TSTCI Member Central
2016 Spring Managers' ConferenceDear TSTCI Members and Associate MembersJust in time to recuperate from the March primary elections and just in time to get in mental and emotional shape for the upcoming November General Election – yes, it is time to begin our registration and countdown to our annual TSTCI Spring Managers’ Conference. The conference will be at the Pearl on South Padre Island, June 8-10, 2016. While we have some new options we are introducing with this meeting, one thing will always remain the same – this is always a “family-friendly” event. We’ll do a little work, learn a little together, and have fun with each other and our families. In response to some great feedback we’ve received over the last three years, we are upping our game and, therefore, your game on the Sponsorship Opportunities. These positive changes are again our way of saying THANK YOU to the folks that help sponsor our conferences. In addition to adding more benefits to the existing sponsorship levels, we are also introducing a “Premiere Sponsor Package.” This Premiere Sponsor Package allows you and your company to take care of sponsoring at all the TSTCI conferences each year in one transaction. In addition to the enhanced acknowledgement you will receive before, during and after at each meeting, you also get four (4) registrations to TSTCI meetings that you can use as you choose. You can either use your 4 registrations at one single conference or you can use 1 registration per conference. You also get a foursome at the Golf Tournament at either the Spring Managers' OR the Annual Meeting; you get a tee box sponsor at the Golf Tournament at both the Spring Managers' and Annual Meeting; you get a Table Sponsor at the Annual Awards Banquet at the Annual Meeting; and, you get a Tabletop Display at the Annual Meeting with table location preference. We’ve also included some additional benefits under the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsorships as well. So that you can digest all these wonderful additions to the Sponsorship Opportunities, we’ve put together a Sponsor Menu for you to use to see what level best meets your needs. CLICK HERE for a printable PDF of the Menu. We continue to strive to put together conference material that will WOW you – and we think we have accomplished that again this year. The Pre-Agenda outline is on the website with the registration information; however, let me whet your imagination about what is in store. On Tuesday, before the TSTCI Conference officially kicks off, Texas Expo will once again host their now annual Fishing Tournament. They are still finalizing some details and will get more information out to you and to us after the Expo in April. So for now, SAVE THE DATE of Tuesday, June 7th for the Expo Annual Fishing Tournament. Then prepare for the battle with the ball on Wednesday morning, June 8, as we officially open the TSTCI Spring Managers' Conference with the Wesley B. Roberts Memorial Golf Tournament at the South Padre Island Golf Club. The golf registration includes the cart rental, green fees, driving range balls, full breakfast buffet, beverages on the course, lunch buffet, chance for great door prizes, and depending on your golf that day chances for team prizes as well as bragging rights. We’d like to think you also get to enjoy the company of your friends and peers or you may just get to enjoy the game and the scenic location! Registration for golf and opportunities to assist with golf sponsorships are available on the online registration page. After returning from golf, the Texas Lone Star Network (TLSN) will hold its Annual Membership Meeting beginning at 3:30 p.m. We officially welcome all participants to the conference during the Welcome Reception Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. This gives everyone a chance to enjoy the casual atmosphere, fantastic food and fellowship as we watch the day end with a beautiful sunset over South Padre. Our Thursday morning breakfast buffet will begin at 7:30. After breakfast, TSTCI President, Tim Humpert, and TSTCI CEO, Weldon Gray, will jumpstart the day’s conference and introduce our Opening General Session Keynote speaker, Vicki Hitzges. In a time when there is so much negativity flowing around, Vicki will show us “Attitude is Everything – How to Stay Positive”. And we are going to need that attitude pep talk as our next couple of speakers hit on not so positive topics – but they are the things you need to know rather than the things you may want to know. Remembering that ‘attitude is everything’ and we must stay positive, Patricia Cave, WTA, will to the best of her ability “positively” update us on the state of the state of “Federal USF Reform.” Following her motivational rendition, Carl Galant, McGinnis Lochridge will take us to lunch with the ever popular always scary topic of “Data Breach & Cyber Security – It Can Happen To You.” We will break for the PAC Luncheon (Guest Legislator invited and separate ticket required) where Weldon, Louise Bacarrise (TSTCI Lobbyist), and hopefully our guest legislator will give you the highlights of issues they see will happen during the very important 2017 legislative session. We hope many of you will register for the PAC luncheon or you are welcome to lunch on your own. As we return from lunch but before we introduce our first afternoon session, we will draw for a “you don’t want to miss door prize.” The afternoon sessions are sure to keep your attention as Toni Rivas, VTX1, once again expertly moderates a panel of “The New Sales Force” and the impact of and on Customer Service. Joining Toni on the panel are: Lauren Sanders, Big Bend Telephone Company; Tanya Sullivan, Plus One Strategic Communications; and, Jennifer Logsdon, Centerra Corp. A powerful panel you don’t want to miss. For the finale of speakers, Scott Meyer, Innovative Systems will address “Video – What Now? – 2016 Rural Video Viewing Survey." In this exclusive national survey you will hear how rural residents are watching TV and how their activities should affect your strategic video planning. A must see! Before breaking for the Texas Lone Star Network hosted Ice Cream Social, we will do the Grand Prize Drawing sponsored by Texas Communications Expo (must be present to win) followed by the PAC Raffle prize drawing (at press time, we are accepting sponsors for the PAC Raffle) Friday morning, Members and Associate Members are invited to enjoy a continental breakfast prior to the ILEC Member Meeting. The Member Meeting is open to all ILEC Full Members and/or their designated representatives. We will have a sign-in sheet for those attending. We look forward to spending these few days with you and the sharing of valuable time and information. Below are additional ways that you may participate in this important meeting and important additional information about registering. SponsorshipsPlease look at the new and improved Sponsorship Menu we’ve put together. Inclusion in the sponsorship material requires that we receive your sponsorship and/or information about door prizes NO LATER THAN MAY 20, 2016. Sponsorship helps all of us and is very much appreciated. >>More Information Hotel InformationWe will be at the South Padre Pearl. For your convenience, click here for a direct link to the hotel reservation page. Be sure to make your reservations by the May 6 cut-off date. After that date, rooms will be on a space-available basis at the regular hotel rate. Check-in time is 3:00 p.m.; check-out time is Noon. >>More Information Early Registration!General or Early Registration runs from now through May 6 at the normal registration fee. After May 6, the “late registration fee” will apply. Now it really does pay to register early. >>More Information CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN SOUTH PADRE!
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