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Convention FAQ
This FAQ provides answers to the most common questions asked about the Annual Arizona Homeschool Convention and Curriculum Fair.
This FAQ page has been updated with 2010 information
March 14, 2010
Please click on a topic to see the questions and answers for that subject.
- CHILDREN & TEENS
- CONVENTION REGISTRATION
- CONVENTION SURVEYS
- EXHIBIT HALL
- FOOD/LUNCH
- MISCELLANEOUS
- NAME BADGES
- WORKSHOP RECORDINGS
- VOLUNTEERS
- REFUNDS
Q: Can I bring my children to the convention?
A: Children may attend the convention with their parents. There is a $10 adminission fee for each child ages 3 and older. We do not have a children's program at our convention. Children under 12 must remain with their parents at all times. Children are welcome in any of the adult workshop sessions provided they are not disruptive and they are accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. There is no charge for infants and we do provide a curtained area for moms in the exhibit hall for nursing, feeding, and changing infants.
Q: Why is there a charge for children and teens to attend?
A: We have arranged a special program for teens. The teen charge helps offset the expense of bringing in their speakers and the related facilities charges. We charge for younger children because we are not equipped to handle a very large number of children at the Convention Center. The seminar is geared toward adults. We understand, however, that some cannot arrange child care and we want to give them the option to bring their children if necessary. Arizona is part of a shrinking minority around the country in extending this option. Please be respectful of the Convention Center property and staff since they have been so gracious in allowing us to continue this practice.
Q: What is there for teens to do at the convention?
A: We have a special program arranged just for homeschooled students ages 12 and older. You can find details on the current year's convention page. Teens are also invited to attend and enjoy any of the other sessions and the exhibit hall as well. We ask that they conduct themselves as well-mannered young men and women at all times.
Q: What age is the Teen Program geared for?
A: The Teen Program is geared for students ages 12 and older. Children under age 12 may attend, but must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult.
Q: When does 2010 convention registration open?
A: Early registration will open March 15, 2010 and will close June 23, 2010.
Q: How do I register to attend the convention?
A: Early registration runs through June 23, 2010.
All early discount convention registration forms must be postmarked no later than June 23, 2010.
After June 23, registration is only available at the door for the full price of $60 (individual or married couple) regardless of membership status. AFHE membership is an additional $25, but is optional at the door.
Online registration - The $62 online registration fee includes convention registration for an individual or married couple + one year of AFHE membership. (If you are already a member, an additional year will be added to your membership when your current membership expires.) You'll be able to register non-homeschooling grandparents (free admission) and teens/children for $10 each, ages 3 and older. Online registration is available through June 23, 2010.
Registration at the door - Go to the registration area in the lobby of the Phoenix Convention Center, South Building. Fill out a registration card located at the tables in the lobby. Take your completed registration card and your payment to one of the On-Site Registration lines and we will take care of you. On-site payment options include cash, check with proper ID, and credit card (Visa or MasterCard only).
Q: How do I participate in the the early registration discount?
A: Mail your registration and payment so that is postmarked no later than June 23, 2010.
Q: How much is registration if I register by the early registration deadline?
A: The early registration convention admission fee is just $30 per individual or married couple.
The early registration discount is only available to current AFHE members. If you are not a current member, you may join for $25. There is a place on the registration form for new and renewing members to pay for their AFHE membership in addition to the convention registration fee.
Q: Why do I have to join AFHE to participate in early registration?
A: The early registration discount is a benefit of AFHE membership. You must be a current member of AFHE in order to enjoy the discount with early registration. You may join or renew your membership on the same form with your convention early registration.
Q: Can I register at the door?
A: Yes! The cost is $60. You can also join AFHE or renew your AFHE membership at that time for an additional fee of $25.
Forms of payment accepted at the door include cash, checks with proper ID, and credit cards (Visa or MasterCard only).
Q: What time does on-site registration begin?
A: 8:00 AM both days
Q: What is the admission price at the door?
A: $60 (spouse attends free), $10 per child or teen ages 3 and older. Infants are free. Non-homeschooling grandparents are free (see below).
Q: If my husband/wife cannot attend with me, can I bring a friend?
A: You may bring a friend, however, they will have to pay the full convention admission fee.
We give free spouse admission to encourage couples to attend together. This is because we see the importance of couples to be “of one mind” in their education decisions. We do not have any other group discounts.
Q: Is there a discount if my spouse cannot attend with me?
A: No. We give free spouse admission to encourage couples to attend together (as described in the previous question). We do not offer a discount if the spouse is unable to attend.
Q: Is there a discount if I can only attend one day?
A: No. We have one price which includes either day or both days. Our fee is quite reasonable even if you are only able to attend one day. For two days, it is a real bargain!
Q: Is there a discount for admission to the exhibit hall only?
A: No. We sell admission as a package deal. One price gives you access to all.
Q: What is the admission price for grandparents?
A: We understand the importance of grandparents in the homeschool process. Non-homeschooling grandparents are always free if they come with their adult children who pay regular admission. Grandparents who are still homeschooling one or more children of their own must register separately and pay the full admission fee.
Q: If I pre-register, when will I receive my name tags?
A: Convention attendees who do the early registration will receive their name tags and convention information in the mail approximately 3 weeks after we receive your early registration form and payment. Please be patient. It is a busy time of year and we are processing many registrations as well as AFHE membership applications.
If you mailed your registration more than 4 weeks ago and you have not received your name tags in the mail yet, please send us an email with your name, phone number, and email address to convention@afhe.org so we can check on the status of your registration.
Q: If I pre-register, where do I check in when I arrive at the Convention Center?
A: There will be special pre-registration express check-in lines for those who did the early registration. Present your name tags to the volunteer at one of the Pre-Registration lines and they will give you your name badge holders/lanyards along with a convention program and a goody bag.
Q: What if I pre-registered, but plan on bringing an additional child or teen?
A: You will need to fill out an on-site registration card and go to one of the on-site registration lines to pay for the additional child or teen.
Q: What is the Parents of Preschoolers Free Admission Program?
A: Reaching families before their children are of school age is a positive way to expand and share the vision of home education. To help reach parents of preschoolers, AFHE is offering a Parents of Preschoolers Free Admission program. This is a great way to invite young families to come to the convention and learn more about parent-led, family-funded, relationship-based home education.
Q: Who qualifies for the Parents of Preschoolers Free Admission Program?
A: To participate, parents must meet all of the following requirements to qualify:
1. Oldest child cannot be older than 5 years of age.
2. Must have never attended the AFHE homeschool convention before.
3. Must use a special registration form and register for the convention by the June 23 deadline.
Q: How does one sign up for the convention under the Parents of Preschoolers Free Admission Program?
A: If the family meets the above listed qualifications, they may download a special registration form and mail it in by June 23, 2010.
Q: Can I register at the door and receive free admission for the Parents of Preschoolers program?
A: No. Early registration by June 23, 2010 is required to participate in the free admission program.
Q: I'd like to invite my pastor to attend the convention, how does he/she register?
A: We invite non-homeschooling pastors to attend the convention free of charge as a means to share the vision of home education and to build strong relationships with churches. This offer is extended to pastors who do not teach their own children currently, but are interested in learning more about homeschooling. Registration by June 23, 2010 is required for free admission for non-homeschooling pastors.
Q: What do you do with the information from the completed surveys?
A: We use this information to help us make future conventions an even better experience for those in attendance. We also compile statistical information from certain questions.
Q: What do I do with my completed survey?
A: There will be a basket at the registration counter for completed surveys starting Friday late afternoon.
Q: Why don't you have a basket in the ballroom for the completed convention surveys to be placed?
A: We value your feedback and want surveys to be turned in at a supervised location so they are not lost or misplaced.
Q: Is it true I can enter a drawing if I turn in my completed survey?
A: Yes! Complete your survey, turn it in at the registration counter, fill out a prize drawing slip with your name, address, and phone number, and you will be entered in the prize drawing!
4 names will be drawn for a Free One-Year AFHE Membership and 10 names will be drawn for a Free Workshop CD from the convention.
One survey and one prize drawing slip entry per family, please.
Q: How will I find out if I won?
A: We will mail you a certificate to notify you that you have won approximately 3 weeks after the convention.
Q: What if I have already paid for my AFHE membership and I win a free membership in the drawing?
A: You may use your certificate to renew your membership and extend your current expiration date by one year. No cash refunds will be issued for winners who have already paid their AFHE membership fee.
Q: How would I redeem my certificate for a free workshop CD if I win?
A: Workshop CDs can be ordered from Resounding Voice following the convention on their website. Instructions will be provided with the certificate we mail to the winners. NOTE: Some speakers limit the sale of their workshop recordings from our convention to on-site sales only and may not be available following the convention.
Q: What types of exhibitors are permitted to have booths in the Exhibit Hall?
A: We focus on exhibitors who assist and encourage parents in their efforts to teach their own children at home. A few groups who enrich the homeschool experience are included as space allows. You will not find schools or teaching services in our hall who specialize in “out-of-home” education. Some information on privately funded teaching services may be found in our goody bag.
Q: What hours will the exhibit hall be open?
A: The exhibit hall opens at 10:00 AM to allow the vendors to stay open later. This allows for more shopping time for convention attendees after the workshops have ended. The exhibit hall closes at 7:00 PM both days.
Q: Why don't you open the exhibit hall earlier than 10:00 AM?
A: The exhibit hall opens at 10:00 AM to allow the vendors to stay open later. This allows for more shopping time for convention attendees after the workshops have ended. The exhibit hall closes at 7:00 PM both days.
Q: Do I have to register for the convention if I just want to come and shop in the exhibit hall?
A: Yes. We sell admission as a package deal. One price gives you access to all.
Q: Can I bring my own food/lunch to the convention?
A: The Phoenix Convention Center has a contract with on-site food vendors that prohibits any outside food from being brought in. No outside food may be brought into the Convention Center including sack lunches or snacks brought from home. However, you may bring your own lunch if you do not eat on the Convention Center grounds.
Note: No food or drinks, except water, are permitted in the workshop rooms and ballrooms.
Q: Where can I purchase lunch?
A: There are on-site food vendors as well as many restaurants within walking distance of the Phoenix Convention Center.
Visit www.downtownphoenix.com for an interactive map with restaurants in the area.
Q: Why is the Arizona Home Educators' Convention & Curriculum Fair held in July? Why can't it be earlier in the year?
A: Booking priority at the Convention Center is based on the amount of downtown hotel space you fill. Since our event is primarily local, we are not in the highest priority for booking. This means we must make do with the least popular month for conventions in Phoenix, July. By coordinating our convention dates with other states, however, we make the best of this situation. Exhibitors can generally come to our event just after they attend the convention in southern California.
Q: Is there a place I can store my purchases during the day?
A: We discontinued the book check booth in 2008. You may bring a wheeled cart or small suitcase on wheels if you like for carrying your purchases with you more easily.
Q: What is the purpose of the name badges?
A: Your name badge is your admission for both days to all areas of the convention including speaker sessions, workshops, and the exhibit hall. Name badges must be worn at all times.
Q: What do I do if I forget or lose my name badge?
A: A replacement name badge may be purchased at the registration counter in the lobby for $1.00. Our on-site registration coordinators will verify registration for the convention before issuing a replacement name badge.
Q: How do I purchase recordings of specific workshops?
A: Recordings of speaker workshops may be purchased at the convention - go to the Resounding Voice booth inside the exhibit hall to purchase CDs or MP3s.
Recordings may also be purchased following the convention through the Resounding Voice website www.resoundingvoice.com
NOTE: Some speakers limit the sale of their workshop recordings from our convention to on-site sales only and may not be available following the convention.
Exhibitor workshops are not recorded.
Q: Why are certain speakers' recordings only available for purchase at the convention and not afterward?
A: Some speakers request that their recordings only be sold at the convention. This prevents web sales from our conference from competing with their own sales. We respect our speakers’ right to apply this restriction if they wish. You may generally buy recordings of similar sessions directly from the speakers in this case.
Q: Why are volunteers important at the convention?
A: Our convention is run entirely by volunteers, from the directors to the registration staff. Our volunteer workers help keep costs to a minimum while continuing to provide an excellent conference. Thanks to everyone who works so hard to make this event a success!
Q: What do volunteers do at the convention?
A: Volunteers staff registration counters, count the number of attendees in rooms, monitor rooms, and assist speakers with various needs including sometimes staffing their booths as booth hosts.
Q: How long would my shift as a volunteer last?
A: Volunteers must serve a minimum of 1 hour. Generally people work between 1 and 5 hours. A minimum of 5 hours of on-site volunteer service is required for free admission.
Q: Must I be an AFHE member in order to volunteer?
A: Yes, AFHE membership is required to volunteer. We offer our members the opportunity to volunteer at the convention as a benefit of membership.
Q: What is the deadline to sign up as a volunteer?
A: All volunteers are asked to sign up as a volunteer and register for the convention no later than June 23, 2010 (the early registration date). This allows us to finalize the volunteer schedules and mail out your name tags and convention registration packet.
Q: How do I sign up to serve as a volunteer?
A: Send an email to us at convention@afhe.org. Please indicate which area(s) you would be interested in serving ... workshop host, booth host, or registration. You will be contacted by one of our volunteer coordinators with more information.
Q: Where do I check in when it's my turn to volunteer and how early do I need to check in?
A: There is a Volunteer Check-In at the registration counter in the lobby. Look for the sign. Our volunteer coordinators will review the specifics about your tasks and give any last minute instructions when you sign in. You should check in when you arrive at the Phoenix Convention Center to receive your name badge holders, convention program, and goody bag.
Q: I have pre-registered for the convention, but I am unable to attend. Can I get a refund?
A: Our policy, as published in our promotional materials, is that all convention fees are non-refundable.
Q: Can I give my name tag to a friend to use if I cannot attend?
A: Unfortunately, no. Registration is non-transferable.
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