The NOAA Leadership Seminar
(NLS)

August 28-31, 2006
Airlie Center, Warrenton, VA
540-347-1300


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ):


How do I register for the NLS?

The online reservation system will be open from Monday, July 24th – Friday, August 4th. Attendees were sent instructions on how to register via email from Tracy Scott, the NLS Program Manager, on Friday, July 21st. If you did not receive the registration instructions, please contact your Line/Corporate Office Coordinator.

NLS attendees are responsible for registering for a standard conference package via the Airlie Center’s online reservations system using their government travel cards. The standard conference package includes lodging on Monday (08/28), Tuesday (08/29), and Wednesday (08/30) nights, and all meals starting with dinner on Monday night and ending with lunch on Thursday afternoon. The cost is $203.81 + 5% VA tax ($10.19) = $214 per day x 3 days = $642.00 total.

There are also options in the online reservation system to add early arrival (Sunday, August 27th) and/or late departure (Thursday, August 31st) if needed.

NOTE: The $642.00 cost is a set cost, and is not reduced by shortened stays or missed sessions.

    back to top


Is lodging available Sunday (08/27/06) and Thursday (08/31/06) nights at the Airlie Center for early arrival and/or late departure?

There are a limited number of lodging rooms available on Sunday and Thursday nights for early arrival and/or late departure participants. Participants who stay over night on Sunday will be provided dinner on Sunday night, as well as breakfast and lunch on Monday. Participants who stay over night Thursday will be provided dinner Thursday and breakfast on Friday morning. The cost per night for either an early arrival or late departure is $214.00 and must be registered for and paid for separately by the NLS attendee on their government travel card via the Airlie online registration system and included on their travel orders. Please check with your home office for approval before you register for early arrival and/or late departure.

    back to top

I received a credit card statement that includes charges for my upcoming stay at the Airlie Center. Why did this happen and what can I do?

It has come to my attention that several participants for the upcoming NOAA Leadership Seminar (NLS) have already received credit/travel card statements that their payment is due for their $642.00 stay at Airlie before they have traveled. I contacted Airlie about this, and Airlie has in fact charged all of the credit/travel cards that were entered by attendees via the online registration process. Like many airline tickets, Airlie rooms are pre-paid in advance, are non-refundable, and payment is charged at time of purchase rather than at the time of travel.

This is the first time we have done online registration with the individual bill payment option for the NLS, and the pre-billing by Airlie was not something we had anticipated. Airlie has apologized for any inconvenience this has caused our attendees and is taking steps to strengthen and clarify the language on their registration site for future events.

Below are two possible solutions for those employees that have already received credit/travel card statements. While we understand these solutions are not ideal, we hope that they will provide you with some relief for this situation:

  • You may contact your credit/travel card at their customer service number, explain the situation, and request an extension to pay your bill for this event until mid-September.

  • You may work with your office to process an advance claim for your lodging expenses. The total cost per day to attend the NLS is $214. This breaks down into two parts: $44 for M&IE, and $170 for lodging). Please see the attachment. According to the NOAA Travel Office, if you are staying at Airlie for the standard three day package, you can advance claim lodging in the amount of $170 x 3 night stay = $510. If you have a late arrival or early departure in addition to the standard package, you can add lodging for those nights at a rate of $170 for those extra nights as well, for a maximum advance of $170 x 5 night stay = $850. Then, after your travel is completed, you would process a reclaim voucher for the remainder of your expenses (M&IE, flights, transportation, etc).
Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience or frustration that this situation may have caused you. Please contact your Line/Corporate Office Coordinator at: http://www.wfm.noaa.gov/NLS/losocontacts_aug2006.html   if you have any additional questions.

    back to top


What are the prerequisites that must be completed prior to attending the NLS?

Participants who plan to attend the NLS must complete the following prerequisites prior to arriving at the Airlie Center:

Written Assignment:

E-Learning Assignment:

Review Assignment:

    back to top


What is the start time and end time for the NLS?

The first session starts on Monday, August 28, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. and the last session concludes on Thursday, August 31, 2006 at 3:15 p.m. Attendees are expected to be in attendance for the entirety of the NLS. Flights should be scheduled accordingly to allow for complete program attendance.

    back to top


When is check-in?

Check-in at the Airlie Center is from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Monday, August 28, 2006. The NLS starts at 3:30 p.m. that day. The first meal available to participants will be dinner on Monday from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Lunch is neither provided nor available on Monday, so please don't arrive hungry.

    back to top


Where is the NLS being held?

The NLS is held at the Airlie Center in Warrenton, VA. Information about the center and travel information can be found at the Airlie Center web site. Note that the Airlie Center is about 45 minutes from Dulles Airport and an hour from Reagan National Airport, during non-rush hours, so please allow extra time to travel to and from the venue. You may drive your own car if you are from the area, or rent a car at the airport or take a taxi to and from the venue if you are from out of town. You will find more travel information on the Airlie Center web site.

    back to top


What is the dress code and what should I bring?

The dress code for the entire NLS is Business Casual. It is suggested that you bring a sweater or jacket as meeting room temperatures may vary. It is also suggested that you bring an umbrella as you will be walking from your lodging to the NLS events. There are walking trails, bikes and bike paths, fishing poles and ponds, an exercise room, and an outdoor pool available for your use during the NLS (weather permitting), so you may wish to bring appropriate clothing and shoes for such activities.

    back to top


Are guests allowed?

This is a NOAA Employee only event. Please do not bring guests. If a participant disobeys this rule, the Airlie Center will charge that participant an additional $125 per day + taxes, which will be that participant’s personal responsibility to pay.

    back to top


Do I need travel orders?

Each participant will need an official travel order whether you are local to the Silver Spring, MD/Washington D.C. area or from a field or regional office. All meals and lodging at the Airlie Center from dinner on Monday, August 28th through lunch on Thursday, August 31st are included in the $642 NLS fee.

    back to top


Do I need special language on my travel orders?

The suggested language below can be modified as appropriate for your travel order/voucher based on the requirements of your Line Office to: (1) authorize for reimbursement of actual subsistence expenses above the per diem rate for Warrenton, VA, and (2) authorize attendees who live or work within 50 miles of the Airlie Center to receive per diem.

“The NOAA Leadership Seminar (NLS) is a four-day residential training program with evening events. The NLS is being held at the Airlie Center (Airlie), and all participants are required to stay at Airlie for the duration of the training program. The Airlie rate of $214/day (covers lodging and meals from dinner on 08/28/06 – lunch on 08/31/06) is above the per diem rate for Warrenton, VA. The participant is authorized to receive actual subsistence expenses. In addition, if the participant either lives or works within 50 miles of the Airlie Center, lodging and M&IE is authorized as the participant would be in a combination of work and travel status for 12 hours or more due to the early morning and late evening components of the training program.”

    back to top


Are telephones and DSL lines available in the lodging rooms at Airlie?

Airlie offers two telephones in each sleeping room. Local, toll-free, and calling card calls are free up to 60 minutes and 10 cents per minute after 60 minutes. Long distance phone calls are 50 cents per minute. It is suggested you use a calling card for long distance calls. Please check with the Airlie Front Desk to verify current long distance rates.

High speed internet access is now complimentary in all Airlie sleeping rooms. If you use dialup internet access in sleeping rooms: There are data ports in each guest room for dial up modem access. Please make sure your ISP number is a local number in order to avoid high long distance charges. Also note that calls lasting over 60 minutes are charged 10 cents per minute after the first hour. To avoid this charge, you can terminate the call before it reaches 60 minutes in length and reconnect after a few seconds. Make sure to disconnect from the web when finished.

    back to top


Who are the Line & Corporate Office Coordinators?

If you have questions that aren’t addressed on the NLS website, please contact the appropriate Line or Corporate Office Coordinator. Their contact information can be found at: Line & Corporate Office Coordinators.

    back to top


Back to NLS Home


Department of Commerce     Page Modified:   August 02, 2006
    Page Content:    NLS Program Manager