We will have volunteers and committee members all over the place. (nearly 200) You can identify them by he special colored lanyards and badges they will be wearing. In addition to this, we will have special security personnel hired by the convention to help you. If there is a medical emergency, a special emergency medical team is on call that includes MDs and Nurses. An ambulance will be on call to serve those in need. Call 911 if it is a life threatening emergency.

2. Where do I report on July 22, 2010? (Where to Arrive)

You first need to check in the special registration counters set up in the Garden State Exhibit Center.
The address is:

Garden State Exhibit Center
50 Atrium Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873
Location/Driving Directions

If you are flying to Newark Liberty Airport and require transportation assistance, the transportation team will provide you the help if you register with them in advance. Here is the information.

3. When should I arrive for the convention

The registration counters will be open on Thursday, July 22, 2010 from 12 noon to 6 PM. The official program starts at 5 PM on Thursday with flaghoisting.

If you will arriving later than 6 PM on Thursday, please contact the registration team in advance at masoc.jcr@gmail.com

4. What should I bring to the convention?

You would have received a confirmation letter from the registration committee by now. Please bring that along with a picture ID to the registration desk. Only the head of the household need to go to the registration counter.

5. Where is my accommodation?

You will be assigned to one of the convention hotels, viz.,

Double Tree Hotel
Holiday Inn Resort
Crown Plaza

Your assigned hotel information will be in the welcome kit you receive when you register. You need to go to the hotel and present them with the form given in the welcome kit. You will be required to present a picture ID and a valid credit card (for any expenses incurred not included in your registration) when you report at the hotel.

6. Have you arranged any security for the convention?

Special security will be in place in the convention center.

7. Where is the food served? What do I have to pay for the food?

Special food lines will be located in the convention center. Due the short time available to serve about 2000 people, please collect food and move away from the counter promptly. Please do not block the way by standing and talking near the counter.

Bishops, Corepiscopos, priests, deacons, guests and sponsors will have separate counters for the food.

The food times are posted on the program. Youth members will be served half hour earlier than the rest of the members. Please be there in time with your meal tickets for your meal.

Snacks and beverages will be served in between meals. Food coupons WILL NOT be accepted for these snacks or beverages. ONLY CASH PAYMENTS will be accepted.

8. What do I need to gain admission to the convention center?

Your welcome kit will have a wrist band and ID tag for each registered member of your party. You need to have these before you will be allowed admission to the Convention center. No one will be admitted without these ID materials. To have your meals, you need to have your meal tickets with you to surrender to the food counter.

9. Are there any special regulations for the hotel I am staying?

Yes. No one is allowed to hangout outside after hours. You must follow the respective hotel security guidelines in this matter. You are responsible for any personal charges related to your hotel stay.

If you need any assistance during convention please call (732) 997 7472 to reach Jubilee Committee officials. This phone number is found on the back of the registration ID.

10. Where are the various events held?

Programs are assigned to various breakout rooms, ball rooms, and convention center. You will have the details when you register.

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25-inmel Qurbana

Q1. I heard I can adopt an altar as vazhipad? How do I do that?

You can get all the details here. You can pre-register electronically.

Q2. I want my loved ones remembered during the qurbana. How do I do that?

$10 will allow you to submit as many names as you wish from your family. Details are here. You can register electronically.

Q3. I had sent request for an altar vazhipad and/or a nercha qurbana (qurbana vazhipad). How do I find if you received it?

Check the list of altar adoptees here.

Check the list of Qurbana Vazhipad or Nercha Qurbana here.

If you do not see your names in the list, please contact Rev. Fr. Mathew Karuthalackal (Vicar, St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church, Des Plaines, IL email: karuthalackalachan@gmail.com Telephone: 847-759-8530; 312-354-0860 (cell)

Q4. I want to confess before the qurbana. Do you have any arrangements for that?

Confessions can be heard from 7 AM on Sunday, July 25

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Transportation

T1. I heard that you are arranging complimentary transportation from the airport to Convention Center. Where do I find it?

The full details are available here

T2. Do you serve lunch on Thursday, July 22?

No. For those taking advantage of the transportation facilities from the airport, snacks will be available for a nominal cost arranged by the transportation team.

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Registration

R1. I haven't registered for the convention. Can I do it now?

The registration is closed. Contact Dr. George Kattakuzhy, Registration Coordinator, at 813-453-0123 for any last minute cancellations.

R2. I have registered but due to a last minute problem, I cannot attend. Can I get a refund?

No.

R3. I have send the registration form. I haven't heard anything yet. Is this normal? Who should I contact to find out if you have received my registration materials?

You should have got a registration confirmation and a final letter with registration number and instructions by now. Please contact Dr. George Kattakuzhy, Registration Coordinator, at 813-453-0123. Or contact Mr. Jijo Joseph Flowerhill at 302 292 2957 or any member of the Registration Committee for assistance.

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Cultural Program Competition

C1. What are the rules regarding the cultural competition participation?

10 minutes are allowed per church. Only dance or skit allowed. Your program must be compatible for presentation in a spiritual/family gathering. Pre-registration required. Full rules can be found here.

C2. What format we should bring the audio/visual materials?

Movies can be in real player or windows media player format. Still photos must be in jpeg or save in a power point (ppt) format.

All tracks, music, images, movie, etc must be saved to one CD per program - CD must be original with no scratch or damage.

Each church can designate up to two people to sit with the sound and light (one person with light and one with sound engineers) to direct the appropriate setting for the program.

For Skits - the cast members or one person representing the group can show the light/sound folks how they are going to use the stage they can arrange mics and lights accordingly - they must do this on on Thursday before 3 PM.

Read the full guidelines here.

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Choir Competition

S1. What are the rules regarding choir competition?

10 minutes per church. Only qurbana or aradhana songs permitted. Pre-registration required. See the full guidelines here.

S2: Are there any restrictions on the track used?

Music must be made into tracks (via CD or mp3); no instruments are to be used.

No voices are allowed to be recorded on the track, only instrumental. If vocals are heard on the track, the church will be disqualified from the competition.

S3: Who should we handover the track to at the convention? When?

Please hand in your Church's CD to the your respective regional coordinator on the day of registration (Thursday July, 22). All CD's must be handed in by Thursday in order to be used in the Competition.

Please make more than one copy of your CD (2-3 copies), we will not be held responsible for lost or damaged CD's.

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Heritage Procession

H1. Is there any protocol regarding what to wear during the procession?

We recommend:

Men: Kasavu Mundu/Juba
Women: Kerala-style set –sari/dress
Boys: Black pants/ white shirt/ red tie
Girls: Black pants/skirt and white shirt/top
All Priests: Black kuppayam

If you have any questions about this, please contact Dr. C.P. Mathew, Procession Coordinator at 504 251 8483 (cell) or 972 226 4272 (Res).

H2. Is there any order for the procession? What is it?

All participants should wear uniform and be ready by 2.30 PM at the parking lot of the Convention center. The procession will start at 3 pm. It will be inaugurated with a "Dove Releasing " Ceremony.

There is a specific order for the procession. There will be 14 rows. Please see the details here.

If you have any questions about this, please contact Dr. C.P. Mathew, Procession Coordinator at 504 251 8483 (cell) or 972 226 4272 (Res).

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Program

P1. What is the program?

Full program is listed here. You can download a brochure from here.

P2. How much does it cost to attend the MG Sreekumar Program on Thursday?

The admission to this program is included in your registration. There is no additional cost.

P3. Is there any program for my children during the convention?

Yes, VBS program will be offered. See full details of the VBS program here.

P4. Is there any program for youth during the convention?

There is a full track of programs for youth. See the details here.

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Sports

SP1. What type of sports program are planned. Do I need to preregister for them? How?

Both indoor and outdoor sports, and games are planned. They require preregistration. Sorry the registration is now closed. More on sports and games.

SP2. What are the rules and guidelines for the sports and games?

Rules and guidelines are given here.

SP3. I have registered for a sports program. How do I find out when and where that will be held?

Sports and Games are held at various locations on Friday and Saturday (July 23-24). The events and locations are listed on the Sports Schedule. The Time and Venue of Ball Passing and Musical Chair will be announced later.

Please make sure that you show up at the venue at least 15 minutes prior to start of the event. Due to the large number of events and time crunch, anyone reporting late will be disqualified and won't be allowed to participate.

SP4: How do I register for events that does not require prior registration like Family Fun Events?

Registration form for the Family Fun events will be available at the Registration Booth.

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Sightseeing

SS1. I am interested in some sightseeing in New York/New Jersey area. Do you offer any help or tours?

A New York City Sightseeing Tour on Sunday (July 25) afternoon and a Niagara Falls Tour on Monday (July 26) are organized by Alex Mathews. You can learn about them here.

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General

G1. This convention is the Silver Jubilee of what? Is it the Silver Jubilee of the archdiocese?

The Silver Jubilee Convention celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first Family Conference organized by our church in North America.

G2. How can I contact the archdiocese?

The address is:

Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America
10 Stonehurst Court,
Pomona, NY 10970
845-364-6003
Details at: www.malankara.com

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