As of right now, there are only SEVENTEEN days left until the 8th Annual VIA-1 Conference. With so many people attending the conference, we have decided to EXTEND the regular registration rate until Wednesday, March 10 at 11:59PM CST / 12:59AM EST. This means you still have time to register and pay for the conference for only $50!
http://www.via1.org/registration
Let all of your friends know that they still are able to register for this great rate!

One of the main highlights of the conference is the banquet dinner, in which you will be able to dress up and enjoy a fun-filled evening complete with a full-course dinner served at the Concourse Ballroom, located in the #1 hotel in Madison. Here you will be able to mingle and network with everyone you met earlier in the day and also be enlightened by the famous slam poet, Beau Sia. This banquet dinner should be reason enough for you to attend the conference!

Don’t forget that regular registration ends at 11:59pm EST on Sunday, March 7, 2010!

REGISTER now!

If you’re flying into the conference, please book a flight into Dane County Regional Airport. The Concourse Hotel offers a free shuttle from the airport.

Alternatively, you can fly into one of Chicago’s airports — O’Hare or Midway. The flight might be cheaper and we can arrange a carpool to get you to Madison. Contact the the UVSA-Midwest staff for any additional help you need.

We’re excited to bring the Polar Plunge back to VIA-1 in an even colder location! During this year’s conference, the five brave volunteers who raise the most money will take a plunge into Madison’s Lake Mendota. Air temperature is expected to be in the low 30’s and the lake will be frozen (crews will break the ice before the event).

All of the money donated goes to this year’s Collective Philanthropy Project, the Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation. This organization aims to document, preserve and promote the heritage of the Vietnamese American community. VAHF does this by gathering stories and experiences through interviews, and presenting them in an exhibit as well as a book.

See who the crazy plungers are and donate to them on the VIA-1 2010 Polar Plunge page.

The Madison Concourse Hotel
http://www.concoursehotel.com

- $25/night
- All attendees will be at the same place
- Get to choose roommates
- Guaranteed a bed
- Concourse is a high-end hotel at a great location
- Great discounted price 40%
- Complimentary wireless Internet access
- 100% cotton comforter between 300 thread count crisp, white sheets, four custom Comfort Collection pillows and a quilted bed throw

Book your hotel room today!
http://www.via1.org/registration

If you’re having trouble figuring out how registration works this year, take a look at the registration guide. The big new addition is booking the hotel through the registration site, which is explained in detail in point #3.

The registration fee is $50 until 11:59 PM EST on March 7, 2010. After that time it will be $70.

Staying at the Concourse Hotel is $25 per person per night. This is a 40% saving over their regular rate so it’s cheaper for you even if you try to cram 6 people into a regularly priced room.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison and UVSA-Midwest are proud to announce the 8th Annual VIA-1 Conference to be held at University of Wisconsin-Madison on the weekend of March 26-28, 2010.

We are very excited to have author Lac Su and slam poet Beau Sia as our keynote speakers. You can also see descriptions of some of the workshops we will have.

The registration page is now up. This year we are making things easier for you by allowing you to book your hotel room right through the registration page. Best of all, we’ve negotiated a discounted rate of only $25/night!

See you in a few weeks!

Along with the benefits of early registration, grab hold of our discounted hotel rate just for you! Lodging cost at the Concourse Hotel will be only $50/person for a quad occupancy, 2 double-bed room. Your lodging cost will cover all 3 days and 2 nights in Madison, Wisconsin.