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INVITATION TO ATTEND from BOB BAILEY, EASTERN REGION VP and STEVE FRIEDLAND, MEETING CHAIR
As ASLRRA's Regional Vice President and Meeting Chair, we are delighted to encourage you to attend and participate in this year's meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. Your Meeting Planning Committee has focused all of its energies on creating a valuable educational experience, full of opportunities to network and learn something new, while remaining mindful of the current economic conditions as well as the many commitments vying for your time and attention.
This meeting and the associated HazMat Handling Training Seminar will provide a great mix of educational, business, and social activities starting on the social side on Saturday with our service project at the B&O Railroad Museum and Saturday evening with our party with a purpose networking reception, benefitting the museum. Our service project will continue Sunday morning at the museum, with our opening reception Sunday evening high atop the 27th Floor of the World Trade Center, with 360 degree views of the city.
On the business end of the program, and following on the heels of last year's successful regional training session, we'll be holding a simultaneous HazMat Handling Training Seminar which will satisfy the FRA's triennial training requirements for short line and regional railroads. Both the general business and training session attendees will enjoy breakfast, lunches, breaks and our Monday evening reception in the event sponsor exhibit area. The General Business Session topics are timely and thought-provoking and designed to keep members up-to-date on the latest changes to the regulations affecting the small railroad industry. This event embraces all of the education, industry news, and social events that you've come to expect from an ASLRRA meeting.
Why Baltimore? Frommers says it best: Casual, spontaneous and full of energy, Maryland's biggest city combines northern Yankee style with southern belle charm. Curved around a sheltered harbor are individual neighborhoods of red-brick row houses, marble mansions, dockside warehouses and modern skyscrapers. "Charm City's" laid-back population greets its visitors with a friendly "Hi, hon!" in the unique Bawlmer accent.
Wondering what to do in Baltimore? There are plenty of options. Baltimore is a blend of historic and contemporary, and there is no better example of this than Camden Yards, the baseball stadium for the Baltimore Orioles. Just a short walk from our hotel, the Orioles will be playing the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday and Tuesday. That weekend, the city celebrates Defenders' Day and the 196th Anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner with a variety of activities including an encampment at Ft. McHenry with a concert and fireworks display Saturday night. There will also be a Ukrainian Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
Our four diamond hotel, the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace is located in the heart of the Inner Harbor. Once a warehouse district, it has been transformed into a colorful, thriving area that serves as the heart of the city and is just steps from the area's most unique sights and attractions like the world-famous Baltimore Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, and 120 dining and shopping options.
So don't miss out on this opportunity to meet with your peers, while sharing ideas and networking with others in the industry. Make plans to head to Indianapolis where we're working on building a strong program complete with new features and activities to help you connect. We sincerely look forward to seeing you and welcoming you to this conference.
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