Alliance of Indiana Rural Water > Events > Fall Conference
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Agenda At A Glance

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

1:00pm Board Meeting

2:00pm-3:30pm IFA Regional Meeting
2:00pm-6:00pm Info Desk Open / On-Site Registration
2:00pm-6:00pm Exhibitor Set-Up

3:30pm-4:00pm Legislative Committee Meeting

4:00pm-5:00pm AIRW Roundtable Discussions
6:00pm-8:00pm Pre-Conference Hospitality Event Sponsored by Carson Law

 

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

7:00am-5:30pm Registration Desk Open (closed 12:30pm-1:30pm)
7:30am Exhibit Hall Open & Continental Breakfast
8:00am Opening Remarks
8:30am-12:30pm Staggered Training Sessions
12:30pm-1:45pm Lunch & Best Tasting Water in Indiana Taste Test - Exhibit Hall
2:00pm-4:15pm Training Sessions
4:15pm-5:45pm Reception in Exhibit Hall
8:00pm-10:00pm Hospitality Event in Hilton Lobby

 

Thursday, October 24, 2024

7:00am-3:00pm Registration Desk Open (closed 12:00pm-1:00pm)
7:00am-8:30am Hot Breakfast Buffet in Exhibit Hall
7:15am Annual Membership Meeting in Exhibit Hall
8:00am-11:45am Training Sessions
11:45am-1:15pm Lunch on your own
11:45am Sportman's Raffle Drawings
12:00pm-2:00pm Exhibitor Tear Down
1:15pm-3:30pm Training Sessions
3:30pm Shotgun Raffle

 

 

 

Thank You to Our 2024 Conference Sponsor, Covalen!

 

 

 

2024 Fall Conference

October 22 - 24, 2024

Grand Wayne Convention Center - 120 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Make your plans now to attend the 2024 Annual Fall Conference! Our event offers great networking and educational opportunities for water and wastewater professionals - in addition to earning up to 11 contact hours for Water & Wastewater licenses. The Fall Conference also provides vendors with the perfect venue to showcase their products and services to a variety of utility professionals from operations specialists to managers and board / council members.    

 

 

Hotel Accommodations

 

HOST HOTEL
Hilton Fort Wayne at the Grand Wayne Convention Center - 1020 S. Calhoun St. Ft. Wayne, IN 46802

Rate: $144/night Cut-Off Date: September 28, 2024

Reservations Website Reservations Phone: 260-420-1100, group code: AOI

 

 

 

Continuing Education Hours / Sessions

This conference offers three tracks to meet your needs - water, wastewater & administrative. You can, however, choose to go to classes in different tracks. In order to receive credit for attending classes, you will need to have your name badge scanned prior to each class and at the end of each class. You will be able to earn up to 11 continuing education hours for both water & wastewater licenses. Partial credit will not be given if you come into a class that's already in progress.

Full Event Schedule will be out in the near future.

 

Additional Admin Classes

In addition to our water and wastewater sessions, utility managers, board members, clerks and office personnel will have several administration sessions from which to choose. 

 

Name Badges / Registration Packets

If you register by Friday, October 4, we will be mailing your name badges in advance of the conference. CEU forms will be available in the classrooms. Also, a limited number of printed programs will be available on-site throughout the venue. So, make sure to download the conference mobile app & bring your name tag with you to the event.

 

Mobile App

Make sure you download the Conference App! The app has become very important over the years. It will provide you with the latest updates about our event, keeping you informed and connected. Use this app to access resources, network with other attendees, share your experience at our event & participate in giveaways! To download the app, search "Alliance Conference" in the App Store or in the Google Play Store. App will be available soon! 

 

Prizes & Gifts

Included with your registration packet will be several tickets.  One will be for you to claim your free conference t-shirt in the Exhibit Hall, during breaks at the Alliance booth.  Another will be a free ticket you can use for the Sportsman's Raffle. The third one will be for a drawing for Apple AirTags! The Apple AirTag ticket should be deposited in the marked bins Thursday morning during breakfast. 

 

Exhibit Hall Bingo

Explore the Exhibit Hall while seizing the opportunity to claim exciting prizes! Upon entering, grab a BINGO sheet to kickstart your adventure through an array of vendors. Each vendor booth will be designated with a unique BINGO number, aligning with squares on your card. Present your bingo card to vendors as you explore, and they'll stamp the corresponding square. It's that effortless! Fill your entire board for a shot at winning big! Didn't entirely complete your BINGO board? No worries! You're still eligible for one of our other drawings! BINGO winners will be drawn just before Thursday's Sportsman’s Raffle at 11:45 am.

 

Sportsman's Raffle - Benefiting Water PAC

The Sportsman's Raffle will be in the Exhibit Hall; featuring amazing prizes you don't want to miss out on! Make sure to redeem your free ticket from your registration packet! And NEW this year, select vendors will be handing out raffle tickets (also known as engagement tickets) to those who engage with them at their booth. The raffle drawings will begin at 11:45am on Thursday in the Exhibit Hall. You must be present to win the Grand Prize as well as the shotgun raffle. Raffle proceeds go to the National Water PAC fund to make sure rural water and wastewater is represented in Washington DC. 

 

Best Tasting Water in Indiana Taste Test presented by Wessler Engineering

Regional taste test winners will compete for the Best Tasting Water in Indiana during the luncheon on Wednesday, October 23. A panel of judges will be selected to rate samples based on taste, odor, and clarity. The winner will receive a news release to appear in the Hoosier Pipeline Magazine, as well as an all-inclusive trip to Washington, DC to compete in the NRWA Great American Water Taste Test 2025 - not to mention some pretty awesome bragging rights!

 

Tuesday's Hospitality Night Sponsored by Carson Law

Don't miss the pre-conference hospitality night on Tuesday evening, October 22 from 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Carson Law Office gathering space, which has beautiful downtown views and overlooks the Fort Wayne TinCaps Baseball Field. Please join us for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and friends, thanks to Carson Law!

 

Wednesday Night Events

Wind down after a full day of learning by joining us in the Exhibit Hall for a reception, complete with appetizers, drinks and a few rounds of Rural Family Fued! Later, join us for a night cap in the Hilton Hotel lobby from 8:00 - 10:00pm.

 

Annual Membership Meeting

Our Annual Membership Meeting is scheduled for 7:15am on Thursday, October 24 in the Exhibit Hall. We will be voting on new Board Members and there will be an opportunity to win Apple AirTags!
 

Register NOW to lock in Early Bird Pricing - Only $255! 

Early Bird Pricing for attendees is good through September 24. Registrations after this date will increase $50.

REGISTER NOW!

 

Vendor Info

Vendor Sponsorships

We have put some great sponsorship packages together to make sure your company gets maximum exposure. Each package includes a booth and at least 2 representatives. We're confident you will find a package that will meet your marketing needs, but if you don't or you have any questions - contact Kristen Henley, Conference & Events Manager, at khenley@inh2o.org.

View Vendor Sponsorship Packages

 

Mobile App Sponsorships

For only $425, get your logo or an ad and a link through to your website in the mobile app. Your company logo or an ad you design will pop up on each attendee's app screen throughout the conference. The mobile app has become a staple for our attendees to keep track of their schedule and find information.

 

Exhibit Service Kit

Grand Wayne Convention Center is the official decorator for our event and will be providing all the pipe and drape set up, as well as all shipping services & any additional exhibitor services you might need. Each booth comes with a skirted table, 2 chairs, a wastebasket, and an ID sign. (The exhibit hall is carpeted) If you need any additional items or equipment for your booth, you can refer to the service order form listed under "Quick Links" on this page.

 

Conference T-Shirts

New this year, you will have the opportunity to purchase the Conference T-shirt for you and your company representatives! When registering, please add the Conference T-Shirt option along with the quantity & sizes needed. Shirts will be placed at your booth along with your registration packet.

 

Exhibit Hall Hours 

Wednesday, October 23: 7:30am-5:30pm (closed for lunch 12:30pm-1:30pm)

Thursday, October 247:00am-12:00pm

 

Set-Up / Tear-Down Times

Set-up: Tuesday, October 22 - 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Tear-down: Thursday, October 24 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm

 

Name Badges / Registration Packets

To reduce traffic and congregating at the information / registration desk, your company's registration packet with name badges will be in your exhibit booth. We will send you a map and a booth number prior to the conference. Staff will be assisting in the Exhibit Hall as well.

 

Exhibit Hall Bingo

We have a NEW GAME to get attendees to your booth! Each exhibitor will find their assigned BINGO number on their exhibitor packet at their booth along with a BINGO dauber/stamp. When an attendee visits your booth, you’ll stamp the corresponding square if it’s on their BINGO board. It’s as easy as that! Attendees who fill their entire board will be entered into a drawing. Attendees that partially fill their board will be entered into a second drawing.   We encourage vendors to please donate a prize for this drawing! Lunch for their utility, gift cards, fun prizes, a pizza party…you can get creative with your donation!! Please email Kristen Henley at khenley@inh2o.org to donate a prize for Exhibit Hall BINGO. The Exhibit Hall BINGO drawing will take place prior to the Sportsman’s Raffle on Thursday at 11:45am. Help us drive attendees to your booth!

 

Sportsman's Raffle - Benefiting Water PAC

The Sportsman's Raffle is a huge traffic driver through and to the Exhibit Hall. New this year, your donation of $250 also includes 2 sheets of raffle tickets (engagement tickets) with your company name/logo to hand out to those who engage with you at your booth.  To draw attendees to your booth, signage at the raffle table will identify your company as one that will be handing out engagement tickets. You will receive a total of 64 logoed raffle tickets (engagement tickets).

Vendors are welcomed to participate in the raffle as well! The raffle drawings will begin at 11:45am on Thursday in the Exhibit Hall. You must be present to win the Grand Prize only. A portion of the raffle proceeds go to the National Water PAC fund to make sure rural water and wastewater is represented in Washington DC.  We also welcome vendors to donate prizes! Please email Kristen Henley at khenley@inh2o.org with your interest in this.

 

Tuesday's Hospitality Night Sponsored by Carson Law 

Don't miss the pre-conference hospitality event on Tuesday evening, October 22 from 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Carson Law Office gathering space, which has beautiful downtown views and overlooks the Fort Wayne TinCaps Baseball Field. Please join us for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and friends, thanks to Carson Law!

 

Wednesday Night Events

Wind down after a full day by joining us in the Exhibit Hall for a reception, complete with appetizers, drinks and fun! Later, join us for a night cap in the Hilton Hotel lobby, from 8:00 - 10:00pm.

 

Starting As Low as $750!

 

Thank you to our 2024 Platinum & Gold Sponsors!