Times shown are Eastern Time
Registration Times
Wednesday 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Maryland Ballroom hallway
Thursday 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. Cherry Blossom Foyer
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
3:30 - 5:30 p.m. - Welcome Session with Orientation, Legislative Issues Briefing, NFDA Election Candidate Introductions - Gaylord National Resort – Maryland A
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. - Welcome Reception - Gaylord National Resort – Cherry Blossom Foyer
Thursday, March 21, 2024
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. - Breakfast – Cherry Blossom Ballroom
8:15 a.m. – Busses depart Gaylord National Resort for Capitol Hill
9:00 a.m. – Photo on Capitol Hill
9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Welcome Room at the Capitol Hill Club – Eisenhower Room (300 First St SE, Washington, DC 20003). Refreshments and lunch provided.
9:30 a.m. – TBD – Congressional Meetings as scheduled (Transportation after hill visits is the responsibilty of the attendee.)
6:45 – 10:15 p.m. – Optional Old Alexandria Walking Tour (bus departs Gaylord National Resort at 6:45 p.m., returns at 10:15 p.m.)
Experience the rich and fascinating history of Old Town Alexandria with a professionally guided history tour. Expert local guides will lead you through the brick and cobblestone streets of a historic port cities, which was founded in 1749. Walk in the footsteps of George Washington and discover where he danced on his birthday celebrations in 1798 and 1799. Also, see his house in town and the church where he attended. Learn about Alexandria’s many hidden gems and different architectural styles. We will also cover the history of taverns in America and talk about tavern life in early Alexandria. When the tour ends, we will stop at one of Alexandria’s popular local taverns and carry on the tradition of eating, drinking, and socializing in one of America’s most historic cities.
**Additional ticket required. Includes bussing to and from Old Town Alexandria and a light snack and refreshment at the end of the tour.
Friday, March 22, 2024
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Optional Honoring Those Who Served - A Walking Tour of the Wilkes Street Cemetery & Wreath Laying**
Join NFDA President Douglas R. “Dutch” Nie, II, CFSP, CCO as he lays a wreath to honor and pay tribute to our veterans, recognizing their sacrifices and service to our country.
The Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex in Alexandria, encompassing a historic cluster of 13 separate cemeteries, is distinguished not only for its historical significance in the United States but also for its over 35,000 burials, many of whom are notable figures in American history, with the earliest burials dating back to 1796. It remains an active complex with ongoing services in nine cemeteries, including The Presbyterian Cemetery, which I manage for Alexandria’s historic Old Presbyterian Meeting House, where I have been a member for 60 years. The complex is conveniently located just a mile west of the Potomac River and easily accessible from Old Town.
This complex also includes the second-oldest National Cemetery in the U.S., predating Arlington National Cemetery. Notably, it became the first desegregated cemetery in the federal system, where 249 African American Soldiers of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) were interred.
** Additional ticket required. Includes bussing to Wilkes Street and back to the hotel or to DCA airport.
Busses for all events leave/drop at Woodrow Wilson Bus Loop at the Gaylord National Resort