NFTY Home / 2011 NFTY Convention / Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
TRAVEL TO THE NFTY CONVENTION

Please visit the NFTY Convention Travel Page at http://www.nfty.org/convention/travel for detailed information about:
      Travel by Regional Bus
      Travel by Airplane
      Travel by Car
      Travel Equalization Reimbursement
ACCOMODATIONS AND HOUSING

What are the accommodations like at the NFTY Convention?
Our hotel is the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. There will be three (3) to four (4) participants assigned to each hotel room. In some instances, participants will be sharing a queen or king sized bed with another participant.

Do I need to make my own hotel reservations?
No. Hotel accomodations are included in the registration fees. Participants will be placed in housing by our youth division staff.

Am I guaranteed that I will be housed with my friends?
As indicated during registration, you will be able to request three roommates. We will do our best to accomodate your requests. However, please note that housing is based on many factors, including if the request was mutual.
APPROPRIATE DRESS

What kind of clothes should I pack for NFTY Convention?
Most of the event is casual. Participants should bring jeans, sweaters, close-toed shoes, and clothing for sleeping.

Shabbat: Please bring appropriate clothing for Shabbat. Men should wear khakis or nice pants, nice shirts, sweaters, and nice shoes. Coats and ties are optional, but suggested. Women should wear nice shirts, sweaters, khakis, nice pants and/or skirts and nice shoes. Skirts and dresses are optional, but suggested.

Closing Night Banquet: There will be a final celebratory banquet on Monday evening. The dress is semi-formal, so plan to dress accordingly.

Outerwear - REQUIRED: We will be leaving the hotel during the convention and will be spending time outdoors. Dallas in February may be cold. All participants are encouraged to check the weather before packing as they may need to bring a warm coat, hat and gloves. For current weather information for Dallas, please visit http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USTX0327.
SECURITY AND ADULT SUPERVISION

What kind of supervision will be in place during NFTY Convention?
The highly experienced staff team of the URJ, including NFTY Regional Advisors, URJ Camp Directors and Assistant Directors, and NFTY Israel program staff, along with a team of college-age resident advisors, will be on-site to oversee the health and safety of participants throughout the conference. A system will be in place so that participants will have direct contact with our staff so that their needs can be met.

What security measures will be in place to insure the safety of participants?
As in all of our programs, health and safety is our foremost concern. Hotel and NFTY security will be on duty 24 hours a day supervising all access to the hotel.
MEDICATION AND MEDICAL CARE

I take daily medications - do you collect and hold them during NFTY Convention?
We do not collect medications for distribution. Participants will be responsible for their medication.

What kind of medical care will be available to participants?
We will have a medical doctor and registered nurse on-site during the entire Convention if you need immediate medical attention. In the event of an emergency, our URJ staff will be on call to take participants to nearby area hospitals or medical facilities.

If you are not well just prior to the Convention or if you have been exposed to any communicable disease within three weeks of the Convention, you must inform the NFTY staff at nftyconvention@urj.org.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES, FEES AND POLICIES

Who is eligible to attend NFTY Convention? How old do you need to be to participate?
NFTY Convention is open to high school students in grades 9-12 who are members of Union for Reform Judaism-affiliated congregations or temple youth groups.

What is the deadline for registering for NFTY Convention?
After January 4, 2011, all registration is on a space-available basis only.

What is the cost of NFTY Convention?
The registration fees for all participants are as follows:
Early-Bird Rate
(Must be registered by
November 16, 2011)		 Regular Rate
(Must be paid in full by
January 4, 2011)
American Participants: $875.00 USD $935.00 USD
Canadian Participants: $845.00 USD $905.00 USD

  • These fees DO NOT include the cost of travel to and from Dallas, TX.
  • All fees include a non-refundable $75.00 deposit in order to reserve your space for NFTY Convention.
  • After January 4, 2011, all registration is on a space-available basis only.

What is your refund and/or cancellation policy?
NFTY recognizes that our participants may need to cancel after registering for an event. We have created a policy for refunds that considers our financial obligations for the event and our desire to refund as much of the registration fees paid as possible. All cancellations must be sent to the NFTY registrar in writing - either by mail, fax (212-650-4064) or email (nftyregistrar@urj.org) by one of the parent/guardians listed in a participant's registration. We will not accept cancellations from TYG advisors or participants directly. Refunds are sent approximately six weeks after the conclusion of the event.

 
If you need to cancel, the registration fees you paid will be refunded as follows:
  • Through January 4, 2011 – full refund minus the $75.00 non-refundable deposit
  • Through February 1, 2011 – refund of all but a $325.00 cancellation fee. This fee is required in order for us to cover our contractual obligations to the hotel.
After February 1, 2011 we will not be able to issue any refunds for cancellation. If you have a documented medical emergency and must cancel after February 1, 2011 you will be refunded all but the $325.00 cancellation fee. Please allow up to six weeks after the conclusion of the event for your refund to be processed. We are not able to offer a credit balance toward future events for NFTY Convention.All cancellation requests must be in writing to the NFTY Registrar. We will accept cancellations by email to nftyregistrar@urj.org. We’re sorry, but we cannot accept cancellations over the phone.
 

I am only able to come to NFTY Convention for part of the event. Can I come for part of the event? Can I receive a prorated price only for the days I can attend?
All participants are expected to participate in the entire convention. If you need to arrive late or leave early, we will work to accommodate your request. Participants will be responsible for their own transportation to/from the airport and will not be chaperoned by NFTY staff. We do not prorate registration fees for any registrants. Due to commitments to our hotel for food, beverage, sleeping rooms and other convention costs, our fees are set at a full package rate. All requests to arrive late/depart early must be sent in writing to nftyconvention@urj.org and must be approved by the NFTY Director.
SCHOLARSHIPS

Are there scholarships available from NFTY or the URJ for NFTY Convention?
NFTY will be offering a limited number of need-based scholarships for NFTY Convention 2011. Preference will be given to those who are receiving scholarship dollars from other sources. Please visit our NFTY Convention Scholarship page at http://www.nfty.org/convention/details/scholarships for more information. We also recommend being in touch with your NFTY Regional Advisor about the availability of regional scholarships.

How should I pay for NFTY Convention if I am seeking scholarship assistance?
You may register and pay for NFTY Convention using our online registration even if you are receiving scholarship assistance. Please visit our NFTY Convention Scholarship Page at http://www.nfty.org/convention/details/scholarships for step by step instructions about how to register and pay for NFTY Convention.
VISITATION POLICIES

Am I allowed to leave the NFTY Convention in the middle and return if I have family/friends in the area that I wish to visit?
No. Our policy is that participants attend the entire program as indicated in our NFTY Brit Kehillah - Code of Conduct.

Are people allowed to visit me in the hotel? Am I allowed to visit people in Dallas during the Convention?
No. Our policy is that there are no guests allowed unless authorized by the NFTY Director, and all unauthorized guests will be asked to leave immediately.
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS

Do you provide meal options for vegetarians and participants who keep kosher?
Our meals will be kosher style. If meat is being served, there will be a vegetarian option. Please be certain that you choose this meal option when you complete your registration. There are non-dairy meal options available for participants at every meal.
SPENDING MONEY

Do I need to bring spending money with me to NFTY Convention?
You may want to bring some money with you to buy snacks, hotel gift shop items or souvenirs. All of your meals will be covered in your registration fee for the Convention. There will also be opportunities for shopping at the NFTY Shuk which sells NFTY North American and Regional merchandise. We will post a preview of items and prices on the NFTY Convention website prior to the event. Participants will also have the opportunity to purchase Jewish books and music from our URJ Books and Music partners.
CONTACTING US DURING THE CONVENTION

How can I get in touch with someone at the Convention?
You will be able to call the hotel to get in touch with us through the NFTY Office that will be open on-site during the event. We will e-mail the phone number for the office to all participants and their parents/guardians prior to the convention.

How can a NFTY Convention participant call home?
Participants will not be able to make long distance calls from their hotel room, but will be able to use calling cards at the pay phones in the hotel. They may also use their cell phones when they are not in a program.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If I have more questions, who do I contact?
You may e-mail us at nftyconvention@urj.org or call the NFTY Convention Hotline at (212) 650-4130.