Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Olin Thomas, Dave Melson & Ricky Gilbert at the Conference venue

We are pleased to announce that registration materials for our annual conference are available at www.affirmation.org/conference. The Planning Committee is putting a lot of effort into preparing an outstanding conference which will also be very reasonably priced. With registration fees starting at $149, this conference, to be held October 10-12 in Los Angeles, is an unbeatable deal.

We encourage you to register early, to use the same form to renew your annual Affirmation membership, and, if you feel so inclined, to include a donation. Registration fees alone do not cover the full cost of our conferences. If you are not yet an Affirmation member, we strongly encourage you to become one! If you are a student or are unemployed, please read the back of the registration form, which includes information about conference scholarships.

Three weeks ago, the Executive Committee visited the conference venue in Los Angeles. The San Pedro DoubleTree is a beautiful hotel by the Cabrillo Marina. We have posted on the conference website plenty of information about the area, including transportation, restaurants, and local attractions. We put a lot of thought into choosing an inexpensive venue for this conference, and we are pleased that LAX and Long Beach are low-cost destinations for most of our members. These airports are approximately the same distance from the hotel, so use the airport to which you can get the most favorable flight.

The Southern California area is sprawling and very automobile-oriented, so we strongly suggest you consider renting a car for the weekend. The conference committee has arranged special rates through Avis and rental rates with all companies are very affordable in the area. A car will greatly expand your options for free time and extra circular activities. For the optional Queen Mary tour on Sunday afternoon, we will travel by carpool from San Pedro to nearby Long Beach. If you’re sharing the ride from the airport with someone else, you will actually save money by renting a car, compared with taking a shuttle.

National conferences are a vital component of Affirmation: We renew friendships, discuss important issues, and share unforgettable experiences. We hope you will join us October 10-12 for our annual family reunion.