The Convention Planning Committee is finalizing plans for the 2018 CEA Convention, which will be held October 25 and 26 at the Century Center and South Bend Doubletree Hotel in South Bend, Indiana. We hope this convention will provide professional stimulation and challenge each one of you!
Theme: For The Life Of The World
Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:15
Thursday
Keynote Speaker: Carol Bremer-Bennett
Opening Worship begins at 9:00 a.m.
Friday
Capstone Speaker: Paul Mpindi
Closing Worship begins at 11:30 a.m. (Convention begins at 9:00 a.m.)
All of the 2018 CEA Sessions can be viewed online using the Convention Planner.
The delegates are invited to attend an important Delegates’ Meeting on Thursday at 10:15 a.m., immediately following the Opening Worship, in the Recital Hall on the lower level of the Century Center.
2018 CEA Convention Theme: For The Life Of The World
“For the Life of the World” encompasses advancing God’s kingdom here on earth by being transforming educators in every place and circumstance we encounter. Our passion is for God’s grace to overflow to more and more people as we seek to live out our mission in our schools and beyond.
Out of respect to speakers and fellow teachers, the Planning Committee requests that those in attendance at meetings not leave until the chairperson indicates the close of the session.
Children and infants may not attend any CEA session or opening or closing worship. We ask for your cooperation so someone from the Planning Committee will not be forced to ask you to leave. Contact your hotel for babysitting services or make other arrangements for your children if you choose to take them along to the convention.
A hotel reservation form was sent to you in the spring and you have hopefully already made your hotel/motel arrangements directly with the hotel/motel. Another copy is included below.
On Thursday there will be a lunch break in the schedule. There will be no sessions scheduled. The exhibit hall will be open. There will be snacks and sandwiches available on the lower level and in the snack shop (in the brick entryway) of the Century Center and in the restaurants in the South Bend Doubletree, and area restaurants. A list of additional eating places close to the Century Center will be available at Convention Headquarters. The list of restaurants is also available online at www.sjchamber.org
The following Loaves and Fishes will be meeting in a room during a session time.
Thursday from 11:00 – 12:00 noon
L+F ~ Band Music Reading Session (Please bring your instruments)
Thursday from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
L+F ~ A Global Connection – A “Sister School” in another country
Remember that retired Christian school teachers and administrators may attend the convention free of the normal registration charges. Contact the Executive Secretary, Brenda VanderPloeg, for details. (cea@ceateachers.org)
Spouse passes may be obtained at Convention Headquarters for $5 and guest passes for educators who are not CEA members are $110.
Student Teachers may attend the convention for free, if they send in a Student Teacher Voucher to Brenda VanderPloeg. Contact Brenda VanderPloeg (cea@ceateachers.org) for a Student Teacher Voucher.
CEA dues for this year will be $90 per member. These dues cover your convention registration, a subscription to the Christian Educators Journal, and committee expenses. Your delegate will be collecting dues in September.
River City Improv is coming to 2018 CEA! Admission is free! River City Improv begins at 8:00 pm, Thursday night in the Bendix Theatre on the lower level of the Century Center. Come with your colleagues to laugh and enjoy!
Gather by CEA headquarters at the Century Center for our 2018 CEA 5K Walk/Run. The event begins at 7:00 am, Friday morning. Follow the St. Joseph River for a beautiful morning walk or run. This will be an un-chipped event. There is no cost for this event.
Twitter – Use #CEA2018 to get connected and share your experience.
Two name badges will be sent to each teacher this year for use at the convention. Those who are being honored for 25 or 35 years of service will receive a special set of name badges. Your delegate will have those for you.
Calvin’s Graduate Education Department will offer SCECH’s (State Continuing Education Clock Hours) through the State of Michigan. Educators may earn Michigan SCECH’s for attending selected sessions. Specific directions may be obtained from your CEA delegate or on the CEA website. You may also stop at the Information Desk before the convention starts to pick up a registration form.
If you have any questions please stop by the Calvin College display booth in the Exhibits Hall.
INFORMATION DESK will be located on the Street Level of the Century Center. If you are a chairperson, please stop at Information Desk to pick up AND return your session envelope.
Back by popular demand, our very own CEA Book Club! Read, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel and come discuss this book at book club on Thursday, from 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Update: With apology, this session has been canceled.
South Bend is in the Eastern Time zone. That means that South Bend is on “Michigan Time.”
The CEA would like to express our deep appreciation to Lynnette VanHeukelum for designing the 2018 CEA Banner.
The exhibits will be ringing the great room on the River Level of the Century Center. Our Chairperson of Exhibits is Jerry Mastenbrook (Kalamazoo Christian Middle School). He has worked very hard at obtaining vendors to come to our convention. Please be sure to visit the exhibits and order materials right at the convention whenever possible. Even when placing an order later in the year, be sure to mention the convention exhibit. Since the exhibits are an important source of CEA income, we urge your cooperation.
The following have donated either products or cash for us to provide exhibitor prizes. Visit the exhibit hall and receive a ticket from the vendors, Drop your ticket off in the prize bowl at the CEA headquarters. We will be drawing prizes each hour.
Many thanks to:
Distinguished Donor........................ ANDY STEENSMA INSURANCE AGENCY
Serving the Michigan Educational Community since 1950
Outstanding Donor.......................... Providence Bank
CEA 2018 CONVENTION HOUSING INFORMATION
To: ALL CEA MEMBERS
From: Brenda VanderPloeg, Executive Secretary
Christian Educators Association
Phone: 616.669.3497
email: cea@ceateachers.org
Date: MAY, 2018
Re: CEA 2018 CONVENTION HOUSING/LODGING
This important housing/lodging information is being sent to you in preparation for our fall 2018 CEA Convention to be held in South Bend, Indiana on October 25 and 26. (More convention information and a request for dues will be sent to you in the fall.) EACH CEA MEMBER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING HIS/HER OWN HOUSING/LODGING RESERVATIONS.
· You must tell the hotels that you are with CEA to receive these rates.
· Remember to reserve the correct dates. The actual CEA Convention is Thursday and Friday, October 25 and 26, 2018. You will most likely need lodging for Wednesday, October 24 and/or Thursday, October 25.
· You will need a credit card number to make a reservation.
· You will be dealing directly with the hotel/motel for ALL arrangements and will receive a confirmation directly from that hotel/motel.
REDUCED RATES FOR CEA MEMBERS AT THE FOLLOWING HOTELS:
Southbend DoubleTree Hotel
123 North St. Joseph Street
South Bend, IN 46601
Connected to the Century Center via a skywalk
Parking $10.00 per day.
Reservation Number: 574-234-2000
Rooms: $134.00
SpringHill Suites
5225 Edison Lakes Parkway
Mishawaka, IN 46545
5.2 miles East of the Century Center
Complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet
Reservation Number: 574-271-0832
Rooms: $99.00
Courtyard by Marriott
121 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
South Bend, IN 46601
Across the street from the Century Center
Newly built
Free wifi
In and Out valet parking, $15.00 per day.
Reservation Number: 574-237-7777
Rooms: $129.00
Comfort Suites
60971 US 31 South
South Bend, IN 46614
5 miles South of the Century Center
Complementary Hot Breakfast
Reservation Number: 574-291-3100
Rooms: $90.00