08 Mar 2024 VFP Western Regional Conference

Enjoy a weekend of fellowship, food and challenging political analysis. Our past gatherings have been invigorating! We hang out and learn from each other about our respective chapter and political activities.

Who: VFP members and allies from anywhere are welcome to Attend in Person or on Zoom
Where: Veterans Memorial Building, 293 Seminary Ave (at S Oak St), Ukiah, CA 95482
When: Friday, April 12 at 6 pm PDT – April 14 at 1:30 pm PDT
Cost: In Person – $60 or On Zoom – $20 (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.)
Or send a check: Payable to VFP-116 and send to Steve Scalmanini, 907 N Oak St., Ukiah, CA  95482

Please RSVP HERE

To pay your $60 in advance for attending, or $20 for Zoom, please click HERE

For current Program, click HERE

For more Information:
Paul Cox VFP-69 (San Francisco) paulcox@sonic.net (510) 418-3436 (cell)
Steve Scalmanini VFP-116 (Mendocino County, CA) sscalmanini@yahoo.com (707) 391-5853 (cell)

Scroll down for more information about:

* Tabling
* Internet Access
* Food
* Program
* Hotels and RV sites
* Transportation
* Planning Meetings
* Driving Directions

Tabling: Please bring any materials that you would like to display for other members and the visiting public to see, purchase, copy, etc.

Internet Access: High speed Internet access will be available for the Conference.  So bring your laptops if you like, especially if you have any video footage that you would like to show everyone via the projector we’ll have.

Food: Our great chef returns with delicious meat and vegetarian dishes
Meals are included in the price of the conference and will be provided at the Veterans Building. 
All meals will include a vegetarian option.

— Friday evening:  dinner (available 6-9 PM to accommodate late arrivals)
— Saturday:  breakfast, lunch, dinner
— Sunday:  breakfast, lunch

Program:
Please click HERE for the current program.

Hotels & RV sites –
Quality Inn is the closest motel.
  –  1050 South State St, Ukiah, CA 95482 (1 block north of Talmage Rd, a freeway exit)
  –  (707) 462-2906  [fax (707) 462-3040]
  –  email  –  gm.ca556@choicehotels.com
  –  38 rooms; 2 story 
  –  All rooms have mini-refrigerators
  –  All rooms have a microwave oven
  –  All rooms have coffee makers
  –  3 rooms allow smoking
  –  Ice machine & vending machines on-site
  –  free WiFi Internet
  –  Rates
          1 king bed $125 plus tax / night
          1 queen bed $115 plus tax / night
          2 double beds $135 plus tax / night
          2 queen beds $135 plus tax / night
          Discount available for multiple adjacent rooms
Manager is Kenny.

Motel 6 is the second closest motel.
  –  1208 S State St, Ukiah, CA 95482 (2 blocks south of Talmage Rd, a freeway exit)
  –  (707) 468-5404
  –  12 rooms
  –  Some rooms have fridges
  –  Some have micros
  –  Complementary coffee in the office 6-10 AM
  –  No smoking rooms
  –  Ice machine & venting room in laundry room
  –  Free WiFi Internet
  –  Rates
         1 queen bed $73.99 / night
         2 queen beds $83.99 / night

Super 8 is near Highway 101
  –  693 S Orchard Ave (just north of Gobbi St, a freeway exit)
  –  (707) 468-8181
  –  Website: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/super-8/ukiah-california/super-8-ukiah/overview
  –  52 rooms
  –  All rooms have mini-refrigerators
  –  All rooms have a microwave oven
  –  All rooms have coffee makers
– Hot Tub Onsite
– Pool – Outdoor
  –  Free WiFi Internet
  –  No smoking rooms (designated outdoor smoking area)
  –  Includes two Level 2 EV chargers
  –  Rates:
         1 king bed $101.91 / night (taxes included)
         2 queen beds $113 / night (taxes included)
         3 queen beds $180 /night (taxes included)

RV Overnight Parking

Manor Oaks Overnighter RV Park
  –  700 E Gobbi St (1 block east of Gobbi St, a freeway exit)
  –  (707) 462-0528
  –  56 sites
–  Wi-Fi
  –  Dump site
  –  Electricity
  –  Restrooms
  –  Showers
  –  Laundry
  –  Swimming pool
  –  (spaces very close together)

Redwood Empire Fairgrounds RV Park
1055 North State St (1/2 mile south of N State St exit from Hwy 101)
(707) 463-2667 (Phone ahead ASAP to reserve a space.)
www.redwoodempirefair.com/rv-park-local-attractions

Limited lodging is available with local residents for attendees on a tight budget. 
  –  Contact Steve Scalmanini, Secretary-Treasurer of VFP-116, to make arrangements. 
     (707) 391-5853 (cell) – sscalmanini@yahoo.com

There are 8 EV Tesla Superchargers are available 24 hours 2 blocks north of the Veterans Building.

Transportation:
To offer/request a ride: Becky Leuning, becky.pdx@gmail.com or Paul Cox
To match up for a roommate: Becky Leuning

Airports –
Please let us know if you’re flying in to San Francisco, Santa Rosa or Oakland
Pickups from the airports are provided by Chapter 69 – please plan to arrive before these times:
Departures from the airports: Noon OAK, 1 pm SFO, and 2:30 pm STS

Planning meetings
If you can help plan this mini-convention, please join our Zoom meetings Thursdays at 6 pm Pacific, here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84624864593
 
Directions:
Ukiah is on US 101, 60 miles (one hour drive) north of Santa Rosa, and 120 miles (two hours drive) north of San Francisco and Oakland.  On Friday evening there will be commute traffic northbound on US 101 through Marin County and through some of Sonoma County until ~ 7:00 pm, when the carpool lanes open to everyone.  From 3:00 to 7:00 the carpool lanes are legal for 2 or more people in the vehicle, so carpool if you can.  If you are driving from the South Bay Area on Friday evening, going up the Peninsula via I-280, 19th Avenue, and the Golden Gate Bridge is usually faster than dealing with the congestion on I-880 and I-580 in the East Bay. 

From the Central Valleys and the Sierras, the fastest route is I-5 to Williams, then Hwy 20 to US 101, then 6 miles south to Ukiah.  (It’s a little faster to bypass the small resort towns along Hwy 20 on the east (scenic) side of Clear Lake by turning left onto Hwy 53 before Clearlake Oaks, driving through the city of Clear Lake to Lower Lake, and turning right onto Hwy 29.  This intersects with Hwy 20 again at the northwest end of the lake; turn left (via a roundabout) onto Hwy 20 toward Ukiah.) 

When you’re in Ukiah on US 101, take the Perkins Street exit one half mile west to downtown.  Cross the railroad tracks to the signal light at State Street (the main intersection in town.)  Turn left onto South State Street.  Take the 3rd right (at the Economy Inn) onto Seminary Avenue.  The Veterans Building is at the end of the 2nd short block, on the left side of the divided street – at the corner of South Oak Street.  (If you cross South Oak Street you’ll be in the driveway to City Hall.)