Women In Business 2010

Early Bird Registration deadline is Friday, April 16, 2010 to receive early bird rate!
Payments made by check will not be accepted after Friday, May 20, 2010.
To be listed in the program guide, your check must be postmarked no later than April 16, 2010.
Registrations made online and paid by credit card will be accepted until Tuesday, June 8, 2010.
You can register on site beginning Monday, June 21, 2010 at the Baltimore Convention Center.
Registrations on site must be paid for by check or credit card.
Questions regarding the conference or WBENC can be directed to WBENC via email to wib@wbenc.org, wbenc-conference@stovellmarketingpr.com or phone 202-588-9875. Information is available at www.wbenc.org/wib2010.
Policy for Hotel Reservations: All hotel reservations will include a first night non-refundable deposit, equal to the room rate at the conference hotel of your choice. Upon check-in, this deposit will go toward your hotel stay.
WBENC has a no refund policy. All purchases are final.
Please make checks payable to the Women's Business Enterprise National Council and mail to Women's Business Enterprise National Council, c/o Women in Business 2010: The Opportunity Connection, PO Box 630213, Baltimore, MD 21263-0213.
For overnight delivery, please address to the following: Women's Business Enterprise National Council, 1120 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, Attention: Samantha Xia, 202-872-5515.
Registration transfers – paid registrations may be transferred to another individual at your organization if you notify WBENC in writing by Friday, May 14, 2010. Send transfer and substitutions c/o: Women's Business Enterprise National Council, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20036. Please include complete contact information for yourself as well as for the colleague using the registration. All requests must be made in writing by Friday, May 14, 2010.
WBENC or WEConnect Certified WBEs must upload a copy of their certification document (PDF format) during the registration process. Your credentials will not be provided upon check-in without official documentation of where your certification/membership originates. If you are not a valid WBE, your registration fee will be forfeited (non-refundable).
UPS is the Official Carrier of WIB2010 and sponsor of the website and registration.

Please read carefully

WBENC denies any and all liability to any third party which may arise from act or omissions of its attendees, guests, or members, including but not limited to material damages to premises where WBENC’s National Conference and Business Fair, Women in Business 2010 is held. WBENC further denies any liability or responsibility to attendees, guests, or members, any injury, damage, or theft occurring or as a result of participation in conference.

Disclaimer

The speakers and times are correct at the time of publishing and, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, the organizers reserve the right to alter or delete items from the conference program. The Women's Business Enterprise National Council and their agents acts only as organizers and do not accept responsibility for any act or omission on part of service providers. No liability is accepted for inaccuracy, mis-description, delay, damage, personal injury, or death.

Exhibit Facilities

Exhibits for the Women in Business 2010: The Opportunity Connection, WBENC's National Conference and Business Fair, will be located at The Baltimore Convention Center on Wednesday, June 23, 2010.

Exhibit Criteria

Exhibiting firms will be limited to those providing services, products, or publications that are directly applicable to WBE businesses and procurement needs. The Women's Business Enterprise National Council, as show manager, reserves the right to require any exhibitor to remove an exhibit or any part of an exhibit which, in the sole judgment of Management, is misleading or deceptive, in poor taste, or unsuitable to or not in keeping with the character and objectives of the conference. All exhibitors must be a WBENC Corporate Member, RPO Corporate Member or WBENC and/or WEConnect Certified Women’s Business Enterprise exhibiting said certified business, an official media sponsor as designated by WBENC or a government agency confirmed through WBENC. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Application for Booth Space

Application for booth space should be made on www.wbenc.org/wib2010, and must be accompanied by full payment to be accepted. Exhibitors must submit application and payment prior to Friday, April 30, 2010 to be listed in the final program. Full payment must be received by Friday, May 14, 2010 to participate as an exhibitor.

Space Cancellation

Booth payments are not refundable. Booth space can be cancelled, but WBENC reserves the right to re-sell space. Cancellations must be sent in writing to Lynn G. Quinn, COO, WBENC, 1120 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1000, Washington D.C., 20036. Fax: 202.872.5505; E-mail: lquinn@wbenc.org.

Installation and Removal of Displays Exhibit Installation Date:

Monday, June 21, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Exhibit Dismantle Date:

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 24, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

All displays must be erected and completely arranged for viewing by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 for official inspection by Management. Noisy or unsightly work in any exhibitor's booth area is prohibited during official exhibit hours. Goods received after the opening of the exposition must be delivered to the booth and arranged at times other than the official exhibit hours. Goods and materials used in any display (except bona fide samples) may not be removed from the Exhibit Hall without the approval of Management until the exposition has been officially closed.

All materials must be cleared from the Exhibit Hall by 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2010. It is the sole responsibility of each exhibitor to have materials packed, identified, and cleared for shipment at that time. Management reserves the right, with no liability whatsoever for damage, spoilage, or loss, to dismantle, dispose of, store, and clear from the premises any display material, goods, property, or merchandise of an exhibitor who has failed to comply with the above requirement, or to order such work to be done at the sole expense of the exhibitor. Exhibits must not be disturbed, dismantled, or removed before 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 or a fee of $1,000 will apply.

Use of Display Space

In the event the exhibitor fails to install the display by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, fails to pay the full space rental at the time specified, or fails to comply with any provisions concerning the use of display space, Management shall have the right to take possession of said space and re-sell same, or any part thereof. All demonstrations, sales activities, and distribution of circulars and promotional materials must be confined to the limits of the exhibitor's booth except that which is specifically authorized by Management.

Exhibitors must display only goods manufactured or dealt in by them in their regular course of business, unless otherwise approved by Management. Exhibits, which include the operation of audiovisual equipment or any noisemaking machines, may not operate the equipment in a manner that will disturb other exhibitors and their patrons. Exhibitors who play music within their booth space are solely responsible for securing all licensing rights for that music prior to performance at the conference. Exhibitor hereby indemnifies and holds harmless Management from any expense or damage resulting from Exhibitor's performance or playing of music at this conference. The above and any other special or unusual exhibit construction or installation must be approved, in advance, by Management.

Staffing of Exhibit Booths

Exhibit booths must be staffed during official show hours. Exhibitor representatives are restricted to persons engaged in the display, demonstration, application, or sale of the company's products and services. Booth personnel shall wear an Exhibitor badge identification furnished by Management at all times while they are in the Exhibit area. Booth personnel have access to the Exhibit Hall 30 minutes before published show hours.

Official Decorator

The official Business Fair decorator and drayage firm is Hargrove, Inc. An Exhibitor Service Manual will be available online approximately 120 days prior to the conference.

Booth Decorations

Linear Booths have only one side exposed to an aisle and are generally arranged in a series along a straight line. They are also called "in-line" booths. For purposes of consistency and ease of layout and/or reconfiguration, floor plan design in increments of 10ft (3.05m) has become the de facto standard in the United States. Therefore, unless constricted by space or other limitations, Linear Booths are most commonly 10ft (3.05m) wide and 10ft (3.05m) deep, i.e. 10ft by 10ft (3.05m by 3.05m). A maximum back wall height limitation of 8ft (2.44m) is generally specified regardless of the number of Linear Booths utilized, e.g. 10ft by 20ft (3.05m by 6.10m), 10ft by 30ft (3.05m by 9.14m), 10ft by 40ft (3.05m by 12.19m), etc. display materials should be arranged in such a manner so as not to obstruct sight lines of neighboring exhibitors. The maximum height of 8ft (2.44m) is allowed only in the rear half of the booth space, with a 4ft (1.22m) height restriction imposed on all materials in the remaining space forward to the aisle. Note: When three or more Linear Booths are used in combination as a single exhibit space, the 4ft (1.22m) height limitation is applied only to that portion of exhibit space which is within 10ft (3.05m) of an adjoining booth. A Corner Booth is a Linear Booth exposed to aisles on two sides. All other guidelines for Linear Booths apply. A Perimeter Booth is a Linear Booth that backs to an outside wall of the exhibit facility rather than to another exhibit. All guidelines for Linear Booths apply to Perimeter Booths except that the typical maximum back wall height is 12ft (3.66m). Exhibitor agrees to arrange Table displays so that the general view of the floor will not be obstructed nor hide other exhibits. Display space is 6 feet by 2 feet (6' x 2'). Maximum height of the display is 8 feet including the table, or 5 feet 6 inches from the table's surface. If the table provided by management is not utilized, the entire display must fit into a space 6 feet wide by 2 feet deep by 8 feet high.

All materials must be displayed within the above-mentioned space and cannot be adhered to walls. An Island Booth is any size booth exposed to aisles on all four sides. An Island Booth is typically 20' x 20' or larger, although it may be configured differently. The entire cubic content of the space may be used up to the maximum allowable height. A Split Island Booth is a Peninsula Booth which shares a common backwall with another Peninsula Booth. The entire cubic content of this booth may be used, up to the maximum allowable height, without any back wall line of sight restrictions. An Extended Header Booth is a Linear Booth 20ft (6.10m) or longer with a center extended header. All guidelines for Linear Booths apply to Extended Header Booths, except that the center extended header has a maximum height of 8ft (2.44m), a maximum width of 20 percent of the length of the booth, and a maximum depth of 9ft (2.7m) from the back wall.

All exhibit displays should be designed and erected in a manner that will withstand normal contact or vibration caused by neighboring exhibitors, hall laborers or installation/dismantling equipment such as fork lifts. Displays should also be able to withstand moderate wind effects that may occur in the exhibit hall when freight doors are open. Refer to local building codes that regulate temporary structures. Exhibitors should ensure that any display fixtures such as tables, racks or shelves are designed and installed properly to support the product or marketing materials to be displayed upon them.

All materials used in display construction or decorating should be made of fire retardant materials and be certified as flame retardant. Samples should also be available for testing. Materials that cannot be treated to meet the requirements should not be used. A flame proofing certificate should be available for inspection. Exhibitors should dispose of any waste products they generate during the exhibition in accordance with guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the facility.

Electrical

Every exhibit facility has different electrical requirements; however, minimum guidelines are suggested:

All 110-volt wiring should be grounded three-wire.
Wiring that touches the floor should be "SO" cord (minimum 14-gauge/three-wire) flat cord, which is insulated to qualify for "extra hard usage".
Cord wiring above floor level can be "SJ" which is rated for "hard usage".
Using zip cords, two-wire cords, latex cords, plastic cord, lamp cord, open clip sockets, and two-wire clamp-on fixtures is not recommended and is often prohibited. Cube taps are not recommended and are often prohibited. Power strips (multi-plug connectors) should be UL approved, with built-in over-load protectors.
International exhibitors are encouraged to bring adaptors to help protect any electric equipment.

Lighting

Exhibitors should adhere to the following suggested minimum guidelines when determining booth lighting:
No lighting fixtures, lighting trusses or overhead lighting are allowed outside the boundaries of the exhibit space.
Exhibitors intending to use hanging light systems should submit drawings to exhibition management for approval.
Lighting should be directed to the inner confines of the booth space.
Lighting should not project onto other exhibits or show aisles.
Lighting which is potentially harmful, such as lasers or ultraviolet lighting, should comply with facility rules and be approved in writing by exhibition management.
Lighting that spins, rotates, pulsates and other specialized lighting effects should be in good taste and not interfere with neighboring exhibitors or otherwise detract from the general atmosphere of the event.

Shipping and Storage

The Baltimore Convention Center has no facilities for the storage of exhibit materials. Shipments will be received and stored by the official drayage agent, Hargrove, Inc., prior to the conference. Delivery of the shipment to the booth, removal of the empty crates to storage, return of empty crates at the close of the show, and delivery of your shipment to the loading platform will be provided by Hargrove, Inc. at prevailing rates. A material handling information rate sheet will be included in the online Exhibitor Service Manual. It is the exhibitor's responsibility to mark and identify their own crates. Crates not properly marked and identified may be destroyed.

Operating Restrictions

Management reserves the right to restrict displays which, because of noise, methods of operation, materials, or for any reason, become objectionable and to prohibit or remove any displays which, in the opinion of Management, detract from the general character or appearance of the exposition.

Exhibitor's Representative

The exhibitor will name one individual as its duly authorized representative to have charge of the exhibit, and thereby accept and assume responsibility for such representative being in attendance at the exhibit throughout exhibit periods. This individual will be responsible for the installation, operation, and removal of the exhibit. Said representative shall be authorized to enter such service contracts as may be necessary, for which the exhibiting company shall be responsible.

Liability and Insurance

Management will provide 24-hour security guard service in the Exhibit Hall beginning on Monday, June 21, 2010 and continuing through teardown on Thursday, June 24, 2010. No registrants will be allowed into the Exhibit Hall outside of regular show hours; Exhibit Hall personnel will only be allowed into the Exhibit Hall during installation hours, 30 minutes before the show, during the show, and during dismantle hours. However, this does not imply that Management, Hargrove, Inc., or the Baltimore Convention Center assumes any obligation or duty with respect to the protection of the property of exhibitors, which shall, at all times, be the sole responsibility of each exhibitor. Each party involved in the exhibit agrees to be responsible for any claims arising out of their own negligence or that of their employees or agents. Each party agrees to be responsible for their own property through insurance or self-insurance and shall hold harmless each of the other parties for any and all damage caused by theft and those perils normally covered by a fire and extended coverage policy.

Hold Harmless Clause

The exhibitor assumes the entire responsibility and liability for losses, damages, and claims arising out of exhibitor's activities on the Baltimore Convention Center premises and will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Baltimore Convention Center, its agents, servants and employees from any and all such losses, damages, and claims. Neither the Baltimore Convention Center, Hargrove, Inc. nor Management is responsible or liable for any loss, damage, or claims arising out of injury or damage to exhibitor's displays, equipment, nor other property brought upon the premises of the Baltimore Convention Center.

Agreement

By submitting your registration, the registrant (and his/her guests) agree to abide by these Rules and Regulations and all amendments thereto, as well as all decisions of Management.

For Additional Information Contact

E. Denise Stovell, Stovell Marketing and Public Relations, Inc.

700 12th Street, NW, Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 2000,

202-588-9875

denise@stovellmarketingpr.com

Women's Business Enterprise National Council

1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1000

Washington, D.C. 20036

202-872-5515, x: 8020

WIB@wbenc.org

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