Meet A Presenter:
Peggy Rubach

Peggy Rubach will present in the panel Funding Approaches and Trends, with the topic of Win That Grant. The former two-term Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, Ms. Rubach knows how to develop winning campaigns...from nonprofit projects and local council and school board races to serving as John McCain's (now U.S. Senator McCain) first campaign manager. She brings several decades of fund-raising and grant garnering experience to the project funding table.

Peggy is now the Multimodal Planner for the Maricopa County Department of Transportation. As Director of the Third Annual World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, Peggy coordinated and obtained underwriting for an international high tech conference with over 5,000 participants from 38 countries. More...

Meet A Presenter:
Ken Spence

Ken Spence will be presenting in the School Connections Overseas panel, on the topic of How A National Cycle Training Standard is leading the way in Revitalising Cycling in the UK.

Ken has an international reputation as an expert in road safety and cyclist training. As the Road Safety Officer in York in the 1990s he set up the York Road Safety Training Team which quickly became recognised an example of best practice in cycle training in the UK and beyond.

Ken soon began campaigning for the introduction of a National Standard for Training. His experience led to him being recruited to the Government financed “English Regions Cycling Development Team (ERCDT)” as their national advisor on road safety and cycle training in 2002.

Ken is now a partner in a private consultancy, Transport Initiatives LLP. His work includes acting as a senior consultant in the new “Cycling England Cyclist Training Consultancy” whose role is to advise training providers on how to
improve their provision and introduce the national standard. More...

Early Bird Conference Pricing Ends August 1st - Register Now

If you haven't already registered for the conference, you've got 11 more days to claim the early-bird pricing. On August 1st, the rates will increase to these amounts:

Delegate ($535) increases to $585
Presenter ($430) increases to $480
Single Day ($210) increases to $235
APBP ($430) increases to $480
Exhibitor booth staff ($430) increases to $480

Safe Routes Events at Pro Walk/Pro Bike

The interest in Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is growing quickly in the United States. You'll find a number of SRTS events and sessions at the conference. Two of the events you might want to attend are outside of the 3-day conference schedule.

The first is the Safe Routes to School Practitioners’ Workshop, presented by the National Center for Bicycling & Walking and the SRTS National Partnership. That workshop will run on Tuesday, September 5, from 1-5 PM. This workshop will include case studies from across the U.S; large and small discussion groups will explore the latest innovations in the implementation of local SRTS planning and initiatives. The interactive format will allow for an examination of programs that are working and gaining momentum and of the issues that can weigh a program down.

The second event is the Safe Routes to School National Partnership Annual Meeting, on Friday, September 8, from 3 – 6 PM. The Annual Meeting is open to all affiliates of the SRTS National Partnership and anyone thinking of becoming a partner affiliate. The meeting agenda will include discussion and adoption of a governance structure, goals for the national movement, and the development of a strategic plan for 2007-2010.

Both events are free of charge, but you must pre-register using the on-line form.

Conference Hotel Room Blocks Close Starting Early August

NCBW has secured special conference rates at several Madison hotels. Room blocks are rapidly disappearing at both the conference headquarters hotel (the Madison Concourse) and the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace. The room blocks assigned to the conference close on August 5th at the Hilton, and August 13 at the Concourse. After those dates, you may not be able to get the quoted prices, so arrange for your room NOW.

Remember when making hotel room reservations to refer to Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2006 to receive the conference rates. Two of the hotels are within walking distance of the Monona Terrace Community and Conference Center; the third hotel is about five miles away. To learn more about available hotels, click here.

Memorial Union To Host Pro Walk/Pro Bike Party

This year's Thursday night conference party will be hosted at the Memorial Union — also locally known as the "Union" or the "Terrace" — located on the shore of Lake Mendota on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. The Union opened in 1928, and is run by the Wisconsin Union, a student organization. The exterior was designed by university architect Arthur Peabody. The Union has gained a reputation as both one of the most beautiful and rowdy student centers on a university campus. Outside the main building is the Memorial Union Terrace, a stone outdoor dining and recreation area on the shore of Lake Mendota. The Terrace was designed by Peabody's daughter, Charlotte. It is a popular spot for socializing among students, as well as the public, while gazing at the lake and the sailboats that are often present on the lake. It promises to make a spectacular party venue, and a great place to do some conference networking.

Last Call for Special Meeting Rooms

If you would like to host a meeting of your organization during Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2006, the NCBW has made arrangements for a limited number of meeting rooms that you can use. We'll accept special meeting requests through Wednesday, July 26th. The on-line schedule the conference program booklet will include your meeting information if you act NOW. Complete the on-line form in order to request a meeting room. More...