Please attend the 43rd Annual Meeting of the North American Vexillological Association in historic Charleston, South Carolina.

NAVA listens to you! We heard your wish for more time for Vexibits. This year there will be more time on Sunday; there will be some time on Saturday; and plans are in the works for an informal Vexibits "get together" on Friday evening. Now you have even more reason to join us in Charleston.

Consider coming early or staying later to enjoy this historic destination! And if you would like to volunteer to help at the meeting, please contact the organizing committee via treas@nava.org.

HOST HOTEL

Embassy Suites Charleston-Historic Charleston 337 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403 843-723-6900 / 1-800-embassy

NAVA 43's host hotel is located in the original Citadel Military College building in Charleston, South Carolina. The grandly-restored facility is on the National Register of Historic Buildings, and is conveniently located in Marion Square, near many downtown Charleston attractions, including some of the main flag-related sites NAVA 43 attendees will tour.

Each suite has two rooms, with a bedroom plus a living area with a sleeper sofa and a dining table and chairs. Each suite is also equipped with a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and complimentary wireless internet access. All guests receive a complimentary full breakfast and an evening Manager's Reception. Make sure you stay at the hotel to join NAVA members for the breakfasts and receptions!

The Exchange Room is an informal cafe style restaurant open daily 12-2 for lunch. It serves burgers, pastas, salads, and other light snacks. There are many other restaurants nearby.

A block of suites has been reserved through 9 August 2009 for the nights of 9/10/11 October. The rate is $179/night plus tax for the two-room suites. Other nights before/after the meeting are at the same rate while available. Make sure to reserve before 9 August 2009, or space at the hotel cannot be guaranteed.

Attendees can make reservations on www.embassysuites.com or by calling the hotel directly (843-723-6900). They can also call 1-800-embassy. The group code for NAVA 43 is "NAV".

To offset the higher-than-usual room rates, we have lowered the registration fee. We also encourage attendees to room together-the two-room suites make that easy to do. Contact the registrar (Ted Kaye, NAVA Treasurer) to find out who else has registered.

GETTING THERE

The Embassy Suites Charleston-Historic Charleston is located 10 miles south of the Charleston International Airport; a typical taxi fare is $35. The Peninsular Charleston shuttle fare is $15. The #11 CARTA bus runs from the Airport down to Meeting Street; its fare is $1.50. NAVA 43 attendees are encouraged to come early or stay late to take in all the attractions of Charleston. For the duration of NAVA 43, no car is needed.

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, 9 OCT 2009
Registration starts at 2:00 PM
Optional tours-Citadel (afternoon) / Ft. Sumter (all day)
Evening Reception

SATURDAY, 10 OCT 2009
Breakfast
Opening Ceremonies and Presentations
Lunch (on your own)
Vexillological Tour-Museum Mile
Group Photo
Banquet and Keynote Lecture

SUNDAY, 11 OCT 2009
Breakfast
NAVA Business Meeting
Presentations
Lunch (in the Atrium)
Vexi-Bits, Auction
Closing Ceremonies end by 4:00 PM
Incoming Executive Board Meeting

(This tentative schedule for NAVA 43 is subject to change as the organizing committee finalizes the details. Please refer here for the most current schedule.)

PROGRAM

Registration will take place at the hotel on Friday afternoon; those arriving later may pick up materials during any event. Attendees are encouraged to visit the Citadel, where a tour will await them in the mid-afternoon, or Fort Sumter, for which three boats a day leave from 4 blocks away (see Tours).

The Reception on Friday evening will be hosted by the Embassy Suites (the "Manager's Reception") for guests, perhaps amid a display of past NAVA meeting flags.

Breakfasts each day are complimentary and provided on-site by the hotel for guests.

The Opening Ceremony on Saturday morning will be followed by the first round of Presentations, which will adjourn for lunch. There are several restaurants nearby or in the hotel.

Tours will take place after lunch, returning in time to dress for the Banquet and pose for the group photo.

At the Saturday evening Banquet, in the Atrium Room of the Embassy Suites, our keynote speaker will be Dick Schreadley, retired executive editor of the Post and Courier, Charleston's daily newspaper since 1803. Author of the history of the Washington Light Infantry (organized in 1807), he will discuss the Eutaw Flag-perhaps the only flag that can be traced to the battlefields of the American Revolution, and which NAVA 43 attendees will see earlier at the Washington Light Infantry Armory.

The Business Meeting on Sunday morning will be followed by the second round of Presentations, lunch, then Vexi-Bits, the Auction, the Driver Award presentation, other flag-related programs, and the Closing Ceremony.

(This tentative program for NAVA 43 is subject to change as the organizing committee finalizes the details. Please refer here for the most current program.)

TOURS

On Saturday afternoon we expect to tour several fine sites on the Museum Mile in historic Charleston: the Charleston Museum, the Washington Light Infantry Armory, and the Confederate Museum. These institutions plan special welcomes for us including displays of their important and extensive flag collections. They are all on Meeting Street within walking distance of the hotel and on the #211 trolley line. Optional tour opportunities will include: a guided tour of the museum at the Citadel Military College, capped off by the dress parade of the corps of cadets (Friday afternoon--take public transportation--#20 bus, or arrange own rides to arrive at the Citadel by 2:30), the South Carolina Historical Society (open 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday, 10 blocks from the hotel on the trolley line), and a public tour of Fort Sumter (daily-depart from Aquarium Wharf, 9:30 AM / 12:00 N / 2:30 PM, 4 blocks from the hotel). NAVA 43 attendees will make their own way to these tours, although we hope to have group leaders to help coordinate them--let us know if you are willing to volunteer for that!

TOUR SITES

The Charleston Museum, America's first museum dating from 1773, showcases the cultural and natural history of South Carolina's lowcountry. Its extensive flag collection includes the flags of the South Carolina Rangers, the Calhoun Artillery, and the Charleston Light Dragoons, as well as many other Confederate and later flags. 360 Meeting Street.

The Washington Light Infantry, founded in 1807, is one of America's oldest militia units. Its Armory's historical military collections feature uniforms, weapons, accoutrements, and flags, including the Revolutionary-era Eutaw Flag. 287 Meeting Street.

The Confederate Museum, in the 1841 Market Hall, has been operated since 1898 by the Daughters of the Confederacy and contains flags, uniforms, swords, and other Confederate memorabilia. 188 Meeting Street.

The South Carolina Historical Society, in the Fireproof Building, collects, preserves, and publishes South Carolina's history. Collections date from 1670 and include an extensive collection of flags, including the 1860 Secession Banner, the Wagener (Fort Walker) Flag, a Palmetto Guards unit pennant, and an early antebellum South Carolina Flag. 100 Meeting Street.

The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, founded in 1842, moved in 1922 from the building that now houses the host hotel to its current campus on the banks of the Ashley River north of the historic district. Its museum houses the first Corps flag, presented by the Washington Light Infantry in the 1850s and the 10 x 20 foot Confederate flag flown by the Citadel Garrison; other significant flags are displayed on campus in the Summerall Chapel, the Seraph Monument, and in the Daniel Library. The military dress parade is called "The best free show in Charleston".

Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began with the two-day Confederate bombardment of its Union defenders in April 1861, occupies a strategic island in Charleston Harbor. Its Confederate defenders later endured a two-year siege before its evacuation in February 1865. Now a national monument, it hosts 21/4-hour tours leaving from Aquarium Wharf, which is near the fort's Visitor Education Center.

REGISTRATION

The registration form is available here: NAVA 43 Registration Form. Please fill in the form and mail it in, accompanied by a check, or send payment via PayPal to treas@nava.org.

FLAG DESIGN

The design of the NAVA 43 Flag reflects the rich history of Charleston and South Carolina. When Carolina was a Royal Colony governed by the Lords Proprietor, local gentry were authorized to wear a purple ribbon and have their coats of arms displayed on a sun in splendor. The “valleys” formed by the rays of the sun in splendor evoke the letter “v” for vexillology. Finally, the decrescent resembles a “C” for both Charleston and Charles II, the town’s namesake. The colors are PMS 254 U and 143 U. The proportions are 3:5. The designers of the NAVA 43 Flag were John Purcell, Kin Spain, Ron Strachan, and Hugh Brady

SUBMITTING PAPERS & DISPLAYS

If you wish to present a paper or set up a display at the 43rd Annual Meeting of NAVA (9-11 October 2009 in Charleston, South Carolina), please mail the following information to First Vice President Gus Tracchia by 30 June 2009:

1. Your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address if available;
2. Title of your paper, presentation, symposium, workshop, or exhibit;
3. Abstract of your paper, presentation, symposium, workshop, or exhibit;
4. Type and size of exhibit area and/or equipment needed, including tables, electrical requirements, audio/visual equipment, etc.
5. Notice if you decline to have your paper considered for the Captain William Driver Award (see guidelines).

PLEASE SEND A COMPLETE COPY OF THE PAPER (in publishable form in both hard-copy and electronic file in MS-Word with high-resolution image files) by 31 August 2009.

NOTE: PRESENTERS WHO HAVE NOT PROVIDED THIS COPY WILL BE DELETED FROM THE MEETING SCHEDULE.

SEND TO: Gus Tracchia
82-67 Austin St #205 Kew Gardens, NY 11415 (718) 847-2616 e-mail: vp1st@nava.org

NAVA reserves the right to accept or reject any presentation without prejudice.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM DRIVER AWARD GUIDELINES

1. The Captain William Driver Award was created in 1979 for the best presentation at the NAVA annual convention. It is named in honor of Captain William Driver, who christened the United States flag "Old Glory". The award is generously cosponsored by NAVA Commercial Members.
2. The award consists of a certificate and US$250.
3. The executive board shall determine the recipient of the award based on the criteria given below. At its discretion, the executive board may determine that no presentation delivered at the convention has met the criteria for the award and decline to give an award that year.
4. The criteria for the award follow, in descending order of relative importance:
   1. The presentation should be an original contribution of research or theoretical analysis on a flag or flags resulting in an advancement of knowledge in the field of vexillology.
   2. It should be characterized by thoroughness and accuracy.
   3. It should be well organized and, as appropriate, illustrated.
   4. It should be delivered well, i.e., interesting for the audience as well as informative, such that it is easily comprehensible.
5. No presentation may be considered for the award unless a completed written text is submitted in advance of its delivery.
6. No single individual may be given the award more frequently than once every three years.
7. Because of the conflict of interest, current members of the executive board are ineligible for the award.
8. If at all possible, the executive board shall not give the award jointly to co-recipients. In extraordinary circumstances, the executive board may recognize another presentation with the designation "Honorable Mention."
9. As a condition of being considered for the award, presenters agree that NAVA has a two-year right of first refusal to publish their presentation in either NAVA News or Raven: A Journal of Vexillology. This right of first refusal extends to both the actual recipient of the award and the remaining non-recipients. A presenter who desires to have his or her presentation published elsewhere may decline to have the presentation considered for the award, provided that the presenter makes this fact known before the presentation is delivered.
10. These guidelines should be distributed to presenters in advance of the annual convention.

INQUIRIES

Questions about presentations/displays may be made to Gus Tracchia at (718) 847-2616 or by e-mail to vp1st@nava.org. E-mail should have 'NAVA 43' in the subject line.

Questions about the NAVA 43 meeting flag design may be made to Hugh Brady by e-mail to pres@nava.org. E-mail should have 'NAVA 43' in the subject line.

Questions about registration, tours, or program-and general inquiries-may be made to Ted Kaye at (503) 223-4660 or by e-mail to treas@nava.org. E-mail should have 'NAVA 43' in the subject line.