By HERB STUTZ
Convention Coordinator

The executive committee, at its pre-convention meeting Wednesday, June 25 in Orlando, will consider a proposal to have APSE join the Marriott Hotel VIP Rate Card program.

If the vote is affirmative, APSE will join such newspaper writer groups as the United States Basketball Writers Association, the Baseball Writers Association of America, the College Football Writers of America and the Professional Golf Writers Association as members of the discounted rate program.

Membership would be completely voluntary, is open to all 669 of our members, has no annual fee with the card being issued for seven years and can be used for either business or personal reasons.

As a VIP Rate Card member, one would qualify for:

• A 50 percent discount off participating Marriott Hotel's lowest corporation rack rates or;

• A 25% discount off the lowest corporate rate at participating Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn, Renaissance Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites.

It does not include stays at the Ritz-Carlton, ExecStay by Marriott, Ramada International or New World Hotels International and could not be used in

Conjunction with an APSE Convention held at a Marriott property.

Cards are issued by the Sports Marketing Department at Marriott International after a designated officer of APSE files an electronic registration form, listing each member's name and other pertinent data. New member names can be added monthly. If the executive committee votes to join the program, a process would be established and announced on APSE's website and in the newsletter as to how members can apply for membership.

Upon issuance, all one would have to do to make a reservation would be to call 1-800-228-9290, or by visit www.marriott.com and type VIP in the corporate/promotional rate box. Upon hotel check-in, you will be required to show the card for identification purposes. It is non-transferable.

Members are encouraged to contact their regional chairs if they wish to express interest or concerns about the VIP Rate Card program.

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