Register for an exciting PCC Mission to DC!
Sunday February 26th through Tuesday February 28th, 2012.
Highly Charged Atmosphere! The stage is set for a pivotal election year, here in Washington DC. All this while CBP, FMC and other Federal agencies rush to achieve the President’s agenda in this last year of his first term. Meanwhile, Congress will be pushing through new trade, transportation and funding bills before the election. Democrats will be trying to hold on to the Senate and ship away the Republican Majority in the House; Republicans feel they have a shot at taking over the Senate. Of course the battle will be under way for the White House. A “perfect storm” of trade, transportation and politics – you will want to be here!
What the Mission does for you. The PCC Mission is a very important means by which the customs brokers and freight forwarders on the Pacific Coast can interact directly with government officials, at the agencies and on Capitol Hill, as to your priorities. The matters we discuss directly impact the daily work of the brokers and the forwarders throughout the year.
The Mission is also your best opportunity to see and hear, first hand, what is really going on in DC, without the filter of those talking heads on the cable news shows. Many brokers and forwarders say that the PCC Mission are three of the most worthwhile and memorable days of the year.
The Hotel Monaco is in an historic building, originally the Patent Office, and from which Samuel Morse sent his first telegraph message – all the way to Capitol Hill, seven blocks away. The Monaco is a Kimpton, very cool and in the heart of the Penn Quarter, now one of the liveliest places in DC. Halfway between the Capitol and CBP. We have an excellent Pacific Coast Council rate of $229 per night (a bit higher than one can pay in Fresno, but darn good for DC!)
The Program Overview.
· Sunday morning PCC Board Meeting (to which all PCC Missionaries are welcome).
· Mission Briefing, Sunday lunch and afternoon.
· Annual Mission Dinner, in the old vault of a 19th Century bank.
· Early start at Ronald Reagan Center with CBP on Monday, with briefings running through lunch addressing all the CBP issues and processes and programs impacting brokers and forwarders.
· The afternoon provides options, to meet with the Federal Maritime Commission, Food and Drug Administration, as well as leaders of major manufacturing, retail, and importers’ trade associations.
· Dinner with a senior government official -- always a special event.
· Tuesday breakfast at Capitol Hill Club,motivational breakfast,with Chief Trade Counsel for the House of Representatives.
· PCC Missionaries fan out over Capitol Hill to take our messages to the staff and Members of the California, Oregon and Washington Congressional Delegations.
· Mission Wrap Up, a well deserved cocktail in hand, we review the accomplishments and challenges.
Early Birds. For those arriving Saturday evening, consider attending the Capitol Steps, for 25 years, DC’s leading political satire show. Laugh at Congress, Republicans, Democrats and the President – no one is spared! Show begins at 8 pm, let us know if you are interested in purchasing tickets. Otherwise, we’ll meet informally at a fun place.
Flying to DC. BWI, Dulles and Reagan (National) airports all access DC. Airfare to Reagan may be higher, but there are considerable savings once you are on the ground. From Reagan, you are ten minutes and a $13 cab ride from the Monaco. Allow 45 minutes to an hour and $60-90 for cabs from BWI or Dulles. Alaska Airlines is the only airline that flies non-stop into Reagan from Pacific Coast -- from LAX and SEA.
Register! Reserve your Hotel Room! Attached is the registration form, please complete it and fax in, and don’t forget to reserve at the Hotel Monaco (202) 628-7177. Ask for your discount rate in the Pacific Coast Council room block – the sooner the better! And then, send us the issues YOU want discussed!
Information? Peter Friedmann, PCC Counsel, OurManInDC@federalrelations.com; for hotel and registration matters: Erin Fleck, erin@federalrelations.com. 202 783 3333
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