Conference Overview 2009

Conference Overview

The purpose of the 2009 Midwest Parent Educators (MPE) Conference is to provide information on homeschooling techniques and curriculum choices. The attendees will be primarily intermediate and experienced homeschooling families, but a significant number will be those who are considering the possibility of homeschooling next year or in the future. Students of attendees cover all age ranges.

MPE changed its dues structure in 2004 so that there is no additional charge for members to attend the MPE Conference. There will be up to 180 exhibitor booths.

The 2009 MPE Conference and Curriculum Fair will be at the KCI Expo Center at 11730 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153, very close to the Kansas City International Airport. For more information, please go to www.kciexpo.com

Directions to the KCI Expo Center

Map of KCI Expo Center Facilities

Conference Dates & Times

Thursday, 16 April 2009 - Michael Farris will give the keynote address: "Homeschooling Freedom: Past, Present and Future" at 7.00 p.m. Location to be determined.

Friday, 17 April 2009 – Registration for the conference begins at 8 a.m. Workshops begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. The Exhibitor Hall will open to the public at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Exhibitor or vendor workshops begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m.

Saturday, 18 April 2009 – The Exhibitor Hall will open to the public at 8 a.m. and close by 5 p.m. Exhibitors must be completely packed by 6 p.m. Conference sessions, workshops, and exhibitor workshops will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m.

Conference Speakers

The keynote speaker is Michael Farris. For information about Michael Farris, the keynote address and workshops, please click here.

Featured speakers and workshops:

	Rebecca Ingram Powell
	Gary and Jan Bloom
	Sharon Hensley

Registration

Prices for admission include person, spouse and children of the family over the age of 13 years only. Any other relations of the person eg. mother, sister, advisor, etc. will need to pay their own admission fee (in cases of financial hardship, please call the MPE Office at 913-599-0311).

For Members of MPE whose Memberships are Current:

Admission is free. You do not need to mail in a registration form. Please come to the Registration area where your name will be checked off the membership list. You will then be given a conference wristband which must be worn both days for admission into the workshops and exhibitor hall. There is a $5 charge for lost wristbands.

For Members of MPE whose Memberships have Lapsed:

Important note: If your membership expires before or on April 1, 2009 (check your newsletter's mailing label or your email for reminders), you are not registered for the conference. Renewals postmarked after April 3 will not be processed.

After April 3, 2009, please print out a membership form and fill in the details required. This will help speed up the renewal process on the day of the conference. Present the completed membership form and $45 at the Registration Area (under "Memberships") and you (and your spouse) will then be given a green conference wristband which must be worn both days for admission into the workshops and exhibitor hall.

For Those Who are Not Members of MPE:

You have two options to gain entrance to the conference:

1) Regular registration is $45 per person (spouse free) at the door.

Early registration is $35 per person (spouse free) if registration is postmarked before or on April 3, 2009. Registrations postmarked after April 3 will not be processed.

After April 3, 2009, please print out a Conference Registration form and fill in the details required. This will help speed up the registration process on the day of the conference. Present the completed registration form and $45 at the Registration Area (under "Registrations") and you (and your spouse) will then be given a green conference wristband which must be worn both days for admission into the workshops and exhibitor hall.

2) If you would like to become a member of MPE for $35 a year (go to the Membership page for the list of benefits) and be admitted to this conference for free, please print this form and mail it in with your check for $35 (made out to MPE) to the office, postmarked before or on April 3, 2009. Membership applications postmarked after April 3 will not be processed.

After April 3, 2009, please print out a membership form and fill in the details required. This will help speed up the registration process on the day of the conference. Present the completed membership form and $45 at the Registration Area (under "Memberships") and you (and your spouse) will then be given a green conference wristband which must be worn both days for admission into the workshops and exhibitor hall.

Vendor Passes for access to Exhibitor Hall only:

Available at the door for $15 per person (spouse free). Please go to the Registration Area (under "Exhibitor Hall Passes") and you (and your spouse) will be given a blue conference band. These blue wristbands allow access to the exhibitor hall only during posted hours on both Friday and Saturday. Children of all ages are admitted for free in the exhibitor hall only.

Lodging/Accommodations

MPE has negotiated favorable packages for conference attendees at these area hotels:

1)Holiday Inn, Kansas City Airport: Adjacent to the KCI Expo Center; double rooms are available for $89.00 + tax, with heated indoor pool and fitness center and free wireless internet. Please reference "Midwest Parent Educators" when making your reservations. The deadline for reservations at this special rate is March 31, 2009. For reservations, call 1 888 HOLIDAY (888 465 4329) or (816) 801 8400.

2)Hilton Kansas City Airport: Double Rooms are available for $89.00 + tax, with fitness center and free wireless internet. Please reference "Midwest Parent Educators" when making your reservations. The deadline for reservations at this special rate is March 31, 2009. For reservations, call 1-800-HILTONS or 816-891-8900

2)Fairfield Inn Kansas City Airport: Within walking distance; double rooms are available for $82.00 + tax, with complimentary continental breakfast, heated indoor pool and fitness room and free wireless internet. Please reference "Midwest Parent Educators" when making your reservations. The deadline for reservations at this special rate is March 31, 2009. For reservations, call 1-888-236-2427 or (816) 464 2424

3)Microtel Inn & Suites: Within walking distance, double rooms are available for $59.99 + tax, with complimentary continental breakfast and free wireless internet. Please reference "Midwest Parent Educators" when making your reservations. The deadline for reservations at this special rate is March 31, 2009. For reservations, call 1 (888) 771 7171 or (816) 270 1200.

Children

Children are very important to MPE, since it is for their benefit that we exist to encourage parents as educators. Children over 13 years are encouraged to attend the workshops with their parent/s (they are admitted for free when accompanied by a parent at Registration).

The conference, however, is intended for parental support, and we are unable to accommodate children under 13 years of age in our workshops. Please enroll children under 13 years in the Children's Program or you will risk being turned away from a workshop if the room is full. However, children under 13 years are welcome in the Exhibitor Hall.

As always, nursing babies are welcome. Due to congestion, strollers, wagons, and other wheeled carriers are not permitted at the workshops. Be sure to bring baby carriers or backpacks to transport nursing babies. However, wheeled carriers are allowed in the Exhibitor Hall.

Children's Program

This year, MPE will be offering a Children's Program for 5-12 year olds run by Children's Conferences International(CCI).

CCI's 2009 theme is "Pirates of the Cranium".

The cost for registration for the two days is $30.00 per child for the first 2 children, and $0.00 for any additional children. The cost for registration for one day only is $20.00 per child for the first 2 children, and $0.00 for any additional children.

The children's schedule is designed to fit around the general MPE schedule so parents won't have to miss a single session. Friday and Saturday's children's schedule tentatively is as follows:

8:15 AM - Children's Program opens for child drop off; late registration/payment area opens

9:00 AM - Children’s program begins

11:45 AM—12 NOON - LUNCH: Parents pick up children for lunch; Children's Program closes

12:45 PM - Children's Program reopens for child drop off

1:15 PM - Children's Program afternoon session begins

FRIDAY ONLY

5:00—5:15 PM - Parents pick up children

5:45 PM - Program re-opens for child drop off

7:00 PM - Parents pick up children for the evening

SATURDAY ONLY

3:30—4:00 PM Parents pick up children

If you have any questions about the children's program, please go to www.childrensconferences.com or give CCI's office a call at 248.346.5343.

In addition, if you have teenagers or young adults who would like to volunteer with the children's program, first of all, THANK YOU, and, second, they can click here to fill out the volunteer application.

To register for this exciting program, please go to www.childrensconferences.com and click on the "Kansas City, MO" conference.

Meals

No food is allowed to be brought into the KCI Expo Center.

MPE has arranged express meals with Heart of America Catering at the KCI Expo Center for the following boxed lunch options. The boxed lunches (for both Friday and Saturday) can be preordered and paid for on Friday and Saturday mornings between 8.00 - 10.00 a.m. at the table to the right of the entrance to the lobby marked "Lunch Orders".

Tickets will be given after payment, which will need to be presented to the Student Pages in Exhibit Hall A (where the Children's Program is being held) for pick up of the boxed lunch orders between noon and 1:30 p.m. Cash or checks only please.

Tables and chairs have been set up for comfortable dining in Exhibit Hall A for both adults and children after the lunch orders are collected.

The boxed lunch options are:

1) Turkey Breast & Swiss on a soft Kaiser bun. Accompanied by pasta salad, potato chips, and a cookie. Soft Drink or bottled water. ..................................................................................................................................$10.00

2) Ham & American on a soft Kaiser bun. Accompanied by pasta salad, potato chips, and a cookie. Soft drink or bottled water. ..................................................................................................................................$10.00

3) For Children: Chicken nuggets, potato chips, honey mustard sauce & ketchup and a cookie. Apple Juice included. ......................................................................................................................$7.00

Meals are also available at the cafeteria of the KCI Expo Center (located to the left of the lobby) from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

General Information

Cell phones. Cell phones must be turned off or placed in vibration mode while attending any conference session, workshop, or exhibitor demonstration.

Audio Taping. Many of the conference sessions and workshops (but not exhibitor demonstrations) will be taped and available for purchase at the conference or by mail following the conference. No personal taping (audio or video) of conference sessions or workshops is allowed. To order CDs ($7.00 each + shipping) following the conference, please contact Rhino Technologies at 222 Temple Hill Drive, Almo, KY 42020. Their telephone number is 270-753-0717 and their e-mail address is services@rhino-technologies.com.

Emergency Number. An emergency number will be printed in the conference program that everyone receives upon registration. This is the number to be provided to babysitters and family members. Do NOT provide the switchboard number of the KCI Expo Center. The switchboard will not be manned during much of the conference. The emergency number will be attended during all conference hours and a message board will be available to post any incoming messages.

Conference Schedule. Current scheduling information will be available on this website nearer the time. Changes will be made as they occur, but last minute modifications may be necessary and may not be indicated on the website. Printed schedules will not be available until the first day of the conference.

More information will be posted up on this page as they come to hand.