{UAH} 10 Important Points for UNAA New Orleans 2015!! Excitement!! ~ Ugandans At Heart (UAH)

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27th Annual UNAA Convention and Trade Expo - New Orleans 2015

"Better Together: Investing in Our Future through Education"

Dear UNAA Delegates:

Exciting Times!!

Welcome to the 27^th Annual UNAA Convention in New Orleans!

This signature event, the oldest, largest and most reliable of its kind on the globe, celebrates our unique Ugandan culture and origins thousands of miles from the mother country.

We have put together a highly engaging program, one which starts with business but ultimately ends in the typical Ugandan high octane fun - Every day!

Here are 10 pointers that will make your experience at the UNAA New Orleans convention that much more compelling.

Transfer from (and back to) the Airport:The main airport to use is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). The Convention organizing team has negotiated a special UNAA price with an Airport Shuttle company of $35 for a round trip transfer to the hotel and back to the Airport after the convention. The rate is only available online and in advance so please Click here to reserve your spot on the shuttle.
Arrival at the Hotel:One you walk into this beautiful hotel, if you are one of the lucky few, the beautiful Ms. Tourism Uganda will be on hand to welcome you to UNAA New Orleans 2015. Behind her, the reception desk is staffed with several agents to check you into your room. Get at least TWO key cards - free advice. Once checked in turn right and walk about 50 feet (15 meters) to an escalator which takes you to the 3^rd floor. You can also use nearby Elevators to get to the 3^rd floor.
Once on the 3^rd Floor - THE ELEVATORS - VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a reason we are highlighting this. These elevators are ultra-modern - I know, I know, we Ugandans have been to space and seen it all but please take special note about how these elevators work.Remember the key card you were handed at the reception desk in point 2 above? You will need to swipe that card across the surface of one of two panels to the right and left just outside the elevator bank. This action will call an elevator which is going to the floor on which you room is. A light just above the elevator will flash to show you which one of the 8 available elevators is opening to take you. There are no buttons to press in the elevator, it will automatically get you to your floor. If this is too much, no need to worry - the organizers have asked the hotel to make sure that we have staff members on hand to assist.
Registration Process: The Registration Area will be in the Celestine Foyer on the 3^rd Level. The Organizers have put in place plans to make this exercise short and swift. Please come along with your government issued ID and with the QR code you will have received by email in paper format or on your mobile device. This will help you breeze through easily. Once your QR code is read, your name tag prints out at a printer next to a UNAA Agent. The UNAA agent will call your name and you will need to furnish the agent with you government issued identification to match the name on your convention tag. Then a unique verification tag will be attached and you will be good to go. DO NOT lose that tag - it is priceless and the security guys all over the venue will only let you in if you have that unique tag. You lose it - you pay for another.
Registration Desk Hours - STRICTLY.

Thursday 9/3/2015 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Friday 9/4/2015 8:00am to 12Noon and then 1:00pm to 6:00pm.
Saturday 9/5/2015 8:00am to 12 Noon and then 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
Sunday 9/6/2015 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
The Organizers are always looking for reliable volunteers to assist with registration so please do not hesitate to join in. THANK YOU!

The Convention Program: Along with your registration name tag you will receive a program pamphlet. It is the best guide on how the weekend is going to flow. But because you will leave your copy in your room and will not feel like working that elevator after a one-on-one with Heineken, the organizers have made available a service that is strictly only for receiving program updates and reminders via text message. In order to get your cell phone registered for this service please send a text message to 313131. You should do this now - before you leave this point. We will not use this service for any other purpose - it costs money anyway.
The Dinner Cruise: You want to be on this dinner cruise. If you have never been to a UNAA convention and are still sitting on the fence about this, let us clear the doubt for you - Sign up for this dinner cruise. The buses to take us down to the pier, through Scenic New Orleans, will start leaving the hotel at 5:15pm. There are several buses and they will make enough trips to get all who have registered to the pier in time. Furthermore the boat will not leave until everyone who has registered and shown up in the lobby in time is on the boat. The organizers will NOT sell one ticket above capacity - and the Police at the Pier will make sure that not be a single fluker will take your place. So please keep time, and so that we all have fun, please follow the orderly process to board the buses and the boat. The people, food and entertainment on this boat are the ultimate fun of a convention. If the boat fills up before you have signed up, then you will stay back in the now eerily quiet hotel and maybe you can catch up on some sleep. The Dinner cruise, all in, is only $89, probably less than what you will spend on dinner and the bar on that evening anyway.
The Expo Area: This year the EXPO Area is just outside the Celestine Ballroom on level 3. Make it a point to visit this lively area and below is some of what you will be able to do:
- Buy Binzaali, kabalagala (as in mbadda), a kitenge and some crafts among other thing
- Open a Diaspora Bank Account with PostBank Uganda
- Safely, securely and affordably build a very good house in Uganda bypassing demanding and thieving relatives.
- Buy a house in Uganda at the proper price
- Freely sign up for a facility to very cheaply but reliably send money directly to your Auntie in Bukomansimbi in seconds using an app on your smart phone. You will NEVER use any other money transfer service again - promise.
- Drink some free Ugandan Coffee
- Take a portrait photo
- Buy the latest Ugandan Music
- Explore tourism opportunities in Uganda.
- Get an Executive job in Uganda - Really serious.
The Ballroom and Meetings rooms:Every event will take place on the 3^rd level in and around the Celestine Ballroom. The meetings rooms for Trade and Investment, Ssenga, the Political forum, the UNAA AGM, Juma and Sunday Prayers are all in the Celestine Ball room area on level 3. Saturday Lunch and the formal dress Gala Dinner on Sunday will also be held in the Celestine Ballroom on level 3. So all you need to do is come to Level 3 and look for the Celestine Ball room.
UNAA Elections: It is an election year and the elections will take place on Sunday September in one of the Strand meeting rooms on level 2. The election will take place on Sunday September 6^th 2015.