South Central Regional Council Meeting
3-4 June 2009
Little Rock, Arkansas

This vibrant metropolitan area of 500,000 people boasts historic landmarks, bustling entertainment districts, cultural vanguards and vast regions of unspoiled wilderness and park lands. Greater Little Rock is a dazzling destination just waiting to be discovered.

Our meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Presidential Conference Center. Adjacent to the Downtown River Market, the Holiday Inn Presidential Conference Center recently re-opened after an 11 million dollar renovation project. In addition to the 150 deluxe guest rooms, the hotel features a full service restaurant and lounge and complimentary shuttle service to the Little Rock National Airport. A block of rooms has been set-aside for our meeting at a daily rate of only $88.00 plus tax. Each attendee must make his/her own reservations with the hotel. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at 501-375-2100 or 866-900-7625. Refer to the APTAC – South Central Regional Conference when making reservations, in order to receive the group rate. Please make your reservations as soon as possible; we cannot guarantee this room rate after May 4, 2009.

Registration for this meeting is only $100 per person if paid before 15 May 2009. It increases to $120 on 16 May. A registration form can be downloaded and printed by clicking here, or you may register online here. Please send a check for the registration fee to our Treasurer. We are not able to accept credit cards or training requests.

The agenda for this meeting is still being developed and will be posted here as soon as available. If you have any topics you would like to discuss or if you would like to make a presentation to the Council on a topic of general interest, please contact Dan Shackelford at (210) 221-4267.

Arkansas Procurement Opportunities Conference

This Regional Council Meeting is being held in conjunction with the Arkansas Procurement Opportunities Conference. This major business matchmaker event, a full-day of appointments between large buyer organizations and small businesses, will be held at Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on June 2, 2009.  Registration and other information are posted at http://arkansasprocurement.org/.  Send inquiries to Susie P. Marks, CCE, Senior Vice President - Programs, Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, 1200 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 210-4206 phone, (501) 372-2722 fax, or smarks@arkansasstatechamber.com.  The Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center will be conducting free pre-conference workshops to help small businesses prepare and make the best use of this event and inquiries about that should be directed to apac@uaex.edu or 501-337-5355. Council members are encouraged to support this event as well as the Council meeting.

In the past we have had many Council members stay at hotels other than the host hotel. We realize there may be good reasons for this, however, it does hurt the Council.

The Council operates on a very small margin -- often only enough to cover costs. Staying at hotels other than the host hotel causes the cost of meeting rooms and amenities to increase beyond our budget.

Please make your reservations at the Holiday Inn Presidential Conference Center if at all possible. And remember to use the group name: APTAC – South Central Regional Conference.

DRAFT AGENDA

8:00 am

9:00 am

Business Meeting Part I

• Officers’ Reports
• Committee Reports
• Old Business
• New Business
  (Items to be discussed briefly, thentabled until tomorrow so members can give issues additional consideration.)

11:30 am

11:45 am

1:00 pm

1:45 pm

2:00 pm

2:15 pm

3:00 pm

7:00 am

8:00 am

8:30 am

9:15 am

10:30 am

• PTACs/SBDCs
• Government Representatives
• Industry

11:30 am

Report Outs
Reports Outs may be done during Lunch is more time is needed for Breakouts

12:00 am