CFA Event Detail

2010 CFA Convention in Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids, Michigan from 9/17/2010 to 9/21/2010

For more information please visit the following links:
CFA 2010 National convention website - cfa2010.com
Registration Link
Schedule

Circus Fans, the days are flying by and summer is fast approaching ... have you registered for the 2010 CFA Convention?

To take advantage of the early bird discount, you need to register before July 15. Early registrants not only receive the lower registration rate of $175, but will also be entered into a drawing for one paid reservation to the 2011 CFA Convention in Newburg, New York.

Attendance for the 2010 convention is limited to the first 200 Fans who register. Anyone wanting to attend after the 200 spots are filled, will be placed on a waiting list.

You can register online at CFA2010.com and read more about the exciting events planned for Circus Fans this year. The convention schedule, information about the area, the hotel, speakers, auction items, activities and more can be found on the site.

The convention will be held in the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Visit their website for detailed information and to book your room.

Grand Rapids is Michigan's second largest city. With more than one million residents in the metro area, it offers big-city amenities and yet it's also a region of abundant natural wonders, where outdoor recreation is a year-round pursuit. Small-town friendliness, safety and affordability, downtown is clean, safe and oh-so-walkable – there are more than 75 hotels, restaurants, museums, and sports and entertainment venues within a five-minute walk of each other.

Convention Highlights

John Ringling North II

John Ringling North II and his wife Shirley will be honored guests at the convention. Circus Fans will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the Norths and participate in a question and answer session. Mr. North is the son of Henry Ringling North and was named for his famous uncle John Ringling North.

John grew up on the Greatest Show on Earth when it was under canvas. Now a cattle rancher in Ireland, the sawdust in his veins inspired him to purchase the Kelly Miller Circus in 2007. Since taking over the show, producer North has added new features that enhance the already outstanding circus.

More Convention Highlights:

200th birthday party celebration for PT Barnum

Circle City Sidewalk Stompers Band from Indianapolis. performing fast-moving, choreographed routines to upbeat music since 1976. The musicians, including trumpets, trombones, saxophones, bass and snare drums, and sousaphone are dressed in colorful clown costumes and entertain the crowd with comic interaction and fancy footwork.

Zing Zang Zoom, the 139th edition of the Greatest Show on Earth.

Private reception and tour of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

Presentation by Jamie MacVicar, author of The Advance Man, a fascinating story of his three years as one of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s advance men. Fans who have read the book say that once they began, they couldn’t put it down.

GIGANTIC circus memorabilia auction with many amazing pieces from Merlyn Allen's collection, antique posters, books, photos, and more. Look for a listing of items in the next CFA 2010 Convention NEWS.

Reception and very special banquet with speaker Steve Smith, former Director of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Clown College, and known to audiences as his clown character, "TJ Tatters."

Steve began his career in clowning as a Graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, Class of 1971. He then toured with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for six seasons before leaving the show and moving to Chicago, Illinois where he attended the Goodman School of Drama and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the institution, now commonly referred as The Theater School at DePaul University.

Optional Tours

Holland without a Passport

Celebrating Holland’s Dutch culture

Named for the home country of founder Rev. Albertus Van Raalte and his pious followers, Holland’s imported windmill, historic Dutch village and museums deliver Dutch history, complete with wooden shoes and Delft pottery.

The close-knit community feels much smaller than its 35,000 population. Holland is a modern village built on the banks of Lake Macatawa, which meets Lake Michigan at Holland State Park, a beach area with a wooden lighthouse lovingly called Big Red by locals since the Coast Guard gave it its classic barn color in 1956.

Nelis’ Dutch Village - Dutch buildings, miniature canals and cheese- and shoe-making ... a step back into the Netherlands over 100 years ago.

Guided tour of Windmill Island Gardens, with a carousel, simulated Dutch village, and a 249-year old, 12-story Dutch windmill, home to the nation’s first Dutch-certified female miller. A Holland businessman imported this authentic windmill from Netherlands in 1961 (see image).

Gardens, Galleries and Architecture

A private, guided tour of Meyer May House, recognized as the most completely restored Frank Lloyd Wright home in existence. The home that Frank Lloyd Wright built for Meyer May and his wife, Sophie in 1908-9 was truly revolutionary for this area of Michigan. Abraham May (Meyer's Father) was a clothier in Grand Rapids. He ran a very successful clothing store that was always on the cutting edge of fashion, and also on the cutting edge of technology ... they were the first store of its kind to use clothes hangers to display their wares.

Abraham died suddenly while his son, Meyer, was still in college. Meyer dropped out of school and took over the family business. He was a very successful business man and was soon quite wealthy. Meyer May and his wife Sophie commissioned the house to be built in early 1908. More about the May family and this amazing house in next month's CFA 2010 Convention Newsletter.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Internationally renowned, the Sculpture Program at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park features more than 160 works in the permanent collection sited both indoors and outdoors on the 132-acre property. We will enjoy a guided tram tour of the 125-acre meca of gardens and sulptures. You'll be able to explore the indoor and outdoor gardens, outdoor sculptures, and indoor galleries, Michigan's largest tropical conservatory, the wonderful 5-acre children's garden, and the fabulous gift shop ... then lunch in the Taste of the Gardens Cafe. Visit meijergardens.org for more images and details.

CFA 2010 Convention T-Shirts

Official CFA 2010 Convention T-Shirts are available to order on the website along with your convention registration. These bright yellow shirts are Hanes Beefy-Ts, 100% cotton, with the convention logo on the back.

Visit CFA2010.com and add a t-shirt or two to your registration ... we'll have your shirts waiting for you at the convention.

So, visit the website, CFA2010.com, and register before we reach our limit of 200 attendees.

CFA President Pat Pagel and the Convention Committee have put together an amazing program, with great seminars, a hospitality room, bull room, huge auction, Koo Koo Club celebrating P.T. Barnum’s birthday, and the Annual Banquet.

Register before the July 15, 2010 deadline to receive the lower registration rate of $175, and be entered into the drawing for next year's convention registration fee.

If your tent or top would like to be recognized in the program as a convention sponsor, call Jim Fry at 517-749-2959 for details.

Don’t be left out of the exciting 2010 convention. Use the registration form on the wrapper of White Tops or register at CFA2010.com, where you can use PayPal or a credit card to pay for your registration.

Be sure and make your hotel reservation early to insure that you have a room in the convention hotel. For those using airline transportation to Grand Rapids, there are seven airlines that provide nonstop service to Grand Rapids from 23 major markets.

See you September 17 for Just Clownin' Around - the CFA 2010 Convention! It'll be our best one yet!

CFA2010 Convention NEWS brought to you courtesy of InNorthGeorgia.

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