On behalf of the NFPC Board of Directors and NFPC President Fr. Richard Vega, I would like to invite you to exhibit and/or sponsor at the 44th annual NFPC Priest Conference!
Our gathering will be held April 23-26 at the Radisson Opryland in Nashville Tennessee! The exhibitor space will be in the Atrium near the heart of all the conference activities. This space will be available from noon Monday, April 23 through Thursday, April 26 at Noon.
The NFPC represents approximately 24,000 Catholic diocesan priests from around the country in 110 dioceses, associations and 11 religious institutes. This year, we are expecting close to 200 diocesan delegates and national clergy leadership, as well as guests from presbyterates from other countries.
The theme of the assembly will be “The Emerging Church of the 21st Century” and is open to all priests of the country. Featured speakers will include: Alert Brown-Gort, Associate Director of Institute of Latino Studies at Notre Dame University; West Cosgrove, Executive Director of Project Puente; Jerome Basset, Professor of Religion and Society at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley a graduate school of Santa Clara University; Mary Gautier, Senior Research Associate and Sr. Mary E. Bendyna, OP Research Associate from CARA.
As this year’s theme suggests, the 21st Century will present us not only with pastoral challenges but also with technological innovations. This year we will be going PAPERLESS and recommended that you bring your laptops, iPads, tablets and smart phones to our gathering and participate in our Technology Fair. At the conference we will explore the social media revolution that is engulfing us and learn how it can aid us in meeting our pastoral concerns and in proclaiming the gospel message.
Most Rev. David R. Choby, Bishop of Nashville will also preside at the conference liturgy on Tuesday, April 24th.
EXHIBITORS
Exhibitors are invited to attend all the general sessions, workshops, receptions, food functions & prayer services. The only exception is the Thursday evening reception & banquet, which requires advance reservation, to attend please check mark the Exhibit Registration Form. The NFPC will again offer a 50% discount off the exhibitor registration fee for all 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. The deadline to register for all exhibitors is Friday, March 30, 2012. Space is limited and will be assigned on a first come, first served basis, so please complete the Exhibitor Registration Form and return it to us as soon as possible. When we receive your registration, we will send you a confirmation packet with additional information.
SPONSORSHIPS
The NFPC is also seeking the support of individuals, businesses, and associations who would like to sponsor any part of our conference. Enclosed is a partial list of opportunities to provide additional support for our attendees. All conference sponsors are acknowledged at the event, in the conference materials, and are invited to attend the banquet reception and dinner. Sponsors of $1,000 or more may have a complimentary exhibit booth at the convention as well.
HOTEL ROOM ACCOMMODATIONS
Guest rooms for the conference are available at the Radisson Opryland Hotel, 2401 Music Valley Drive in Nashville. Please make your hotel arrangements separately from the convention registration. The Hotel Reservations toll free number: 1 (800) 967-9033, Reservations and Info Telephone: 1 (615) 889-0800 Fax: 1 (615) 889-6328. The special NFPC rate for this event is $119.00 (single/double occupancy) so be sure to mention the “NFPC Conference”. It is also possible to register for the conference, take a virtual tour of the hotel and make hotel room reservations directly via the Radisson website: http://www.radisson.com/nationalfederationofpriestscouncils. Please make your reservations early. The NFPC cannot guarantee hotel rooms after Sunday, April 1, 2012 or when our room block is sold out – whichever comes first.
For more information, contact me anytime at 312-442-9700 (x206) or toll free at 888-271-NFPC (6372). You can also e-mail me at camacho@nfpc.org.
Take advantage of the early bird registration and see you in Nashville!
