Dear CCMA Conference Attendees –

We are excited to welcome you all to Western Massachusetts for the 60th Annual CCMA Conference.

As we make final preparations this month, we wanted to remind everyone that registrations must be paid in full before the conference begins. You may certainly pay AT registration when picking up your packet; however, we will not be billing for registrations after the conference so if you have not paid, you will not be eligible to attend the conference.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Thank you for supporting this year’s CCMA Conference – we will see you in Amherst!

Sincerely,

Pat, Sherry, Bryan and Liz – your CCMA 2016 Team

Registration Information & Rates
Registration is required to attend the welcome party and closing host party, Co-op Food Summit, tours, opening and closing plenary and community conversations, track sessions, meals—including the awards luncheon—sponsored exhibits and village café, and receptions. NCBA CLUSA is offering customized registration options to meet your needs - see the registration types below.

NCBA CLUSA members benefit from discounted rates: click here to learn more. Special team pricing is available to three or more individuals registering from the same co-op organization. 

Registration is available online or by mail/fax/email. To register, find your registration type below. Click the appropriate link on the right to either register online or download the form to submit your registration by mail/fax/email.

*to receive this rate, 3 or more registrants from the same organization must register at the same time. Rate is per attendee.

Adding a North Apartment reservation to your registration: If you complete your registration online, simply select that you are interested in on-campus lodging and enter your dates of stay in the appropriate check-in and check-out boxes. If you complete your registration by mail/fax/email, complete and return the North Apartment Reservation form with your registration form.

Registering Online: Find the applicable registration type above. To the right of your registration type, click the link under "Register Online". Create an account to go through the online page. Payment is accepted online by credit card or check. You will receive an emailed confirmation immediately after registering.

Register by E-Mail or Fax: Find the applicable registration type above. To the right of your registration type, click the link under "Register by Mail/Fax/Email" to download, print, and complete the registration form. Email the completed form to registration@umass.edu or fax to 413-577-8130. For security purposes, only provide credit card information by fax or over the phone (413-577-8102) and not by email. You will receive an emailed confirmation once your form is processed.

Registering by Mail: Find the applicable registration type above. To the right of your registration type, click the link under "Register by Mail/Fax/Email" to download the form, print, and compete the registration form. Mail the form and check (if applicable) to: Conference Services CS16293, 810 Campus Center, 1 Campus Center Way, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA 01003. You will receive an emailed confirmation once your form is processed.

Accepted Payment: Payment is accepted by card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) or check. Follow the instructions on your registration form.

Late Fee: All registrations and/or payments received after May 25, 2016, including on-site registrations, will be assessed a $40.00 late fee. 

Cancellation Fee: Conferees canceling their registration before the close of business on June 1, 2016 will receive a full refund or their fees minus a $60.00 cancellation processing fee and any additional administrative fees. All cancellations must be in writing. Telephone cancellations will not be accepted unless they are immediately followed by a letter of cancellation by way of email or fax.

On-Campus Lodging at Hotel UMass: 
Rooms are available at Hotel UMass, located right in the Campus Center just floors above many conference activities and campus amenities. Please call Hotel UMass at 877-822-2110 to secure your reservation. Mention group code CCM16C to receive the nightly rate of $135.00, plus applicable fees (currently 6% and $1.00 per room, per night). This rate is available until May 9, or until space fills, so early reservations are strongly encouraged. 

On-Campus Lodging at the UMass North Apartments:
For $55.00 per person, per night, suite-style accommodations are available in the air-conditioned North Apartments. The North Apartments are within a 10-minute walk of both conference activities and multiple dining options. Each suite has four single bedrooms, two baths, a common area, and a kitchen. Guests will be housed in a single-sex suite with three other conference attendee, or with any suitemates requested during the reservation process.

Attendees may reserve a room in the North Apartments during the conference registration process. If you complete your registration online, simply add on-campus housing to your registration. Click the How to Register for CCMA tab to find the appropriate online form for you. If you complete your registration by mail/fax/email, you may include the North Apartment Reservation add-on form when submitting your paper registration.

Courtyard Marriott:
Please call the Courtyard Marriott Hotel directly at (413) 256-5454 by May 6, 2016 to secure your hotel guest room reservation. Hotel reservations affiliated with the CCMA Overflow Room block are available between June 7 and 12. In order to receive the contracted group rate of $175.00 for a King or Double Queen room rate, you must identify affiliation with the CCMA Overflow Room Block. 

The conference will be held at the University of Massachusetts Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center, located at 1 Campus Center Way in Amherst, MA 01003. For information on local attractions, click here.

Parking at UMass
If you opt to stay in the North Apartments, you will be provided with a complimentary permit for a lot adjacent to your building at check-in. If you opt to stay at Hotel UMass, you will be provided with complimentary parking to the Campus Center Parking Garage at check-in. If you are commuting to campus, you should park in the Campus Center Parking Garage, located at 1 Campus Center Way in Amherst, MA 01003. Discounted $5/day parking passes will be available at the on-site registration desk. 

Traveling by Plane
The closest airportto UMass is Bradley International Airport located in Windsor Locks, Connecticut (right outside of Hartford). This airport is approximately 45 miles south of the UMass campus. You may find more flight options to Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Logan is approximately 90 miles east of the UMass campus, so please allow for extra travel time to UMass. Both airports feature car rental agencies and a variety of shuttle services, including Valley Transporter (413-253-1350) and  Seemo Shuttle (413-586-1120).

Traveling by Bus:
The Amherst area is serviced by Greyhound, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Megabus and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA). Please be sure to carefully review bus schedules, bus stop locations, and campus maps prior to your arrival - not only do many bus services run on a reduced schedule in the summer, but both the area and the campus can be confusing to navigate if it is your first time here.

Traveling by Train
Amtrak provides passenger rail service to nearby Northampton, MA, located a 20 minute drive from the UMass campus, and Springfield, MA, located a 30 minute drive from the UMass campus. For schedule information and to purchase tickets, visit Amtrak's website and select "Northampton, MA (NHT)" or "Springfield, MA (SPG)" as your arrival destination.

For additional conference information: visit https://www.ncba.coop/ccma-2016-conference.

For registration, payment, or North Apartment related questions: contact the Conference Registration Staff at 413-577-8102 or registration@umass.edu.

For Hotel UMass reservations: contact Hotel UMass at 877-822-2110 or hotelumass.com