2021 Spring Managers Conference-Together Again!

Galveston oh Galveston - I still hear your sea winds blowing
Galveston oh Galveston - I still hear your sea waves crashing…..
Galveston oh Galveston – You have no idea how much we are all looking forward to seeing you! 

 

Yes, at this minute of this day – we are moving forward with the 2021 TSTCI Spring Managers Conference in beautiful, sunny and wonderful Galveston at the Hotel Galvez, June 16-18, 2021. 

We have put together another wonderful program – although at this point the quality of the program may be almost secondary to us having real time together at a beautiful location after what we hope is another successful Legislative Session.  Actually, the education time we’ve planned is very important and the topics and speakers will be every bit part of our quality time together. The educational portion is important and relevant – in fact, all elements of this conference combined together make it a professional health as well as personal and mental health benefit.  As always, our conferences (this one in particular) are family-friendly.  In addition to the Educational and Business and Pleasure time with industry associates, we always factor in time to be spent with kids/ grandkids/and for some great-grandkids. 

We had to cancel last year’s conferences as did many other groups.  So as we all prepare to come back to the center and to re-engage with our own lives and with others, we hope to make the 2021 TSTCI Spring Managers Conference one of the best ever.  We are returning to the HOTEL GALVEZ in Galveston, Texas where we can celebrate some of the life things we all missed last year, share some new things going on in each other’s corner of the world, catch up on personal victories and defeats as well as business victories and challenges.

As so much time has passed since our last meeting, we thought a slight refresher course of the available sponsorship opportunities would be helpful to you and beneficial for us:  “Premier Sponsor Package” allows you and your company to take care of sponsoring at all four of the TSTCI conferences this year in one transaction. In addition to the enhanced acknowledgement you will receive before, during and after at each meeting, you also get four (4) registrations to TSTCI meetings that you can use as you choose--either use your 4 registrations at one conference or you can use 1 registration per conference.  You also get a foursome at the Golf Tournament at either the Spring Managers OR the Annual Meeting; a tee box sponsor at the Golf Tournament at both the Spring Managers and Annual Meeting; a Table Sponsor at the Annual Awards Banquet at the Annual Meeting; and a Tabletop Display at the Annual Meeting with table location preference.  We have been fortunate to have several members participate as Premiere Sponsors and we’d be honored and appreciative to add your name to the list. 

We also have great benefits under the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsorships as well.  To help you refresh your memory on all the wonderful additions to the Sponsorship Opportunities, CLICK HERE to view the Sponsorship Menu so you can select the sponsor level that best suits your situation.

The Program Planning Committee works hard every year with the Staff to put on great meetings.  And every year and every meeting, our membership steps up to help sponsor so the quality of our meetings continue to be excellent.  So, please accept our thanks in advance for your consideration of all of our sponsor opportunities for this and all meetings. 

On to the meeting information.  People that laugh, learn and survive together – thrive together.  So we are going to do some thriving together.  This Preliminary Agenda outlines for you the meat of the information to be provided – some topics and some speakers.  The majority of the speakers listed are confirmed for this meeting and the flavor of the topics is set.  There is a little fine-tuning left to do; however, those details will only enhance an already great outlined program. 

On Wednesday morning, June 16, the Annual Wesley B. Roberts Memorial Golf Tournament will tee off at the MOODY GARDENS GOLF COURSE. The golf event begins at 7:00 am with breakfast prior to an 8:00 shotgun start.  Your golf registration includes the cart rental, green fees, driving range balls, full breakfast buffet, beverages on the course, lunch buffet, chance for great door prizes, and depending on your finish ranking – bragging rights and team prizes. You also get to enjoy or endure the company of your friends and peers, enjoy the game and soak in some of the beauty of the scenic location! Registration for golf and opportunities to assist with golf sponsorships are available on the online registration page.

The Registration Table opens at 4:30 pm on Wednesday to get everyone welcomed and registered prior to the Welcome Reception that will begin at 5:30 pm.  This reception gives you opportunity to meet and greet with other attendees, to enjoy the beautiful location, and to partake of scrumptious food, beverage and breathtaking sunsets. We also have some “closet” musicians among us that will be providing some “TSTCI’s Got Talent” during the reception (and maybe after if all goes well.)

Rise and Shine Thursday morning and begin the day with a full breakfast-buffet at 7:30 am.  Feed your system to help ready you for the power of the program.  At 8:30 am, TSTCI President – Darren Patrick and TSTCI CEO, Weldon Gray will officially open the meeting. We are finalizing our first two speaking slots including our Opening Keynote Speaker – but hopefully our record speaks for itself on having good speakers!.

As we move through the day but before we break for lunch, Scott Meyer, Director of Marketing, with Innovative Systems will present for us the “6th Annual Rural America Video & Broadband Study.”  He has given us a look at this material before and will now show us the updated version of the study.  We’re guessing Covid may have impacted the Broadband part of any study.

We will break for lunch on your own – please enjoy the many wonderful dining opportunities within the time allotted. Remember, we do a “back from lunch” door prize drawing before we get back into the meeting information.         

The “come back” speaker and topic should also draw you back from the shrimp and grits.  Cerone F. “Cy” Sturdivant, CISA, with BKD, CPAs & Advisors will present “Cybersecurity Threats amid Covid-19.”  This is not only an important issue for you as an individual, but also material you need to hear to try to help prevent some bad events in your office work environment.

To help end out this day of information and hopefully optimism, Jeremiah Raya with JSI will discuss the FCC’s fund opportunity for rural areas “Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) – What’s Next?”     

Before adjourning for the day, we will draw for the PAC Raffle winner.  At this time, we are accepting sponsors for the PAC Raffle prize. 

Again, while a little out of our tradition but still just as sweet, immediately following the adjournment for the day, we will be “Scooping Up” the day with fun and flavor at an Ice Cream Social.  Your families are invited to attend and enjoy the ice cream and toppings! 

Friday morning, Members and Associate Members are invited to enjoy a continental breakfast.  

The ILEC Closed-Member Meeting will convene at 8:00 am. The Member Meeting is open to all ILEC Full Members and/or their designated representatives.  This portion of the meeting will include a Legislative, Regulatory and Association Update for the voting membership.

We look forward to spending these few days with you and the sharing of valuable time and information.  Below are additional ways that you may participate in this important meeting and important additional information about the hotel and about registering.

Sponsorships

Inclusion in the sponsorship material requires that we receive your sponsorship and/or information about door prizes BY May 21, 2021.  Sponsorship helps all of us and is very much appreciated. 

Hotel Information

Hotel Galvez & Spa
2024 Seawall Blvd.
Galveston, Texas 77550

They are currently only accepting phone reservations: 409-515-2154 (between 8 am – 5pm).  VERY IMPORTANT to mention you are with TSTCI – Hotel cut-off date is May 21st.

Rooms include complimentary wireless internet, bottled water, coffee and daily newspapers.  Attendees receive 20% off Spa services (reservations encouraged) Sunday- Thursday. For hotel questions or concerns, contact Pat Holder at 512-349-7470 or [email protected].

Rates:     Single/Double - $199.00

Group rate will be honored Sunday – Thursday based on availability.  Friday/Saturday night rates will be $299.00 based on availability.  Reservations requested after cut-off date will be subject to space and rate availability.

Cut-off date:  May 21, 2021 

Check-in/Check-out Times:   Check-In – 4 p.m.       Check-Out – Noon           

Hotel Parking:  Self-parking is $8.00/night and valet parking is $18.00/night

Transportation:    Ground transportation to/from George H. Bush Intercontinental Airport or William P. Hobby Airport is available through SuperShuttle.  For reservations, contact Super Shuttle at 800-258-3826 or supershuttle.com.  The shuttle pick-up location is curbside near the baggage claim area at each airport.  Rental car agencies are located at both airports. There are also various ride share options to consider.

Attire:  Meetings – “Casual”

Continuing Education Units

The objectives of this conference are to improve the skills and knowledge of accounting and other issues related to the telecommunications industry.  Participants shall receive 6 Non- Technical CPE credit hours for participation, and there are no prerequisites for participation.  We have registered with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy as a CPE sponsor.  This registration does not constitute an endorsement by the Board as to the quality of our CPE program.  TSTCI Sponsor ID# 2349

Conference Evaluation Forms

Be sure to complete the Conference evaluation forms and leave at your seat location on Thursday afternoon.  Thank you!

Online Registration:  To register online, go to www.tstci.org.  You can make your payment by credit card or check.  Once you have registered online, make check payable to Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (TSTCI) and mail payment to:  TSTCI, 3112 Windsor Road, Suite A #338, Austin, Texas 78703.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Cancellation Policy:   No refunds will be given after May 21, 2021; however, substitutions will be permitted. 

With each of you
 
The Stars Shine Ever So Bright
 
Deep in the heart of Texas

 

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