2019 National Gathering
The Open and Affirming Coalition is thrilled you will be joining us for our biannual Gathering at the Best Western Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Convention Center this June 17th - 20th. A theologically diverse group of speakers and faith leaders will guide us in conversations and strategic planning around issues affecting our communities. These opportunities will highlight the many ways ethnicity, immigration status, religion, bodily ability, mental illness, gender and sexuality impact the lives of LGBT people around the world. These fresh voices will challenge us to transform while continuing to respect our legacy and the wisdom of movement elders.
In addition, we will offer two pre-event trainings, allowing participants to become a trained Open and Affirming consultant or in facilitating Our Whole Lives for middle and high school students in your home congregation, association, or conference. If you are interested in the consultant training, please contact us after completing your registration.
Our week will close with worship on Thursday night. Shuttles will be available to take you back to the airport or to transfer you to a downtown motel for General Synod. If you will be staying in Milwaukee for Synod, we hope that you will consider attending our banquet on Friday night in the Convention Center. You may add your ticket here or indicate if you purchased through the Synod registration system.
Our new event location allows us to be fully accessible and technologically agile. Some of the amenities at this location are listed below. Please call the hotel directly to book a room with our negotiated rate of $139 per night, including Sunday and Monday for people arriving for OWL. Just ask for the Coalition block.
Best Western Plus Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Conference Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207
United States
1-414-769-2100
from the Hotel webpage...
The Best Western Plus Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Conference Center is the premier full-service Hotel at General Mitchell International Airport. Our newly renovated, award-winning hotel has been renovated inside and out featuring the Aviator Sports Bar & Grille and over 13,000 square feet of glamorous convention space. Free hot breakfast buffet is served daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., free 50 MB Wi-Fi, spacious atrium pool and hot tub area, and superior guest service just to name a few of our wonderful amenities.
If you are staying with us for a meeting, banquet, flying out of our fine Hotel on vacation or just getting away for an evening, our impeccable service will keep you coming back again and again. We are only minutes from down town Milwaukee attractions, Miller Park and the Harley Davidson Museum. We will exceed your expectations.
Our AmenitiesHotel
- 100% smoke free hotel
- Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge on-site
- Complimentary full breakfast, Full American Breakfast Buffet. Up to four guests per room per day. Selection of breads, cereal, fruit, hot eggs, hot breakfast meat, other hot items, yogurt, juice, and coffee.
- Indoor pool, heated
- Hot tub
- Exercise facility, 24 hour
- Elevator
- Interior corridor
- Multilingual staff Spanish
Room
- Cable satellite television
- AM/FM alarm clock
- Coffee/tea maker
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Hairdryer
- Dataports
- High-speed Internet access
- Room service from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Public Space ADA Accessible Features:
- Accessible parking space that is 96-inches wide with an appropriate access aisle
- An accessible route that allows for approaching and entering the hotel
- An accessible lobby entrance door
- Interior routes to public spaces that do not have abrupt level changes
- Room signage: 60-inches to sign center above finished floor
- Accessible table in eating area
Guest Room Mobility Accessible Features:
- Accessible doors and doorways (at least 32-inches of clear width passage)
- Accessible bathrooms and features, including shower/tub
- Accessible room controls (e.g. HVAC and lighting)
- Accessible clear floor space
Guest Room Communication Assist Features:
- Closed-caption televisions
- Telephones have volume control
- Visual fire alarms
We are a community that recognizes the wisdom found in each person. If you have knowledge or would like to lead a training, we have an open call for workshop presentations. Submission guidelines are available on our webpage. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2019 and those selected will be notified by March 1st.
We hope to be able to provide some scholarships again this year. In order to cut the costs of attending, we also suggest adding your name to the willing to share room post on the Facebook event page. We are not able to coordinate efforts for rooms but encourage you to post your needed nights, the preferred gender of a roommate, and your own gender pronouns. The Coalition is obligated to remind you that this process is taken at your own risk and we encourage you to do your due diligence to get to know potential roommates.
If you are able to give to fund scholarships in 2019, you may give to that fund during the registration process.
Again, we look forward to seeing you in June.
Please contact us if you need any assistance or have any questions, comments, or concerns to share.
In faith, love, and joy,
Kimi Floyd Reisch, Program Ministry Manager
FAQs
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Please call or email
Kimi Floyd Reisch, Program Ministry Manager
[email protected] or 651-283-0962
What's the refund policy?
Refunds up to 30 days prior to the event with a $25 processing fee. Registration can be transferred to another member of your organization.
Are meals included in the registration fee?
The Best Western offers complementary breakfast for all guests. Lunch and dinner will be provided each day, along with light refreshments including coffee, tea, and water.
