This latest from Lew:
All,
There was a snafu on the Hilton Worldwide end setting up our specific Charlie Troop Reunion room reservation web link. I have it worked out now and the link is below. Of course you can always make your reservation by calling the hotel and noting you are with the Charlie Troop Reunion.
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/I/INDINHF-TROOP-20110802/index.jhtml
If you have any problems making your reservation via this link please let me know and I’ll get it worked out.
Lew
Lew Robinson will Host this years doings in Indianapolis, This from Lew:
As I stated in the note Walker posted for me a week or so ago I volunteered last summer to host this years reunion in Indianapolis.
I have met with the folks at the Hilton Indianapolis North to set up a block of rooms, hospitality room, and banquet for us. The Executive Meeting Manager sent me an email earlier today advising that she is still working on the porposal for us. As soon as I have more info on the hotel I'll pass it along.
We use this hotel quite often when we have agents in from out of town. They are always good to us and easy to work with. The hotel is 20 minutes from my house, 20 minutes from downtown Indy, and 40 minutes from the airport.
I am working on a schedule of activites that will have something for everyone while you are here. I will post the schedule in a future email.
I have listed below several places to visit, points of interest, activites, and links to their web sites. I think you will find Indy a hidden gem here in the midwest.
2/25/11
All,
Attached is a draft activities itinerary. Please review and let me know your thoughts. Again it is a draft and we have several months to make whatever changes to the itinerary you want.
August 2nd (Tuesday):
* Travel day to Indianapolis
* Meet and Greet at hotel Hospitality Room
o Share memories and a few drinks
o Discuss/review itinerary for the week
* Option A – Group dinner at an area restaurant for those who may interested
* Option B – Dinner on your own
August 3rd (Wednesday):
* Visit Indianapolis Motor Speedway (10A-3P?) http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/
o Tour Track and Museum
* Return to the hotel mid-afternoon
* Meet and Greet at hotel Hospitality Room
o Share memories and a few drinks
* BBQ at Robinson Residence (6P-till)
* Alternate activities for those not interested in the Speedway tour
o Shopping at the Castleton Mall or the Fashion Mall
+ (Hotel shuttle can provide transportation to/from the malls)
o Hoosier Park Racing and Casino (Anderson, IN – 30 min north of hotel)
http://www.hoosierpark.com/
o Hospitality Room/Hotel pool
o Indianapolis Zoo
http://www.indyzoo.com
o Conner Prairie
http://www.connerprairie.org/
o Additional activities TBA
August 4th (Thursday):
* Visit downtown Indianapolis (10A-4P?)
o American Legion Mall (Indy is home to the American Legion HQ)
o Indiana War Memorial
o Colonel Eli Lilly Monument and Civil War Museum
http://www.in.gov/iwm/2335.htm
o Soldiers and Sailors Monument
o USS Indianapolis Memorial
o National Medal of Honor Memorial http://www.homeofheroes.com/a_homepage/community/displays/national_sites/ipalco.html
o NCAA Hall of Champions
http://www.ncaahallofchampions.org/
o Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
http://www.pbhh.org/
o Eiteljorg Museum of American Indiana & Western Art
http://www.eiteljorg.org/
o Indianapolis Zoo
http://www.indyzoo.com
* Alternate activities for those not interested in visiting downtown Indy
o Shopping at the Castleton Mall or the Fashion Mall
+ (Hotel shuttle can provide transportation to/from the malls)
o Hoosier Park Racing and Casino (Anderson, IN – 30 min north of hotel)
http://www.hoosierpark.com/
o Hospitality Room/Hotel pool
o Conner Prairie
http://www.connerprairie.org/
o Additional activities TBD
* Option A – Group dinner at an area restaurant for those who may interested
* Option B – Dinner on your own
August 5th (Friday):
* Option A
o Visit downtown Carmel (11A-2P)
+ Walk along Main Street and visit the many shops
+ Lunch at Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream
http://www.bubsburgersandicecream.com/
o Beers, snacks, light dinner at Robinson Residence
o Indianapolis Indians baseball game (5P-10P)
http://indianapolis.indians.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t484
* Option B
o Private wine tasting at a local wine shop
+ Still working on this one
o Beers, snacks, light dinner at Robinson Residence
o Symphony on the Prairie (5P-10P) http://www.indianapolissymphony.org/performances/symphony_on_the_prairie
http://www.connerprairie.org/Plan-Your-Visit/Special-Events/Marsh-Symphony-on-the-Prairie.asp
* Alternate activities for those not interested in visiting downtown Carmel or wine tasting
o Shopping at the Castleton Mall or the Fashion Mall
o (Hotel shuttle can provide transportation to/from the malls)
o Hoosier Park Racing and Casino (Anderson, IN – 30 min north of hotel)
http://www.hoosierpark.com/
o Hospitality Room/Hotel pool
o Downtown Indy sites missed on Thursday
o Indiana State Fair
http://www.in.gov/statefair/fair/
o Additional activities TBD
August 6th (Saturday):
* Option A (If not chosen for Friday)
o Visit downtown Carmel (11A-2P)
o Walk along Main Street and visit the many shops
+ Lunch at Bub’s Burgers and Ice Cream
http://www.bubsburgersandicecream.com/
o Beers and snacks at Robinson Residence
o Charlie Troop Banquet at Hilton (6P-10P?)
* Option B (If not chosen for Friday)
o Private wine tasting at a local wine shop
+ Still working on this one
o Beers and snacks at Robinson Residence
o Charlie Troop Banquet at Hilton (6P-10P?)
* Alternate activities for those not interested in visiting downtown Carmel or wine tasting
o Shopping at the Castleton Mall or the Fashion Mall
o (Hotel shuttle can provide transportation to/from the malls)
o Hoosier Park Racing and Casino (Anderson, IN – 30 min north of hotel)
http://www.hoosierpark.com/
o Hospitality Room/Hotel pool
o Downtown Indy sites missed on Thursday
o Indiana State Fair
http://www.in.gov/statefair/fair/
o Additional activities TBD
August 7th (Sunday):
* Travel day home
I met with the Hilton Indianapolis North (http://www.indianapolisnorth.hilton.com/) folks on Tuesday and received the info for our room rate, hospitality room, and banquet menu options. I have attached the documents they provided for everyone to review and comment on.
Room Block
I asked them to set 20 rooms aside to start. We can add more rooms but if we decrease our room block by 10% without incurring a penalty. If we do I think I can work around it with them.
Room Rate
We are getting a rate $89.00 a night plus tax, which includes breakfast for 2 in the restaurant. The rate is available 3 days prior to and 3 days after the reunion for those folks who wish to come in earlier or stay later.
Hospitality Room
We are NOT being charged for the hospitality room. The room will be ours to come and go as we wish starting at 12 noon on 8/2 till 5P on 8/7. I am working with them on how we will set up the room refreshment wise. They normally provide the adult beverages and mixers etc for the hospitality room at a cost based on the amount of consumption, but I am pushing them on allowing us to bring in our own beer and liquor. I think I am winning. I’ll keep you posted on this one.
Banquet
The hotel is NOT charging us a rental fee for the banquet room Saturday night. They have provided us with a pre-dinner Hors D’ouevres Reception at $18.75 per person and 2 options for dinner. The first option is a plated dinner with a choice of chicken, beef, or fish at $27.95 per person. The second option is a buffet at $28.50 per person. The reception and meal options also have a gratuity (22%) and tax (9%) that would be added on to the total cost.
I am also working with the hotel on the type of bar set up we would like for dinner. The options are the usual - open bar or a cash bar. She forgot to provide the costs associated with each to me this week, but I’ll have it by next Tuesday.
Contract
I have not signed anything with the hotel yet locking us in for any of this. I want your feedback on the information I have provided before moving forward. Please provide me with your comments and suggestions as soon as you can. Also please indicate your preliminary interest in attending so I know whether or not to increase or decrease our room block at the start.
As I mentioned in my earlier email we use this hotel a lot and I have a very good relationship with them. They are excited about the opportunity of hosting us and are eager to work with us to make our reunion an enjoyable experience.
Due to the size of the scanned documents I have to send them over a few emails. I will attach the hotel letter to this email and the banquet options over 3 emails to en sure they go through. I apologize if this in an inconvenience for anyone.
A separate email will follow this one with a draft itinerary for the week.
If you have any questions you can also call me at 317/519-8052.
I hope you all have a great weekend and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Lew
I also attached the 2011 Reunion - Things to Do document that I sent out a few weeks ago for anyone who missed it. This list will give you some ideas of what’s available in the Indianapolis area as well.
Reunion 2011 - Things to Do
Indianapolis Metro Area Attractions (Official web site of the Indianapolis
Convention and Visitors Association)
Hilton Indianapolis North Hotel (Hotel for out of town guests attending the
National Medal of Honor Memorial
Hoosier Park Racing and Casino
Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
American Legion Mall and Indiana War Memorial
USS Indianapolis Memorial
Easley Winery (Downtown Indianapolis)
Indianapolis Indians (Home games during reunion)
Indiana State Fair (State Fair kicks off during reunion)
Symphony
on the Prairie (at Conner Prairie)
Conner Prairie (2010 concert info still posted - gives you an idea of
what the concert series is all about)
I look forward to hosting all who are able to attend this summer. Yes Walker..... there will be plenty of homebrew
Lew