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      TRANSPORTATION FOR  MONTFORD POINT MARINES PROVIDED BY EXPRESS TOWN CAR

www.expresstowncar.com

FLAT RATE:  $60.00 ONE WAY FROM REAGAN NATIONAL (DCA) OR DULLES INTERNATIONAL (IAD) AIRPORT TO FREDERICKSBURG, VA.

Call: (703) 589-8638 / Fax: (703) 339-5915

Toll Free:  (877) 339-5915

Shareef Rahman (President)

Email: shareef@expresstowncar.com

More MPMA Transportation Info

From: Fredericksburg Amtrak station - 200 Lafayette Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA: 4 miles.
To Fredericksburg Hospitality House - Taxi fee $6.25

From: Greyhound bus station - 1400 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg, VA:  10.3 miles
To: Fredericksburg Hospitality House - Taxi Fee $6.25

From: Dulles Airport – 67.3 miles
To: Fredericksburg Hospitality House - Taxi Fee (Washington Flyer is the only taxi allowed) - $145     Super Shuttle – $155 (1 to 7)

From: National Airport – 52.6 miles
To: Fredericksburg Hospitality House - Taxi Fee - $145        Super Shuttle – $145 (1 to 7)  

Washington Flyer – 1-703-774-4243               Super Shuttle – 1-800-258-3826

Montford Point Marine Association, Inc.
45th National Convention
Fredricksburg Hospiality House, Fredericksburg VA
21-24 July 2010

                                                                                                                       
Wednesday, 21 July (Time TBD) – President’s Reception              $35.00
Enjoy a meet and greet as the National, President, James Averhart, welcomes members and their guests to the 45th MPMA National Convention.  After a long day of traveling, come out and enjoy some food, entertainment, and fellowship.

Thursday,  22 July, 1- 4 pm – Ladie’s Auxiliary Luncheon and Fashion Show        $45.00
“Come Walk With Me” is the theme for this year’s fashion show.  Models “strut your stuff” and “shake what your mama gave ya!”  Come out and see the lastest fashion in Youth /Athletic Gear, Casual,  Formal, Hip-Hop, Biker, After Five w/Hair & Lingerie, and the “Grand Finale Runway Walk.”  Fellas bring your cameras…Move over Beyonce, there is a DIVA in the house!
Lunch includes Nantucket Chicken Salad - Mixed Field Greens topped with marinated Sliced Boneless Breast of Chicken, Mandarin Orange Slices, Candied Pecans and Crumbled Goat Cheese served with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Rolls and Butter.  Dessert:  Lemon Mousse with Macadamia "Crust" and Fruit Coulis Swirl topped with Whipped Cream and Fresh Berry.  Iced Tea, Coffee, Decaf and Hot Tea.

Thursday, 22 July, 7pm – Midnight – Chapter 32 Game Night                                   $35.00
Calling “gamers,” Bring your “A-Game as we play spades, bid-wiz, dominoes.  Winners get “bragging rights” and take home 1st & 2nd Place trophies (team and individual).  Don’t play games? Come Out and Enjoy Food, Fun, Live Entertainment from the Finezz Band, and Dancing. 

Friday, 23 July (Time TBD) – Queens Coronation                                                     $35.00
There’s only room for one queen in Montford Point…come out to see which chapter will take home the crown and wear the title “Ms. Montford Point 2010.”  Menu includes:  Garden Green Salald Chicken Florentine-Boneless Breast of Chicken topped with garlic infused spinach and melted provolone and drizzled with a Cream Alfredo Sauce Pasta Primavera Lemon Cake and garnished with Whipped Cream and Fresh Berry Iced Tea, Coffee, Decaf and Hot Tea

Saturday, 24 July (Time TBD) – National Awards Banquet                                       $65.00  
Join us as we celebrate and honor the award recipients as they receive various awards from Montford Point Marine Association, Inc.  The U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team will perform and Lieutenant General Walter E. Gaskin will be the Guest of Honor/Keynote Speaker. Menu includes:  Mixed Field Greens, Duet of Slow Roasted Sliced London Broil Au Jus and Lemon Thyme Chicken with  Roasted Red Potatoes, and Mixed Summer Vegetable Medley.  Dessert Strawberry Shortcake Drizzled with Chocolate Sauce. 

Personal Security While Traveling

Talk to the host convention coordinator regarding travel advisories or warnings. When traveling, dress casually; dress down where appropriate. Be aware of local customs. Don't wear excess jewelry. Reduce wallet and purse contents, particularly cards denoting affiliations, memberships, accounts, etc. At airports, proceed through security checks and go to the boarding area as quickly as possible. These areas are usually the most secure in the airport. In any crowded situation, be aware of any crowding or jostling, even if it appears innocent. This is often a ploy by pickpockets to distract you. Be very careful any time you use a telephone calling card. Fraudulent uses of these cards are on the rise. Look for people observing your card or your fingers as you dial your code. Avoid being heard giving the number to local telephone operators.

Personal Security in Hotels

Do not discuss your business or travel plans in public areas where they may be overheard. Discuss your travel plans and movements during your stay with as few people as possible. Selecting a hotel room on the third to fifth floor generally will keep you out of reach of criminal activity from the street but still within reach of most fire truck ladders. Do not entertain strangers in your hotel room. Be alert to overly friendly locals who may have criminal intentions. They may offer to take you to a "special" restaurant. Their ruse may be to offer drugged refreshments. Never leave valuables in your hotel room exposed or unattended, even in a locked suitcase. Place valuables--money, jewelry, airplane tickets, credit cards, passport--in a hotel safe deposit box or room safe. Familiarize yourself with escape routes in case of fire or other catastrophe. Use the door chain or bolt lock whenever you are in your room. Use the door viewer (peephole) before opening the door to visitors. Do not discuss your room number while standing in the lobby or leave your room key on restaurant or bar tables. Keep your room neat so you will notice disturbed or missing items quickly.

By using these basic safety tips and your own common sense, you can help protect yourself.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BELOW IS OBTAINED THROUGH RESEARCH AND ADVICE PROVIDED BY INDEPENDENT SOURCES AND IS PROVIDED SOLEY AS AWARNESS ADVICE

In recent years, hotels have become increasingly adept at finding ways to nickel and dime their customers. According to a study published last year by PriceWaterHouseCooper's Hospitality Division, hotels are gorging themselves on surcharges and hidden fees. Hotels worldwide were on track to rake in nearly $2 billion in surcharges and hidden fees in 2007, more than tripling the $550 million they took in just four years ago. That's a lot of minibar charges and towel replacement fees.

Groundskeeping:
Make sure to take time to smell the roses in that lushly landscaped garden because you are likely to billed $3 or more a night for the effort involved in keeping the greenery perky.

Towels:
Need a towel at the pool? Expect to pay a buck or two. Don't scamper off to your room with it either, as you may be billed five dollars or more if you forget to return it to the attendant after your swim.

Business center, fitness room:
If there's a room with special equipment in it you'll probably get charged for simply staying in the same hotel with said equipment, even if you never venture into the business center or gym. Fees typically run $5 - $10 a day. At resorts, this is typically called the "resort fee."

Safe:
Hotels are tacking $1-$3 dollar a night "Safe Warranty" fees onto bills to cover the cost of providing the safe and the insurance policy that covers the things stored in it. (Good luck collecting anything if that in-room safe is burgled though, as most hotels post signs disclaiming responsibility for valuables.)

Housekeeping, bellman gratuity fees:
These folks certainly deserve to be paid well for their hard work, and most travelers show their appreciation with tips. But before you dig out the dollars, be aware that fees of $10-$30 a stay are being added to some hotel bills to cover housekeeping and bellman gratuities.

Water and newspapers:
How nice that a bottle of pure spring water was thoughtfully left in your room. Don't drink it. Chances are it's not a gift and you will be billed anywhere from $4-$6 a bottle. The newspaper that shows up at your door in the morning? Expect to be billed for the "convenience."

Energy surcharge:
Intended to recover the rising costs of providing electrical power, this charge can add $3-$6 dollars a day to your bill.

Early check in or out/extended cancellation:
Checked in earlier than the hotel's stated check-in time? You may be billed up to $50 for that early access. Had to leave sooner than planned? Expect to be charged anywhere from $50 to the cost of one night's stay. And make sure to check the cancellation policy: Hotels that used to allow you to cancel the same day before 6 p.m.are now billing customers for one night's stay if they don't cancel 48 hours ahead of time.

Shuttle service:
Taking the hotel shuttle from the airport used to be free, but it's likely to cost you now, and almost as much as taking a cab to your lodgings.

Baggage-holding:
Travelers with late-day flights often ask hotels to store their bags so they can enjoy another vacation day before heading to the airport. Some hotels are now charging up to $3 for each bag they babysit for the day.

Bartenders:
Check the bill before you tell the bartender to keep the change. Posters on several travel boards have reported seeing charges for 20% of each drink added to their tabs for the bartender gratuity.

Room block fees:
You'd like to reserve a bunch of rooms, all on one floor, for a family reunion or other event? No problem, because some hotels will be happy to bill you $10-$20 for that service.

Mini-Bar:
No, it's not the insane prices charged for those goodies, it's the charges that are now added to your bill if you move something in the bar to make room for your own bottle of water, or even pick something up to look at it for a few seconds (sensors in the bar record your action and add the product's fee to your room bill.) Some travelers who've routinely asked for the mini-bar to be cleared out before their arrival have been surprised by $50 "unstocking" fees.

Random incorrect charges: Numerous posters on travel forums have reported getting charged for smoking in non-smoking rooms when the evil weed had never touched their lips. Ding: cleaning fee of $100 to $250, and sometimes more. Other random fees include being charged for unordered movies, unmade phone calls, etc.

What to do

1. Be aware of your rights. According to federal law, additional fees should never be a surprise. Hotels must post information about such fees "clearly and conspicuously." What "clearly and conspicuously" means in practice is in the eye of the beholder, but if extra fees aren't clearly stated in the reservation conditions when you book online or over the phone, you should inform the hotel they are violating the law and politely but firmly ask for the charges to be removed. Obviously you now need to read the fine print conditions when you book online, and should ask if any extra fees are billed when you book over the phone.

2. If you're not using the service you're being charged for, ask to have it removed from your bill. Some hotels remove fees for safes, business/fitness centers, newspapers, and gratuities from your bill. If the latter, explain that you've already tipped the staff (assuming you have). The practice of "negative option billing" -- the legal name for fees billed without your express permission -- is based on the assumption that you've used the service and have therefore implied you agree to the charge. If you don't and haven't, the hotel should remove it from your bill.

3. Look at your bill before you check out, and question any unexpected charges. If you're your card is automatically charged before you receive the bill, look it over as soon as possible and contact the hotel if you see any charges you think are unfair. It's often best to query charges in writing, either via mail or email, so you have a record of what happened should you need to get your credit card issuer involved, or opt to take legal action.

4. Vote with your wallet. Stay at hotels that charge a fair rate for a room and facilities, rather than a bogus low rate which they then jacked up with an assortment of dubious additional fees.

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2010 Convention Agenda

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