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With just ONE WEEK TO GO (!!!) before the first of the 2007 Higher Things FOR YOU Conferences, we are being swamped with a number of similar questions. This information should answer most of those questions FOR YOU. Group leaders should make sure all the adults with their group are familiar with this information before leaving for Minneapolis.
We're really getting excited to see everyone next week and want to make everything run as smoothly as possible. If you have additional questions, please check the conference website. A lot of information has recently been added in the options in the left-hand column!
In Christ,
Sandra Ostapowich
2007 Minneapolis FOR YOU Conference Coordinator
ARRIVAL/DIRECTIONS
Upon arrival in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area, please make your way to Middlebrook Hall at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus, just east of downtown Minneapolis. The Minnesota travel information page of the conference website lists modes of transportation into and within the metro area and provides directions to campus. Many of you may want to print out the Minneapolis campus map to aid you, especially with parking below until you receive your conference workbook.
Light Rail/MetroTransit
Groups flying into the airport and taking light rail to campus can follow the instructions on the conference website. You will arrive on campus at the Wiley Hall bus stop and should proceed across the courtyard to Middlebrook Hall.
Cars
Those arriving by car should take Riverside Avenue to 22nd Avenue and approach the Middlebrook entrance on the South side. There is a drop-off zone right in front of the building for cars only.
Drivers must get a temporary parking permit from the parking attendant standing outside Middlebrook Hall so that you can park in the parking lot near the building (Lot #C-95) during registration. Your temporary permit allows you to park in this lot for up to 30 minutes. Higher Things has received permission for our guests to park in this lot during the designated registration hours on Monday and Tuesday only.
Buses
Groups arriving via bus should come up Riverside Avenue and turn north onto 21st Avenue, and then right onto 4th Street South. Turn into the parking lot on the north side of Middlebrook Hall. Leaders registering for their group should follow the sidewalk from the bus lot towards the foot-bridge to Middlebrook and around to the South side of the building to enter the registration area.
Bus drivers must get a temporary parking permit from the parking attendant standing outside Middlebrook Hall who will give instructions on where to park near Middlebrook while the group's leaders are registering. Your permit will be good for 30 minutes and drivers should stay with the bus. Higher Things has received permission to park in this lot during the designated registration times on Monday and Tuesday only.
MAPS
Check-in registration will take place at Middlebrook Hall. Click HERE for a map showing its location and to get driving directions.
HERE is a map of the entire University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus. HERE is a close-up of Middlebrook Hall on that map. Most conference attendees (about 2/3) will be housed here. The remaining 1/3 will be staying in Centennial Hall, seen HERE.
Worship at the conference will take place in Ted Mann Concert Hall, across the street from Middlebrook Hall.
Plenary sessions will be in Willey Hall, and catechesis sessions will be in Anderson Hall and Blegen Hall. And on Wednesday night, July 25, we will be taking over Coffman Memorial Union, seen HERE.
PARKING
Higher Things has reserved on-campus parking passes for those groups who have registered for them. Groups who have not registered for parking passes will need to find their own parking spaces and abide by campus parking regulations. Spaces may be available in the hourly- and daily-rate parking decks at the current rates. Campus parking is at a premium and there are limited spaces in each facility, even during the summer. The University police strictly enforce meters and parking rules.
At Registration/Check-In, there where be an area where groups who ordered them will receive a permit or keycard for your designated parking area and a map indicating its location. You are only allowed to park in the lot designated FOR YOU by your permit. If by chance your designated lot is full, please contact Parking and Transportation Services at 612-626-7275 (7am-5pm M-F) for further instruction, and let them know you are with the Higher Things conference.
CHECK-IN PROCEDURE
No more than two adults per group should go through the check-in process in Middlebrook Hall. Registration Check-In is located in Middlebrook at the eastern end of the long hallway on the south entrance (follow the signs - you won't be able to miss it). After checking in with the Conference Registrar, you will verify your group's housing assignment, receive parking passes and instructions. You will also be given your group's conference handbooks, meal cards, T-shirts and any further information. Room keys will be distributed at the residence hall reception desks once you have been checked in with the Registrar.
REGISTRATION HOURS
Regular check-in hours will take place on Monday, July 23 between 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. If your group (or a designated leader) cannot arrive between those hours on Monday, you will need to notify the Registrar to make arrangements for your group to check in. Regular Registration will open again on Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. Unless prior arrangements have been made, groups should not expect to check-in before 8:00 a.m.
RED v. BLUE
Now that registrations are finalized, we will be assigning groups to either the RED or BLUE groups. This division is primarily to accommodate the large number of people we have for meals and some catechesis sessions. Congregational groups will be kept together in the RED and BLUE groups. Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities for the RED and BLUE groups to do things together! You will find out which group you are in when you check in.
REGISTRATION CHANGES
For the sanity of our Registrar and Housing Manager, we have frozen the user side of the online registration. ALL registration and housing changes from this point forward must go directly through them. Email Registrar@HigherThings.org or Housing@HigherThings.org if you have any registration or housing changes that need to be made.
INTERNET ACCESS
Internet access is not available on the UMN campus. There are a few spots of free public access on or near the campus, but registrants will not have internet access in their residence halls or in the computer labs.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND CHECKS OR FORMS BY MAIL - At this late date, they will not arrive in time!! Please notify the Registrar and bring them to Minneapolis with you.
TRAVEL PRAYERS
Some congregations like to incorporate special sending or travel prayers before their youth leave for the conference. Our conference Chaplains have provided some prayers for you to use HERE. Our conference's hymn is "O Love, How Deep" (LSB #544) if you'd like to use that in your services as well.
WHAT TO BRING?
Appropriate clothing (please dress modestly; also, some people like to dress up for the Divine Services), light jacket or sweater, comfortable shoes for walking, catechism, Bible, notebook, pen, camera, snacks, umbrella (both locations are known to have sudden downpours in the summer), spending money.
Lodging at FOR YOU is dormitory style. Linens (sheets, blanket, pillow, towel and washcloth) are provided. Rooms are generally NOT equipped with items such as soap, shampoo, cups, blowdryers, refrigerators, phones, televisions, microwaves, alarm clocks, or hot tubs.
All meals during the conference are included in your registration fee. If you come a day early or stay a date late, two meals (supper/breakfast) on campus are included in that fee as well.
These and many other questions are answered on the FOR YOU FAQ page!
Edited on: July 17th, 2007 9:22 am
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Higher Things is excited to share with you an exclusive interview with the Pastor George Borghardt of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Conroe, TX on Issues, Etc. on the topic of "Youth Ministry". You can find this great interview with the Higher Things Conference Executive, Higher Things Reflector, regular Magazine Columnist and frequent teacher at Higher Things Conferences and Retreats on the 
The
Rev. Mark T. Buetow, S.T.M. was recently asked to serve as the Interim Internet
Service Executive for Higher Things. We are excited to welcome him to the
table! 
Higher Things welcomes the Rev. George F. Borghardt as our new Conference Executive! 