The UPHA Chapter 14 Convention Committee has been meeting for several months laying the groundwork for the 2011 Convention. Many people have worked on the fundraising efforts, which have included a One-Day Benefit Horse Show last September that was extremely successful. This year, the Silent Auction put on by the Young Trainers group at the UPHA 14 Spring Premiere in April will benefit the chapter’s convention fund. Additionally, the management of the Connecticut Summer Classic Show held in August, has pledged to donate the proceeds from that show to the fund.
The Boston Park Plaza will be the host hotel. It is located in the Theater District and is close to many great restaurants and bars.
The schedule will get underway on Thursday morning, January 6 with UPHA and AHHS Board of Directors meetings and an Equitation Committee meeting. The afternoon will be open for sightseeing and a complete list of museums, sports venues, restaurants and other local attractions will be provided to UPHA members well in advance of the convention. Chapter 14 will have a "Concierge" available to help with plans.
That evening everyone will gather for a reception and following the reception, people will have a couple of options. 1) Blocks of Theater tickets will be available (shows to be announced when the schedules are released). 2) There will be a UPHA Chapter 14 Freedom Trail, which will be a caravan of shuttle buses taking members to different "points of interest" across the city. Some of the planned stops include: the first bar and first restaurant in America.....the bar that inspired the hit TV series Cheers.....the top of the Prudential center which overlooks the entire city....and others! This will be a fun night with fellow horsemen and women experiencing the city. 3) or plans on your own.....schedules for the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins won’t be set until August so those options might be available as well.
Friday morning will begin with registration and a continental breakfast in the vendor’s area. We have a strong committee formed to help the vendor area not only with the equine related companies and services that we know, but also trying to bring in local businesses.
Forums will be held throughout the morning and a luncheon open to all will be held after the meetings. This convention is trying to really stress the unity of the three breeds (Saddlebred, Morgan, Hackney) and how it benefits us as a whole to work together as a show horse industry.
Friday evening we are planning on having an "Oscar Night" for the UPHA Horse and Pony Of The Year Awards and the AHHS National Awards. This event will be held away from the hotel at the world-renowned New England Aquarium and IMAX Theater. This will be a "show" unlike anything that has been done before with the "walking of the red carpet" and much, much more.
Everyone will be bused to the Aquarium where there will be a cocktail reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres prior to the awards ceremony. We will walk the red carpet into the IXAX Theater for the presentation of the evening’s awards and then will return to the Aquarium for dinner following the awards. There are three levels of the Aquarium for viewing and one section will have a "Petting Zoo" where children, assisted by Aquarium workers, can get up close and personal with certain sea life. This will truly be an elegant and unique setting.
Saturday morning will again begin with a Continental Breakfast in the Vendor’s area, followed by forums throughout the morning. That afternoon one big luncheon is planned with a motivational speaker, the Ribbons Of Service presentation, recognition of the 2010 UPHA Challenge Cup Champions and UPHA Classic Grand Champions and a couple of National Awards.
Following the luncheon, the afternoon would be open for free time or any additional meetings that would be needed.
A cocktail reception will start off the final evening, which will have a New England flair. **Other options will be available for those who don’t eat seafood.** The Overall Horse Of The Year awards will be presented in addition to the normal Hall of Fame, Instructor, and Trainer of the Year awards. These will be done to the accompaniment of Boston’s best band, Soul Kitchen. Following the awards we promise you that you won’t want to leave the dance floor!