Once your online registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email, and you must then send your check to Judge Vern King at the address above.
If you have questions, problems or concerns, call Judge Vern King at Macon ODAR. (Sorry, for security purposes, we can’t post his number here. Just look it up in the ODAR directory.)
It is my pleasure to announce, on behalf of the National Executive Board and the Education Committee, the registration procedures for the 19th Annual Educational Conference as well as the Guest Program. The Theme of this year’s Conference is Mental Health Impairments—Medical and Vocational Issues. It will be held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, New Orleans, October 5-7, 2010. Later in this email, I will again set out the Hotel registration procedures.
To register for the Conference, please follow the instructions at the top of this page.
The registration fee is $395 for judges who have been ALJ’s since before January 1, 2008 (an ALJ number of 2681 or lower), and it is $195 for judges who first became ALJs after January 1, 2008 (an ALJ number of 2682 or higher). Complete the registration form electronically and then print a copy of the page where indicated and mail that page along with your registration fee to Judge Vern King, at the address indicated. If you want your guest to attend any lunches, the cost will be $35.00 per lunch, payable at the time of registration at the Hotel in New Orleans. In the past we have had to deal with so many changes with lunches, it was decided to simply allow you to pay for extra lunches at registration.
If you have any questions concerning Conference registration, or meals, call Vern King at the Macon, Georgia hearing office.
Unfortunately, we will not be offering breakfast to guests. The cost is substantially more than what the guest can obtain in the Hotel restaurant or at one of the other excellent breakfast venues nearby. There is no charge for your spouse/guest to attend any evening function.
We anticipate that on Monday, October 4 (Conference registration); we will have an opening reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Spouses or guests are invited. On Tuesday, October 5, we will have a reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday, October 5, we will have our annual meeting, which begins at 4:35, p.m.
You will be eligible for CLE credits (the amount depends on what your particular state grants) for attending the Conference. If you have any questions about CLE, call Judge Jim Carletti, CLE Director, in the San Diego Hearing Office.
We have a wonderful Guest Program arranged with BBC Destination Management Company of New Orleans. We will be offering tours on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the Conference.
On Tuesday, October 5, the tour will be “Highlights of New Orleans and Taste of South Louisiana.” A bus tour of the city will begin in the French Quarter, then to the Museum of Art and Botanical Gardens. Following that will be Carrollton and the St. Charles Streetcar, Tulane and Loyola, Audubon Park, Uptown and the Garden District. Bayou cooking will be the fare at Boutte’s Restaurant (lunch included). After lunch, we will visit the Barataria Swamps and wetlands and embark on a covered Swamp Boat tour. The cost is $119 per person (lunch, tax and gratuity included).
On Wednesday, October 6, the tour will be “River Road Restoration.” The group will first arrive at Laura Plantation, built in 1805 as a sugar plantation. Next, lunch will be served at Oak Alley Plantation under the open air pavilion (included). Following lunch, we tour Oak Alley Plantation, the birthplace of several Louisiana governors, home to bougainvilleas and magnolias and an “alley” of twenty-eight majestic oak trees leading to the front door. Cost is $109 per person (lunch, tax and gratuity included).
On Thursday, October 7, the tour will be “Cemetery and Mansion Tour.” After departing the Hotel, we will travel Esplanade Ave, and embark on a walking tour of St. Louis Cemetery. If you have never seen a New Orleans cemetery, you are in for a treat. Lunch will be at Ralph’s on the Park, which serves superb Country Gumbo and Shrimp Remoulade Salad (included). Following lunch the group will go to Longue Vue House and Gardens followed by a walking tour of the Garden District and a return to the Hotel via St. Charles Avenue. Cost is $109 per person (lunch, tax and gratuity included).
On Friday, October 8, we have planned a “Supreme Court Tour, Mardi Gras Experience with Lunch at Commander’s Palace and WW II Museum.” The day will begin with a private tour of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Following that we will bus to Mardi Gras World (entrance fee included). This is the actual site where Mardi Gras floats are constructed replete with mannequins dressed out in Mardi Gras regalia. While there, we will partake of “King Cake” (a New Orleans tradition) and coffee. Following the visit to Mardi Gras World, we motor to the Commander’s Palace for an unforgettable lunch (included). Commander’s Palace, in the Garden District, is a true dining experience with lush greenery, sounds of running water and impeccable service by Brennan’s. Following the extended lunch, we will motor to the National WWII Museum, recently completely renovated. The Museum stands as a tribute to the men and women who made the invasions of Europe, Africa and the Pacific theatres successful (entrance fee included). You may return to the Hotel with the bus, or, you may elect to stay longer and enjoy the Museum, and walk back to the Hotel. Cost is $139 per person which includes lunch at Commander’s Palace, entrance fee Mardi Gras World, entrance fee WWII Museum, transportation, tax and gratuity. Alcoholic drinks are not included.
To make Tour reservations, please click on this link and follow the directions.
If you have any questions concerning the Tours, feel free to call BBC Destination Management at 504-212-2054 and refer to the Association of Administrative Law Judges Tours, October, 5-8.
Finally, to refresh your recollection, you need to both register for the Conference and make a room reservation at the Hotel, unless you are residing locally, in which event all you need to do is register for the Conference.
We have blocked a group of rooms at the Royal Sonesta from Sunday, October 5, through Saturday, October 9. The room cost is $159.00 per night, single or double (three or more per room an additional $30 per person), plus tax. You will need a major credit card to reserve your room. Parking is $20 per day overnight and the daily rate is $12.00. For attendees, there will be no local phone charge and the room will have complimentary internet service. There are many convenient shuttles from the Louis Armstrong Airport to the Hotel. The shuttle price is $20 per person, each way. Shuttle service can be accessed near the baggage claim area.
The Hotel is situated on Bourbon Street but don’t be concerned about noise. The confines of the Hotel are very quiet and serene. If you want to experience the wonderful restaurants or vibrant night life of the area, you need only step out of the front door and walk a short distance.
To make reservations, you can call the Hotel directly at 504-586-0300 and advise them you are with the AALJ. You may call them toll-free at 1-800-SONESTA (766-3782). Additionally, you can reserve your room by accessing this link.
By all accounts, the 19th Annual AALJ Educational Conference will be a rewarding educational experience. New Orleans should prove to be a fun and interesting place to visit, replete with world class entertainment, world renowned Jazz, and wonderful food. While we sympathize with the people of southern Louisiana as they fight the devastation of the oil spill, we have been informed that New Orleans is far enough away that the oil spill should have no influence at all with respect to New Orleans or the Conference. And, what better way to show your support for the hard working and courageous people of southern Louisiana, than to come to New Orleans and spend a little of your hard earned money? The last thing we want to do is to avoid the area because of the oil spill, especially when all reports are that it will not affect New Orleans.
On behalf of the National Executive Board and the Education Committee, we sincerely hope that you make an effort to attend the 19th Annual AALJ Educational Conference. We know it will be a rewarding educational experience for you and that you will enjoy all that New Orleans has to offer. See you in New Orleans!
Pat McLaughlin
Conference Chair
