FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 
As COVID-19 restrictions continue to evolve in the city of St. Louis, certain protocols and procedures are currently in place to help keep you safe, but they are being updated regularly on this site.  Please check this link for most recent changes.

Safety and Health protocols will be followed based on guidance by the CDC, ST. Louis Grand, and the America's Center regulations.


Registration

Registration forms are available for download here. Print the form, fill it out, and fax or mail it to The Church Network office. Online registration is available now.

No.

No, only national members can receive member pricing.

Yes, if you are a member, other members from your church can attend at the member price. They can attend from your church and use the member discount. When they login to register, the site should recognize that your church has at least one member.

FastTracks are pre-conference intensive seminars. They are held Tuesday, July 19th during the day before the conference's evening opening event. The sessions are 8:30am-3:30pm. They are intensive seminars focused on professional network disciplines. Individuals may attend these seminars as stand-alone events at $179 each (lunch, conference launch, evening meal and tradeshow access included) or add on to a full conference registration for just $129.Learn more...

Daily registrations include the general session, workshops, access to the trade show (applies to days 2 & 3 of conference only), and lunch for that day only. TCN is not responsible for lost meal tickets.

Registration fees include admission to the trade show and opening event, access to all general and workshop sessions, and tickets to some meals. Meals included at the meeting are dinner Tuesday night, lunches Wednesday and Thursday, and brunch on Friday.

Breakfast is on your own each day and dinner is on your own Wednesday and Thursday. There is a brunch on Friday. Network events such as breakfasts, lunches, banquets or field trips are ticketed events which have additional costs.

No, but you are welcomed to post a note on the information board to sell the meal tickets to people who might be one-day registrants or need tickets for family.

Yes, we have rooms within our room block, and your pastor/guests can take advantage of our rates.

 

Hotel

Marriott St. Louis Grand -

  • 800 Washington Ave.
  • St. Louis, MO 63101
  • 314.621.9600
  • WiFi is Complimentary to TCN guests and Marriott members
TCN pricing cut-off date: June 18, 2022

 

Hotel Reservations can be made through this link on TCN’s conference website or by calling the hotel directly at 314.621.9600 and use reservation code TCN. Parking rates and hotel amenities, e.g., breakfast are provided in information about the hotel on this site.

  • $185/night Single/Double
  • Parking: $30/day/Self - $40/valet
  • WiFi – Complimentary to TCN guest
TCN pricing cut-off date: June 18, 2022

You may claim tax exemption in the State of Missouri only if you have a State of Missouri tax exemption certificate and the name on the form matches the name on the method of payment. To qualify for this exemption, you must bring a copy of your Missouri Sales Tax Exempt Certificate that shows your exempt number. (Follow this link to get an application.) The name on the certificate must match the name on the check or credit card used for payment. The tax exemption cannot be granted if paying by personal check or personal credit card. Their exemption does not exempt you from paying the hotel sales tax.

No, but you do a great disservice to TCN if you don’t. The availability of last-minute highly-discounted hotel pricing available over the Internet is a very serious problem being faced by all associations and TCN is no exception. If our people don't stay in our conference hotel because of cheaper last-minute rates elsewhere, then we face the possibility of attrition charges for not filling our room block. Attrition charges are significant and could potentially cripple TCN. You may think it is good stewardship to find a cheaper room elsewhere but doing so creates very poor stewardship for the association. Please stay in our conference hotel. Book your hotel room through this link from our website.

 

First Timers

There is a First-timers Orientation scheduled for Tuesday, July 19th at 4:00 p.m. Denominational receptions will be at 4:15 p.m. followed by the Opening Launch Event and General Session I at 5:30 p.m. and dinner in the exhibit hall at 6:30 p.m.

 

Spouses and Family

No, meals are an additional cost indicated on the registration form. Be sure to provide your spouse’s name on the registration form.

Yes, there will be a Spouse and Family Activities Orientation on Wednesday, July 20th, at 10:30 am. Door prizes will be awarded. Learn about what to do in the area. Please note: If your spouse/children are coming with you to the conference and want to accompany you in the exhibit hall, they will need name badges. If they will be with you for any meal/event functions/special event, you must purchase extra meal tickets for them prior to arriving at the conference. Deadline to purchase extra tickets is June 11th. This can be done when you register, or by contacting Tammy Mirau at tammy@thechurchnetwork.com if you have already registered.

Extra tickets must be purchased before June 17th. Your registration includes one set of meal tickets (indicated by asterisk on order form) for you; however, you will need to purchase extra tickets for the meals/ events for your spouse, children, etc., if they plan to attend. NOTE: Deadline to purchase extra tickets is June 17th. This can be done when you register, or by contacting Tammy Mirau at tammy@thechurchnetwork.com if you have already registered. The America's Center must have the meal count prior to the Conference. THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS SOLD AT CONFERENCE.

 

Workshops

You can sign up for workshops when you register online. If you have already submitted a paper registration, there is a paper workshop selection sheet you can email to tammy@thechurchnetwork.com.

The only way you record your attendance is by signing the attendance sheet and by making note of the line number for you name and the code provided in the presentation. Some exhibitor speakers retrieve leads by scanning badges at the door. If you do not want to provide your information, you do not have to have your badge scanned to be in the workshop.

 

Special Event

There is not a special event for the entire group of attendees at this year’s conference. Thursday evening is free for exhibitors to host events and attendees to plan their own St. Louis activities. Thursday evening, July 21, is the date when denominational groups will be hosting events.

 

Cancellation

For cancellations received prior to May 10th, there is a $50 administration fee ($25 for FastTrack Only). If you cancel between May 11th and June 11th there is a cancellation fee of $100. After June 11th there is no refund. You can transfer your registration forward one time to the 2023 conference. There is a $50 transfer fee.

 

Scholarships

Yes, applications for scholarships are available from this link on TCN Website.

 

Transportation

St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL).

Links to all ground transportation can be found here

 

Certification Ceremony

The certification ceremony will take place on Wednesday morning, July 20th, during the general session. CCA candidates should arrive in the General Session meeting space no later than 8:00 am for the rehearsal.

 

Conference City

While denominational groups are planning their events for Thursday night, both Wednesday and Thursday are open for sightseeing.

The average high temperature for St. Louis in July is 90° and the average low is 71°, so dress accordingly. Please note: The temperature in the convention center may be cool, so we suggest you always bring a jacket or sweater to ensure comfort.

 

Attire

Remember: bring a sweater or jacket since the meeting rooms are often cold! Casual wear is the order of the day. The dress for this conference is pretty much casual from start to finish, such as wearing your TCN logo shirt. Those being certified or receiving awards may want to be more dressed up, though it is not necessary; that is a personal decision.

 

Meals

No. Breakfasts are on your own. The United Methodist Network group is having a ticketed breakfast event on Wednesday, July 20th and there is a brunch for all (cost included in registration) on Friday, July 22nd at 10:20 am. See registration form for dates and ticket prices.

 

Exhibitors

Some denominational groups are holding their own dinners or special events on Thursday, so the night available to host clients is Wednesday.

One-day Trade Show passes are $190 each and include access to the Trade Show and lunch for that day as well as the refreshment break.

Two exhibitor registrations come with each booth registration. There is $190 registration charge for each additional person who will be in the booth at any time (including speakers) during the trade show regardless of the number of days worked. This registration includes a name badge and lunch meal tickets for the days of the trade show.

Booth assignments will begin in March for those who have signed up to exhibit with us.

Yes. If your company is presenting an exhibitor workshop, the workshop speaker must be registered in your booth; you will have to pay the extra fee.

No.

 

Technology and Social Media

Complimentary Wifi is only available in the common areas of convention center. Complimentary Wireless is offered throughout the meeting level of the center, but not in the breakout rooms or exhibit hall.

We will again have a conference app. Be sure to download the app and use it to keep up with news, information, schedule, and posts.