AFSA
Celebrates in San Antonio
The Quality Brand for 30 Years
The American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA)
2011 Convention & Exhibition, AFSA: The Quality Brand
for 30 Years, marks our 30th anniversary of hosting continuing
education and training for fire sprinkler and fire safety
professionals. Scheduled to take place September 14-17,
2011 at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio in Texas, the AFSA
convention offers a multi-track, session-oriented academic
and professional meeting open to fire safety professionals,
including business owners, managers, engineers, designers,
architects, Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and
other fire sprinkler professionals. But if that’s
not enough, AFSA also boasts the industry’s largest
fire sprinkler exhibition in the United States, featuring
products and services from over 120 exhibiting companies
last year, and it continues to grow.
Great Entertainment, Great Education AFSA convention
goers have learned to look forward to the opening general
session, and this year will be no different. All registered
convention attendees – whether contractor, exhibitor,
guest or exhibit hall only – are invited to enjoy
the 2011 General Session Emcee David Ferrell, who proves
comedy can be clean and funny! Ferrell will delight AFSA
members with hilarious impressions and tales of everyday
life even as he introduces the important presentations
of the day, including the 2011 Henry S. Parmelee and
2011 Advocate of the Year awards.
Following that high-energy opening, AFSA’s exhibitors
and contractors will enter the 2011 AFSA exhibit hall
for the Chairman’s Reception, where they’ll
enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while they
visit with friends and preview the newest industry products
and services. Contractors, guests, and invited AHJs will
continue their focus on sprinkler industry products during
more unopposed exhibit hours on Friday, 11:30 a.m.-3:30
p.m. They’ll also get to watch this year’s “best
of the best” fire sprinkler apprentices as they
complete the practical installation portion of the National
Apprentice Competition.
The excitement culminates Friday evening with AFSA’s
30th Anniversary Celebration, featuring dinner, the Apprentice
Awards Ceremony, and the toe-tappin’, boot-scootin’ sounds
of the Chris Story & Southern Edge Band at San Antonio’s
Sunset Station, a national historic landmark nestled
in the historic St. Paul District. Whether they love
Big Band, disco or country favorites, or just want to
visit with friends at the party, members and guests will
find that Sunset Station offers a unique blend of culture,
cuisine, and celebration for this memorable event.
AFSA’s 2011 convention features 25 educational
sessions covering a variety of relevant and interesting
topics, which will be offered Thursday, September 15
through Saturday, September 17. Sessions ranging from
financial management for non-financial managers, change-order
management, getting paid on time, and using social networking
in your business plan, to technical changes in the NFPA
standards, operating performance of dry-type sprinklers,
seismic bracing, and storage protection offer important
information, as well as valuable continuing education
credits. These sessions and many others have been selected
by the AFSA Convention Committee to address the issues
facing professionals in today’s fire sprinkler
industry. AFSA will also feature free participatory workshops,
exclusively for AHJs, on topics of practical interest
to the fire service.
Deep in the Heart More than a centrally located metropolitan
city deep in the heart of Texas, San Antonio is a tapestry
of Mexican and American history. In the course of its
rich history, San Antonio grew from a Spanish mission,
to a Mexican colony, to part of its own country, and
finally arrived as the American city it is today. Whew,
that was quite a journey! For the traveler, this means
that there are a lot of things to do, attractions to
see, and events to attend. And AFSA knows exactly which
ones you’d like, organizing some optional tours.
The Texas Hill Country & Wine Tour, on Wednesday,
September 14, will showcase the Texas Hill Country, widely
recognized as one of the most popular wine destinations
in the United States. Guests who choose to partake in
Thursday’s San Antonio City Tour will witness the
rich history and culture of the city, visiting the famous
Alamo, Market Square, Mission Concepción, and
Mission San José. Foodies unite Friday, September
16, for a feast for the eyes and the taste buds during
the Taste of San Antonio Foodie Tour, a small group culinary
adventure through San Antonio! Experience everything
from authentic Mexican breakfast cuisine to the real
flavor of Texas BBQ, as you visit San Antonio’s
most famous culinary landmarks. Come hungry, because
you won’t leave that way!
From exciting events to restaurants and attractions,
San Antonio offers a unique diversity. But the city is
also known for its beauty, with excellent examples of
Southwestern architecture and a plush landscape rarely
seen in such an arid environment, due in part to the
San Antonio River that runs through the downtown area.
Whether you simply want to remember the Alamo, stroll
down the famous Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio or
sample the Tex-Mex cuisine, you’ll find this Texas
vacation spot has a charm that is distinct from any other
American city. So, pack your cowboy boots and prepare
for a ride as AFSA leads you through its home state,
the Lone Star State, and its gem, the Alamo City.
Y’all Stay With Us, You Hear? Set amidst a blend
of histories and a modern city, the AFSA headquarter
hotel, the Grand Hyatt San Antonio, is an urban retreat
in a premier location on the historic Riverwalk in downtown
San Antonio. This newly opened property has more than
enough Southern hospitality and charm for attendees and
will provide ample space for AFSA’s industry-leading
training seminars, meetings, and exhibition as well as
some downtime networking.
However, if you need even more reason to stay with AFSA,
it will also provide special benefits including free
hot breakfasts and lunches and complimentary hi-speed
Internet for the convention attendees staying at the
Grand Hyatt. Otherwise, meals are the responsibility
of the attendees. AFSA encourages all attendees to stay
at its headquarter hotel. By booking at the Grand Hyatt
San Antonio, you help lower your registration cost. The
hotel discounts meeting-room rentals based on the total
number of rooms AFSA occupies during its convention.
This is how AFSA is able to offer low registrations for
contractors as well as booth fees for exhibitors. Call
(210) 224-1234 or visit www.firesprinkler.org/ for a
link for reservations at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio,
and mention AFSA to ensure you receive its special $209
a night room rate.
Mark Your Calendars Now! Please make time in your busy
schedules to attend this year’s 30th Anniversary
AFSA Convention & Exhibition September 14-17 in San
Antonio, Texas, and be on the look out for additional
details to be mailed and emailed to our members, and
posted on our Web site, www.firesprinkler.org/. See ya’ll
there! n
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