JUNE 30, 2011 - SEE BELOW FOR AN IMPORTANT UPDATE!
The annual convention of the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club will be held in Minneapolis, MN from September 15th through
September 18th, 2011. This year will mark the club's 26th year! Convention Hosts/Planners: Fred Stachnik & Robert Seger.
Any questions or concerns, contact Fred via email: fredstachnik@mac.com
The cost per attendee is $75. This fee is good until August 16th, 2011.
One must be a paid member of the VCCC in order to attend the
convention, or one can attend as a guest of a paid member. Any registrations postmarked past that date are subject to
a $25 late fee. No exceptions. Registration fee is the same for everyone even if you may only be able to attend a portion of it.
Registration fee helps pay for expenses of the convention; including the banquet dinner, dinner on Friday, lunch on Saturday,
test-dirt, ribbons & other awards, etc...
Click the "Pay Now" button to pay your registration fee via PayPal:
- 12 vacuums per member limit.
- Minors may attend but must have parent or custodial parent escort.
- You can check in early but your room may not be ready when you do.
- Guests are welcome as long as their registration fee is paid by the posted time.
- Maps and information regarding thrift, antique, and vacuum stores will be available at convention check-in.
In an effort to keep the raffle 'fresh and exciting' - we are changing the way the raffle works this year.
There are already some exciting cleaners in the works to be given away... Probably no more than 8-10 of them.
While raffle donations from club members are appreciated, we are greatly limiting the amount of cleaners taken for the raffle
this year. If you have a cleaner that you would like to discuss donating as a raffle machine, please contact Fred Stachnik to do
so! Start saving your pennies! Raffle Ticket Prices: $1 each or six for $5.
Minneapolis, nicknamed the "City of Lakes" is the largest city in Minnesota.
Minneapolis lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the river's confluence with the Minnesota
River, and adjoins Saint Paul, the state's capital. Known as the "Twin Cities," Minneapolis-St. Paul
is the 16th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S., with 3.5 million residents. The metropolitan area is
estimated to surpass 4 million by 2020. Nearly 40,000 people live in downtown Minneapolis, ensuring that it's
alive 'round the clock. The Twin Cities are second only to New York City in live theater per capita and is the
third-largest theater market in the U.S. after New York and Chicago. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts,
built in 1915 in south central Minneapolis is the largest art museum in the city with 100,000 pieces in its permanent collection.The city is abundantly rich in water with over twenty lakes and wetlands,
the Mississippi river, creeks and waterfalls, many connected by parkways in the Chain of Lakes and
the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway. It was once the world's flour milling
capital and a hub for timber, and today is the primary business center between Chicago and Seattle. Minneapolis is home to the infamous MetroDome; the country's largest indoor mall, Mall of America; and the country's very first indoor, climate-controlled shopping mall: Southdale - which opened in 1956. The popular 1970's "Mary Tyler Moore Show" was of course, set in Minneapolis, too!
| 3:00 p.m. | Check-in begins at Sheraton, get your room! Convention Room opens and registration begins, light snacks/beverages will be provided, Unpack and set-up, mingle, reunite, relax... dinner on your own, if you choose. | |
| 7:00 p.m. | Welcome & Announcements: President Morgan Frazer, etc. | |
| 7:30 p.m. | TBA (Show & Tell?)(Game?) (Both?) | |
| Midnight | Convention Room closes for the evening. |
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast | |
| 9:30 a.m. | Repair Clinic(s) (Hoover Constellation/Air-Way) - 15 minute break between clinics | |
| 12:30 p.m. | Lunch on your own (see list of nearby restaurants) | |
| 2:00 - 4 p.m | Competition(s) (TBA) | |
| 5:00 p.m - ? | Gathering at Robert & Fred's House ... Heavy hors d'oeuvres/beverages will be provided (convention room will be closed while we're offsite playing with vacuums & washers) |
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast | |
| 9:00 a.m. | Board meeting; closed to general membership | |
| 10:30 a.m. | General Membership meeting | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch - provided at hotel | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Vote for your favorite vacuum(s) (non-cleaning competition) | |
| 2:30 p.m. | TBA - Another collection? Thrifting? Mall of America? Ikea? See Mary's House? Go Downtown? | |
| 5:30 - 6 p.m | Gather for dinner | |
| 6:00 -8:30 p.m | Banquet dinner with possible guest speaker | |
| 9 - 10:00 p.m | Raffle drawing; convention room open until midnight |
| 9:00 a.m. | Farewell Breakfast | |
| 11:00 a.m. | See you next year! |
DoubleTree by Hilton - Bloomington Minneapolis-South
7800 Normandale Blvd.
Bloomington, MN 55439
952.835.7800
JUNE 30, 2011 -- IMPORTANT UPDATE!
Below is the new link for making your reservations online; via the new DoubleTree website.
We extended the reservation cutoff date to August 16, 2011 due to the change in hotel ownership. This will also apply to the VCCC registration fee. Nonetheless, please do not delay in making your reservations. Also note that you can receive the special VCCC room rate at the DoubleTree from September 12 through September 21, if you plan on arriving earlier or staying later. But note once more that the official convention dates are September 15, 16, 17 & 18.
Please let me know if you have any questions/concerns/or issues!
Click here to make your hotel reservations online.
Meeting Dates - September 15-18, 2011
Hotel Room Rate: $99/night (plus applicable taxes)
Rate includes complimentary wireless internet and breakfast each morning!
CUT OFF DATE FOR SPECIAL RATE IS AUGUST 16, 2011
AFTER THIS DATE, ROOM RATE INCREASES TO $189
If you would like a nice view of Downtown Minneapolis in the distance, and sunlight pouring into your room each morning, simply make your reservation via telephone and request a room on the east side of the south tower
There are no smoking rooms on this property; state law in Minnesota forbids smoking in public facilities.
Hotel Amenities:
-Flat screen TVs in the rooms
-Nine Mile Grill Restaurant
-Navigator's Lounge (bar)
-Coffee Shop in lobby, featuring Starbucks brands
-Indoor Pool, sauna, whirlpool
-Free Parking
-Free shuttle to/from airport
-On-site Avis Car Rental
The following are within walking distance of the hotel:
-TGIFridays
-Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
-Burger King
-Cheetah Pizza
-Subway
-Caribou Coffee
-Eddington's (Soup& Salad restaurant)
-BP Gas Station
PLEASE NOTE:
This hotel charges a handling fee for any inbound packages sent via UPS, FedEx, etc... Prices vary depending on the weight of the box; the hotel has agreed to give club members 50% off of this rate. If you plan on shipping any boxes to the hotel, PLEASE CONTACT FRED STACHNIK FOR MORE INFORMATION. Outbound package rates also apply.
Package handling rates (not applying discount): 0-5 lbs. = $5/box, 6-20 lbs. = $10/box; 21-50 lbs. = $15/box
Click here for the registration form
Click the "Pay Now" button to pay your registration fee via PayPal: