NECAS - Conference

29th Annual NECAS Conference

Date: Friday, January 29 to Sunday, January 31, 2021
Location: Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls, New York
Cost: Early Bird: $TBD US (until Dec 31/20). Regular fee: $TBD US. Spouse/Guest rate is $TBD. (Saturday dinner only)
Accommodation: On Base at the Air Reserve Station Lodging. You book yourself. (Info below under "Accommodation")
Membership: You must be a member of NECAS to attend the Conference ($30 per person/per calendar year)

Details below.

Click here to Register (If you are an existing member, please sign-in first. If you are not a member yet, please pay for membership first.)

Our annual conference will once again take place at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Niagara Falls, New York. With meals included and affordable accommodations, this great networking and learning opportunity will be well worth your time.

Weekend Schedule:

Friday, January 29:
Friday is a casual evening of catching up with old friends and making new ones. You may arrive any time (hotel check-in begins at 3pm). Traditionally the lounge begins to fill up after 6pm. A casual dinner buffet will be served while you share stories, network and enjoy a (cheap) cocktail or two.

Saturday, January 30: (the agenda is not finalized, but here is a general idea of the day)
8am: Hot & cold buffet breakfast
9am-5pm: NECAS Conference
5-6pm: A tour of something special on the Base is sometimes planned for this time slot.
6-7pm: Cocktail hour
7-1am: Dinner, keynote speaker & evening social

Sunday, January 31:

8-9:30am: Hot & cold buffet breakfast
9:30-11:30am: Industry discussions. The NECAS Conference will continue into Sunday morning, with casual open discussions on various industry hot topics. This is designed so that delegates who must depart early on Sunday don't miss critical information. Your conference fee includes Sunday breakfast, so whether or not you stay for the discussions, please join us for breakfast.

Conference Agenda forthcoming............

Win your 2022 Conference Registration Fee!
We want you to stick around on Sunday, so at the end of Sunday's programming, one name will be drawn from those in attendance to win his/her 2022 Conference registration fee.

Congrats to our 2021 winner Tabytha Smith/RJ Gritter Air Shows !

Member's Forum - 3 minutes to promote yourself!

Any member in good standing who comes to the Conference is given an opportunity to make a promotional presentation to the assembled group. It is your decision whether you do any combination of talk, show a video or PowerPoint presentation, sing, dance, etc. A few notes:

The order of presentation slots are awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Presentations (speaking and A/V combined) must not exceed 3 minutes. (Unfortunately your presentation will be cut off if it does.)

Deadline for any A/V (video, PowerPoint or photos) is January 15, 2021. This allows time to ensure files will be organized and run properly on the available equipment.
Videos should be submitted in MP4 file format ONLY due to compatibility with computer equipment and submitted to Bill Wagner (bill@nimac.org). Presentations should be in Power Point format and submitted to same.

For members who presented last year: NECAS has all of last year's files in our DropBox. If you want to use the same A/V, simply email Bill Wagner (bill@nimac.org) to request a spot and double-check we have your file.

Please keep in mind, running the Members Forum is no small task, and we ask for your cooperation in complying with the January 15 deadline. The videos are uploaded, configured and tested ahead of time as there is limited to zero internet connectivity in the Conference building, and last minute additions and changes add undue stress and work to the A/V manager. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in order to present a professional and organized event.

An area at the conference will be set aside for anyone who wishes to set up a table, display a video, posters, etc. for one-on-one discussions with attendees. Please request this space by contacting our Conference Co-chairs, either Dave "Huggy" Cooper (coop413@aol.com) or Dave Hewitt (dave@canadianharvards.com).

The following military and regulatory bodies are expected to be in attendance:

TBD - ACC

TBD - 1 CAD

TBD - FAA

ACTION NEEDED: We need personal information from you to allow you to get on Base

"EAL" information is required by Base security to clear your entrance onto the Base:

Name
Date of Birth
Drivers License # (including State/Province of issue)
Passport # (for non-Americans only)
Nationality

If you register for the Conference BEFORE January 8:
This information will be collected on the registration form.

If you won't register for the Conference until AFTER January 8:
Although the registration form will still ask for this information, the Base needs it before January 8. Please email your EAL info to NECAS Board member and Air Base contact Bill Wagner at bill@nimac.org before Jan 8.

If you're not sure whether you'll attend the Conference, it's still wise to submit this information in case you end up coming. Note, submitting EAL information DOES NOT oblige you to attend or pay for the Conference.

Extra Notes:

If you gave permission last year to keep your EAL info on file, then we still have it.
Active and retired U.S. military I.D. card holders are exempt.

Thank you for submitting your EAL information by January 8.

Accommodation

(2020 Rates, still determining 2021 rates)

Conference attendees reserve their own accommodation. Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station offers very clean and affordable lodging at $77 US per night Standard Room & $93 US per night Suite. Please call the Station Lodging Reservation Desk directly to book your room: 1-888-235-6343 ext. 642 or directly at (716) 236-2015.

Note: the building we "Check-In" is separate from the building our rooms are in. So please leave you bags in the car upon check-in, as you will drive to the building where our rooms are.

Cancellation Policy: NECAS will gladly refund Conference fees that are requested by January 22.

Driving Directions to the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, 2020 Lockport Road, Niagara Falls, NY

Driving Directions from the East (Rochester, NY)

Click here for directions.

From the West (Erie , PA)

Click here for directions.

From Ontario

Click here for directions.

From Niagara Falls International Airport

Click here for directions.

Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station

NECAS Conference Guest Speaker Recap:

2019:

Mike Kujawski -- Harnessing the Power of the Modern Disruptive Digital/Social Media Landscape

From Ottawa, Ontario, Mike gave a highly engaging talk about the profound transformation that the digital channel continues to go through and how this is impacting communication, marketing and service delivery efforts. Mike will review the latest digital marketing trends along with the opportunities and threats they pose to both individuals and organizations. This presentation will help audiences see the value in taking more of a strategic approach towards the way they communicate and deliver services online.

Find his slide presentation here.

Martin Biron, Retired NHL Goaltender (Saturday evening keynote)

Martin "Marty" Biron, a 16-year veteran of the NHL was our keynote speaker Saturday night. Marty played the first half of his NHL goaltending career with the Buffalo Sabres, and the second half with three other teams. After his retirement in 2013, he became a studio analyst, at first with TSN in Canada, and currently with the Sabres. Born in Quebec, he is now an American citizen and resides in Buffalo with his wife and four children.

2018:

American aerobatic pilot Jacquie B entertained the crowd as keynote guest speaker on Saturday evening.
ICAS President John Cudahy provided tips and ideas for industry organizers and performers in his presentation: Top Ten Ideas for Air Show Professionals: A Perspective from the Home Office.
Air show industry consultant Stephanie Stricklen offered her timely presentation: Air Shows: Solving the Sustainability Crisis.

2017:

U.S. Air Force serviceman Retired Col. Bill Goldfein, spoke of his illustrious career and raising three sons who are all accomplished military servicemen themselves.
Aerobatic pilot Mike Wiskus kept everyone entertained by sharing stories from his decades-long aviation career.

2016:

Gord Price, from Thornbury, Ontario spoke of his illustrious aviation career in the Canadian Air Force, as an Air Canada 747 pilot, and what continues today as an air show performer.
Naomi Wadsworth, NECAS President (at the time), shared her team's story of flying the National Warplane Museum's DC-3/Whiskey 7 to Normandy, France to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

2015:

David Rohrer, President of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, in Hamilton, Ontario, talked about the Museum's 2014 7-week Lancaster Bomber UK Tour. Ticket sales for a ride in a WWII B-25 Mitchell Bomber raised $1200+ for the Museum.
Stephanie Stricklen, news anchor, KGW, Portland, Oregon gave her presentation: Engagement: From the air to the digital era.

NECAS - North East Council of Air Shows