Dear Group Leaders,
With just TWELVE DAYS TO GO before the Asheville Higher Things FOR YOU Conferences, we are being swamped with a number of similar questions. This email should answer most of those questions FOR YOU. Group leaders should make sure all the adults with their group are familiar with this information before leaving for Asheville.
We’re really getting excited to see everyone next week and want to make everything run as smoothly as possible. If you have additional questions, please check the conference website. A lot of information has recently been added in the options in the left-hand column!
In Christ,
Pr. George Borghardt
2007 Asheville FOR YOU Conference Coordinator
DIRECTIONS
For directions to Ridgecrest, click HERE.
MAPS
HERE is a campus map of the Ridgecrest Conference Center in case you do!
PARKING
There is both bus and car parking at the Ridgecrest site.
CHECK-IN PROCEDURE
No more than two adults per group should check-in at conference Registration. Registration check-in is located in Pritchell Hall. When you pull into Ridgecrest, you’ll see a giant white building with pillars. It’ll say, “Ridgecrest” – that’s Pritchell hall! That’s where you go to register your groups! After checking in with the Conference Registrar, you will verify your group’s housing assignment and receive room keys. You will also be given your group’s conference handbooks, meal cards, T-shirts and any further information.
HOUSING
Housing assignments have been sent out. If you have not received the assignments for your group, please contact housing@higherthings.org.
REGISTRATION HOURS
Regular check-in hours will take place on Monday, July 30 between 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. If your group (or a designated leader) cannot arrive between those hours on Monday, you will need to notify the Registrar to make arrangements for your group to check in. Regular Registration will open again on Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. Unless prior arrangements have been made, groups should not expect to check-in before 8:00 a.m.
RED v. BLUE
Now that registrations are finalized, we will be assigning groups to either the RED or BLUE groups. This division is primarily to accommodate the large number of people we have for meals and some catechesis sessions. Congregational groups will be kept together in the RED and BLUE groups. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for the RED and BLUE groups to do things together! You will find out which group you are in when you check in.
REGISTRATION CHANGES
For the sanity of our Registrar and Housing Manager, we have frozen the user side of the online registration. ALL registration and housing changes from this point forward must go directly through them. Email Registrar@HigherThings.org or Housing@HigherThings.org if you have any registration or housing changes that need to be made.
INTERNET ACCESS
Internet access is available in a number of areas on the Ridgecrest campus. The specific locations are listed in your conference book.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND CHECKS OR FORMS BY MAIL – At this late date, they will not arrive in time!! Please notify the Registrar and bring them to Asheville with you.
TRAVEL PRAYERS
Some congregations like to incorporate special sending or travel prayers before their youth leave for the conference. Our conference Chaplains have provided some prayers for you to use HERE. Our conference’s hymn is “O Love, How Deep” (LSB #544) if you’d like to use that in your services as well.
WHAT TO BRING?
Appropriate clothing (please dress modestly; also, some people like to dress up for the Divine Services), light jacket or sweater, comfortable shoes for walking, catechism, Bible, notebook, pen, camera, snacks, umbrella, bug spray, sunscreen, a flashlight, and spending money. I strongly suggest: WATER, WATER, and MORE WATER.
Lodging at FOR YOU is generally dormitory style. Linens (sheets, blanket, pillow, towel and washcloth) are provided. Rooms are normally NOT equipped with items such as soap, shampoo, cups, blowdryers, refrigerators, phones, televisions, microwaves, alarm clocks, or hot tubs.
All meals in the cafeteria during the conference are included in your registration fee. If you come a day early or stay a date late, two meals (supper/breakfast) on campus are included in that fee as well. There is a pizza and ice cream shop on site for those who want a late night snack.
LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS?
Next week, our staff will be at FOR YOU in Minneapolis! We will be pretty focused on what’s going on up there, but we will get to your questions as fast as we can. Please be patient – especially on Monday and Tuesday (8/23-24). There is a pretty comprehensive FOR YOU FAQ on the web page. Check it out!
I am looking forward to seeing y’all in Asheville in twelve days!!
In Christ,
Pr. George Borghardt
2007 Asheville FOR YOU Conference Coordinator
