While it may seem like the convention is far off, your chapter can save money by planning now.

Deposits
Have members who plan to attend, pay a deposit early in the year.

Early Registration
Register before February 25, 2009, and take advantage of the early registration fee.

Early Hotel Reservations
Register at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis by March 3, 2009, to get the group discount. There is only a limited number of rooms available at the group rate and this block of rooms may fill before the March 3rd deadline. Please make your hotel reservations early. Call 1-800-233-1234 and ask for the STD group discount.

Roommates
Room together— the more the merrier—and cheaper! Room rates are $115 per night for single/double occupancy; $125 for triples/quads (excluding taxes). If you need a roommate, the Central Office can help.

Raising Travel Funds

Fundraising is a necessary activity for every Sigma Tau Delta chapter. According to Dr. Robert Halli at The University of Alabama, “You increase your chances for success in soliciting funds from campus sources if you can convince these sources it is to their benefit to give you funds—that they will get more out of it in publicity and prestige than they invest in capital.”

Solicit Funds

Solicit funds from your English Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Student Government, Student Affairs, Dean, Provost, President, and chapter alumni.

Be specific! Make an itemized spreadsheet listing the projected costs (e.g., food, lodging, transportation, registration fees, etc.) People want to know where their money is going.
Subtract the amount of money your chapter has raised to show that your chapter is making a strong commitment to going to the convention.
Let the spreadsheet reflect the individual contributions made by students (e.g., deposits, fee payments, etc.) in order to demonstrate student commitment.
Make a list of students presenting papers or serving on panels; include paper/panel titles.
Make a list of students who are chairing sessions and include these titles as well.
Make it clear exactly how much money you need.

Have a Fundraiser

Place a visible donation jar in your department office and let everyone know it’s there!
Sell T-shirts—design them for a campus-wide event.
Hold a Book Sale, Bake Sale, or Yard Sale.
Deliver poetry-grams for Valentine’s Day.
Tutor grade school, high school, or undergraduate students.
Collect recipes for a cookbook to sell to students and faculty. Give each dish a literary theme.
Hold a “Vote for Your Favorite English Professor” (or Shakespearean play, or short story, etc.) event—each coin in a jar counts as one vote.
For more ideas check out Chapter Activities: Fundraising.

Reimbursements and Discounts

Voting Delegate Reimbursement. Each attending chapter will receive a reimbursement check of $200 ($400 for chapters outside of the continental US) if the chapter sends a student delegate to the General Business Session and to the Regional Caucus held on Friday, March 27. Checks are mailed shortly after the Convention.

Registration fees are $50 for student presenters and $60 for student nonpresenters and faculty if registered before February 25, 2009. After this date, the registration fee is $80 for everyone.