Phoenix Phiesta XXXVIII: “From the Ashes”

Mommy Letter


General Information about the location and your packing needs:


Directions to the Hotel - Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Midtown, 4000 N Central Ave Phoenix, AZ 85012

• From Interstate 10 coming from the west, exit on I-17 North. Then follow I-17 instructions below.
• From Interstate 10 coming from the east, exit on SR-51 North. Then follow SR-51 instructions below.
• From Interstate 17 exit East at Indian School Road (Exit 202). Then turn South on Central Avenue from Indian School Road. The first right hand turn off of Central Avenue is Clarendon, from which point the hotel is 1/2 block ahead.
• From SR-51 exit West at Indian School Road (Exit 4). Then turn South on Central Avenue from Indian School Road. The first right hand turn off of Central Avenue is Clarendon, from which point the hotel is 1/2 block ahead.
• From Sky Harbor Airport: If you are flying in, there is a train from Sky Harbor to the 44th Street Light Rail line -- see this Light Rail Connection LINK, from where you take the Westbound train to Montebello and exit the train at Indian School Road. From the station, walk South (the direction from which the train was coming), cross Indian School Road on the right sidewalk. The first street on the right is Clarendon where you turn right to get to the hotel.
• For day trippers who are interested there is a light rail station at the intersection of Indian School Road and Central Avenue, approximately a 2 block walk to the hotel.
• Self-Parking is free for RG attendees. If the parking lot is attended get your ticket validated at the front desk.

RG Registration

RG Registration Table opens on Thursday, November 24th, after the Feast.
Posted hours are:
• Thursday: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
• Friday: 8:00am -10:00am, 1:00pm - 2:00pm and 5:30pm - 6:30pm
• Saturday: 8:00am - 10:00am, 1:00pm - 2:00pm and 5:30pm - 6:30pm

If you need help between registration hours, please find a Committee Member.

Name Tags

Name tags must be worn at all times when in the ballrooms or hospitality. If you are not wearing a name tag with the proper dates, you will be asked to leave by security.

Hospitality:

Opens at 5:00 PM on Thursday and will remain open 24 hours, but if you are the last one to leave, power down and lock up behind you. Hospitality will be closed during the banquet on Saturday night. Snacks will be available at all times. For meal times check out the WEB site or your program when you arrive.

Clothing Suggestions

Expect clear skies, temperatures around 75 in the day and around 55 at night. Bring a sweater or light jacket for the evenings, some evening activities may be outdoors.  If you tend to get chilly, please bring a sweater to the meeting rooms.

Pool and Jacuzzi

A heated outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and huge exercise room is available for hotel guests - Swimsuits must be worn in the pool and Jacuzzi at all times.

Code of Conduct at GPM Events

The Regional Gathering as well as all GPM Events will be a friendly and safe environment for attendees and speakers. Inappropriate physical contact, verbal abuse, or harassment will not be tolerated, and persons not in compliance may be removed from the event without a refund. Volunteers act with the authority of ExCom and members and guests are expected to comply with their directions. For further information, please refer to the full Event Code of Conduct, available HERE.

Hospitality Food Rules

NO FOOD IS ALLOWED IN MEETING ROOMS OR FOYER IN FRONT OF THEM. Water and soft drinks are OK. You may take your food choices anywhere in the Hospitality patio area or in the Scottsdale Room or to your hotel room. People serving in hospitality are doing you a favor and please don't abuse them.

No Smoking

This hotel is a 100% non-smoking hotel. You will be fined $300 if they find that you have smoked in your room. A designated smoking area is located outside of the hotel.

No Firearms:

Hilton Garden Inn requires that all firearms be secured in the safe at the front desk. There is no charge for this service.

Questions and Security

If you have any questions or concerns about the hotel or RG, please go directly to one of the RG Committee volunteers or to RG Chair Jim Giunta ... not to the hotel staff.

Volunteers

Yes! We need you in almost any capacity! We need help with Shepherding speakers, the Registration Table, and Hospitality. Sign up in Hospitality or find RG Chair Judy Herrmann.  But keep on the lookout for spur-of-the-moment opportunities.  We especially need an electrician named Many Hands.  Because he makes light….never mind.

 

LET’S TALK TURKEY!!! Thanksgiving Feast

Yes, the year has flown by and yes, Thanksgiving is almost upon us – two facts that fill me with anxiety and the best calming solution is…..FOOD!! and in particular: TURKEY with all the trimmings.
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It wouldn’t be a Greater Phoenix Mensa Thanksgiving-weekend RG without our traditional Patricia Hull Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner. Pat was a generous Mensan who tirelessly opened the door of her home each year so Mensans who might otherwise eat alone on Thanksgiving could gather and have a good time with their “family”. The tradition now continues at the RG hotel, but the spirit is the same: come and share your Thanksgiving Day with your Mensa family.

Whether you plan to attend the RG or not, you are welcome to join us at our buffet meal. It is set up for all GPM members and their guests. (No need to register for the RG.)

The Particulars:

WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn in the Scottsdale Room (RG Hospitality)
4000 N Central Ave Phoenix, AZ 85012 (Street Map)
Hotel Meeting Room Map (PDF)

WHEN: Thanksgiving Day, 2pm – 6 pm

MENU:
Classic Thanksgiving day meal
Sliced roasted turkey, all white meat
Giblet gravy with imported fried mushrooms
Tossed garden salad with ranch or house vinaigrette dressing
Green beans Morocco
Cornbread stuffing
Housemate creamy mashed potatoes
Fresh-baked rolls and butter
Cranberry sauce
Desserts, apple pie and pumpkin pie

We will allow that some guests may choose to pitch in with a favorite dessert other than the catered pies.

See you all on Thanksgiving!

Other information you need to know:


Games Room:

Our games tables will be set up in the area outside the program rooms. As always we have dozens of games and jigsaw puzzles.
Feel free to put your request for players to join you on the Games whiteboard with the time and specific game.
Spend an hour, spend the weekend, we have something for everyone.

Speaker Products:

Some of our speakers will bring supplies of their books and other wares to sell after their presentations. They have donated their time and expertise to be with us this Thanksgiving weekend; please support them. Their displays will be at the large granite table across from the program rooms.

Music:

Instruments, voices, CDs and cassettes are welcome for planned and impromptu sing-a-long/play-a-long events. Bring what you have or just come and listen.

Like minds who like minds

p g