| 2012 NARPI MID-AMERICA REUNION | ||||
| Northcoast Chapter | ||||
| Cleveland Ohio, July 15-17 plus optional day on July 18th | ||||
| Click here to view the Registration Form | ||||
| Click here to view the Attendees List | ||||
 Plan now to join your friends at the NARPI Mid-America Region Summer Reunion, to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 15 – 18, 2012, hosted by the NARPI North Coast Chapter.Nestled on the banks of Lake Erie at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland has a rich blend of natural, cultural and industrial history. Cleveland was founded in 1796 by a Connecticut land company surveying their “western reserve” to compensate settlers who had their farms burned during the Revolutionary War. At the height of industrial activity in 1920, Cleveland was the 5th largest city in the United States. It was home to industrialist / philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil and the wealthiest man in U.S. history; vaudeville, radio, TV and movie comedian Bob Hope; and the inventor of free city delivery – Joseph W. Briggs. Lodging: Lodging for the reunion will be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel – Cleveland South, 5300 Rockside Road, Independence OH 44131, about 9 miles from the center of downtown Cleveland and just south of the highway interchange of I-77   and I-480. Visit the hotel website for directions, amenities and local attractions. If traveling by air to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE), transportation to/from the hotel is complimentary. Contact the hotel directly to make reservations by calling their toll free number (877) 227-6963. Ask for the NARPI Group Rate when making reservations by phone or online. The NARPI rate is $85 per night plus tax (add about $14) and includes a buffet breakfast on Monday (July 16th), Tuesday (July 17th), and Wednesday (July 18th). The NARPI Group Rate will also be available two days before and after the reunion (from July 14th to 19th). Last day for reservations at the NARPI rate is June 12, 2012. |
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| Sunday, July 15th: Registration / Hospitality – 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm. | ||||
| Look for signs in the hotel lobby directing you to registration for the reunion in the Independence Hospitality Room, which will open at 2 PM and remain open until 11 PM on Sunday. The Hospitality Room will open again on Monday evening, from 6 – 11 PM; and again on Tuesday evening after the banquet until 11 PM.
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| Monday, July 16th: Downtown Cleveland / Eliot Ness or Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | ||||
 On Monday, we will catch our bus at 9 AM (tentative start time) for a narrated tour of downtown Cleveland. This morning tour will feature many of the historical, architectural and cultural highlights of this All-American city including Ohio City, the Gateway District, Public Square, the Cleveland Arcade, the Lakefront, Playhouse Square, and University Circle.
We will break for lunch at the Sokolowski’s University Inn, which serves a variety of comfort food cafeteria style and is a must stop for politicians running for office. After lunch, we will board the bus again for a trip to the foot of East 9th Street where attendees can disembark to tour the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for a look at the various influences (gospel, country, blues, folk, etc.) that produced this music form and the role that Cleveland played, or remain on the bus for more sites related to famous federal prohibition agent Eliot Ness and his time in Cleveland as the Public Safety Director. Also in the vicinity of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are the Great Lakes Science Center with an IMAX Theater; the Steamship William G. Mather; the WWII Navy submarine USS Cod; the Cleveland Browns Stadium; and the Goodtime III excursion vessel. Attendees who disembark from the bus at the Rock and Roll Museum will be transported back to the hotel. The Regional and National NARPI meetings will be held at the hotel on Monday, July 16th, in the hospitality room, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. The hospitality room will be open again from 6 to 11 PM. Dinner on Monday evening is on your own, but the North Coast Chapter reunion committee will provide van transportation for groups wishing to go to the same restaurant. Contact us for recommendations. |
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| Tuesday, July 17th: Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton OH; Stan Hywet Hall, Akron OH |
 The American Professional Football Association (APFA) was founded in a Canton OH automobile showroom in 1920. Among the 11 original teams were the Canton Bulldogs, the Massillon Tigers, the Decatur Staleys (now Chicago Bears) and the Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals). In 1922, the APFA was renamed the National Football League (NFL). In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton to honor the city’s historical role in establishing professional football. The Canton Bulldogs are only a high school team today, but their rivalry with the Massillon Tigers, another early pro football namesake, survives. Hall of Fame inductees are enshrined there in August every year on the day before the NFL pre-season begins. Visit the Hall to learn more about early football history, the careers of inductees, see championship rings, uniforms and trophies, and shop at the gift shop. This is a must see for a professional football fan or anyone that wants to learn more about the game. (www.profootballhof.com)After visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we will have a buffet-style lunch at the 356th Fighter Group Restaurant in Canton OH, a WWII-themed restaurant with a view of the Canton-Akron Airport that features photos of Canton area Army Air Force servicemen.  After lunch, we will travel to Akron to visit Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. Stan Hywet (pronounced “Hee Wet”) Hall was the Akron home of Frank Seiberling, founder of Goodyear Tire and Rubber, the largest tire company in the US. Seiberling named his tire company after the inventor of vulcanized rubber, Charles Goodyear. The mansion name means “stone quarry” in Old English, after a nearby sandstone quarry which contributed the building materials. Completed in 1915, members of the Seiberling family lived here for 40 years before donating the home to a nonprofit organization. At over 64,000 square feet, the 65-room Tudor Revival style home is the 7th largest historical home in the United States, and has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Also on the 70 acre estate are the Carriage House, which houses a gift shop and café; the Gate Lodge, where Alcoholics Anonymous was founded; and a variety of formal gardens. |
| Mid-America Region Banquet, Crowne Plaza – Cleveland South, Skyline Ballroom, Tuesday, July 17th, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM |
| Social hour and cash bar opens at 6:00 PM. The banquet will commence with the posting of the flag by representatives of the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Pipe Band Ceremonial Unit, courtesy of Bruce Conner. The banquet will begin at 7:00 PM and will feature a buffet-style dinner with choice of entrees, salad, side dishes and desserts. Our guest speaker will be Greg White, former U.S. Attorney and current U.S. Magistrate for the Northern District of Ohio; and a Postal Inspection Service representative, to discuss recent developments in federal investigations, the Postal Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. A 50-50 drawing will be held and a limited number of door prizes will be distributed. The flag will be retired at the end of the banquet, and the hospitality room will again be open until 11 PM. |
| (Optional Day) Wednesday, July 18th - Golf Outing – Sleepy Hollow, Brecksville OH |
How to Get to Cleveland OH:
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| Click here to view the Registration Form |
| Click here to view the Attendees List |
On Wednesday, golfers will have the opportunity of playing thethe 12-15-2011