2017 Annual Conference
National Advocates Society and National Medical and Dental Association
2017 Annual Convention
Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina
Bloomington, Indiana
July 26 - 30, 2017
The National Advocates Society hosted the 2017 NAS/NMDA joint summer convention in beautiful Bloomington, Indiana at the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina July 26 - 30, 2017. This year we honored attorney and past NAS Secretary/Treasurer John J. Pikarski, Jr as Person of the Year. One of our recipients of our Jachimczyk Polonia Award was the Polish American Congress Charitable Foundation (PACCF).
Our convention was held at the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina in Bloomington, Indiana. The hotel is set on Lake Monroe in the Fairfax State Recreation Area, and located less than 30 minutes from Indiana University’s campus. The venue features a nearby marina where people can rent boats and water equipment, small private beach on the lake, pool, exercise facility, and two restaurants; the Wind Jammer Grill and Bar and the Tradewinds Waterfront Restaurant.
Located in southern Indiana, Bloomington is best known as the home of Indiana University. The campus is widely hailed for the its picturesque campus. A cosmopolitan center of the Midwest along with a college town, Bloomington has been hailed by Midwest Living as one of the best food towns of the Midwest. The city features various activities such as nearby wineries (including the famous Oliver Winery), the Kinsey Institute Museum, the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, and the Wonderlab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology, and, of course, Indiana University’s campus. Only a short 45 minute drive away is the city of Nashville, Indiana in famed Brown County. Nashville has been known as an artist colony and is filled with unique stores and restaurants
Bloomington is just over 4 hours from Chicago by car. The nearest major airports are Indianapolis (about 1 hour, 30 minutes away by car) and Louisville, Kentucky (about 2 hours away).
Our convention was held at the Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina in Bloomington, Indiana. The hotel is set on Lake Monroe in the Fairfax State Recreation Area, and located less than 30 minutes from Indiana University’s campus. The venue features a nearby marina where people can rent boats and water equipment, small private beach on the lake, pool, exercise facility, and two restaurants; the Wind Jammer Grill and Bar and the Tradewinds Waterfront Restaurant.
Located in southern Indiana, Bloomington is best known as the home of Indiana University. The campus is widely hailed for the its picturesque campus. A cosmopolitan center of the Midwest along with a college town, Bloomington has been hailed by Midwest Living as one of the best food towns of the Midwest. The city features various activities such as nearby wineries (including the famous Oliver Winery), the Kinsey Institute Museum, the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, and the Wonderlab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology, and, of course, Indiana University’s campus. Only a short 45 minute drive away is the city of Nashville, Indiana in famed Brown County. Nashville has been known as an artist colony and is filled with unique stores and restaurants
Bloomington is just over 4 hours from Chicago by car. The nearest major airports are Indianapolis (about 1 hour, 30 minutes away by car) and Louisville, Kentucky (about 2 hours away).
Hotel Reservations
Lakeside rooms with the group rate was $159.00/night plus applicable taxes and fees.
Reservations for hotel rooms was handled directly by the hotel at their reservations number 812-824-2628.
Hotel rooms included microwave, mini-fridge, 32” Flat screen TV, individual climate control, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and writing desk. The hotel had a very limited number of suites.
Reservations for hotel rooms was handled directly by the hotel at their reservations number 812-824-2628.
Hotel rooms included microwave, mini-fridge, 32” Flat screen TV, individual climate control, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and writing desk. The hotel had a very limited number of suites.
Hotel Reservations Cut-Off Date
The cut-off date for hotel room registration was June 25, 2017. This is the high season for the hotel and therefore rooms went quickly. We had a limited number of hotel rooms reserved for NAS/NMDA. After June 25, 2017, any unreserved rooms went back into general reservations. This hotel is NOT related to the Four Winds Casino and Hotel in New Buffalo, Michigan.
Convention Meal and Registration Fees and Early Bird Registration
Normal Convention Meal and Registration Fee was $550.00 for all adults. For Children aged 13-17 the cost was $400. For Children aged 4 - 12 the cost was $200.00. Children 3 and under were free. The deadline for registration was June 16, 2017
Early Bird Registration: Adults who register and paid by Polish Constitution Day (May 3, 2017) saved $50 per adult on registration with Early Bird Registration and registered for $500.00.
The registration fee included the welcoming banquet on Wednesday evening, the College Tailgate Luncheon on Thursday afternoon, daily breakfast buffet in the Tradewinds Restaurant, and Annual Formal Awards Banquet on Saturday. Considering the variety of dining opportunities in and around Bloomington and Nashville, Thursday and Friday evening was on your own.
Early Bird Registration: Adults who register and paid by Polish Constitution Day (May 3, 2017) saved $50 per adult on registration with Early Bird Registration and registered for $500.00.
The registration fee included the welcoming banquet on Wednesday evening, the College Tailgate Luncheon on Thursday afternoon, daily breakfast buffet in the Tradewinds Restaurant, and Annual Formal Awards Banquet on Saturday. Considering the variety of dining opportunities in and around Bloomington and Nashville, Thursday and Friday evening was on your own.
College Tailgate Luncheon
Being so close to a major college campus, what better way to celebrate than with a tailgate? The hotel hosted a college tailgate for our members on the hotel property after the meetings on Thursday for lunch. Members and family came dressed in their favorite college university attire.
Professional and Cultural Program
The professional program was planned for Thursday and Friday mornings.
Additional Optional Activities
Optional activities included a group walking tour of Indiana University’s beautiful limestone campus (consistently rated among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States), a tour of Assembly Hall (home of Indiana University’s basketball team), a tour of the nearby Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center, visits to nearby wineries, and the quaint artist colony village of Nashville, Indiana. Boat rentals were also possible and a highlight for many who took advantage of this opportunity.
- David S. Tokarski, President of the National Advocates Society
- David S. Tokarski, President of the National Advocates Society