The Ohio Central Railroad is proud to host the ORTA 2008 Annual Meeting AND Conference Sugar Creek, Ohio
"Full Steam Ahead to the Ohio Central Railroad... ...For Fun, Fellowship, Education, Awards, and Advancement!" April 18 and 19, 2008
	Thank you to the Ohio Central Railroad for your support of The Ohio Rail Tourism Association's 2008 Annual Meeting. We appreciate all of your efforts towards making this an exciting and educational opportunity for all of Ohio's tourist railroad organizations." Ken Baldwin, ORTA president.
	Download our Conference Pamphlet                              Register Online

Friday April 18th:	On-site registration for the event is open from 8:30 to 9:30 PM at the Holiday Inn at 131 Bluebell Drive, New Philadelphia, Ohio. More than 40 rooms are currently reserved for convention attendees at the Holiday Inn. Be sure to tell them that your with the Ohio Rail Tourism Association to insure your discount rate. (See below for details.)
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM	ORTA Board of Trustees Meeting
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM	Join us at 6:30 P.M. at the Dutch Valley Restaurant for some outstanding food and conversation. Dinner can be ordered from the menu and the cost is NOT part of the conference registration fee.
8:30 PM - 9:30 PM	Conference Registration at the Holiday Inn, New Philadelphia, Ohio.
8:30 PM - 11:00 PM	Hospitality Suite w/ Entertainment: Join us at ORTA's hospitality suite at the Holiday Inn.  A Vaudeville team will provide outstanding entertainment.

Conference Schedule of Events:

Saturday April 19th:
7:00 AM- 8:00 AM	Breakfast is on your own. You may visit any of the area restaurants and breakfast nooks before meeting at the Ohio Central Railroad for Saturday Registration, seminars, and the FREE Steam Ride.
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM	Conference Registration. Meet at the Ohio Central Railroad in Sugar Creek.  Registration will be aboard the train!
8:45 AM	Conference Welcome , Introduction and General Announcements; Ken Baldwin, ORTA President.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM	Seminar #1: Insurance Liability and Risk Factors; Guest Speaker Mr. Bob McCarthy , McRail, McCarthy Rail Insurance Managers Inc.
10:00 - 10:15 AM	Break.
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM	Seminar #2: Marketing Partnerships, Partnering with Nonprofit and Statewide Organizations. Guest Speaker Mike Hocker, Exec. Director Lincoln Highway State BYway.
11: 15 AM - 11: 30 AM	Break
and then at 11:30 AM	Get ready for fun and thrills of your Steam Train Ride Adventure.  Lunch will be served as we journey to the Morgan Run Locomotive Shops.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM	Morgan Run Locomotive Shop Tour.
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM	Steam Train Photo Run-By.  After the Morgan tour, capture the splendor of a steam train photo run-by. Don't forget your camera!
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM	Dinner & Annual Meeting  Enjoy dinner at a local church hall. Matthew Dietrich, Executive Director, Ohio Rail Development Commission, will talk about 'Challenges and Opportunities for Rail Passenger Services and Tourism'.  The Annual Meeting will follow dinner along with elections, awards ceremonies, and a raffle.
7:30 PM	Adjournment
8:30 PM - 11 PM	After the meeting return back to our Hospitality Suite at the Holiday Inn, New Philadelphia Ohio for rest and relaxation among friends and associates.

The total cost of the conference is  $49.00 per person for those who pre-register by April 11th.  After April 11th, all registrations are at the full $60 price.  (Guests attending the annual dinner only are invited for $25 per guest. Fill out the registration form below to reserve your seat at the Ohio Rail Tourism Association's 2008 Annual Meeting and Conference.

REGISTRATION DETAILS   To register for the conference activities, complete the attached online registration form below . All pre-registered and late attendees are to pick up their registration and program event packages at the Holiday Inn on Friday evening or Saturday Morning at the Ohio Central Railroad .

MOTEL / HOTEL CONTACT INFORMATION: Holiday Inn – (HOST HOTEL): 131 Bluebell Drive, Ohio 44663. Phone: (330) 339-7731 
 Rooms @ $69.99 per/night (plus 9.5% tax)! Rooms set aside for ORTA will be held until April 16th, after which they become available to the public and the conference rate is no longer guaranteed. Be sure to state that you are with ORTA (The Ohio Rail Tourism Association) to insure you conference discount room rate.