2012 Meeting in Huntsville, Alabama
September 14 and 15
Our 2012 CFA Annual Meeting will be Friday and Saturday, September 14 and 15, in “Rocket City” – Huntsville, Alabama. Although known for its importance to the nation’s space program, Huntsville is also justly proud of its historic sites and scenery. Huntsville was first settled in 1805 and became the first incorporated town in Alabama in 1811. Join us for the 2012 Annual Meeting in Huntsville!
Registration / Hotel / Schedule / Silent Auction / Publicity / Guests
Please note: You must make your hotel reservation separately from any annual meeting registration information you submit to the CFA. You should make your hotel reservation by August 15.
An official schedule will be available before the annual meeting.
Hotel and Downtown Area
Our headquarters hotel is the Holiday Inn Downtown, in the heart of historic Huntsville. John Hunt, for whom the city is named, settled and farmed at Big Spring, just steps from the hotel. Big Spring Park is a downtown oasis and will surely beckon all for a stroll along its scenic paths.
Other downtown points of interest include:
Huntsville Museum of Art
Historic Harrison Brothers Hardware, established 1879
EarlyWorks Museum Complex (includes
Alabama Constitution Village, Historic Huntsville Depot, and EarlyWorks Children's History Museum)
Bicentennial Park, an interactive fountain in which all ages can romp
The Wheeden House, built 1819 – the oldest building in Alabama open to the public
Maple Hill Cemetery, founded in 1818
Von Braun Convention Center.
The Holiday Inn Downtown is also within minutes of Redstone Arsenal, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Burritt on the Mountain, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Parkway Place Mall, and Huntsville Botanical Garden.
Ride the Downtown Trolley for free from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. The Holiday Inn Downtown is a stop on the trolley route, which meanders through the downtown area. A number of restaurants are along the route.
Cotton Row Restaurant and 801 Franklin Restaurant are both less than one mile from the hotel (about a 10-15 minute walk or accessible by the Downtown Trolley or the free hotel shuttle). Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is across the street in the Embassy Suites.
On site at the Holiday Inn Downtown are a Starbucks Café in the lobby, the Loft Lounge, and Lofton’s Restaurant Grill. Our meeting room will be the hotel’s Azalea Room.
Hotel amenities include complimentary airport shuttle service, complimentary parking, free wireless high speed internet, fitness center, and swimming pool and jacuzzi.
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Schedule and Events
Most of Friday and Saturday will be spent visiting and sharing with old and new friends and cousins. Saturday’s schedule will include our annual business meeting and a special election. The CFA Library will be available for research both days.
On Friday afternoon, leaving the hotel around 4:30 p.m., we will travel approximately five miles to Burritt on the Mountain, a historic park located on top of Monte Sano Mountain. The park is about 1600 feet above Huntsville and boasts breathtaking views.
Upon arrival at the park, we will gather at the William R. Chandler home (see photo at right), which was moved to the park from a nearby location. William R. Chandler was the subject of an article in the Spring 2012 CFA Newsletter. Our group photo will be taken in front of the Chandler home, and we will then break into three groups to tour the park. At 6:30 we will gather at the church for dinner.
The cost of dinner and the tour will be $30 per person. Transportation to the park will be by carpool; arrangements will be made for those needing a ride.
Payment for the dinner and tour can be made by check mailed to Helen (see address on registration form) or by An official schedule for the Annual Meeting will be available before the meeting.
Silent Auction
Last year’s first-ever Silent Auction was fun and also successful, so we will hold another Silent Auction in Huntsville. Proceeds will benefit our Special Projects Fund, specifically library digitizaton. Download the Silent Auction information sheet for details.
If you will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting but would like to donate an item for the auction, please contact Helen at or 901-355-5614.
Other than items donated for the Silent Auction, only CFA-approved merchandise may be offered for sale at CFA meetings. Contact CFA President Dick Chandler - - at least 30 days before the annual meeting to request approval.
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