HelmsBriscoe celebrated their 20th Anniversary Annual Business Conference in Reno Tahoe USA, January 25-27.

WHAT:

Even though the Safari Club International convention isn’t being held in Reno this year the organization is continuing the annual tradition of the “Feed the Hungry Feast.” The Eldorado Hotel Casino will once again prepare the game donated by Safari Club International members for a special wild game feed at the Reno Events Center on Tuesday, January 31 to benefit the needy.

WHO:

Eldorado Hotel Casino in partnership with The Salvation Army and Safari Club International members.

WHEN:

Tuesday, January 31 from 5 – 7 p.m.

WHERE:

Reno Events Center

400 North Center Street  Reno, NV 89501

DETAILS:

Safari Club International created the wild game feed as part of their Sportsmen Against Hunger movement, which has prepared and served tens of millions of meals since it was created in 1989. This year the Eldorado is making enough food to feed approximately 2,500 people in the Reno-Sparks community. Those that need a hot meal are invited to the Reno Events Center.

Peter is coming to Reno.

The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) is pleased to announce the HelmsBriscoe Annual Business Conference 2012 will be held in Reno Tahoe USA! Celebrating the organization’s 20 years as the global leader in meeting procurement, more than 1,800 HelmsBriscoe Associates and Partners will meet in Northern Nevada for the event.

“It’s been a great 20 years thanks to the dedication of our Associates and Partners,” said Peter Shelly, HelmsBriscoe’s Executive Vice President and Annual Business Conference Chairperson. “We’re looking forward to a great event, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have our 20th Anniversary ABC in such a culturally rich and geographically diverse region like Reno Tahoe.”

In 2010, HelmsBriscoe generated $675 million in gross bookings, representing 25,000 events and 3.86 million room nights worldwide. The company has more than 1,200 Associates in more than 50 countries, and prides itself on finding the best possible options to fit its clients’ budget, size and entertainment needs. In its 20 year history, the company has grown to be the largest site selection meeting planning organization globally.

“The RSCVA is very excited to be a part of this event,” said John Leinen, RSCVA VP of Convention & Tourism Sales. “The destination team has a great relationship with HelmsBriscoe and its Associates, and this is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase Reno Tahoe’s beauty, amenities and meetings facilities to an important and influential group business resource. Through hosting this most important industry event, RSCVA is looking to generate additional, incremental business for the destination and to build effective relations with the HelmsBriscoe Associates.

The 2012 HelmsBriscoe ABC will be held from January 25-27. Hotel headquarters include John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino Resort, Peppermill Resort Spa Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

The World Science Fiction Convention is gearing up for a week filled with book discussions, art exhibits, a Masquerade and many more activities that are far out of this world. The group thought there was no better way to kick-off their 69th WorldCon than hosting a FREE book signing event for the Reno Tahoe community! In order to give the public an opportunity to meet some of their favorite authors at no cost, the group has made arrangements with the Washoe County Library – Sierra View for a book signing event on Wednesday, August 17.

For more updates on events and information on Reno Tahoe and Renovation please visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @renotahoe and @renotahoemtgs.

Vietnam Veterans of America will hold its 15^th biennial National Convention August 17-20 at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Some eight hundred delegates from VVA chapters across the country are expected to join hundreds of other Vietnam veterans and guests in Reno. The delegates will set the organization’s course for the next two years, hear from an array of speakers, attend information sessions, and take part in special events. That includes the Awards Banquet, which honors Vietnam veterans and others in the arts, on Saturday evening, August 20.

“We have come a long way since our humble beginnings in 1978,” VVA President John Rowan said. “VVA today is a highly effective force on the national, state and local levels, acting on behalf of Vietnam veterans, their families, and all veterans. We’re proud of our accomplishments over the last 33 years, and we’ll celebrate the past as we work for the future in Reno.”

Richard Pimentel, the disabled Vietnam veteran who is one of the nation’s foremost disability rights advocates, will give the Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday morning, August 17. Other special guests scheduled to take part in the Convention include Vietnam veteran Homer Hickam, the author of the acclaimed memoir Rocket Boys and many other books, and the actress, comedienne, and singer Vicki Lawrence, who entertained the troops in Vietnam. Hickam and Lawrence will receive VVA Excellence in the Arts Awards at the Convention’s culminating event, the Saturday Night Awards Banquet.

For more information visit http://www.vva.org/

Richard Pimentel, a disabled Vietnam veteran and one of the nation’s foremost disability rights advocates, is a brilliantly inspiring and moving speaker. He will give the Keynote Speech on August 17 at the Opening Ceremonies of VVA’s 15th National Convention. His remarkable life story was the subject of the Hollywood film, Music Within.

Pimentel suffered severe hearing loss after a Viet Cong rocket attack in 1968 and now strongly leads the advocates responsible for the congressional passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.

The Convention will be held August 17-20 at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. Eight-hundred delegates from VVA chapters across the country are expected to join hundreds of other Vietnam veterans and guests in Reno.

Other special guests scheduled to take part in the Convention include Vietnam veteran Homer Hickam, the author of the acclaimed memoir Rocket Boys, and the actress, comedienne and singer, Vicki Lawrence, who entertained the troops in Vietnam. Hickam and Lawrence will receive VVA Excellence in the Arts Awards at the Convention’s culminating event, the Saturday Night Awards Banquet.

Opening ceremonies, volunteer and chapter awards, banquet speakers and presentations, and other select Elk Camp attractions will be broadcast live from Reno, Nevada, March 3-5, on the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Web site.

Live video will begin streaming each evening at approximately 6:00 p.m. (PT) at www.rmef.org/elkcamp.

The special Friends of the Foundation breakfast with Bob Eubanks also will broadcast live beginning at about 8:00 (PT) on March 4.

Video will be archived and available for online viewing following each event.

Elk Camp’s host hotel, the Peppermill, is assisting RMEF with the live broadcasts.

The 27th annual RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo is March 3-6. Most daily events such as the expo, RMEF/Leupold World Elk Calling Championships, seminars, luncheons and auctions will be held at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center. Evening events and the breakfast are at the Peppermill. For Elk Camp agendas and other details, go to www.rmef.org.

The broadcasts will not include concerts.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

1. The line between “Get the camera!” and “Get the straitjacket!” is always a little blurry here.
2. You’ve heard the expression, “So hungry I could eat a cow.” Test the theory here with burgers as big as your head. No, really. Just ask the Travel Channel.  
3. Reno Tahoe is home to the 519,700 Sq. Ft. Reno-Sparks Convention Center (owned and operated by the RSCVA); home to more than 20,000 hotel rooms, and more than 8,200 average daily departure seats from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Basically, it’s easy to get here, and even easier to navigate once you’re here.  
4. You can get a world-class experience at a price your wallet will appreciate. Throughout the last few years, Reno Tahoe has invested more than $1 billion in hotel renovations and expansions, including chic rooms, fine dining and fabulous meeting space.
5. If you prefer to ditch the ho-hum meeting space for a more off-beat location, try the National Bowling Stadium, the “Taj Mahal of Ten Pins,” Nevada’s only accredited Art Museum, a multi-million dollar AAA ballpark, the National Auto Museum or historic properties along the shores of Lake Tahoe.
6. Our room rates are very attractive and competitive, in some cases 30% less than other destinations. (Remember the $1 billion+ upgrades? We weren’t kidding when we said you’d get more bang for your buck.)
7. 300 days of sunshine. Average. In Reno Tahoe you can do a few runs on the slopes, play a round a golf, catch a ball game and treat yourself to a great dinner – all in a day’s work.
8. Reno Tahoe hosts 290 days (at least) of special events each year. SoMeT, when you’re here in November, you’ll be just in time for the 30 feet of fresh powder at 18 world-class ski resorts. From your hotel to the lift line it’s no more than one hour. Après ski, treat yourself to a treatment so unique, only 8 spas in the country feature it! Why is Reno among the elite few? Find out for yourself.  
9. Reno Tahoe is bursting with history, plenty of “aha” moments that may catch you off guard. Like, did you know Mark Twain started his writing career in Reno Tahoe? Or, did you know Marilyn Monroe shot her last film in Reno? Learn all about our colorful past during the Passion in the Desert Tour through downtown Reno.  

10. We can count.

Safari Club International announced that its 39^th Annual Hunters’ Convention in Reno, Nevada was a huge success. Concluded on January 29, 2011, the convention ranks as the second highest revenue generating convention ever with more than 18,000 attendees. SCI members generously contributed more than $12 million to support SCI’s advocacy to protect hunting freedoms, to promote international wildlife conservation, and to increase wildlife management education. 

The SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention includes more than 1,100 exhibiting companies, leasing over 650,000 sq. ft of booth spaces. The exhibitors’ generous donations of valuable items for SCI’s auctions ensure that SCI can advocate on behalf of hunters in the United States and at international wildlife forums like CITES. SCI’s Political Action Committee (SCI-PAC) raised nearly $200,000 to advance sportsmen’s interest in federal elections. A special auction for disabled hunters was purchased during the Saturday evening dinner and it raised $150,000 for the SCI Foundation’s Humanitarian Services Programs. 

SCI is also pleased to announce the full list of award recipients at the 39^thAnnual Hunters’ Convention. Award winners include members and chapters who display a strong commitment to and have made great contributions to the sport of hunting; displayed a dedication to the conservation of wildlife; have a history of service to the global hunting community, and are committed to SCI’s programs and mission statement to be First for Hunters.

A big year in habitat conservation and enhancement in 2010 has the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation poised for a major milestone in 2011. By the end of this year, RMEF could pass the 6 million-acre lifetime mark in habitat protected or enhanced for elk and other wildlife.

David Allen, RMEF president and CEO, says the landmark figure is within reach in 2011 because of two primary reasons; first, RMEF and its partners in 2010 chalked up 163,658 acres worth of mission accomplishment, for a lifetime total of over 5.9 million; second, RMEF’s organizational momentum continued to build even through the bumpy economy of the past 12 months.

“While many businesses and nonprofits alike have struggled to keep the lights on, RMEF pressed forward and delivered more good things for elk and hunters. That success speaks to the passion and dedication of our 10,000-plus volunteers nationwide, a record number of new members, an incredible staff and amazing partners,” said Allen.

“If together we can harness the energy and focus and accomplishments from 2010, I believe we’ll see some very special headlines from RMEF in the year ahead,” said Allen.

RMEF and its partners tallied the following highlights in 2010:

• Enhanced 89,106 acres, mostly on public lands, for elk and other wildlife
• Reached lifetime total of 4,963,527 acres, mostly on public lands, enhanced
• Permanently protected 74,552 acres for elk and other wildlife
• Reached lifetime total of 973,484 acres permanently protected
• Surpassed 622,000 acres secured for public access including hunting
• Launched elk restoration initiatives in Missouri and Virginia
• Recorded 12 percent growth in RMEF membership for a record total of 178,000
• Reached 1.3 million people with positive messages on hunting and conservation
• Received the highest rating, 4 Stars, from America’s top charity ratings service
• Finished the RMEF fiscal year with budget-positive black ink

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.