Hotel Cut-off Extended for 2008 RICA Annual Meeting

The cut-off date for booking a room for the 2008 RICA Annual Meeting at the official conference hotel, the Hilton Chicago, has been extended from May 2nd to May 9th. Bookings made before the May 9th deadline will be afforded the discounted group rate of $169/night. Reservations made after this point are subject to the regular hotel room rates.

Please make plans to join us in Chicago for the 2008 RICA Annual Meeting, and book your hotel rooms today!

"Building Upon Broadband"

Having a foundation is crucial to building any structure. In a competitive telecommunications market, building high-quality networks with an attractive, well-rounded suite of products and services is the key to long-term success. Join us at the 2008 RICA Annual Meeting as we explore many of the revenue streams and services possible by “Building Upon Broadband.”

The 2008 RICA Annual Meeting will be May 28-30 at the Hilton Chicago. Registrations are open, and further information, including a detailed agenda and lodging specifics, are available at the RICA website, www.ricalliance.org.

So bring your hard-hats, finalize your blueprints, and join RICA as we focus on “Building Upon Broadband!”


2008 RICA Annual Meeting
“Building Upon Broadband”
May 28-30, 2008
Hilton Chicago
www.ricalliance.org

Annual Meeting Preparations & Committee Meetings

Guess what's coming up? No, not Valentine's Day - the 2008 RICA Annual Meeting! Location and hotel details are being finalized, and committees will soon be organizing and selecting speakers for this year's Meeting.

If you would like to be a part of a committee, or if you'd like to sit in to see what your fellow RICA members are planning for the 08 Meeting, contact Paula, our Meetings & Events Coordinator, to find out the committee meeting specifics.

Committees will be accepting new members at the Annual Meeting. Working on a RICA committee not only allows you to be directly involved in the content of RICA events, it also gives you the opportunity to network with others in the industry who work within your discipline, meet the leaders of other independent telcos, and interact with speakers, panelists and presenters.

RICA Annual Meeting 2008
May 28-30, 2008
Michigan Avenue Hilton
Chicago, Illinois

Best Wishes!

The Board of Directors and staff of the Rural Independent Competitive Alliance wish you the happiest of holiays, and many successes in the year to come!

Record Attendance, and Looking Ahead

The RICA-RTG Fall Forum enjoyed not only record attendance, but informative, engaging and enlightening sessions. Total registrations reached over 220 attendees, and evaluations cited high satisfaction with the speakers, the hotel, and the agenda.

If you or your company would like to be involved in planning our next meeting, the Annual Meeting in Chicago on May 28-30, 2008, consider joining a committee. Committees will begin meeting next month, planning speakers and sessions for the Annual Meeting. If you have ideas for speakers, topics of interest to companies like yours, or agenda changes, we invite you to contact staff or the Board of Directors.

Thank you for attending the Fall Forum, and we look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting!

It's official!

The 2007 RICA-RTG Fall Forum is on pace to have the best turn out ever for a RICA event! If you haven't registered, there is still time. Visit the RICA website for registration information. See you at the Forum!

Hotel Options - Jacksonville Area

While the 2007 RICA-RTG Fall Forum is being held at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, there are a number of other hotel options in the area. Below are some of the closest options, along with contact information:

Omni Hotel 904-335-6664; 4 blocks from the Hyatt at 245 Water St.

Crowne Plaza 904-398-8800; other side of St. John River at 1201 Riverplace Blvd.

Wyndham 904-396-5100; other side of St. John River at 1515 Prudential Dr.

Hampton Inn 904-396-7770; other side of St. John River at 1331 Prudential Dr.

Extended Stay 904-396-1777; other side of St. John River at 1413 Prudential Dr.

If you need any assistance with registration or reservations, please contact the RICA staff at info@ricalliance.org.