2003 Southeast Regional Convention VTCI

428QBird

Registered User
2003 VTCI South East Regional Convention
September 4 - 7, 2003

The Dixieland Thunderbirds of Warner Robins, GA will host the 2003 Vintage Thunderbird Club International South East Regional Convention.

The hotel of choice is the Ramada Inn and Conference center - Warner Robins, GA. We have tentatively reserved 40 rooms and have negotiated a special rate of $59 per night plus tax. This rate includes hot or cold breakfast in the dining facilities at the Ramada. You may reach the Ramada for room reservations by calling 800-545-7321. Please note that reservations should be made early enough to insure room availability. The location of this Ramada is ideally located near shopping centers, restaurants, and if needed Auto Parts Stores.

Registration for the VTCI Southeast Regional Convention 2003 will begin at noon Thursday, September 5, 2003. Thursday evening we will be hosting a Georgia BBQ dinner at the hotel in the courtyard area. The price of the BBQ is included with your registration at the Ramada. Alternate menus will be available at the Ramada or local restaurants can be used if you so choose.

There will be 4 birdbaths available on the hotel property. These will be utilized for preparation of the automobiles for the judging event and will be scheduled for 30-minute periods. The Bird Bath will open on Thursday from Noon to 6 PM and on Friday from 7:00 AM till 6:00 PM. Available times will be posted in the Hospitality suite.

There are several events of interest on Friday. We will be leaving the Ramada at 10:00 heading to the Air Museum for a photo opportunity. While at the museum you will have the opportunity to have your Tbird’s picture taken with an F105D painted like the famed P40 Warhawk flown by General Scott. After ward we will meet General Scott in the Museum Theatre. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a real Flying Tiger. We will be leaving the museum at 1:30 heading back to the Ramada. A police escort has been arranged for this travel event. At 3:00 there will an hour long Judges training held in the Magnolia room at the Ramada. Friday evening dinner will be a low country boil starting at 5:00 PM. There will be an alternate children’s menu if desired. This event will be at the Ramada around the pool area. At 7:00 PM the Poker run will kick off at $10 a hand. This will take you on a tour of Warner Robins stopping at several pre set stations picking a card from the deck. Best hand wins $100, 2nd will get $60, and 3rd will get $40. This event is open to all clubs and enthusiasts from the area. We will end up between Sonic and Fuddruckers where if you like you can order desert.

There will be plenty of time this weekend to explore the Middle Georgia area to see local events and venues. Some of the attractions you might choose to see are:

Museum of Aviation
Museum of Arts and Sciences
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
Georgia Music Hall of Fame
Ocmulgee National Monument and Indian Mounds
The Cannonball House and Museum
The Hay House - Palace of the South
Sidney Lanier Cottage
Woodruff House

Additionally during the VTCI Convention, Robins Air Force Base is hosting their open house September 6th and 7th. There will be static displays and an air show featuring the USAF Thunderbirds. The Museum of Aviation is now the second largest museum in the United States Air Force. Displaying 93 aircraft and hundreds of exhibits on a beautiful 43 acre site. Admission is Free! The museum is open 9am to 5pm, seven days a week.

Saturday will be filled with activity surrounding the Thunderbirds. Judging will begin around 9AM and finish before 4PM. The hospitality suite will be open from 9AM till 4PM. The convention banquet will be held in the main ballroom at the Ramada, beginning at 5:00 PM. During this time the hospitality suite will be used for a children’s sitting service during the banquet. A separate children’s banquet will be served in the hospitality suite for the children. Televisions, movies and other fun activities will be part of their evening. A nominal fee will be charged for this sitting service.

Besides the Concours awards given out for each Division, there will be 2 special awards. Our Best of Show award will be named after our hometown Hero, General Robert Lee Scott. General Scott is the author of God is my Copilot, having flown with the famed "Flying Tigers" squadron of World War II and a leading Ace of World War II. Our Peoples Choice award will have special significance. This award will be given based on donations given as votes for the car of their choice. These donations will be awarded to Shriners Hospitals for Children. The Shriners provide medical care for children throughout our country and community. Our goal for this convention is to provide a $2000 donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

For those of you wanting to come and show your wares, there will be vendor slots available. Ramada Inn has offered to let us have indoor and outdoor vendor spaces. Charge for the vendors slots are $50 / per day or $75 / weekend. The only requirement will be that the vendors should be providing products related to Thunderbirds. We will also have space for a Bird Cage (aka Car Corral). If you have a Thunderbird you will be able to place it in the Bird Cage with information on the car and how to contact you while at this convention or when you return home.

Your registration packet will have details on local attractions and activities. If you have any questions please contact Rick Powell at 478-953-1411 (yensid@powell-i.com) or Bill Hunter at 478-922-5002 (hunte818@bellsouth.net). For the latest information check the Dixieland Thunderbirds web site at http://clubs.hemmings.com/dixielandtbirds.
 
Just found out from the Ramada Convention Center that there will be another group of Thunderbirds there at the time of our Regional. Maybe you have heard of them... the USAF Thunderbirds. They will be staying at the same location as our SE Regional Convention.

See you there.

Rick
 

Attachments

  • toplogo.jpg
    toplogo.jpg
    12.9 KB · Views: 132
Back
Top