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Deep in the Heart of NAPS, Texas Style

Deep in the Heart of NAPS—Texas Style
By Brian J. Wagner
NAPS President

As you know, 2020 is a leap year. Therefore, I hope you leap into action and start making plans to attend our 67th National Convention this coming August. Our theme is “Deep in the Heart of NAPS—Texas Style!”

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Therefore, NAPS Headquarters and our Host Branch Committee are making big plans for delegates and guests who plan to mosey on down to Grapevine, TX, Aug. 17-21, to attend the national convention at the Gaylord Texan Resort. Here’s the scoop!

Register early for the 67th National Convention. Registration is only available on the NAPS website through the National Convention page. The fee is $250 per person until July 10; from July 11 to July 24, it’s $325. Don’t get roped into procrastinating. Even though you had one extra day this year—Feb. 29—national convention registration still closes at midnight on July 24; there is no onsite registration.

Your registration will be confirmed via an email convention receipt. If you do not receive a receipt, it means you are not registered. Please contact NAPS Headquarters if you are having difficulty registering yourself, members of your branch or guests.

Make your room reservation to stay at our national convention host hotel—the Gaylord Texan Resort—via www.naps.org, as well. Besides enjoying this big, beautiful, bodacious venue, registered guests at the Gaylord Texan Resort will enjoy beautiful sleeping rooms and a welcoming, Texas-style atmosphere. Lest I forget, NAPS has partnered with the Gaylord Texan to ensure its delegates staying at the resort will have their self-parking and resort fees waived.

The Texas hospitality gets even bigger and better. Gaylord Texan guests also receive complimentary access to the resort’s pool and Lazy River waterpark—Paradise Springs—with complimentary shuttle service to and from the waterpark. You can catch the Grapevine Visitors Shuttle at the Gaylord Texan Resort daily.

The shuttle takes passengers to restaurants, various shopping venues, Grapevine Mills Mall, historic downtown Grapevine and other attractions throughout the day, seven days a week, via a fixed route. There are reasonably priced day passes for individuals and families. Passes may be purchased onboard the shuttle. Now those are some big Texas deals!

All fully paid convention registrants will receive a souvenir convention pin, convention bag and a convention One Book. Full registration also includes access to all NAPS convention functions and scheduled meals. NAPS has taken a big leap forward this year to ensure family members and guests who do not purchase a full convention registration still can participate in convention activities and meals.

New at this year’s national convention is NAPS’ Meal Plan badge. Delegates may purchase a Meal Plan for a spouse, significant other, child or guest. The Meal Plan provides access via a ticket to the Host Branch’s Sunday welcome event; breakfast buffets on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and Monday night’s Delegates’ Reception at the Glass Cactus Nightclub. Friday night’s Grand Banquet is not included in the Meal Plan badge.

I provided detailed information about this new Meal Plan badge and the option to purchase extra Grand Banquet tickets in my column in the February Postal Supervisor.

Our 2020 National Convention will begin 9 a.m. sharp on Monday, Aug. 17, with an opening ceremony for all attendees. Convention business ends Friday afternoon, Aug. 21, after the 2020-2022 NAPS Executive Board is sworn in. Our convention officially concludes after Friday night’s Grand Banquet.

Hold on there, pardner! Don’t leap to conclusions that the 2020 National Convention will be all business and no fun. NAPS and the Host Branch Committee have plenty of fun—Texas style— planned throughout our convention week.

First, the Host Branch Committee will be coordinating two events. The first is the NAPS Golf Tournament Sunday morning, Aug. 16. See page 23 of this issue for information on the golf tournament and the registration form. The other event is the Host Branch’s Delegates’ Welcome Reception on Sunday evening, Aug. 16. The reception will include light snacks, a cash bar and entertainment.

Second, this is not our first rodeo coordinating delegate activities after our opening day of official NAPS business. On Monday, Aug. 17, NAPS has reserved the Glass Cactus Nightclub exclusively for our Delegates’ Reception. The nightclub is in walking distance from the Gaylord Texan property, so mosey on down.

For those who prefer to ride high in the shuttle, the Gaylord Texan Resort will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the Glass Cactus. Monday night will be a kick’n’ good time of dancing, fun, food and, of course, NAPS fellowship.

Third, to carry on the tradition, Wednesday, Aug. 19, is our free day; no official NAPS business will be conducted. With the help of the Host Branch Committee, delegates and guests who want to experience Dallas/Fort Worth/Grapevine/Waco hospitality will be able to choose from a variety of scenic Texas tours. Once tour activities are confirmed, they will be published in future issues of The Postal Supervisor.

Fourth, after a busy convention week, we will celebrate on Friday evening, Aug. 21, the completion of another successful national convention with a bodacious Grand Banquet. Although the grand banquet is formal, you still can have a boot-scootin’ great Texas time enjoying more NAPS fellowship with old and new friends. And for those NAPS cowboys and cowgirls who are so inclined, there will be music and dancing after the Grand Banquet.

Another change this year is the First-Timers’ & Delegates’ Orientation. Sunday is a busy travel day for the majority of attendees; many arrive after the orientation session. Therefore, during Monday afternoon’s business session, after the Credentials & Registration Committee’s report, we will conduct the First-Timers’ & Delegates’ Orientation. This will provide an opportunity for all our delegates to hear from Dr. Bruce Bishop, NAPS’ national parliamentarian.

The primary objective of this orientation is for our parliamentarian to explain and clarify how the national convention will run in accordance with “Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.” Whether an attendee is a first-timer or a seasoned convention delegate, having a fresh look or refresher on parliamentarian procedure can be helpful for everyone. Also, having an orientation for all interested delegates will help move our NAPS business along during the convention.

We have more in store for our convention first-timers! We will have a First-Timers’ Meet & Greet with the NAPS Executive Board, National Auxiliary officers and Dr. Bruce Bishop on Sunday evening, Aug. 16, just before the Host Branch’s Delegates’ Welcome Reception.

It’s time for me to hit the trail and let you lasso up a registration for the 2020 National Convention. Now, I’ll leap to my April 2020 ice-cream-flavor-of-the month recommendation: Southern butter pecan.