Summer Reunion 2010

Hello everyone! This is the "official" announcement of our first reunion for families with children from Maison Des Enfants de Dieu! We would love to have you join us for a few special days so our kids (and us!) can get reacquainted! I have set up a blog to make communication easier!

Here are the details:
July 22-26, 2010
St. Louis, MO

La Quinta Inn & Suites Westport
11805 Lackland Road
St. Louis, MO 63146
Phone: 1-314-991-3262

Room rates - I was able to get a group rate and have a block of 20 rooms (can add more if needed)

For two full size beds or 1 king size bed -
July 22 $53.10 (plus tax)
July 23-25 $49.50 (plus tax)
July 26 $ 62. 10 (plus tax)

For a king suite (king bed, plus a pull-out sofa)
July 22 $71.10 (plus tax)
July 23-25 $67.50 (plus tax)
July 26 $80.10 (plus tax)

Amenities:

• 11,000 La Quinta Returns points for a free night stay.
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• Free Bright Side Breakfast™
  
• Free High-Speed Internet Access
  
• Free Local Calls
  
• Free Newspaper
  
• Free Parking
• Guest Laundry Facilities
  
• Outdoor Swimming Pool
  
• Fitness Center
  
• Airport Shuttle Available
  
• Airport Shuttle Notes: 7am-10pm Monday-Friday
  
• Express Checkout Available

• to place reservations, call 1-866-527-1498 and identify yourselves as members of the Affinity party, Reservation Block confirmation number 0674GRVBOJ (if they don't recognize Affinity party - tell them to look under FHG reunion).
• ALL requests for reservations within the block should be prior to 7/1/2010 in order to ensure that they are able to accommodate you at the rate that we were originally quoted. On 7/1/2010 any rooms in our block which remain unfilled, will be released for sale to the general public.

Here is the SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (all activities are optional):

Thursday: people start arriving - pool and pizza party that afternoon/evening

Friday: Pooltime during the day. Friday Evening - Live on the Levee FREE - We will stake out a spot around 5:00-5:30 to have a group picnic and folks can go to the K-Town Kids Zone, which is open from 6-8pm. Most of the crafts and hands-on activities are geared toward pre-school and elementary age children. There are also kid-friendly musicians and performers to entertain those of all ages. The K-Town Kids Zone is at the north end of Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard, near Washington Avenue. OR folks can just relax, hang out and chat while we wait for the FREE concert to start. Enjoy the music of Sara Bareilles, a secular artist with an easy listening acoustic sound. Live on the Levee ends each night with a big fireworks display. The display starts at approximately 9:15 p.m. Here is a link to parking info for this event.

Saturday: Morning - Soulard Market (local adoptees like this as it reminds them of Haiti)
After we go to Soulard, we will go to City Museum - Admission is normally $12 each, but we have been able to secure a rate of $6 each. Locals say it is worth every penny.

Sunday: St. Louis Zoo - FREE ADMISSION. We will meet as a group for a picnic lunch. Parking at the zoo lot is $10 but if you arrive early, street parking is free and easy to find. Sunday Evening: BBQ - details TBD.

Monday: No scheduled event. Families begin to depart. I posted rates for Monday night in case folks wanted to extend their trip.

THANKS EVERYONE. EVERY effort to help make this trip affordable has been made. We are working on making meals available at a low cost as well. PLEASE consider attending for the benefit of our children, many of whom left each other quickly and under extremely stressful circumstances.

A special thank you to Natalie Runyon, a St. Louis local and Maison adoptive mom, for all her input and assistance!

IMPORTANT! PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND SO THAT I CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE BLOCK OF ROOMS. ALSO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ROOM YOU RESERVED AS WE HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FULL SIZE BED ROOMS, KING ROOMS, ETC. FEEL FREE TO MESSAGE ME ON FACEBOOK AS WELL (DAWN WILSON SHELTON). THANK YOU!