FAHE Spring Retreat

March 22 & 23, 2010
Washington, D.C.

FAHE goes to Washington! At this year's Spring Retreat, Members will have the opportunity to visit Capitol Hill and meet with their corresponding legislators. Other activities at this year's retreat include a reception at the new Capitol Visitor Center, HUD and USDA presentations, board elections, and a nighttime trolley tour of D.C.

Register Here

Download Registration Brochure

The deadline for registration is February 9.
Registration Fee: $75
Optional Dinner and Tour: $25 (space is limited to the first 40 people)

Be sure to specify your congressional representatives when registering. This information will be used to set group appointments with legislators.

If you need assistance with the event registration process, please contact Jackie Weiss at 888-969-1399 ext 2143 or jackie@fahe.org.

Accommodations provided by:

Hyatt Regency Bethesda
One Bethesda Metro Center
7400 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD
Block rate: $226/single occupancy per night and $251/double occupancy per night

Participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations.

Rooms can be reserved by calling the hotel at 888-421-1442, or online at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/FAHE.

Be sure to mention “FAHE Spring Meeting” when reserving your room. 

If you are staying for the NeighborWorks^® Executive Directors Symposium (March 24-25), please contact Jackie Weiss to make special arrangements.

Agenda

Monday, March 22 Hyatt Regency Bethesda
1pm-2 pm    Membership Meeting and Board Elections
2 pm-3 pm   Presentation by USDA Official* 
3 pm-4 pm   Presentation by HUD Official*
4 pm-5 pm   Logistics and Messaging for Capitol Hill Visits
5 pm-10 pm  Optional Dinner and Trolley Tour (additional $25)

Tuesday, March 23    Hyatt Regency Bethesda & Capitol Hill
8 am-10 am     National Neighborworks Association Meeting
10 am-11 am   Travel to Capitol Hill
11 am-5 pm     Group Meetings with Legislators
5 pm-8 pm       Reception at the Capitol Visitor Center

*Invited

FAQ

How will we get to Capitol Hill? 

There is a stop on the DC Metro Red Line in the basement of the Hyatt Regency. FAHE staff and group leaders will help usher groups to their appointments on Capitol Hill and will know the best route to take.  Metro cards will be provided to each registered participant. 

What if I do not join the dinner group on Monday night (March 22^nd)? 

You are free to enjoy the city on your own on Monday night if you do not choose to attend the evening dinner and tour.

Can I join the dinner group on Monday night and skip the tour? 

Monday’s dinner will be held at the Thunder Grill in Union Station. If you do not want to continue on the tour, it is an easy ride on the Metro back to the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda. However, the dinner and tour are being sold as a package for $25 and discounted rates for dinner-only guests cannot be provided. 

What should I expect during my Capitol Hill visit? 

Registered participants will be divided into groups based on their congressional representation. FAHE will then schedule visits with each representative’s office, with a maximum of four meetings scheduled per group. 

Your group’s reception at the congressional offices will vary greatly from one office to another. Some groups will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their legislators. Other groups are likely to meet with a member of the legislator’s staff, or even interns. It simply depends on the priorities and calendar of that legislator’s office. Because these situations are difficult to predict and can change on short notice, we will prepare each group as though they will meet with the actual legislator. 

How do we get into the Capitol Hill Visitor Center?

After your last appointment with your group’s legislators, you will need to walk to the Capitol Hill Visitor Center, which is directly behind the Capitol Building. The Capitol Hill Visitor Center is subject to higher levels of security than the congressional office buildings. You will not be permitted to bring any food or beverages into the Visitor Center, although you may bring these items into the office buildings after they have been screened by security officials. The Capitol Hill Reception is a private event, but you will still be subject to a security screening and then directed to our private ballroom. 

Why is the registration deadline so early? 

We try to allow as much time as possible for registration. This year, our event is being presented in partnership with the National NeighborWorks Association (NNA). In order for NNA to arrange the Legislative Day, particularly the Capitol Hill Reception, they must have an accurate count of which congressional districts will be represented at the event. 

What is the appropriate attire for the Spring Retreat?

Day One’s (March 22^nd) events will take place mostly within our hotel, so casual attire is acceptable (this includes jeans, tennis shoes, t-shirts, etc.) On Day Two (March 23^rd), professional attire should be worn to project the best possible image of FAHE and its Members to our government representatives. Acceptable attire may include a suit and tie, or button down shirt and dress pants with a blazer or sports coat for men; and a skirted/pants suit, or a nice blouse/sweater and dress pants/skirt for women. But please note, we will be doing a lot of walking on Day Two, so wear comfortable dress shoes. The average temperature in Washington, D.C. for March is 66 degrees for the high and 46 degrees for the low, but this can vary greatly, so please pack accordingly. We also suggest bringing an umbrella or rain coat, since we will be walking outside to our destinations.

How much walking will we do? 

Walking between the metro station, Congressional offices, the Capitol Visitor Center, and back to the metro station could add up to at least two miles of walking on Day Two, depending on which offices your group visits first.