The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is committed to live our faith by protecting God's creation and advocating on behalf of people in poverty who face the hardest impact of global climate change. Affirming our desire to care for the earth, we encourage you (if possible) to choose the option of online registration for Congress 2010. This simple initiative will help reduce paper waste and ultimately help protect the environment. YOUR OLD CELL CAN HELP HAITI Bring your old cell phones — working or not — with you to Congress. This year RECongress is partnering with GET GREEN TO GET GREEN, an organization that recycles cell phones. GetGreenToGetGreen.com is committed to keep our planet green by reusing or recycling unused cell phones. The proceeds generated from this partnership will be donated to the Haiti relief efforts through CRS. CRS, which has worked in Haiti for over 50 years and has a permanent staff of more than 300 there, has committed at least $25 million for relief and recovery. More than 130 million cell phones are thrown away every year — that's nearly 2 tons of discarded electronics that end up in American landfills. Don’t throw away electronics that should be recycled. Do your part to recycle your old cell phone, and help Haiti in the process. EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT Catholic Relief Services - www.crs.org Category: Faith & Justice Booths: 316, 318 After the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) immediately put into use $5 million for Haitian relief, and has received $16.5 million in cash donations and commitments. Prior to the earthquake, they had available food supplies, water, mosquito resistant tents and other emergency items. These items are presently being distributed for the needs of the people of Haiti.   Pope Benedict XVI has asked CRS to be the Catholic Church's lead aid agency in assisting Haiti. The Pope has indicated that all other Catholic relief services — even the Holy See’s Cor Unum Organization — coordinate through CRS. Contributions to CRS will go directly and immediately to the most in need in Haiti. See CRS' Stories from Haiti

The 2010 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress dates are:
 • March 18, 2010 (Youth Day)
 • March 19-21, 2010 (Congress days)

REGISTRATION FEES INCREASE THIS WEEKEND
Online registration fees increase this Sunday at 11 p.m. PST. After that, the Youth Day fee increases to $25 per person and the Congress fee increases to $70 per person.

NOTE: With your online Congress registration, you can easily contribute to the Office of Religious Education Endowment Fund, which supports the on-going training and formation of religious education leaders. Those who contribute to this Fund will be listed in the Congress Program Book as a Benefactor, Donor, Sponsor or Friend. In addition, the portion contributed to the fund is tax deductible.

Online registration is the ONLY way to pay by credit card, and giving to the Endowment Fund is easy that way.

"I'M JUST SAYIN'..." — A YOUTH DAY REMINDER
Youth Day Transportation and the CPUC
As you book your transportation for YOUTH DAY 2010 it is very important that you check to make sure your carrier is licensed through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This is very easy to do. Just look up your carrier at CPUC’s website and make sure you click on the link for Passenger Carriers. The site lists whether the carrier is allowed to be operating or not. It is good to check back annually to make sure your carrier is still in good standing.

You can find other Youth Day updates and tips — especially in the Grapevine/Evine section — on the Youth Day 2010 page.

IMPORTANT CONGRESS DATES
  • Feb 5 - Registration Fees increase (Feb 7 - for online registration)
  • Feb 10 - Congress and Youth Day Ticket mailing begins
  • Feb 25 - Youth Day Registration Closes
  • Mar 4 - Last day to mail in Congress registrations
  • Mar 11 - Congress online registration ends 11 p.m. PST

CONGRESS VOLUNTEERS
Congress could not function without the hundreds of volunteers who give of their time. If you have attended Congress in the past and would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer for our next Religious Education Congress, please consider this your "personal invitation."

We have a need for:
  — Workshop Volunteers (English, Spanish and Vietnamese),
  — Eucharistic Ministers for the two Closing Liturgies in the Arena, and
  — Musicians for the Congress Choir.

We have a need this year for three volunteers to help the florists on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 (the day before Youth Day). Activities include unloading supplies, preparation of flowers, delivery of arrangements and other jobs as needed. Some activities require lifting. Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parking fee will be provided.

You can find more and contact information on our Volunteers page.

HOTELS
RECongress has contracted with 31 hotels nearby to the Anaheim Convention Center for special rates for attendees. Find a hotel during Congress using our online 2010 Hotel page and our Interactive Map for 2010!

NOTE: Most hotels have a February deadline for room rate guarantees. Make your hotel reservations as soon as possible. Always, when making reservations, be sure to ask for the Religious Education Congress rate.

REGISTRATION DROP-OFF/BOOK PICK-UP
If you intend to either drop off your Congress registration or pick up Registration Guidebooks at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center, please note that there is a fee for parking in the parking structure. We suggest that for very short term, temporary parking, you park in front of the building on Mariposa St. in the loading zone. Again, this for short term temporary parking!!

JUST FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS
Ralphs Grocery Company, a major supermarket chain in the Southern California area, supports schools, churches and other non-profit organizations with annual contributions. The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress is a member of Ralphs Community Contributions Program. Simply by using your Ralphs rewards Card a portion of eligible purchases are contributed to the RECongress. (Note: This is an annual program that must be renewed each year. The current term is through August 31, 2010.)

We encourage all Ralphs shoppers to sign up for the free Ralphs rewards Card and register their card with the Community Contributions Program. It’s easy! Every time you shop for groceries and swipe your card at Ralphs, RECongress will automatically earn up to 5% of all eligible purchases per enrolled card. Sign up now! It’s never been easier to contribute to the RECongress.
   Organization Name: Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Religious Education
   Address: 3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
   Organization Number: 90658
Find step-by-step instructions and information online.

Read About the Ralph rewards Program

JUSTFAITH GRADUATES & CURRENT STUDENTS
JustFaith graduates and those currently in the JustFaith program are invited to a JustFaith Reception and Dinner at the Religious Education Congress on Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Jack Jezreel, founder of JustFaith Ministries, will be the keynote speaker. To learn more about this event, please visit the Office of Justice and Peace web site for the registration form or call them at (213) 637-7550.

Office of Justice and Peace information

RECONGRESS.ORG
You can find all Congress information and updates online. We will soon be adding Congress Spotlights and are constantly updating speaker and hotel information. Check our site for updates and announcements.

archive.recongress.org

EMAILING
Be sure to sign-up for the monthly Congress Emailing List. You may opt out from this Emailing at any time from the link below.

You can find a copy of this email our past Congress Emailings on our RECongress.org site.

See our past Congress Emailings
 

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