Plans are finalized for the 2009 ASAC Convention to again be held January 30-February 1, 2009 at the Embassy Suites in Concord, NC, Exit 49 off I-85.

Reservations must be made by January 6, 2009. Be sure to request the special rate listed "SDL" for the "American Saddlebred Association of the Carolinas." The rate is $125.00 per night, which includes a complimentary breakfast, happy hour and parking.

Reservations, spa appointments and golf times can be booked at www.embassysuitesconcord.com . Contact the hotel at: 5400 John Q. Hammons Drive NW-Concord, NC 28027 - (704) 455-8200.

Friday night’s Reception and Live & Silent Auctions will begin at 7:00 pm. The Silent Auction will continue through Saturday this year and bids will close at 6:30 pm on Saturday. The Youth will have a separate night of fun. At 7:00 pm on Friday night, there will be an ASAC Youth Mardi Gras and Dance. The Youth will have two adjoining rooms with games and food on one side and a DJ and dancing on the other side.

Meetings start early on Saturday morning with separate meetings for the Youth and General Membership. The Youth will have a free pizza lunch on Saturday following their meeting. After lunch, Informative Roundtable Discussions and Exchange of Ideas will be offered again this year. Also, a variety of vendors will be set up in the convention hall and upstairs suites. Updates on the website.

For the Youth and young at heart, tickets are available for a fun afternoon at the NASCAR Speedpark at the nearby Concord Mills Mall. A shuttle bus will provide roundtrip transportation between the hotel and mall, with the last bus returning to the hotel at 4:00pm. T-shirts are included in the price and MUST be worn during at the Speedpark. Wearing the T-shirts will let the chaperones easily keep track of the Youth at the Speedpark. Please list either Adult or Youth t-shirt with your size and on the registration form. For more information on the Speedpark go to www.nascarspeedpark.com/concord.html.

Please refer to the ASAC website at www.asacsaddlebred.com for exact schedule and times.

As with any successful convention, volunteers are needed!

ASAC needs volunteers to help chaperone the youth activities, help with the Convention registration desk, auction and various other needs. To volunteer contact Betsy Boone at boonescabin@aol.com or (704) 796-3057 or Brenda Pulis at SCGaited@aol.com .

To help with Youth activities, contact Liz Holmes at lizholmes@mebtel.net.

We also need items for the Live and Silent Auctions. Please let us know if you would like to help or have auction items to donate. For auction items, contact Nancy Boone at nboone@carolina.rr.com.