Attendee FAQs

Dates, Location, and Congress Highlights
Registration, Fees and Deadlines
Hotel Reservations
Transportation
Education Sessions, CEUs and Online Library
Special Events
Chapter Dinners
Exhibits
APWA Blood Drive

 

DATES, LOCATION, AND CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS

When and where will Congress be held?

Congress will be held August 25 - 28, at McCormick Place, Lakeside Center in Chicago, Illinois.
 

Congress Highlights

Education Sessions by Date
Education Sessions by Subject
Special Events
The Expo Experience

 

REGISTRATION, FEES, AND DEADLINES

What does full registration now include?

Back by popular demand! Again this year we simplified the registration options and added value to what you get as a fully-registered delegate. Not only will you continue to have access to all education sessions, the exhibit floor, all special events, and lunch on the exhibit floor Sunday and Monday, your full registration will also include:

• A downloadable version of the recorded education sessions following the event—full registrants no longer have to pay up to an additional $229, and you get the value of all recorded sessions all year long.  
• Free CEUs from Congress—your registration now covers the $20 processing fee  
• Access to Workshop Wednesday and the Public Works Stormwater Summit—including your choice of tours and demonstrations

Register online today. Click here for registration fees.
 

Can I register for Congress online?

Yes. Click here to register online.
 

Are there other ways to register for Congress?

Yes. You can mail your Pre-Registration Forms to:

American Public Works Association  
PO Box 843742 
Kansas City, MO 64184-3742

You can also fax your Pre-Registration Forms to:
708-344-4444.

You can also register onsite during Congress.
 

What are the hours for onsite registration*?

Saturday, August 24, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, August 25, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday, August 26, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 27, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, August 28, 7 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

*Times are subject to change.
 

Can I register to visit the exhibitor floor only?

Yes. The cost is $35 per day. Register here.
 

Can I register for the Public Works Stormwater Summit separately?

To register for the Public Works Stormwater Summit only, please fill out the registration form PDF, or call APWA's registration company at 708-486-0705.
 

Who do I talk to if I have questions about registration or payment?

All questions regarding registration or payment should be directed to APWA’s registration company at 708-486-0705, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. CST, or e-mail apwacustomerservice@compusystems.com.
 

I have registered for Congress but am unable to attend. Can another member from my agency go in my place?

Yes. You may have a colleague substitute for you. Send a fax to: 708-344-4444. Or e-mail your substitute to apwacustomerservice@compusystems.com.
 

How much does it cost to attend Congress?

Click here to see registration fees.
 

Is there a special APWA membership offer to nonmembers, and how do I take advantage of this offer? Where do I send my registration and application forms?

APWA offers you two ways to join APWA and save money!  

By joining APWA, you’ll be tapping into a network of thousands of public works experts, some in your neighboring communities and others halfway across the globe.

To join, go to www.apwa.net or call 800-848-2792 to talk with an APWA membership specialist.
 

If I fax in my membership application, am I still able to take advantage of the member rates for Congress?

APWA must receive payment for membership dues before you can take advantage of the member registration rates for Congress. Membership payment should be sent to APWA, P.O. Box 802296, Kansas City, MO 64180-2296, or you can pay by American Express, MasterCard or VISA. Call 800-848-2792 or click here to join online today.
 

Is there an Early Bird Discount?

Yes. The Early Bird Discount is Monday, July 1, 2013.  If you register before then, you can save $50 on full Congress rates. Click here to see registration fees. Click here to register online today.
 

What is the deadline for pre-registration?

The deadline for pre-registration is August 16, 2013. After that date, registration will be onsite only.
 

How do I register my family?

You can add a guest/spouse to your registration either online or on the downloadable registration form, which you can either mail or fax. Or, once you have completed your registration, you can visit Attendee Dashboard  to register your guest/spouse. Children under the age of 18 must be registered onsite.
 

What is your cancellation policy?

All cancellations or requests for refunds must be made in writing. A full refund, less a $100 administrative fee, will be issued if written notice is postmarked by July 19, 2013. No refunds will be issued on requests made after July 19, 2013 or for an amount less than $50.  All refunds will be issued no later than 30 days after Congress.

 

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Stay at one of the official Congress hotels and save money on your Congress stay. To take advantage of the special APWA rates, please make your reservations online, or fax or mail this form or call 1-800-445-8667, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. CDT until Monday, August 5, 2013. When calling be sure to tell the agent you are attending the APWA International Public Works Congress and Exposition in Chicago. After this date, the discounted APWA rates may no longer be available. Beginning Monday, August 5, 2013, all reservations must be made directly with the hotels and special APWA rates are on an availability basis only, hotels going rate may apply.

You can download a PDF map of the area for hotel locations.
 

Which hotel is Congress headquarters?

The Hilton Chicago Hotel is the headquarters.
 

What are the Congress hotels and room rates?*

Hilton Chicago Hotel
$175 single/double

Palmer House
$175 single/double

*Note: All rates are per room and are subject to 16.4% occupancy tax (subject to change.)
Book your hotel room now.
 

TRANSPORTATION

What kinds of ground transportation are available to and from the airport?

 

Airport	Distance from McCormick Place	Average Taxi Rate to Downtown	CTA "L" Train to Downtown	Shuttle from Airport to Downtown	Car Rental Agencies
O’Hare International  Airport	20 mi.	$40-50	Blue Line (24 hours) Single Trip from airport to downtown: $2.25.	Go Airport Express Shared van from airport to downtown:  $32 one way for one passenger to any major hotel downtown.	Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National   Please contact Car Rental Agency for quote
Midway International Airport	11 mi.	$30-35	Orange Line Single Trip from airport to downtown: $2.25.	Go Airport Express Shared van from airport to downtown: $27 one way for one passenger to any major hotel downtown.	Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, Thrifty Please contact Car Rental Agency for for quote

 

Will shuttle service be available from the hotels to the convention center?

Stay at one of the official Congress hotels and save on lodging and transportation to and from Congress Activities. APWA has negotiated great rates for all attendees at the official Congress hotels. Complimentary shuttle service will be available to registered attendees between the McCormick Place Lakeside Center and the official APWA Congress Hotels. Shuttle service will begin on Saturday, August 24 at 7 a.m., and operate during Congress hours until Wednesday, August 28. Use the map of the downtown area for hotel locations.

Special Shuttle Bus Transportation Needs during Congress and for the Wednesday’s Workshop

Buses will be running to several of the Workshop sites on Wednesday. Please refer to the descriptions for those workshops that include bus transportation. If you need accessible transportation for the workshop you are participating in please call Dana Priddy, APWA at 816-595-5241 or by email at dpriddy@apwa.net. On-site requests will be handled as expeditiously as possible.
 

EDUCATION SESSIONS, CEUS AND ONLINE LIBRARY

Where can I find a listing of the education sessions?

You may also view all current sessions by date or sessions by subject.
 

What is a CEU?

The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a nationally accepted measure of participation in continuing education activities. It is a valuable tool for showing employers and professional licensing authorities that you are adding new skills and staying current with today’s ever-changing workplace. APWA is an International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET) Authorized Provider of CEUs. This designation demonstrates that APWA’s Continuing Education programs comply with recognized standards for program development and learning outcomes and are recognized by multiple state licensing boards and certifying bodies.

AGAIN THIS YEAR—You can earn CEUs for attending the Exhibitor Solution Theater presentations on the exhibit floor!
 

What is a PDH?

The Professional Development Hour (PDH) is a term established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) “Continuing Professional Competency Guidelines” for Professional Engineers (PE). In these guidelines, NCEES defines the equivalency between CEUs and PDHs as: 0.1 CEU (1 hour of instruction) = 1 PDH. (Important note to Florida and New York Professional Engineers: APWA is an approved Florida Board of Professional Engineers provider of Continuing Education. The State of New York recognizes APWA as an approved training provider by virtue of APWA’s standing as an IACET Authorized Provider of CEUs.)
 

Can I earn CEUs for participating in the education sessions?

Yes. CEUs will be awarded for attending Congress education sessions, workshops, Exhibitor Solution Theater presentations and workshop/tours.
 

What is the fee for obtaining a CEU Transcript indicating my attendance at APWA Congress Education Session?

Good news! The fee for obtaining a CEU Transcript is included in your Congress full and daily registration fees! So no additional payment is necessary.
 

How do I obtain CEUs for attending Congress Education Sessions?

APWA uses an electronic system to track attendance at education sessions. The Congress name badge has a bar code on it that contains identifying information specific to each person. To obtain CEUs for the sessions you attend, you MUST have your badge electronically scanned by the room monitors at the end of each session. You must attend the entire session or workshop to be eligible to receive CEU credits.
 

Where do I turn in my CEU Request Form?

To comply with CEU recordkeeping standards, those wishing to have their scan data entered into the APWA CEU system must complete a CEU Request Form. A CEU Request Form will be distributed inside the onsite Congress Registration Bags or you may download a form at APWA’s CEU webpage. You may turn in your completed forms either at the onsite APWA Congress Bookstore prior to leaving Congress, or by mailing the form to:

APWA CEU Program
2345 Grand Blvd., Suite 700
Kansas City, MO 64108
 

After turning in my form, how do I obtain the CEU Transcript?

Within four weeks of receiving your CEU Request Form, APWA will enter all of your data into the system and then send you an e-mail notice with instructions for downloading your CEU Transcript from the APWA CEU web page.
 

What is the online library?

One of the benefits of registering for the full APWA Congress (Sunday–Wednesday) is free access to the 2013 APWA Congress Online Library. You can download or stream the audio and view the PowerPoint slides of those Congress speakers who have given permission to have their presentations recorded. Within 4 weeks ofyour return home, all full registrants will receive an e-mail with notification of your download access code for the online library. This is a wonderful way to share the important information learned at Congress with your employees and co-workers. For daily registrants or those who cannot attend the 2013 Congress, you will have the option of purchasing either individual session recordings or the full Congress package by using the online order form at www.ProLibraries.com.

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

What are the special events this year?

Click here for a detailed list of the special events planned for this year.

 

CHAPTER DINNERS

When and where are the chapter dinners held?

Most chapter dinners are Tuesday, August 27. For information on chapter dinners, contact Rhonda Wilhite at 816-595-5261 or e-mail rwilhite@apwa.net. Current information on chapter dinners will be available in the APWA Congress registration area at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center.

 

EXHIBITS

What is the Expo Experience?

The 2013 exhibit floor isn’t your ordinary exhibit floor—it’s an EXPERIENCE. Yes, we’ll still have the great lineup of vendors you’re used to seeing with outstanding product displays covering over 80,000 square feet, fabulous prize drawings, lunch on the floor, and exhibitor solution theaters every hour.

We've added so much more to the experience, you might have a hard time leaving! When you’re not in an education session, you’ll want to check out all of the action at the EXPO EXPERIENCE. We’ll be bringing you live interviews with session speakers throughout the week, you’ll have multiple opportunities to connect with your colleagues, we’ll have more prize drawings than ever, you can discover the newest “Apps in Public Works” and, as always, you can keep up with your friends and colleagues at the cyber stations.

If that isn’t enough to get you on the exhibit floor to enjoy the EXPO EXPERIENCE, then how about this—

• Again this year, you can earn CEUs for attending Exhibitor Solution Theater presentations!
• We’re building Central Park right on the exhibit floor!
• And that’s not all! Back by popular demand we’ll have Happy Hour on the floor. But not just on Sunday afternoon anymore, it’s EVERY DAY! Our exhibitors will be sponsoring beer on the floor all week long so you can enjoy a cold one while kicking a few tires.

The 2013 EXPO EXPERIENCE will be a place to LEARN, DISCOVER, and HAVE FUN! So put it in your plans now—we know you’ll want to spend a few more hours at the EXPO EXPERIENCE.
 

When will the exhibits be open?

Sunday, Noon – 4 p.m.
Monday,10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 

When is the non-compete time for exhibits?

Sunday, Noon – 3 p.m.
Monday, 11 – 2 p.m.
Tuesday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
 

Can I bring my child with me to visit the exhibits?

Yes. APWA allows children to visit the exhibit floor during regular exhibition hours. For safety, anybody under 18 must be registered onsite and be accompanied by an adult. The parent/guardian must assume all risk and is responsible for the safety of the child. Children can only be registered onsite beginning Saturday, August 24. No children will be allowed on the exhibit floor during installation and dismantling of the exhibits.

 

BLOOD DRIVE

Will there be a blood drive again this year?

Yes! The blood drive will be on Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. If you have 45 minutes to spare, give blood and save the life of another person! Did you know that every three seconds someone needs blood? One single donation can save as many as three lives—and there is NO substitute for human blood. Anyone age 17 years or older, who weighs at least 110 pounds and is in good general health may donate. Photo identification is required before beginning the donation process. (Some health conditions or medications may temporarily or permanently prevent persons from donating blood.) Prospective donors must first complete a health history questionnaire and go through a screening process. During the screening process, a technician will take important vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and an iron check. If all the requirements are met, a unit of blood is drawn from the donor. The actual blood collection takes approximately 15–20 minutes. The entire process, from when you sign in to the time you leave, takes between 45–60 minutes.

Please join APWA—proud partners with the American Red Cross —in this vital effort. Roll up your sleeve and save a life!