







	VISIT MINNEAPOLIS

Convocation 2008

2008 LEA Convocation News Releases

Online evaluation (04/27/08)

The 2008 Convocation evaluation is available only online. The survey closes May 15.

Additional sectional... endowments (04/19/08)

The following is a late addition to sectional session 3 (1:15–2:30 Friday) in Room M100J. The target audience includes school, congregation, and district leaders.

Establishing an Endowment for Your School

"Community foundations are a powerful vehicle to assist in establishing charitable funds, providing responsible money management and simplifying the accounting and legal processes. This session will explain the value of endowments and the reasons why community foundations can be such an attractive option. Discover how your ministry could and should benefit from endowments through community foundations."

Presenter: Jerry Klug

Lutheran Legacy Foundation (outreach effort of the Clara & Spencer Werner Foundation)

Thrivent and Technology experiences; volunteers to greet you (04/17/08)

Here’s the latest on the Thrivent Experience and the Technology Experience areas:

· Thrivent Experience—“Assembly Required.” Do the Dresser Dash. Win a prize. Assemble a pre-fabricated dresser, which will be donated to an organization serving the economically disadvantaged. Teams of four needed. Get details.

· Technology Experience … See the exhibitor/events schedule for Thursday and Friday. Lots of good stuff here, including map of the special experience areas.

Coming in by air? Convocation greeters will be at the airport to help you get to the Convocation with as little hassle as possible. Watch for these kind volunteers; they will have LEA signs. Lots of volunteers will be available to help you get from place to place once you arrive at the Convention Center too. All guest assistants will be wearing an orange button to help identify them.

Name badges, water reminder, emergency phone number (04/16/08)

Name badge reminder:

· Bring the name badge you received in the mail to a registration kiosk at the Convention center. You’ll receive a holder in which to place it.

· Wear your badge at all times in the Convention Center. It’s your ticket to Convocation events.

· If you did not receive your name badge, call Odyssey Quest immediately: 1.866.207.2034. They will make your badge available at the registration desk in the Convention Center.

· Exhibitors did not receive badges via mail. Those badges will be available when checking into the exhibit hall.

Emergency phone number: The following phone number may be used to reach LEA staff in case of personal emergencies back home: 1.312.213.9471. Please provide this number ONLY for personal emergencies.

Reminder: Water for opening service …

· Three ounce maximum. (If you’re flying in, it’s best to place the container in a checked suitcase; if not checking a suit case, it needs to be in your “liquids bag”; depending on the sensitivity of your local TSA, you may have to explain what it is … and be willing to lose it without argument.)

· Only one container of water per school or congregation or registrant not associated with a school or congregation

· Take water from any (well, almost any) source of water in your area. (We’ve heard that one California school will bring water from the Pacific! They even took pictures.)

Finding people and places (04/14/08)

Want to know if old friends are registered for the Convocation? Check out the detailed information e-mailed to registrants on this date via the Convocation Update.

Convocation hotels (exceptions: Holiday Inn and DoubleTree) are connected to the Convention Center by indoor skyway. View and download a skyway map. (The skyway is marked in light blue or gray.) While the skyway is a great way to walk during inclement weather, it rarely offers the most direct route between hotels and the Convention Center. If the weather is nice, you might use the map to route yourself outside along the Minneapolis streets.

Don’t get lost. Check out the comprehensive selection of maps. You’ll also find directions and parking information for the Convention Center at this link.

Offerings, water, and airport transportation (04/10/08)

Offerings will be gathered at both worship opportunities. One is for the ongoing needs for Katrina Assistance. The other is for The Word Ablaze! We encourage participants to gather offerings (beyond their personal gifts) from those they serve.

Revised Special request: Please bring water from home—no more than 3 ounces in a bottle or vial, especially if you’re flying. (Even then, you probably should pack it in your suitcase.) Bring it to the opening worship event, so it can be added to the fountain on stage as part of the opening event. Please bring only one vial per school or congregation.

Landing at MSP? Consider the SuperShuttle for the ride from the airport to your hotel. Reserve your discounted ride now at http://www.supershuttle.com/default.aspx?GC=XGPKA.

MTM announces contest ... music coordinator looking for singers (04/08/08)

Lutheran school students, grades 5–12, are eligible to enter MTM’s short essay Convocation contest on the topic of “How I Learn through Technology at My School.” Deadline is April 14 at 5:00 p.m. (CST). Details here.

Music at the Convo …

We’ll be blessed by

· St. John Gospel Light Chorus (children’s choir from Plymouth, WI)

· Christus Chorus (Concordia University, St. Paul)

· St. John Children’s Choir (Wheaton, IL)

· Resonanz (Concordia University, Chicago)

· Kapelle (Concordia University, Chicago)

· AriSon recording artists

· AND MAYBE YOU … Music coordinator Chris Bergmann is looking for volunteers to sing in a contemporary choir that will provide musical interludes. Check it out.

Special sale and name badges (04/07/08)

Convocation-only specials will be offered on LEA buttons, cards, and other products in the LEA area of the exhibit hall. For example, LEA buttons and cards will be available for only $5 per package. This special pricing is good only for sales completed during the Convocation.

Name badges have been mailed, but last names beginning in S were delayed. If you don’t have yours this week, please call 866.207.2034.

Fitness and wellness experiences (04/03/08)

Come join us, ALL ARE WELCOME, at 6:30 a.m. on Friday and/or Saturday morning for a fitness and wellness experience! All you need to bring is your walking shoes, appropriate attire for walking outside, and an open mind and heart!! We will gather at the information booth at the Convention Center for a brief stretch and prayer activity, and we’ll be on the road by 6:35. In the event the weather does not cooperate, we will have an alternative fitness and wellness experience planned for indoors.

In recognition of the conference theme, Fountains of Faith & Knowledge, we have designed a fitness and wellness experience that includes a one, two, or three mile self-paced and self-guided walking tour of the city so that you can enjoy the various fountains along the way and attend to your physical fitness. During your walk, which we encourage you to take with another person, we would also like to have you train spiritually and intellectually. Therefore, we have a few questions for you to ponder and discuss with your walking partner that are connected to various Bible verses.

The encouraged topic of conversation for the Friday's Fitness and Wellness Experience will be shifting the western culture paradigm from Fit-for-Self to Fit-2-Serve. The Bible verses that we will feed on are: Romans 5:1-2, Matthew 22:37-39, Matthew 18:20 and 1 John 4 15-17.

On Saturday, the encouraged topic of conversation will be the appropriateness of service learning as a pedagogy “tool” in the classroom. The Bible verses that we will feed on are: Ephesians 4:11-13 and Revelation 3:8.

If you are not an early bird and still desire to take one of the walking tours, please stop by booth # 402 and pick up your map of choice and a copy of the discussion question and associated Bible verses.

Registrants pick favorite hymns (04/01/08)

The three hymns getting the most votes were "Life High the Cross," "Christ Be My Leader," and "Earth and All Stars." Nearly 850 votes were cast for a list of 43 hymns.

Bring water for fountain, parking your bus, sight-seeing (03/31/08)

Special request: Please bring water from home—no more than 3 ounces in a bottle or vial, especially if you’re flying. (Even then, you probably should pack it in your suitcase.) Bring it to the opening worship event, so it can be added to the fountain on stage as part of the opening event.

Arriving by bus? Two places to park it. (The bus, that is.) Click here for information.

Will you have a chance to sight see? Check out the Web site especially for Convocation attendees. Stop by the Minneapolis information booth in the Convention Center too. They will have coupon books to help you get discounts.

Online Learning Community, Directory disclaimer, and more (03/28/08)

Several sectional presenters at this year’s Convocation have agreed to extend the value of their sectional by sharing online content with Convocation participants. This content may include pre- and post-Convocation questions and discussions, multimedia and PowerPoint content, or content in other formats, depending on the wishes of the speaker. This content allows each participant to learn and grow in ways not possible in just a single sectional. In addition, this provides those participants who are not able to attend a particular sectional but who have an interest in the topic to benefit as well. Get details and directions about participating in this LEA Online Learning Community. (No extra charge!)

Directory disclaimer: Attendees’ names will appear in a directory that may be accessed by attendees. This is to help you determine if old friends are registered. The list will be accessible only by computer and will contain only first and last names. It will not be used by vendors. However, if you do not want your name on this list, please let ed.grube@lea.org know by April 4.

Don’t go there! Your badges were mailed this week with a cover letter. The cover letter would have you going to Indianapolis instead of Minneapolis. No, we haven’t switched. We’re still in Minneapolis. It’s probably a faulty case of comparing apolises with apolises.

Convocation badges & hymn election (03/25/08)

Badges for all registrants were mailed by Odyssey Quest. They will arrive at the address provided when you registered. For some of you, this will be your home address; for others, it may be your school or congregation address. In any event, watch for your badge. You will need to bring it along; it’s like a ticket for Convocation events. (Badge replacement is expensive—for you!) If your badge doesn’t arrive within a week or two, call Odyssey Quest at 1.866.207.2034.

IT’S ELECTION TIME: SELECT 3 OF YOUR FAVORITE HYMNS from the list at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227LH7BPVXZ. We’ll sing the top three vote-getters during the Convocation. The survey closes March 31.

LEA launches Convocation Update (03/19/08)

We hope to help you prepare for the 2008 LEA Convocation—Fountains of Faith & Knowledge—for which you are registered. Convocation updates will inform you of things that might enhance your Minneapolis experience.

On March 19, a test version of LEA Convocation Update was launched, using the e-mail address provided by you or by the person who registered you. Some of you may receive more than one copy of the updates. It’s also possible that you may need to share updates with those whom you registered—if you provided the same e-mail address for each registrant.

Future updates will provide important information, like how to get involved in the dozen or more Online Learning Communities moderated by several willing sectional presenters. You’ll also get travel and arrival tips … and more.

For now, maybe you’d like to read “53 Hours in Minneapolis,” an article by Kathy Slupik in the soon-to-be-delivered Spring 2008 Shaping the Future.

Convocation offerings (01/17/08)

Offerings will be taken both at opening worship and the closing Communion service. They will go to the Faith Comes by Hearing Project and Katrina relief respectively. Attendees are encouraged to include these efforts in chapel and other local offerings for collection during the worship services.

Early bird deadline extended (01/15/08)

Early bird discounts on registration have been extended to January 31, 2008.

Online communities for selected sectionals (11/20/07)

Convocation planners are organizing technology to make possible several online communities prior to and after the Convocation. These online communities will offer sectional participants and selected presenters opportunities to extend workshops beyond the 75 minutes of actual presentations.

Choral Groups Announced (11/15/07)

LEA’s Core Planning Committee is pleased to announce that children’s choirs from St. John Lutheran School in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and St. John Lutheran School in Wheaton, Illinois, will sing during worship at the Convocation. Also, the Concordia University Chorus, St. Paul, Minnesota, the Concordia University Chicago Kapelle and Resonance will assist in worship.

Send Someone Else Campaign begins (10/08/07)

Some Lutheran educators minister in impoverished situations that financially prevent their participation in the Convocation. LEA maintains a Send Someone Else campaign to provide registration grants for those working in or at poverty levels. Click here for details on how to help.

Online registration open (09/25/07)

Registration for the Convocation and reservations for hotels are available online. Registrants will need to complete registration for Convocation sessions prior to reserving rooms at hotels serving Convocation participants. Multiple registrations may be made on a single credit card.

Online registration delayed; brochure available (08/31/07)

LEA’s 2008 Convocation online registration has been delayed due to problems originating with the registration software provider. The projected date for availability of online registration is late Tuesday, September 4. You may view and/or print the registration booklet and form, and use the form to mail or fax your registration if you do now wish to wait for online registration or for the hardcopy to arrive by carrier mail.

Nine Pre-Convocation Workshops Available (08/28/07)

Fountains of Faith & Knowledge begins even before the Convocation begins! Pre-Convocation Workshops are available from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, for only $25 each. Titles include:

Getting to the Heart of Conflict ... Daryl Becker and Ted Kober
Growing Dynamic Ministry Teams ... Bob D'Ambrosio
Marketing Lutheran Schools: The Definitive Guide ... Don Krause and Robert Rogalski
Monopolize Your Early Childhood Budget! ... Drew Gerdes, Cheryl Iverson, and Lisa Schmidt
T.E.C.H (Teacher-generated, Educational resources, Computer-based, Hands-on) SHARE-A-THON ... Ministry Technology Mentor Staff
The Excellent Lutheran School ... Bill Cochran and team
Transitioning to Policy-Based Governance ... David Widenhofer
Unteaching Art: The Student as Subject, Designer, Fabricator ... Flossie Peitsch
Write Away: Writing to Teach the Faith ... Carolyn Bergt, Rodney Rathmann, and Brenda Trunkhill

Ken Davis Returns (07/03/07)

The Convocation planning team is pleased to announce that Christian comedian Ken Davis will return to the Convocation stage in Minneapolis for the Thursday evening banquet and entertainment. Mr. Davis has been a long-time favorite of LEA members, bringing tears of joy to their eyes and lasting warmth to their hearts.

Convocation Keynote (06/26/07)

The planning team is thrilled to announce that Reed Lessing is the keynoter for the Convocation. The Rev. Dr. Lessing has provided stimulating and humorous addresses at many conferences, including the 2006 LEA National Administrators Conference. Members might remember him as the author of the Summer 2006 LEA Monograph “Leading the Parade in Faith…and All That Jazz.”

New members of the planning group (06/21/07)

Several changes in personnel on the planning committee became necessary. Chris Bergmann from High Ridge, Missouri, joins the team as music coordinator, and Michael Uden from Mequon, Wisconsin, comes aboard as technology advisor/coordinator. Travis Scholl from Hamden, Connecticut, also joins the team to assist John Nunes with worship planning and coordination. LEA thanks the outgoing members who helped the process get started: Barry Bobb and Tim Schumacher.

Budget Guide Available (04/12/07)

Budget guides and posters were mailed to LEA members and others late in March. Download a copy of the budget guide.

Convocation Schedule (03/28/07)

Thursday, April 24, 2008

8:00-4:30 Registration

8:30-11:30 Pre-Convocation Workshops

10:00-2:30 Exhibits Open

12:30-1:45 Sectional 1

2:30-4:00 Opening Worship

4:00-6:30 Exhibits Open

5:00-6:30 Reception in Exhibit Hall

6:45-9:00 Banquet

Friday, April 25, 2008

7:00-10:15 Exhibits Open

8:30-9:45 Sectional 2

10:15-11:45 Keynote

11:45-6:15 Exhibits Open

11:45-1:15 Lunch break

1:15-2:30 Sectional 3

3:00-4:15 Sectional 4

5:00-6:15 Reception and Prize Drawings in Exhibit Hall

6:30-8:30 Banquet

Saturday, April 26, 2008

8:30-9:45 Sectional 5

10:15-11:45 Sending Event

Registration fees set (12/15/06)

Registration fees for the 2008 Convocation are as follows:

Early bird registration (on or before January 15, 2008):

LEA member: $250
Non-member + 1-year LEA membership: $349
Non-member: $399
Emeriti member: $200
Emeriti nonmember: $260
Student member: $150
Student nonmember: $210

Pre-Convocation Workshops/Events: $25

Late registration (after January 15, 2008):

LEA member: $300
Non-member + 1-year LEA membership: $399
Non-member: $449
Emeriti member: $250
Emeriti nonmember: $310
Student member: $200
Student nonmember: $260

Pre-Convocation Workshops/Events: $25

Hotel rates will range from $124 to $148 single/double

and $146 to $168 triple/quad per night, excluding taxes. (Rev. 12/20)

Convocation music suggestions (11/2/06)

Plans are already well under way for the 2008 LEA Convocation in Minneapolis. We are looking to have a wide diversity of music in the plenary sessions. If you know of a fine musical group (grade school, high school, church, university) that you would like to recommend, please email a description and contact information to Barrylbobb@aol.com.

Nunes & Bobb to direct worship and music (9/8/06)

· LEA’s core planning team is pleased to announce that the 2008 Convocation worship director is Rev. Dr. John Nunes (Concordia University Chicago) and the music director is Dr. Barry Bobb (Lutheran South, St. Louis). Both are well-known, national, dynamic leaders in their respective fields.

· The core planning team continues the process of selecting sectional presentations from the Call for Proposals. Those who submitted proposals will be notified in October.

Flaunt Your Fountain (4/25/06)

Prepare the way for Fountains of Faith & Knowledge. Send LEA a photo of a fountain near you. We'll try to include it in our Flaunt Your Fountain front page and photo gallery. Please try not to send photos that include identifiable people. Photos will be featured on LEA's home page and archived in the Fountain Photo Gallery.

Convocation Deposit Option Available (4/25/06)

Saving for the 2008 LEA Convocation?
Does the end of a fiscal year mean that some of your continuing education funding disappears?
Are you receiving low interest rates on money you’ve banked for the Convocation?

To address those situations, LEA offers several deposit options. Details and forms are available here.

Core Planning Team Announced (12/12/05)

Core planning team members form the basic unit that will deal with visioning, program, and other practical Convocation matters. The team consists of Christine Eid, Bob Riggert, Dave Roth, Tim Schumacher, Lisa Steele, and LEA staff. In addition, Kurt Bickel will serve as facilitator of the group process and producer for the Convocation. Meeting Services Unlimited will manage the Convocation.

Call for Proposals Open (9/2/05)

Prospective sectional speakers may respond to the Call for Proposals, now available in electronic format. Paper copies of the Call for Proposals document will be mailed to members in November. Responses to the Call for Proposals is not limited to LEA members.

Convocation Graphic Invitation (7/7/05)

LEA members are invited to design a graphic (logo) to represent the 2008 Convocation theme "Fountains of Faith & Knowledge."

Each member may submit up to 5 designs according to the following specifications:

Submit designs in JPEG format. (Original designs need to be designed electronically to be useful in a variety of ways.)
Deadline for designs is August 22, 2005.
Send designs as attachments to e-mail to ed.grube@lea.org.
Designs should represent the theme.

If the LEA Convocation planning team chooses one of the submitted designs, the designer will receive complimentary registration for the 2008 Convocation.

2008 Convocation Theme Announced (7/7/05)

The theme for LEA's 2008 Convocation is:

Fountains of Faith & Knowledge

The 2008 Convocation is April 24 - 26 in Minneapolis.