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Texas Academic Decathlon Competitors:

CONGRATULATIONS! 

You are a winner!  In this packet, you will find all the materials you need to take your next step in competing in the Texas Academic Decathlon, Medium/Small School Divisions, scheduled for February 29 – March 2, 2008, in San Antonio, Texas.

CONTEST VENUES

San Antonio College is host to the 2008 Texas Medium/Small Schools Academic Decathlon.  We will have Friday's Speech/Interview contests and team photos at our campus, located at 1300 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, Texas; Friday’s Essay event and Saturday's arena testing will be in the Omni’s Grand Ballroom; and the Super Quiz will be at McAllister Auditorium back on the campus of San Antonio College.

HOTEL

This year's host hotel is the Omni San Antonio, 9821 Colonnade Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas.  The Omni San Antonio is located in northwest San Antonio at IH-10 and Wurzbach Road.  The hotel is just a short 15-minute drive from the San Antonio International Airport and the Riverwalk.  To register, simply log on to the Omni San Antonio, select “More options”, select the Omni San Antonio, the dates you need to reserve, the number of rooms needed (if you need more than three rooms, you need to do this procedure again), and place the number “14300104261” in the Group Code under Special Rates, and then “Check Availability”.  Registration must be completed by February 6, 2008.  Rooms are limited, so make your reservations as soon as possible.  Discounted room rates for the Omni Hotel are as follows:  $95 single/double and $105 for triple/quad.  NOTE:  Due to a “glitch” in the Omni’s system, in order to get the correct “quad” rate, you will need to list no more than three adults and one child per room; otherwise, you will receive a $115 rate.

Families, school administrators, teachers and other guests will also be offered the same rates as the ACADEC participants; however, they will need to make their reservations directly with the hotel by February 6, 2008.  Each team/guest will be responsible for payment of hotel rooms and other hotel incidentals. 

REGISTRATION

Please note that all credentials and team lists must be sent to our registration office by Wednesday, February 6, 2008.  We recommend that an overnight express mail service be utilized to ensure that your documents arrive and that your school's team is included in the state meet. 

All team members and coaches should plan to arrive at the hotel either Thursday evening or early Friday morning in time for registration.  Coaches will need to attend the Coaches' Briefing at the hotel on Friday at 10:15 a.m.  Teams should plan to arrive at the Omni Hotel by 12:30 p.m., Friday. The first event of the Decathlon, the Essay event, will begin at 1:00 p.m.

TRANSPORTATION

We will NOT be providing transportation for teams to any venues.  Please contact your school's travel agent to arrange for local transportation.

TEAM MEALS

Due to a decrease in money coming from the state, we are having to again charge for meals and contest shirts.  Saturday lunches may be purchased for $6 each.  Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast will be of the team's choosing.  Indicate the specific number of lunches that your team will require on the enclosed Team Meals Request Form.  Return this form, along with accompanying check(s), if necessary, by February 6, 2008. 

AWARDS BANQUETS

The Awards Banquets will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2008, at 7:45 a.m. (Medium School Division) and 10:30 a.m. (Small School Division), at the Omni San Antonio hotel.  Team (nine students/two coaches) tickets will cost $20 each for the breakfast and $25 each for the luncheon.  Other tickets for the Awards Banquet will cost $25 per person for the breakfast and $30 for the luncheon.  NOTE: ALL non-team tickets MUST be ordered through the school.  I will accept checks from either the school or the coach(es) ONLY.  Indicate the number of banquet tickets that your team will require (including all guests) on the enclosed Awards Banquet Reservation Form.  Return this form, along with your check(s), by February 6, 2008.  No Purchase Orders will be accepted.  Tickets for the Awards Banquet are on a first come-first served basis.  There will be NO refunds after February 16, 2008.  Banquet tickets will be numbered for seating at specific tables.  We will do our best to assure that guests are seated as close as possible to their teams.  Appropriate attire for this event would be the same as your students wore for the interview/speech events.  Please remember there are school administrators, board members, state office personnel, and parents present.

MEMORABILIA

Contestants and coaches (eleven total per team) will receive complimentary dated souvenir pens, lapel pins, and stadium cups.  Indicate the number of T-shirts (Sizes S-XXL) needed for your team, family, and school administrators on the enclosed form and return it, along with your check, by February 6, 2008.

If you have questions, please email me, Rick Hopkins, Contest Coordinator, at rhopkins@mail.accd.edu or call 210-733-2296.

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OMNI SAN ANTONIO
9821 Colonnade Boulevard
San Antonio, Texas 78230
Phone -- 210-691-8888
Fax -- 210-691-1128

CONFIRMED RATE:        Single/Double -- $95    Triple/Quad -- $105

CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT TIMES:    3:00 p.m./12:00 noon

All reservation requests must be accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card.  Guests arriving before 3:00 p.m. will be accommodated as rooms become available.  The bell captain can arrange to check baggage for those arriving early and those attending Sunday's Awards Banquet.

TAX EXEMPT FORMS
Guest room rates are net non-commissionable.  Omni San Antonio room rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes in effect at the time of check-in.  Exemption certification may be presented upon check-in; however, application is contingent upon Texas State Comptroller's Office approval.

RESERVATION GUARANTEE
All individual attendees are encouraged to make their reservations by calling the hotel.

You may call the hotel directly at 210-691-8888 to make your reservation or follow the instructions on the cover letter.  The hotel must receive reservations by February 6, 2008, in order for the room rates listed above to be honored.  To receive the special convention rate, participants MUST identify themselves as being with the Texas Academic Decathlon when making reservations.  All individuals/teams will be responsible for their own room, tax, and incidental charges.  Texas Academic Decathlon will not guarantee payment for no-shows.

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