UPDATE TO STORY 6/7:
Critical Traffic and Travel Info – Saturday, June 11
Please carefully review the following information!
The Grand Floral Parade will disrupt travel on Saturday, June 11 –the final day of our convention. You are highly encouraged to take the MAX that day. We cannot stress this enough. The streets near the Convention Center and the DoubleTree will be blocked off between 7:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., and intense crowds will cause major traffic issues once the parade concludes. The heaviest traffic is expected between the hours of 12 and 2 p.m.; our Convention wraps up at 12 p.m.
Here is what we know so far about what to expect on Saturday:
- There will be MAJOR traffic around the Oregon Convention Center and the DoubleTree Hotel. The parade is set to start at the Memorial Coliseum and end at the Lloyd Center (next to the DoubleTree). The streets will be crowded and/or barricaded off.
- Barricades will be up as early as 7:30 a.m. and taken down around 12 p.m.
Go here for more detailed info on parking, driving, and hotel check out.
Pleease note that we continue to monitor the situation and will keep you updated as information becomes available. Check the Registration Table when you arrive for additional details.
Here’s a everything you need to know about the 2022 NOW District Convention:
When: June 9-11
Where: Oregon Convention Center
Note that registration is closed. Delegates and attendees will have received their housing assignment (if necessary) by now via email. If you have not – please check your spam folder. Contact Marilyn Allen at marilyna@nowlcms.org or call 503-288-8383 for questions.
Keynote Speaker: David Kinnaman is the author of the bestselling books “Faith For Exiles,” “Good Faith,” “You Lost Me,” and “unChristian.” He is CEO of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits, and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services. Since 1995, David has directed interviews with more than two million individuals and overseen thousands of U.S. and global research studies. He will be leading sessions on Thursday night, Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning.
Schedule: Here is the tentative schedule that will be presented at Convention.
Prep Work: Delegates were tasked with a number of important items to complete before arrival.
“Speaking the Truth in Love About Racism” Task Force Toolkit
NOW Leadership Initiative (NOW L.I.)
Workbook: The Convention workbook features important info to help you prepare, including the Resolutions, which were uploaded following the April 8 Floor Committee meetings. Please read the workbook and do the requested prep work thoroughly. Only a limited number of printed documents will be available at convention; please come prepared with your own copy or electronic version. A few areas you will especially want to pay attention to:
SECTION 3: President’s Report – Report of District Office activities and executive reports. This will help you understand what the NOW District does. Be sure to read the report from the Racism Task Force, since many overtures were submitted on this issue.
SECTION 5: Election information – Slates and biographies. Read the voting slate, the statements, and the bios so you are informed about the people you are voting for.
SATURDAY Travel Details: The Grand Floral Parade will disrupt parking and driving on Saturday. The Oregon Convention Center is directly on the parade route – streets in the surrounding area will be closed beginning at 7:30 a.m. and will reopen by noon. (Click here for a map). The Steel Bridge will be the only way to drive to the Convention Center – and you will be required to show your nametag to get through the parade barricades that will be set up. Additionally, you will also need to show your nametag to enter the Convention Center on Saturday morning and in order to park in the Convention Center parking garage. You are highly encouraged to utilize public transportation that day. The HOP FastPass that will be available at registration will allow you to ride all MAX, TriMet, and Portland Streetcar lines throughout the duration of Convention. Please consider these options and save yourself a headache. Look for complete details on this to be posted at the registration table and here as it becomes available.
Shuttle Bus Schedule: Chartered buses are available to shuttle attendees between the Oregon Convention Center and the DoubleTree Hotel on Thursday and Friday. This service is offered for free to attendees who may wish for a more convenient transportation option in the mornings and evenings. It will NOT be available on Saturday due to the Grand Floral Parade. Find a schedule here.
HOP FastPass: Especially on Saturday, attendees should consider utilizing public transportation or walk if possible. The HOP Fastpass that will be available at registration is good for the MAX, Portland Streetcar, and TriMet buses — and will take you anywhere on the lines you need to go (not limited to around the Convention Center). So if you are commuting in and would like to use your HOP Fastpass from a station close to home, you may do so. This could save you a lot of trouble on Saturday!
Taking the MAX from the Airport: Go here for info on taking Restaurants: There are a number of restaurants in the immediate area surrounding the Convention Center. The attached list outlines some of the options. The Dragon Boat Grill inside the Convention Center will also be open for dinner on Thursday as well as lunch and dinner on Friday.
Concordia Portland Tribute: We will honor the legacy of Concordia University-Portland at our District Convention. Your submitted pictures and sound bites were included as part of a tribute and remembrance video showing how God used Concordia – Portland to bless so many. Please join us at the Oregon Convention Center on Friday, June 10, at 8 p.m. to see it. It will be made available for viewing later.
Masks: At this time, masks are not required. We recommend that attendees bring some in case the situation changes and they become mandatory; you may always choose to wear one at your own comfort level.
Payment: If you haven’t yet paid for your Convention registration and/or housing, please send a check now to the District Office: Northwest District LCMS
1700 NE Knott Street
Portland, OR 97212
Housing must be paid to the district in advance, not to the DoubleTree. The district has a master bill with the hotel, and we will be paying them. We cannot accept payment at the Convention Center or at the DoubleTree.
Look for all of the links and resources you may need in the Convention resources section of our website. Info is also available on the event page.
