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2009 Convention Registration

PRE-REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED - BUT YOU CAN STILL REGISTER AT THE DOOR!
If you missed the pre-registration deadline, just register at the door during the convention. We hope to see you there!

REGISTRATION COSTS/OPTIONS

REGISTRATION FAQS

NEED TO CHANGE YOUR REGISTRATION?
At this time, changes to existing registrations must be made onsite when you arrive at the convention.

BECOME AN HEAV MEMBER AND SAVE!
Members save $15 on most adult registration options, plus receive a host of other year-round benefits! A Basic Membership costs just $35 a year. In addition to giving you great benefits, your membership helps us protect and promote homeschooling in Virginia and encourage homeschooling families across the Commonwealth. We appreciate your support!

Learn more or become a member today!

NEW THIS YEAR! FREE ADMITTANCE FOR QUALIFYING PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS
Parents of preschoolers, are you searching for the perfect educational program? Are you wondering if home education is right for you and your child? If so, we invite you to come as our guest to learn about the wonderful world of homeschooling! Take a look at our Preschool Page for more details and to see if you qualify.

To all you veteran homeschoolers: Tell a new parent! Invite them to attend. We also offer free how-to-begin workshops for everyone on Thursday. If you have any ideas on how to get the word out, please let us know.

REGISTRATION FAQS

Rebekah Bentley, Registration Coordinator, registration@heav.org

How can I register for the convention?
How soon can I register for the convention?
What are the advantages of pre-registration?
What is the deadline for pre-registering for the convention?
May I bring my children with me to the convention?
How much does it cost to register for the convention?
Are there any exceptions to these registration options?
What if my spouse is unable to attend, or I am not married? May I bring someone else along for free on my ticket in place of a spouse?
May I get a discount on my registration by volunteering at the convention?
My child is between 10 and 12 years old--should I register him for the Children's Program or as a "tween"?
My child (12 and up) wants to volunteer, but not attend workshops. Do I have to register him/her?
I am only able to attend on Thursday and Friday. May I browse the Exhibit Hall on Thursday evening?
I am only interested in the free workshops on Thursday afternoon. Do I need to pre-register?
How do I register for particular workshops I would like to attend?
I have decided to attend the convention at the last minute. May I still register?
I registered for convention, but am now unable to attend. How do I go about getting a refund?

Q: How can I register for the convention?
A: Pre-register online (preferred!), through the mail, or by calling our office at 804-278-9200. You may pre-register until Monday, May 22. If you miss the pre-registration deadline, you may register at the door when you arrive at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Please look for the registration area in the lobby of the Exhibit Hall Building. You will save both time and money if you pre-register. (See "What are the advantages of pre-registration?" below.)

Q: How soon can I register for the convention?
A: Pre-registration begins on January 7 and will remain open through May 22. Registration will also be available at the door.

Q: What are the advantages of pre-registration?
A: There are several great advantages:

• Early shopping! Pre-registration permits early admission to the Used Curriculum Sale before the sale opens to all registered attendees at 3 p.m. on Friday, giving you access to the best selection of materials.
• Money-saving prices! Registration prices at the door are $5 more for Full-Convention, Friday-Only, or Saturday-Only tickets. The Children's Program cost is $2 more per child, per day when you register your child at the door.
• Shorter Lines! You will also find the check-in line for pre-registered attendees moves along far more quickly than the line for those registering at the door, since payment will have already been exchanged!

If you were not able to pre-register before the deadline, we will be happy to register you at the door.

Q: What is the deadline for pre-registering for the convention?
A: May 22, 2009. Registrations postmarked after May 22 will be returned, and you will need to register when you come to the convention.

Q: May I bring my children with me to the convention?
A: Children of any age are welcome in the shopping areas when accompanied by a registered adult. Only children 10 and older who have registered and paid for the convention and nursing infants are permitted in the workshops. Parents who plan to attend workshops must make arrangements for their toddlers or other unregistered children to be cared for during workshop sessions. (The Children's Program is available for children ages 4 to 12.)

Q: How much does it cost to register for the convention?
A: Please see the registration costs and options below.

PRE-REGISTRATION FEES
(Pre-registration ends Monday, May 22)

ON-SITE REGISTRATION FEES
PRICES REDUCED! REGISTER AT THE DOOR FOR PRE-REGISTRATION PRICES!
Yes, you read that right--for the first time ever, HEAV is holding the line on the price of at-the-door registrations! Because of the economic challenges many homeschoolers are facing, the HEAV board has decided to make the pre-registration and at-the-door convention prices the same this year.

There are no gimmicks, no ulterior motives--we simply want to make it possible for you to attend! We have a tremendous three-day event planned for you -- we have more exhibitors and more people preregistered to attend than ever before! This promises to be one awesome convention! So, ya'll come!

*NEW THIS YEAR! FREE ADMITTANCE FOR QUALIFYING PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS
Parents of preschoolers, are you searching for the perfect educational program? Are you wondering if home education is right for you and your child? If so, we invite you to come as our guest to learn about the wonderful world of homeschooling. We'll have special sessions on developing a philosophy of education, homeschooling preschoolers, choosing curriculum, and more. You'll also get to visit the Exhibit Hall, which is filled with more than 300 booths of the latest and greatest educational materials and resources.

To qualify, your eldest child must be under 5 years of age (your eldest child's fifth birthday must be after June 30, 2009), and you must never have attended an HEAV convention. You will still need to register, but your registration will be FREE!

While pre-registration has closed to allow us time to print name tags and gather materials, you can register for free at the door during the convention. We hope to see you there! In the meantime, please take a look at our Preschool Page for workshops and links of interest.

Please Note: Only nursing infants and children 10 and older who have registered and paid for the convention are permitted in the workshops. Parents who plan to attend workshops must make childcare arrangements for their toddlers or other unregistered children. (The Children's Program is available for children ages 4 to 12.) 

To all you veteran homeschoolers: Tell a new parent! Invite them to attend. We also offer free how-to-begin workshops for everyone on Thursday. If you have any ideas on how to get the word out, please let us know.

Q: Are there any exceptions to these registration options?
A: Yes, there are three:
Free Shopping - There is free shopping on Saturday, June 13, from 3 to 6 p.m. This allows interested persons to sign in and shop in the Exhibit Hall free of charge. The Used Curriculum Sale will be closed by that time and is not included as part of free shopping.

Free How-to-Begin Workshops - On Thursday, June 11, from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. we offer four FREE Homeschool Success workshops that introduce prospective or beginning homeschoolers to the wonderful world of home education. All four workshops are open to the public; there is no need to pre-register. Please come to the Free Workshop Registration table next to Registration in the lobby. Workshop titles and descriptions are available here.
 
Lifetime Members - Lifetime Members of HEAV and any young adults, teens, or "tweens" (ages 10-12) currently in their household are entitled to attend the full convention free of charge. The Children's Program registration fees still apply, even for Lifetime Member families. You can find out more about becoming a Lifetime Member here.

Q: What if my spouse is unable to attend, or I am not married? May I bring someone else along for free on my ticket in place of a spouse?
A: No. HEAV wanted to encourage moms and dads to attend the convention together, and we didn't want an extra admission cost to stand in the way. A free ticket is not available for any person other than a legal spouse. You may not bring a friend, relative, fiancé, etc., on a free spouse ticket. 

Q: May I get a discount on my registration by volunteering at the convention?
A: No. Volunteers do not receive a discount on registration costs, although they do receive other benefits. Those who volunteer at least two hours at the HEAV Convention will have the opportunity to shop first in the Used Curriculum Sale on Friday morning. This affords volunteers the best selection of materials at great prices!

Q: My child is between 10 and 12 years old--should I register him for the Children's Program or as a "tween"?
A: Parents may choose whether to register their 10- through 12-year-olds as a "tween" or for the Children's Program, depending on which the parents feel is more appropriate for their child. Only children 10 years old or older may attend workshops.
If your child is restless and uninterested in the workshop topics, the Children's Program will most likely be your best choice. (Workshops are being taped.)

Q: My child (12 and up) wants to volunteer, but not attend workshops. Do I have to register him/her?
A: Yes. All volunteers, including young adults and teens, must be registered to attend the convention. Teens must be registered for either "Shopping Only" (no entry to workshops) or with a "Teen Pass" (allows entry into workshops). BOTH teen volunteers AND their parents must be registered for convention. Volunteers for the Children's Program must be at least 13 years of age. All "tweens" and younger children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Q: I am only able to attend on Thursday and Friday. May I browse the Exhibit Hall on Thursday evening?
A: In order to enjoy Thursday evening's Exhibit Hall Premiere, you must be registered for a Full-Convention Pass or a Shopping-Only Pass. A Friday-Only Pass does not cover shopping in the Exhibit Hall on Thursday.

Q: I am only interested in the free workshops on Thursday afternoon. Do I need to pre-register?
A: There is no need to pre-register for Thursday's free workshops, but you will need to register on site. Please come to the Registration area in the Exhibit Hall Building lobby where you will be able to sign up beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11.

Q: How do I register for particular workshops I would like to attend?
A: We do not offer registration for individual workshops; please see our registration options. As many as eighteen workshops run concurrently during each workshop session. Seating in the workshops is not reserved in advance, but rather fills up on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend getting to the workshop of your choice several minutes early in order to get a seat--or volunteer as a host/hostess in that workshop to guarantee a seat! If your favorite workshop is full by the time you arrive, you may attend a different workshop where seating is still available. Most workshops are being recorded, so you can order a CD or MP3 of the workshops you missed or the workshops you would like to hear again.

Q: I have decided to attend the convention at the last minute. May I still register?
A: Absolutely! After May 22 you may register at the door in the Registration area in the lobby of the Exhibit Hall Building at the Richmond Center. Click here for the on-site registration fees.

Q: I registered for the convention, but am now unable to attend. How do I go about getting a refund?
A: All refund requests must be made in writing and must be postmarked by May 31, 2009. No refunds are available after this date. A cancellation fee of $7 will be deducted from your refund amount. No refunds or adjustments will be made at the convention. There are no exceptions to this policy.

QUICK LINKS

*Volunteers are given early shopping at the Used Curriculum Sale from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, after which the sale opens to pre-registered attendees, with admittance time based on the date of registration. Attendees who register at the door cannot enter the sale until 3 p.m.