and work with hotels to provide good food and vacation-like moments - it often happens that the most valuable time spent by attendees is just getting together, sharing a few laughs, and comparing lessons learned from the past year.

Arrival Day is designed to allow you to relax, reconnect, and prepare for the amazing Convention Days ahead.

Bus Tour Registration
Be sure to check in with your assigned bus tour guides at Bus Tour Registration. It takes place at a designated area 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  All registrants will receive a letter a week or two before the convention with the details.

Everything else is at your leisure…
Bus tour registration is the only requirement on Arrival Day; everything else is optional, and you can do it on your own schedule. Here are the organized activities as well as other recommendations for your consideration:

Before you leave home
Coordinate with some friends you haven’t seen in a year or two. Make some preliminary arrangements to meet for lunch or dinner in Lancaster on Arrival Day.

Travel 
Whether by plane, train, automobile, or horse and buggy, we recommend you try to arrive into Downtown Lancaster around lunchtime or shortly thereafter. Stroll through the hotel and convention center for a few minutes and get to know the floor plan to take the pressure off in days to come when things are tightly scheduled. Then be sure to checkout the many interesting things to do outside of the hotel.

Visit Central Market  http://www.centralmarketlancaster.com
We highly recommend you make a quick visit to Central Market Lancaster on Arrival Day. Billed as the country’s oldest continuously operating farmer’s markets, this experience will quickly immerse you into the personality and culture of Lancaster County. The market is located just across the street from our hotel. It’s a great place to grab a simple lunch while strolling around, or a snack a little later in the day. The market closes at 4:00 p.m. on Arrival Day. It’s open every Friday, Saturday and Tuesday. You’ll be on the road for bus tour on Saturday, and in the trade show on Tuesday. So take advantage for an hour or so on Arrival Day Friday.


Lunch or Dinner 
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/lnsmc-lancaster-marriott-at-penn-square
There are lots of places to eat in Downtown Lancaster just a short walk from our hotel. The small city of Lancaster offers amazing fine foods, pubs and other variety. Meet with friends on arrival day and enjoy one of the restaurants. And don’t worry, we give you a couple other nights off to join friends and try one or two more great food establishments Downtown in the days to come.

Contest Entry 


If you are entering one or more Celebrate Excellence Contests, then submit your entries with Cathy McKay and our Membership Parti Team volunteers. We’ll be taking entries starting around 6:00 p.m. on Arrival Day, the same time and general location for bus tour registration.

Cathy McKay
Assistant to the Director of NAFDMA

 
Speaker’s Check-in

If you happen to be a speaker (THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!) on Education Day, or on Innovation Day and you are also going on tour, then be sure to check in with Brent Warner any time after 3:00 p.m. on Arrival Day. He’ll work with you to get all the last minute details in order, help take away the jitters, and make sure he has your presentation in his hands to be certain there will be no electronic surprises on the day of your session.

Brent Warner



Newcomers Reception and Orientation
Join us at 8:00 p.m. when some members of the NAFDMA Board of Directors will be hosting a Newcomers Reception and Orientation immediately after bus tour registration. This 45-minute event is designed to help first-time NAFDMA goers best understand how you can take full advantage of your NAFDMA convention experience, and how to ensure you get a great return on your investment of traveling and attending.

VETERAN NAFDMA MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TOO!!! As a matter of fact, we encourage you to come. The whole idea is to nurture the NETWORKING. We will welcome strategies and testimonials from those who have attended over the past years. Some may even be inclined to become mentors for newcomers from another state!

Tour Guide Orientation
We said everything is optional on Arrival Day, but the truth is, that’s only if you’re NOT a tour guide.  Those who are tour guides must meet together starting at noon. Tour guides are obligated to their work from noon until 8:30p.m. Those who are not tour guides, be sure to thank your fearless leaders for their dedication. They work hard to ensure each individual passenger benefits from the best tour experience possible.