Date: 1 March 2010

From: Bruce Patrou, Vice Chairman

To: All Florida Districts, Consortiums and participating Vendors

Subj: FAMIS Summer Conference 2010 with Legislative Updates


Hello to all,

Last year we offered a Virtual Conference that included several DOE presentations. Most of the feedback we received about that conference centered around difficulties encountered when users tried to view the live broadcasts. Other comments included the inability of district staff to network (face-to-face) or to ask the DOE presenters questions.

This year we are excited to offer a Summer Conference in Tallahassee and will sponsor Florida DOE presentations regarding K-12 Legislative changes that primarily affect data reporting requirements by districts. The format will allow district staff, consortium members and vendors to gain insight into next year’s reporting changes and ask questions for better understanding.

The Conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Tallahassee from 7-9 June 2010. The first presentation will start at approximately 12:30 pm on Monday, 7 June 2010 with the last presentation scheduled to be completed by 12:30 pm on Wednesday, 9 June 2010. This will allow many district staff, consortium members and vendors to travel to and from the conference with only two (2) hotel nights of travel expense. There is no conference fee for district or consortium members, and no one is required to book a hotel room to attend the conference. There is a fee for vendors who wish to participate in the vendor booths or vendor presentations.

The Doubletree Hotel rate was blocked at $99.00/night for single or double occupancy for the first 130 people booking rooms.

As of May 10, 2010, all hotel rooms have been booked at the conference rate. Attendees wishing to attend will have to consider a higher room rate or another nearby hotel.

All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card or an advance deposit. Reservations may be made either by calling the hotel's toll free number at (800) 222-8733 or online. All individual reservations need to be made prior to the cut off date of May 14, 2010.

If the hotel informs you that the conference rate is not available, please contact the office of the Chief Information and Technology Officer of St. Johns County School District at (904) 547-3920. We will coordinate with the hotel in an effort to make more rooms available at the conference rate.

To reserve rooms online, please visit the Doubletree website at www.tallahassee.doubletree.com.  Enter your arrival and departure date, then click "GO." On the next page, scroll down to the "Special Accounts" section, then for the Group/Convention code type in: FAM. Follow the instructions to make a new reservation.

No meals are provided during the conference. Attendees may eat at the hotel or at nearby restaurants for meals. Should the Doubletree Hotel reach full occupancy, conference participants will need to find lodging at other nearby hotels. Some hotels near the conference include:

All participants (district staff, consortium members and vendors) should also register here to save their seat at this event. Please make plans to attend.

Thank you,

Bruce Patrou
Vice Chairman of FAMIS
Chief Information and Technology Officer of St. Johns County School District