2005 NASCOE National Convention 

Rapid City, South Dakota - July 27 - 30, 2005

SDASCOE South Dakota Association of FSA County Office Employees

Greetings from the beautiful state of South Dakota. Much to our surprise, it’s almost December and we have had no snow or cold weather in most of the state. Throughout the busy fall season, the SDASCOE convention committee has been busy preparing for the 2005 NASCOE convention. We would like to once again invite all our NASCOE friends to make the trip and see how the South Dakota Black Hills will be coming ALIVE in 2005.

As we make plans and keep you informed in the coming months, we’d like to emphasize that our state will be a wonderful place to bring the whole family and make a vacation out of the trip. There are many points of interest to see and visit as you travel throughout the state, coming from the north, south, east or west. We hope to include travel itineraries on the web site to include places to stop and visit along the way. Our website will be expanded in the next month, so please check it out at www.geocities.com/nascoe2005.

Following is a brief overview of the events that we have planned so far:

WEDNESDAY
During the daytime, you will have several choices of fun. There is a wide variety of things to do and see in Rapid City and the surrounding area. There will be three tours to choose from, as well as the NASCOE golf tournament. See details later in this article. Wednesday evening will be the Northwest Area Night. Be prepared to meet new friends and greet old friends at the “Hot Harley Nights”. You will step into a Black Hills Motorcycle Rally street scene and be sure to pack your “biker gear” so that you are dressed appropriately. The night will include special events, food vendors like you’d find in Sturgis and close with a dance.

THURSDAY
Thursday morning will dawn bright and early as we begin to do “the business of NASCOE” – including general session, roll call, committee meetings and the area meetings. Conduct your business quickly so that you don’t miss out on the excitement of the evening. We will be hosting the NASCOE comedy club and social from 6 – 7pm, featuring the entertainment of Gordy Pratt, the original Fabulous One Guy. You don’t want to miss it! Next, we will roll into conducting the NASCOE scholarship auction with a new, improved format. It will last exactly from 7 – 9 pm and the bidding will be fast & furious. No dawdling, be ready to get your hand in the air and bid! Finishing out the night we will be dancing to Complete Music DJ Service who promises to make sure your guests have a GREAT time. Dress code for Thursday night is wide open – this is the night designated as a “COSTUME PARTY”. Use your imagination, get your costume ready and we will see who shows up unrecognizable. Prizes will be awarded to best costumes in several categories!

FRIDAY

After another full day of NASCOE business meetings, we’ll be ready to relax and have a fun for our planned South Dakota Night. We will board buses early to make a 6 mile trip to the Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show . This establishment has been serving up western food and hospitality since 1979. You won’t go away hungry. Entertainment includes fiddles, steel guitar and western comedy. Next we will get back on the buses for a beautiful scenic drive through the Black Hills and on to Mt. Rushmore, the national shrine of democracy, where we will watch the awe inspiring, evening lighting ceremony. These are not just “faces in a rock” and we are sure you will understand after this event!

SATURDAY
Sadly, Saturday is the last day of our convention. Oh my, where has the week gone?? Today, we conclude NASCOE business with reports, resolutions, elections, etc. We must always remember that many people work very hard to “conduct our business” – Be sure to thank all the officers, chairpersons and Area Execs and alternates for the time and effort they put into this association – for the BENEFIT OF ALL!! Saturday night we will host the “Black Hills Gold” – Awards banquet and dance. We will be dining on the best South Dakota prime rib beef, applauding the awards winners and then dancing the night away. What a wonderful jam packed week it has been – we thank you for coming to South Dakota.

MORE DETAILS you ask? Here are a few more things we’d like for you to know!!!

Tour Choices include:
Great Mountain Scenic Tour – includes a patriotic trip to our “Shrine of Democracy”, Mt Rushmore. Continue on to Crazy Horse Memoria l where the carving is still in progress. Make a stop at Heritage Village for lunch and end your day with a scenic drive on Iron Mountain Road known for pigtail bridges and tunnels that frame Mt. Rushmore in the distance.
Airplanes, Badlands and Wall Drug – begins at the SD Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, home of the B1 Bombers. Continue on to the world’s largest drugstore, Wall Drug, for shopping and lunch. Return to the hotel via a drive though the wonderland of colorful spires, massive buttes and deep gorges of Badlands National Park.
Historic Deadwood - This tour travels through beautiful pine covered mountain ranges to historic Deadwood, picturesque town of the gold rush days. Try your luck at the many casinos, stop for a cool one at Saloon #10 where Wild Bill Hickcok was shot while holding the “deadman’s hand” and take a lunch break at any of the wonderful restaurants found up and down main street. The trip home will take you through scenic Spearfish Canyon.

You would prefer to go GOLFING?? Have we got a course for you! Golfers, get your clubs shined up as we have booked one of the nicest, newest, most beautiful courses in the foothills of the Black Hills for our NASCOE tournament. This course is only 2 years old and it is worth the trip! It will impress anyone who comes to play at the convention. We’ll be golfing the morning of Wednesday, July 27th. As time gets closer, we will bring you more info about our golf outing, prizes and perks. It is a four person best ball, so you need not be a great golfer. Just come out and enjoy the day and good friends.

KIDS ACTIVITIES you ask? No way, we wouldn’t forget them!
Following is a tentative schedule of the youth activities that South Dakota has planned.
            Wednesday Evening – Get-acquainted party at the motel with pizza and mixer games.
            Thursday Morning – Storybook Island
            Thursday Afternoon – Bear Country and Dinosaur Park
            Thursday Evening – Treasure Hunt at the motel & Costume Party
            Friday – Rushmore Water Slide
            Saturday Morning – Youth room available with board games or crafts
            Saturday Afternoon – Reptile Gardens
            Saturday Evening – Supper at Gigglebee’s, Miniature golf at Pirate’s Cove

A PLACE to Sleep? Oh yeah, I bet you would like to know more about where to stay – our convention site is the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center. The staff at the Ramkota can’t wait to welcome the NASCOE group again. Believe it or not, the general manager was there when SD hosted the convention in 1983 – and she was even happy that we were coming back!!! Some details you should know:
The NASCOE block is locked in and the hotel is ready to take reservations by calling (605) 343-8550.

Some things to know about the hotel are:
Regular room rate is $117 + tax for 1-4 people. There are also Executive queen and king rooms at
the same rate of $117 + tax. They are probably about the furthest away from the convention center, but the rooms are a little bigger for same price.
Building F has been designated for RASCOE people (for those who may not want to or can’t walk so much – this building is more centrally located between the Convention Center II - where registration & general session will be and Convention Center I - where RASCOE and night functions will be.
There are also available 2 room suites in Building G of the hotel (closer to Convention Center II) – and I imagine that will be where the hospitality rooms and noise will be. The rate for these suites is $132 + tax.
Remember – these rates will be honored for two days prior and two days after the convention dates. A good chance to come early or stay late & do some vacationing with your family.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?? (I hope you will ask!)
Fundraising is a very large part of preparing to host a NASCOE convention. Our raffle committee has distributed books of tickets to each state association, asking that you assist in the sales effort. The 2 grand prizes are a large screen TV and a Honda 4-Wheeler. As an added incentive, we will award $1000 to the State Association who sells the winning ticket for the 4-wheeler. Of course if you have sold all your tickets and need more, we would be happy to send you some more. One of our other major fund raisers is the “SD Biker’s Club”. For a mere $20, you not only get an official logo Sturgis Biker t-shirt but also a chance for special privileges at the NASCOE convention. We will also be selling raffle chances on a beautiful quilt constructed with NASCOE convention t-shirts from the past 15 years. We will be posting a picture of the quilt and tickets on our website in the near future. Remember – the more you help us in fundraising, the more perks we can provide at the convention.

IN CONCLUSION – South Dakota members and associates are very excited to be planning and hosting the 2005 NASCOE Convention. We have some great things planned. Please start making your plans to attend. In a few short months, it will once again be time for the annual NASCOE family reunion and we hope that we will see you there.