22nd Annual Convention Communique

Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA)
A Nonprofit Organization
P.O. Box 710251 Houston, TX 77271-1481
www.upuamerica.org
Communiqué
To:
All Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA) Members and Guests
From:
The Convention Host, the Convention Planning Committee and the
UPUA Executive Committee
Date:
March 16, 2015
Re:
Important Information Regarding the 2015 UPUA Convention
At UPUA’s Annual Convention in Atlanta in 2014, it was resolved that the 22nd Annual Convention
of Urhobos in North America will be held during the U.S. Labor Day weekend (Friday, September
4 - Monday, September 7, 2015) and the Members of Urhobo Progress Union, Northern California
(UPUNC) are hosting the convention.
Convention Theme: Selfless and Effective Leadership: A Vehicle for Unity and Progress for
Urhobos
Venue: At the UPUA joint Board of Trustees (BOT) and Executive Committee (EC) meetings on
September 26, 2014 it was resolved that the 22nd UPUA Annual Convention will be held at the San
Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront, 1800 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA, 94010-1203.
Important Facts about the 2015 UPUA Convention Venue - San Francisco
While the Hotel is located in the City of Burlingame, it is about 15 minutes from Downtown San
Francisco.
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the cultural, commercial and
financial center of Northern California. The only consolidated city and county in California. San
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Francisco encompasses a land area of about 46.9 square miles on the northern end of the San Francisco
Peninsula, giving it a density of about 17,867 people per square mile. It is the most densely settled
large city in the state of California and the second-most densely populated major city in the United
States after New York City. San Francisco is the fourth-most populous city in California, after Los
Angeles, San Diego and San Jose, and the 14th-most populous city in the United States-with a Censusestimated 2013 population of 837,442. The city and its surroundings are known as the San Francisco
Bay Area, part of the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland combined statistical area, with an estimated
population of 8.5 million.
San Francisco is home to the San Francisco State University, University of California, San Francisco-a
famous world class Medical Research Center, San Francisco Academy of Arts University, Golden Gate
University, University of California, Hastings College of the Law, University of the Pacific Arthur
Dugoni School of Dentistry, California Institute of Integral Studies and more.
San Francisco is a unique and breathtaking metropolis. Some of the tourist attractions include the
iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the exquisite art galleries at SFMOMA, the renowned museums, Alcatraz,
Chinatown, the cruckedest street in the world –“Lombard Street”, Academy of Sciences, Steinhart
Aquarium, Strybing Arboretum and Botanical gardens at the Golden Gate Park, the San Francisco
Symphony, the cable cars, a sparkling bay and streets lined with elegant and meticulously architectured
Victorian Homes. San Francisco is undeniably one of the world’s great cities. San Francisco has an
alluring magic that stretches from its nightlife to the trend-setting cuisines, one of the cities with the
greatest diversity in its population and number of restaurants per capita.
The Bay Area is also home to some of the world’s finest wine country, including Napa Valley and
Sonoma, plus waterfront towns, dramatic beaches, and the tech-savvy southern end of the bay known
as the Silicon Valley, where lunchtime ideas at Google, Facebook, Twitters and Apple to name a few
turn into the next brilliant innovation.
As quoted by one writer, “the only drawback about San Francisco is that once you get here you do
not want to leave.”
Guest Room Rate & Reservation: The hotel is offering $139.00 as a group rate per room per
night (plus applicable state and local taxes). Discounted self-parking is available at the rate of .
$10.00 per day. Discounted parking for Sunday banquet, 09/06/2015 at $5.00 per vehicle.
Reservations for the event must be made by individual attendees directly with Marriott
reservations at 1(888) 236-2427 or the hotel’s direct number 1(650) 692-9100, for US and
Canada residents. Elsewhere, call 1 (877) 622-3056. Please mention Urhobo Progress Union
America, or UPUA to get the group rate when calling to make your reservation. Reservations may
also
be
made
online
through
the
hotel
website;
https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=12553614
(press
CTRL and click) or through UPUA’s website, www.upuamerica.org. Hotel check in is 3:00 p.m.
and checkout is 12:00 p.m.
Cut-Off Date for Hotel Reservations at the Group Rate: The cut-off date for hotel
reservations at the group rate is Thursday, August 13, 2015. So, please call the hotel as soon as
feasible to reserve your room. Please note that a major credit card will be required at the time of
your reservation. However, you will not be billed until the end of your stay.
Air Travel Arrangements: We strongly recommend that you book your flight to San Francisco
International Airport (SFO.) The distance from the Airport to the Hotel is approximately 3 to 4
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miles by road. For those who choose to fly through Oakland Airport, Please take the Bay Area
Rapid Transportation train (BART) from Oakland Airport to the San Francisco International Airport
and catch the Hotel Shuttle to the Hotel. The Oakland Airport BART station is located just across
from the Terminal 1 baggage claim area and a short walk from Terminal 2. The BART takes
approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Oakland International Airport to SFO International Airport
and it cost approximately $15.50. Please note that the local chapter or UPUA will not be
picking up guests from the airports.
The Hotel is accessible by a complimentary 15 minutes to/fro Airport shuttle service, which is
available 24 hours a day. (Please see details below). It is also recommended that you book your
flight as early as possible to ensure the best deal as airfares will continually rise as we approach the
busy Labor Day weekend.
Transportation to & from the Airport/Hotel:
 Directions for taking our 24 Hour Airport Shuttle:
 At any domestic and international terminal, go one floor above baggage claim and exit to the
outside.
 Go toward center outside island and locate Courtesy Hotel Shuttle Bus area.
 Take the shuttle that is shared by San Francisco Airport Marriott & Hyatt Regency Burlingame.
 The time from the airport to the Marriott is around 15 minutes. Here are the shuttle times below:
4:00am-9:00 am Every 10 minutes
9:00am-7:00 pm Every 15 minutes
7:00pm-10:00 pm Every 10 minutes
10:00pm-12:00 am Every 15 minutes
12:00am-4:00 am Every 30 minutes
Other forms of transportation include;
 Bauer Limousine; on request
 Taxi (Estimated fare: 7 USD one way)
If you are driving into San Francisco, you may use your Global Positioning System (GPS) or
MapQuest. If you need further assistance upon arrival, you may send a text message to Dr.
Johnson Ojo, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chair, at 1 707-235-5900.
Convention Admission Tickets: On Friday, May 22, 2011, the UPUA BOT resolved that the
admission to the convention will be $65.00 per person (12 years and above). The ticket price for
children 3-12 years is $35 per child. Children less than 3 years are free. These prices were
reaffirmed at the joint meeting of the BOT and EC held on Friday, February 28, 2014. The
convention ticket ensures access to all convention activities beginning on Friday night, such as
registration, symposia, Saturday night convention reception and entertainment, cultural events,
Sunday night dinner/gala, as well as a copy of the convention brochure (for adults only). Ticket
prices will increase by $10 if purchased after Friday, August 28, 2015 or at the convention. Tickets
can be purchased from UPUA, UPUA Chapters or online at www.upuamerica.org. Please
purchase your convention ticket(s) before the deadline as limited tickets may be available
during the convention or at the gate on Sunday, and sales will stop when the banquet hall
capacity is reached. Remember, tickets are required for admission.
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Raffle Draw: Raffle tickets are $2.00 each. Several fabulous prizes will be won.
Deadline for Receipt of Payments for the Convention, Raffle Tickets, and Brochure Ads: The
first installment from ticket sales must be received before July 11, 2015. The second installment
must be received before August 22, 2015. Please do not mail any payments after August 22,
2015. Checks and money orders should be made payable to UPUA and mailed to the Treasurer,
Mr. Thompson Usiyan, 1975 Dain Drive, Lemon Grove, CA 91945. We will continue to sell tickets
throughout the convention, but please emphasize to your members not to wait until the last minute.
Tickets should be paid in advance. NOTE: ALL MEMBERS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE
TICKETS SENT TO THE VARIOUS CHAPTERS ARE SOLD AND PAID FOR. THOSE WHO
PAY FOR CONVENTION TICKETS BUT DO NOT ATTEND THE CONVENTION SHOULD
CONSIDER THEIR PAYMENTS AS CHARITABLE DONATIONS INTENDED TO HELP
THE UNION AND THE URHOBO PEOPLE.
Program of Activities

Fun for the Family
In keeping with Article 9.2(i) of the 2004 UPUA Constitution (as amended in 2006), which
provides that the annual convention shall include a program for children and the host (Urhobo
Progressive Union, Northern California), has put together a family program. The host chapter is
also planning a BBQ party for the Young Adults on Saturday. Please bring the entire family to
enjoy San Francisco at this year’s convention. Do not forget your tennis shoes and jogging attire
for the scenic waterfront 5 mile morning/evening walk on the trail around the hotel to experience
the healthy lifestyle of the Bay Area people. Free bicycle rental is provided for riding along the
waterfront.

Broad Outline of Convention Business Activities
Thursday, September 3, 2015: Arrival of Executive Committee (EC) and Board of Trustees
(BOT) members; EC and BOT meetings concurrently at 4:00 P.M. There is a Joint EC and BOT
meeting at 7:00 P.M. If you are part of these important meetings, please plan your flight to arrive
early to ensure punctuality.
Friday, September 4, 2015: Arrival of Convention delegates from 4:00 P.M. If necessary, there
will be a continuation of the EC and BOT meeting from 10:00 A.M to 3:00 P.M. In addition, there
is Friday night young adults’ party from 6:00 P.M to 1:00 A.M. Welcoming of convention guests
and delegates by the host chapter (UPUNC) will be at 7:30 P.M.
Saturday, September 5, 2015 (8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.): There will be a General Membership
meeting followed by a Symposium. Speeches will be delivered by the President-General of Urhobo
Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide, as well as the keynote speaker(s) and other dignitaries from
Nigeria, Europe and North America. Each UPUA chapter President will make a brief presentation
during the General Membership meeting. Furthermore, provision has been made for UPUA young
adults and other young adults to meet and brainstorm. For more information on the young adults’
programs, please join the face book group called’ “weheart Urhobo” and sign on to
http://www.facebook.com/groups/weheart Urhobo/
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Saturday, September 5, 2015 (6:00 P.M. onwards): Reception and entertainment for convention
delegates and guests by the host chapter.
Sunday, September 6, 2015 (9:00 A.M. – 10: 30 A.M.): Church Service.
Sunday, September 6, 2015 (11:00 A.M – 12: 00 noon): The Election of UPUA President for the
January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2017 tenure.
Sunday, September 6, 2015 (12:00 noon – 4: 00 P.M.): A tour of San Francisco will be organized
by the host for children, family members, convention delegates, and guests.
Sunday, September 6, 2015 (6:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M.): Gala Night, Cultural Extravaganza and
Music/Dinner/Dance, raffle draws and fund raising for UPUA’s charitable and community
development projects in the U.S. and Nigeria including scholarship awards.
Monday, September 7, 2015: Departure of invited guests and convention delegates.
Note: The above program of activities is subject to change. More detailed information will be communicated
to you as preparation for the convention progresses.
Convention Brochure: The brochure will be standard 8.5” x 11” size, glossy color (cover & inside)
for the most part. However, black & white advertisements will be accepted. This is an excellent
opportunity to advertise your business, and for individuals and chapters to send goodwill messages.
Your friends and business associates can also utilize this great opportunity to reach out to a unique
audience. Deadline for submission of advertisements is Thursday, August 14, 2015 All
advertisements must be paid for in advance before they will be published in the convention
brochure.
Convention Brochure Advertisement Price List (Please submit your advertisement with the form
which will be sent by separate e-mail.)

Inside Front Cover
$500.00

Outside Back Cover
$1000.00

Inside Back Cover
$500.00

Center Spread
$600.00 ($300/per page)

Full Page
$200.00

½ Page
$150.00

¼ Page
$100.00
Yours in service to Urhobo,
Signed:
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



Dr. Michael Ukwade, President Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA)
Mr. Eric Erigha, Secretary, Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA)
Mr. Monday Egbedeju, Director of Publicity, Urhobo Progress Union America (UPUA)
Dr. Johnson Ojo, Chair, Convention Local Organizing Committee (LOC)
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